3930  How to teach rhythm? The Contrarian view - Can everything be learned?

Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:00:42 +0000
From: Lucia <curvasreales@YAHOO.COM.AR>
Subject: Re: How to teach rhythm? The Contrarian view - Can everything be learned?

--- Gary Barnes <garybarn@OZEMAIL.COM.AU> escribis:

> I disagree. There is hope for the rhythmically
> challenged. It is
> unethical to make promises you cannot keep, but also
> unethical to tell
> someone they cannot learn something, when the only
> truth is that you
> have not been able (or think you will be unable) to
> teach them.

Gary,

I just decided that I want to climb the (in)famous K2
mountain in the Himalayas(real climb, not being
dragged up by a guide). Any ethical and able alpinist
out there to teach me, to make me overcome my fear of
heights, and promise that I will live to see the roof
of the world, and then tell the story? Certainly
doable, because everyting can be learned, as you say.
Or maybe not?

Lucia

Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 23:43:26 +0900
From: astrid <astrid@RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Subject: Re: How to teach rhythm? The Contrarian view - Can everything be learned?

> I just decided that I want to climb the (in)famous K2
> mountain in the Himalayas(real climb, not being
> dragged up by a guide). Any ethical and able alpinist
> out there to teach me, Certainly
> doable, because everyting can be learned, as you say.

Lucia, I think, you are really overdoing it now. You make tango sound as
though it is something for an exclusive little club, where the rest of the
average mortals don't deserve to be admitted. I can just imagine it: one has
to be at least half Argentine, know all about tango music, better have a
ballet education from the age of three (or maybe not?), be beautiful and
athletic, move like a cat... Or maybe one has to be 60 years old and be able
to look down on the young greenhorns who impudently dare to show up there
from overseas thinking that they can dance? The ultimate message is that
only people like you deserve to be dancing, isn't it?

What you may not know: climbing the Himalaya requires a certain
constitution, being able to stand low oxygene levels and extreme cold, and
years of training in mountain climbing. Fact is that even Reinhold Messner's
own brother died up there (look him up in the dictionary if you don't know
who that is).
You are exaggerating, Lucia. Tango is nothing like this.
Why don't you hold it for a minute, and consider where tango would be if it
was not for all those pathetic "dancers without talent", who keep trying and
just don't get it. Or hang in there even long after they have made a total
fool of themselves, because they weren't "born dancers". Or even people who
just show up for a few nights to check it out, have a bit of fun, and
disappear again. What would happen to all those tango schools, and all those
milongas all over the world? They would go bancrupt and would have to close,
that's what would happen, Lucia. Think about it.

Astrid

P.S.
As an aside: In Japan, cramschools that prepare students for admission exams
to elite schools, have one or two top rate classes to which only certain
students are admitted. The rest of the participants are called "guests" or
"customers" by the general public (outside of the school). Students who are
mediocre and do not have any great chances to get into the best places,but
they are paying customers and keep the cramschools going, and they get
treated just as nicely, and have simpler, less demanding lessons designed
for them, where they can work their way up to be at least average.

Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 08:15:24 -0700
From: Marisa Holmes <mariholmes@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: How to teach rhythm? The Contrarian view - Can everything be learned?

--- Lucia <curvasreales@YAHOO.COM.AR> wrote:

> I just decided that I want to climb the (in)famous
> K2 mountain in the Himalayas(real climb, not being
> dragged up by a guide). .

Right - but you know what? The person who insists on
trying to conquer a dangerous physical challenge that
they are not suited to is risking death - and a
competent teacher would try to dissuade them. The
person who is not a very good dancer, but wants to
keep trying is risking nothing more than frustration
and bumped toes. Maybe they will never dance on
stage. Maybe they will never even be a really good
social dancer. But they may enjoy themselves trying
to learn; they may be a pleasant or a useful person to
have in their dance community; they may have good days
when dancing is a pleasure for them and their
partners; they may turn into the good-natured reliable
guy who will always ask the visiting lady to dance and
carry her safely (if not ecstatically) around the
floor.

It's only dancing. I understand that for some dancers
it is the most important thing in the world and they
just can't bear it if their own dancing is not sublime
- if they don't get to dance that perfect dance with
that perfect partner - if they have to actually see
people on their dance floors who are not beautiful and
talented. But people who feel that way really need to
get a grip on the idea that, although their feelings
are true for them, most of the rest of us are a lot
calmer, a lot more forgiving of our own and other
people's struggles, and a lot easier to get along
with.

Dance is a human expression of feeling and thought -
and partner dance is a complex communication between
two people. At its best it is exquisite, at its worst
it's pretty painful to watch or to do. But in between
there is a tremendously wide range of abilities and
experiences, most of them pleasurable in some degree
- and it is not up to some obsessive snob to say that
if I cannot dance perfectly I should give it up or not
try at all. I am not a trained orator, but I speak.
I am not a professional journalist, but I write. I am
not and never will be a perfect dancer, but I will
dance if I want to!

Marisa