Re: [TANGO-L] How to teach rhythm? The Contrarian view - A question of Ethics

[Ecsedy Áron <aron @MILONGA.HU>]

According to my observation (not just in tango, but all other kinds of
dancing as well) 'born' talents are more prone to quitting dancing than
'flops'. 

Most dancing talents I know started dancing as a child in academic form, or
at least with very strong encouragement (usually verging on the border of
forcing) on behalf of the parents. It is very rare that dancing talents who
start dancing at an older age will remain with dancing (or at least not with
ONE particular type of dancing). 

My theory is that it is probably because they don't get a feeling of
accomplishment - it is too easy for them - so they look for something more
challenging, or simply will give a lower priority to dancing (for them it
doesn't require so much resources as other things afterall), so even if they
dance, they do it at a lower 'heat level' (it will be 'just' one of the many
things they do). 

Many of those who may be considered talented NOW, started as average or
below-average dancers: or at least they THOUGHT they were when they started
dancing - a view which impressed itself on their dancing and learning at
that time. This was sometimes due to the fact that they had (or still have)
too high expectations from themselves, or simply they have some personality
(mainly self-confidence related) issues (or both), creating problems in the
learning process, resulting in the objective impression that they don't have
the talent.

As for teaching the untalented: although I've ecountered some quite hopeless
cases, I believe that anyone and everyone can be taught dancing. Obviously,
I tell these people what kind of problems they have and the fact that it may
take them longer to achieve the same level as others around them - but it
can be done. It is up to them to decide if they want it or not. Those who do
it improve as a person(ality) and as a dancer in parallel, overcoming
inhibitions, self-confidence problems, communication problems, behaviour
problems, along with improvement in coordination, rythmical sense, posture
etc. This usually improves their dancing as well.

Nonetheless, the biggest power is motivation. If a beginner has motivation
then (s)he will find the way to improve himself. It may be a long way, but
the results will be there.

Holding 'entrance exams' for social dancing is absurd. If there would be
such exams, social dancing would simply disappear or would be marginalized
as a historical form of dancing. [we enough problems with mass culture, it
would be utmost foolish to introduce something that could make social
dancing even less attractive to the general public as it is now] Not to
mention, that social dancing always included the untalented as well, because
it was about socializing and not art. Of course there were times when the
social requirement was to perform dancing as a sort of art, in these times
untalented people spent a lot of time (and money) to learn the dance...

As for cultural elitism: in Hungary we a have great deal of it. That is why
it is so hard to bring people in to tango classes - even when tango stage
performances are packed full, with the house sold a month before
performance. 

Aron


Ecsedy Áron
***********
Aron ECSEDY

Tel: +36 (20) 329 66 99
ICQ# 46386265

http://www.holgyvalasz.hu/
        * * * * *
  http://www.milonga.hu/

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"Follow those who seek the truth.
Run from those who claim to have found it."

"There is more than one way to cook an omlette." 

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