3952  Newbie questiion - reading list

Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 10:50:59 -0500
From: Jeff Gaynor <jjg@JQHOME.NET>
Subject: Newbie questiion - reading list

Hi,

I've been doing tango (Argentine close embrace) for about a year and am
starting what will be a long term project to get a better understanding
of it. I was wondering if there was a reading list posted somewhere on
the theory of movements in tango or if someone had a suggestion for some
books or videos that they thought might be really helpful. I've got a
lot of background in various athletic activities so these needn't be
really basic and, as a matter of fact, am trying to find ways to shore
up my understanding from a higher perspective.

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 14:53:27 -0800
From: Michael at Tango Bellingham <michaele@TANGOBELLINGHAM.COM>
Subject: Re: Newbie questiion - reading list

One of my aikido instructors used to say, "All questions will be
answered on the mat."

I think this applies as well to tango - "All questions will be answered
on the piste."

But, as the Zen master would say, I've said too much already....

Michael
Tango Bellingham

Jeff Gaynor wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I've been doing tango (Argentine close embrace) for about a year and am
> starting what will be a long term project to get a better understanding
> of it. I was wondering if there was a reading list posted somewhere on
> the theory of movements in tango or if someone had a suggestion for some
> books or videos that they thought might be really helpful. I've got a
> lot of background in various athletic activities so these needn't be
> really basic and, as a matter of fact, am trying to find ways to shore
> up my understanding from a higher perspective.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Jeff
>

Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 11:28:24 -0500
From: Jeff Gaynor <jjg@JQHOME.NET>
Subject: Fundamentals (was Newbie questiion - reading list)

Hi,

Some of you have said that my questions are too basic. Well, yes and no.
I am trying to nail down fundamentals here rather than basics. What is
the difference?

A fundamental is a essential core component, something without which the
whole cannot be. An example is driving. The fundamentals are steering,
acceleration and braking. You are always doing some subset of these
three things and completely removing one of them makes driving does not
work. Constrast this with basics. Basics are for teaching fundamentals.
Beginners cannot handle the full set of fundamentals initially. Going
with the driving analogy, at one time (at least here in the US) I took
drivers education. The teacher had brake and accelerator pedals plus a
steering wheel on his side of the car too. The basics of acceleration
meant that he'd steer and brake as needed while I practiced
accelerating. Later I steered too and after that braking was introduced,
etc.

I am trying to isolate a set of fundamentals in tango. These are the
sorts of very high level items that should be checked, but are too high
to be taught as techniques. So far this is my partial list

* connection (to partner, floor and music)
* non-opposition to force (following the momentum and letting it resolve)
* body movement (some small set of core stepping)

This is not complete and probably not right, but so far it seems to
help. I've not seen what I think qualifies as a list of such
fundamentals, so if you've got one I'm really interested. If you've got
suggestions they are, as always, more than welcome. The best way to
isolate fundamentals, I think, is too look at several disparate examples
and try to abstract what makes them the same, hence my back ocho question.

Cheers,

Jeff

Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 04:38:58 -1200
From: Michael Ditkoff <tangomaniac@CAVTEL.NET>
Subject: Re: Fundamentals (was Newbie questiion - reading list)

Jeff:
My interpretation is you're asking about basic technique.

Axis, frame, posture, and balance

The feet have to be together. It makes easier to have weight
on one foot when the feet are together. Knees should brush
while moving forward or backward to ensure straight and NOT
diagonal movement. Hips should be pulled back so that weight
is brought forward onto the balls of the feet and the chest
is brought forward for connection.

Most importantly, let tango happen not force tango to
happen.

Hope this helps

Michael
Washington, DC
A few days in NY next week. Long overdue.


Hi,

>
> Some of you have said that my questions are too basic.
> Well, yes and no. I am trying to nail down fundamentals
> here rather than basics. What is the difference?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>

Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 10:34:50 -0700
From: David Liu <dwyliu@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fundamentals (was Newbie questiion - reading list)

>
> I am trying to isolate a set of fundamentals in tango. These are the
> sorts of very high level items that should be checked, but are too high
> to be taught as techniques. So far this is my partial list
>
> * connection (to partner, floor and music)
> * non-opposition to force (following the momentum and letting it resolve)
> * body movement (some small set of core stepping)

Interesting question -- I've given it a lot of thought:
My list (in no particular order):
1) Connection to partner
2) Musicality
3) Body Integrity
By "body integrity" I mean a logic in a body that you see in great
atheletes (sumo wrestlers, for example), but not in sorority girls who
over-arch thier lower back. Hard to learn -- some types of movement
re-education help teach it (Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique). Classical
dance eventually teaches it (modern and jazz more than ballet). I think this
aspect is the most ignored of the 3.
By "musicality" I mean both being on the beat (or deciding to be a hair
behind the beat), interpreting the melody, and dancing within the phrasing.
This is probably best taught through a combination of music performance and
composition. (It isn't how I learned though).
By "Connection to partner" I mean being able to have a relaxed but powerful
lead. Empasizing the correlation of the movement of both you and your
partner through a dynamic pressure between the two of you.
Best,
David