Re: [TANGO-L] Teachers who lead and follow

[Huck Kennedy <huck@eninet.EAS.ASU.EDU>]

Derik writes:
> Trini writes:
>
> > "I think the surprise comes because men
> > tend to focus on vocabulary a lot and can fall back on
> > using muscles (often inadvertently), whereas women who
> > dance the man's part focus more on musicality and/or
> > do not resort to using muscle as often.  So it's that
> > gentleness or musicality that they appreciate."

     No doubt you lead beautifully, Trini, but from
what I've seen, most women attempting to lead ("Gosh,
what's so hard about this, if a cloddy ol' man can do
it, anyone can just pick it up in a month or two,
right?") tend to compensate for their lack of natural
presence through body mass by overusing their muscles
to lead.  And musicality?  Until they have considerable
leading experience, most women I see trying to lead are
so hung up on the simple mechanics of just leading their
partner that they ignore musicality, and are oblivious
to all the other responsibilities of leading, such as
navigation, to the extent that they can become
a nuisance on the floor (just like an inexperienced man).

> This is why we often hear than men are the muscle (the
> drummers who provide a strong lead and often wear
> black clothing to try to be invisible in the
> background) and the women are the melody (the music
> who influence the lead and follow the men in all of
> their mistakes, but make then men look good anyway).

     Oh dear, Derik, how do all these perfect women
put up with a world full of men who can't walk and
chew gum at the same time?  It's a wonder they even
allow us to live.

> To me that is not sexist. It is just Argentine Tango.

     Somebody bring me a bucket.  *barf*

     Jeez, Derik, you often have good things to say
here, but this little self-emasculating Alan Alda
impression isn't one of them.

     It takes two to tango.  *That's* what is "just
Argentine tango," not some quaint performance-ballroom
notion that the man's only purpose is to form
a discreet background frame to display the painting
of his dazzling, whirling partner in a $3000 sequined
dress.  And for every woman who makes a man look good,
there's a man who makes some woman look good, big deal.
Ever watch Dancing with the Stars?  Besides, there's
far more to social tango than how you "look" anyway.

     And for your information, we don't wear black to
be invisible, we wear black because we're bad mf's
who'd just as soon stab you as shake your hand.   :)

Huck

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