From: Igor Polk <ipolk @VIRTUAR.COM>
Reply-To: Igor Polk <ipolk @VIRTUAR.COM>
To: TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] Elusive Nuevo style
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 22:43:23 -0800
Thank you, Oleh, for bringing attention to my article
"Tango Nuevo and Argentine Tango. What is the difference?"
which can be found here:
http://www.virtuar.com/tango/tango_weblog.htm#tangonuevo
and starting the discussion which I think is very important.
That is why I wrote the article at the first place.
Many of you agree that of course, Tango Nuevo is a style of Argentine
Tango.
It is a fabulous style. Very well developed by talented people and moving
full speed forward.
I am also noticing that there is "denial and anger against it" as Burak
mentioned
especially now when more and more people start to recognize values of close
embrace styles.
Why?
At the time I wrote my article I felt that there was "denial and anger"
against other styles of tango
very well felt in communities populated mostly with Tango Nuevos.
The reason why my article has negative inclining against Tango Nuevo is not
because the Nuevo is bad.
The style is as good as others. It is because many teachers of Tango Nuevo
forget to tell their students
that Nuevo is only one of many Argentine Tango styles.
Instead they say: "This is Argentine Tango". It misleads.
That is why we see those energetic "fighters" on the crowded dance floor
which sometimes mess the things up.
They do not know what to do! They have not been taught other things!
How one can be taught sacadas if he does not know yet how to walk around
the
circle and have fun out of it!?
Oh, yes, yes, in the style which proclaims that rotation or turn is the
basis of all it is really tricky.
Interesting, that experienced dancers and teachers of Tango Nuevo know all
that.
They do change their style in accordance to situation,
but it looks like they do not teach enough of it to the followers of their
school.
Well, I can say that it is not about Tango Nuevo only.
When the floor is really very very crowded, as I have experienced it in
Portland lately,
even modern Salon style ( there is also salon of 1920 which is very
different ) becomes an obstacle.
Essentially any open embrace style.
The situation becomes suitable only for close embrace. This is what you see
in Buenos Aires.
So, tango dancers should be able to dance in all styles,
because it is not the matter of personal preference, but necessity of the
dance floor.
Tango Nuevo - for large open spaces, other open embrace - for regular
milongas,
close embrace - for a small or crowded floor.
The advantage of Tango is that it can be danced everywhere.
On the rough floor, between tables and chairs. Cool, eh?
We just should know how.
Igor Polk
San Francisco Click,
Photo Virtual Tour Magazine: http://www.virtuar.com/click.htm