361  close embrace or cultural style

Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 23:16:30 -0800
From: david hodgson <tangoman7@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: close embrace or cultural style

My two cents is that this is from two places.
The first (in a broad sense) is external. I see this
as more of a cultural expectation. In the US there are
certain labels put on people who appear to appear to
dance too close too quickly even in a dance as this.
With most of the people I have danced with from B.A.
it seems an expectation that people will dance close
embrace. I also see this in part from the development
of the physical space that you have to move in.
The second (in a broad sense) is internal. I believe
it comes partly from confidence and being comfortable
in ones body.
I can say this is true in that I have had lots of
dances in close embrace with follows that I have never
met and only ever said hello and thank you with.
In my experience the question of close embrace goes
both ways. First that it is a question (always
questions with Tango). Second is the accetance of
dancing close embrace. Some times it is the follow
that chooses not to dance close embrace, sometimes it
is I that makes the choice.

I am not about to go into all the reasons that I see
at this time. For I would fill up my hard drive with
stuff , would bore you all with blathering (where I
would rather have a conversation) and turn this into
intellectualism (where I would rather dance).

David

--- Daniel Smolen <DocDAS@AOL.COM> wrote:

> Bravo Astrid:
> Close embrace may be affected by cultural,
> psychological, and
> temperant but certainly not strongly contrasted
> between the US and Argentina.
> Stephen, come and dance in Philadelphia or NYC and
> you'll see what I mean.
> If a woman doesn't know you she will not immediately
> offer you the intimacy
> of close embrace. Prove your skill and manners,
> sometimes in a matter of
> seconds, and she is yours!
> Dan

=====
Ever thus to the Spirit of the Dance

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