867  Breaking the rules

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 22:22:12 -0500
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Breaking the rules

I said:

> None of these teachers (there was a list) contradicts each other
> they are all in total agreement with respect to dance and technique.

Frank G.Williams added:

"This is interesting. It was my understanding that several of the most
respected masters met to discuss and mutually define the essential
elements of authentic Tango Argentino. According to the story I heard, when
they
did so they could agree on neither 'vocabulary' nor 'technique'.
Presumably,
the evolutionary nature of the dance (among other things) confounded
their attempt."

The thread was in reference to the fact that the rules set by one instructor
are totally contradicted by other teachers.

This is true, we all have experienced these contradictions while learning to
dance tango.

I was attempting to show that there is a nucleus of "authentic" instructors
that created schools of followers who are fairly consistent in their
teaching. I do not mean that they had agreed about a syllabus or anything
else.

My opinion from my own observation is that they are fairly homogeneous with
respect to technique and lead.
It is only natural that they all have their own steps but they use the same
basic figures: (I repeat this is my opinion).

Tango walk, front and back ochos, right and left turns (giros) , sacadas,
barridas, paradas, etc.
When it comes to boleos, amagues and ganchos most of them will tech and use
them. There are some that will not use this type of adornos. The way to lead
is also fairly homogeneous although some instructors will use the chest more
vs.the right hand or the opposite.

The problem of breaking the rules comes when somebody who teaches salon
style is followed by an instructor who teaches milonguero. There will be
differences in technique, but this is natural as they apply to different
styles.

Frank brings up the fact that Tete calls his style "Salon", this is true but
...the style that Tete dances has many different names depending on people's
preference or neighborhoods, I'll give some examples: Milonguero, salon,
confiteria, del centro, club. All these names can be used in reference to
that style. I personally prefer not to use the term Salon here because for
most people Salon is something different but then Tete has enough authority
so that he may call the style he dances by the name he pleases.

There are some instructors both Argentinean and foreigners that may break
the rules used by most well recognized instructors. The way they dance is
very personal, as tango should be, there is nothing wrong with this. It is
up to the organizer to decide what type of instructor he wants his students
to be exposed to. A simple example would be that while most instructors
teach to keep the feet in contact with the floor, like caressing it,
Mrs.Dinzel (The Dinzels) lift her feet after every step. Some instructors
use different names in reference to the same elements: Lapiz (pencil),
rulo(curl) or even planeo (glide) could be used in reference to the same
move. The choice of the name is also a very personal matter although most
well recognized instructors use the same terminology.
There are instructors like Karen Blake or Kris Morris that teach a form of
tango that I do not recognize as Argentine Tango at all. (just to give a few
examples).

Other instructors that basically teach the same as the ones I mentioned
before are: (I mean in accordance with the old masters)

Orlando Paiva, Danel y Maria, Francisco Santapa, Diego y Carolina, Juan
Bruno, Gavito, Hermanos Misse, Leandro Palau,
Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo, Daniel Trenner, Pablo Inza.

Milonguero Style: Tommy O'Connell.

Here I only mentioned the ones that I know, naturally I cannot give an
opinion about the instructors that I do not know.

In summary: the rules are broken more in appearance than in reality.