Re: [TANGO-L] Tango Topics Online

[Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>]

As Tom, Oleh, I and others have pointed out on several occasions, teaching
beginning leaders step patterns (such as the 8-count basic)  runs the risk
of producing numerous problems with musicality and navigation that render
the beginning leader less capable of dancing than when they first walked
in the door.  Teaching beginning leaderrs to combine small elements of
movement to dance preserves navigational skills and enables the
development of musicality skills.  It also provides the tools for future
improvisation and gives beginners an opportunity to taste improvisation
from the beginning.

Susana Domingues argues that:
>Scientists such as Gregory Bateson who study human learning
>processes indicated only through moving to higher level patterns
>will students understand the logic of the previous level of information.
http://www.tangovancouver.com/tango/symposium/symposium.htm#Abandon8Count

Doesn't that mean that If instruction starts with 8-count basic, the
teaching of even more complex patterns that incorporate the 8-count basic
will help students better understand the 8-count basic?  But will they
understand and learn Argentine tango?  The controversy over the 8-count
basic is actually two-fold.  The first is whether the 8-count basic
developed by Antonio Todaro ought to be considered the standard basic of
Argentine tango.  Many do not think so even if it proves useful in
teaching.  The second is whether the 8-count basic is actually a useful
pedagogic device.  Critics of the 8-count basic are concerned that its
overuse tends to lock leaders into patterns.  Susana suggests that as
dancers advance they will deconstruct the patterns they have been taught.
If the 8-count basic is a higher level pattern that will help students
understand the logic of the previous information, shouldn't the instructor
be teaching the component parts of the 8-count basic before teaching the
whole pattern?  If they do not, where is the previous information?

With best wishes for the New Year!
Steve (de Tejas)

Stephen Brown

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