336  Appreciation of MACADAM TANGO

Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 21:11:07 -0500
From: Daniel Saindon <gardien@TANGO.MONTREAL.QC.CA>
Subject: Appreciation of MACADAM TANGO

Good evening

The film & the music of MACADAM TANGO is a solid attempt
to reach the mainstream of POP music with TANGO,
if you can imagine this is possible...

Last night was presented on the French network
of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
a one hour film ( 50 min ) on the music of MACADAM TANGO
composed by the pianist of QUARTANGO, Richard Hunt
with two entries from Juan Carlos Caceres, one of them is
TANGO NEGRO (well known in the milongas of Mtl).

The French lyrics of MACADAM TANGO are worthy of attention.
They were composed by Marie-André Brière who also wrote
the scenario of this film. We do not see a lot of presence from the
musicians of
QUARTANGO because the film is centered on the choregraphies &
improvisaitons of
many tango teachers and professional dancers from the tango community of
Montreal.
The dancers of Mtl have a nice & natural way of dancing that is a tribute
to the quality of dancers of Mtl.

MACADAM TANGO is a splendid production that makes plenty of references
to the world of tango. Some hard Liners may find there are
not enough authentic references but let us not fool ourselves
because the non-aficionado will find plenty of cultural references
that are not North American either and he may find it difficult to identify
himself with the main characters of this play

Nevertheless, the feeling is that the music was composed
as an attempt to reach mainstream
This alone should provide a reason for celebration.
The musicians of QUARTANGO are good.
I like the voice of Therez Montcalm. Her voice has the necessary
dark nuances of the form. The camera, the lighthings, the stage,
are carefully designed and occasional indirect references to the
movie TANGO of Carlos Saura only to make us realize how well
Macadam tango could stand on its own.

I hope you can see it someday. This movie was produced by the
Entreprises de Creations PANACOM. I do not know about its
availibility. Simply ask one of your Montreal friend to provide you
with a copy of his copy next time you come to Mtl.

Daniel Saindon
gardien@tango.montreal.qc.ca

Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 12:45:44 -0500
From: Khaled El-Hage <khaled.elhage@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Re: Appreciation of MACADAM TANGO

Daniel Saindon wrote :

> MACADAM TANGO is a splendid production that makes plenty of references
> to the world of tango.

Allow me to disagree.

I've been waiting for the broadcasting of MACADAM TANGO for a year now. But to
my disappointment, and despite the noticeable effort to be creative, I was
really underwhelmed with the choreographies, bored with the story line, and
shocked with such clichis as "[...] dans le tango c'est l'homme qui contrtle
tout; la femme n'a qu'` se soumettre et jouer de subtilitis".

The main problem tough remains the dancing. Have you seen the lifts during
"tango negro"? The dancers were really not solid at all and I don't even dare
to think about elegance. Have you seen the main character solo dance during
the same piece? What was that? There was even one guy who lost balance during
a parada!! Have you seen the men's fight? Was that dancing at all?

Man! I'm disappointed and almost angry. I know the tango in Montreal is better
than that. I've seen Boby Thomson on stage before and he was way more
spectacular. What happened? Were they under time constraints or was it
something else? If somebody has answers, I would really like to know.

I agree that the cameraworks was ok, the music was good, and the voice of
Thirhze Montcalm had something tangoish to it, but the main subject was the
dancing and the dancing was bad.

A very bad content in a very good container, doesn't make it for me.

Daniel Saindon wrote :

> Simply ask one of your Montreal friend to provide you
> with a copy of his copy next time you come to Mtl.

As for the copy of my copy, please don't ask. I already gave away my copy.

khaled.