Re: [TANGO-L] Still not about Neverending Ochos

[astrid <astrid @RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>]

Carlos Lima wrote:
> Whoever does the leading does not normally do so by indication. Leading is
> not much at all about signaling, coded messages, or the like. It is also
not
> discrete, one lead at a time, but rather a continuous, uninterrupted,
> process. The leader leads by guiding the joint movement of the couple in a
> continuous manner; often doing some of her moving himself; most often
being
> the main mover (rather more than 50% of the energy), as well as the
mainstay.
>

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this posting, as here is, IMHO, a man talking
some sense. (hello, Carlos ; )  )
I have, for a long time, tried to analyse what exactly it is that draws the
eye to some tango couple, holding the attention, and fascinating the
observer. I think, a great part of it is just this: that there are two
people moving in total in unison, joined together as if by magic. Their
movements form one long, continuous flow togetherness, harmony, and
interplay. Something that we all wish for, but that, unfortunately, almost
never happens in real life.
Nothing like "the man indicates-the lady leads-the man follows". This would
take much too long to create the phenomenon described above. In my opinion,
this three-step-technique is for people who basically don't really know how
to lead or follow, and tend to dance from the head, instead of from, yes,
from what....? This is another phenomenon that I have been puzzling over
ever since I started to learn tango. In the beginning I felt, that maybe I
should go back to studying the laws of physics more carefully, and kept
hoping that my teacher would explain "the law of frame dynamics" to me in a
set of so many rules. He never did. In fact, he did not talk much at all,
but instead demanded again and again from me:"Do not think !!" A Japanese
Zen master could not have done better... I never quite understood, how
exactly it worked, but just noticed that it did, eventually. An experience
not unlike learning how to meditate.
Yesterday I talked to my tango partner on the phone, who had to spend the
holiday season dancing with other people while I was in Germany. He told me
the newest gossip: "XY has become a tango teacher at Z's studio. He does not
really teach tango, he teaches his own style. His movements are interesting
and somewhat unique, but..." "Yes, I know, he leads by moving the wrist of
his left hand", I inserted. "Colourful, but very hard on the woman who has
to perform all those pivots [and here we are back at the subject title]
while he just wags his hand." "Yes", he said, he basically dances by
himself. He only dances with certain women, too. Basically with those who
also dance by themselves."
This is quoting one extreme exemple. Two people dancing on their own, joined
by the power of one hand. Looks like tango, but is closer in character to
salsa or rock n' roll, I imagine. The three step technique of
"indicate-lead-follow" is, frankly, for people who know the steps, and like
to dance not together, but one after the other. If you want to know what the
result can look like, watch the ludicrous combination of Daniel Trenner
forcing himself on Florencia Taccetti, in the video for "technique and
adornments for followers" (Bridge to the tango), in the final minutes of the
otherwise brilliant tape. It looks like a humble VW engine trying to drive a
fully equipped Mercedes Benz. Daniel "indicates" instead of leads, Florencia
tries to make to the most of the mediocre lead, Daniel then somewhat lamely
and stiffly follows her powerful, flamboyant movement. None of this nonsense
when Florencia dances with the , admittedly slightly less flamboyant than
her but better loved Julio Mendes, earlier in the video. Their dance is a
relaxed, gentle flow of well coordinated movements, leaving a grin on
Florencia's face in the end.

Back from Berlin and the cold Holstein, wearing a dark blue "Northwind"
brand Danish sweater
Happy New Year, everyone
Astrid