3682  Brussel Sprouts and Styles

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 18:12:57 -0500
From: Susan Munoz <susanmunoz@9DOTSOLUTIONS.COM>
Subject: Brussel Sprouts and Styles

Earier it was said ".... Some of our biggest pleasures are drawn from
people watching, dance watching, tanguero/a watching AND judging what we
see - superficially while comparing with our ingrained values. *** The
corollary of this short exposition is that you shall feel free judging
Tango styles to your heart's content *** ..." Comments were also made
that indicated a follower needed to learn certain certain styles.

While I was advised by a highly respected instructor that as a follower,
women have better chances of dancing more if they know both open and
closed embrace styles, it is still a choice. We can choose whether or
not to ask and whether or not to accept a dance invitation. We can
choose to become as proficient as possible in one style or to learn a
little about a lot.

BUT......, what is concerning, as it relates to styles, is that it seems
there's often more -- not always, of course -- to the infamous debate
about styles. It seems that serious problems can start when people
start trying to force their judgments on others. The issues involving
styles seems to often pit dancers and dance communities against each
other. People start engaging in certain "normal" behavior which often
includes a tendency to have a need to be right and hence, the by-product
of that is to make others wrong. Fighting within the local tango
community begins, boycotting of workshops start, name throwing
commences, and numerous head games are played. Irreparable damage
occurs, and everyone loses: the dancers, the instructors, the
organizers. Outsiders come in and they don't know exactly what's going
on but they sure can feel the tension and negative energy and they only
know that it doesn't feel good to be there. Yet, many dancers don't
want that and it clearly isn't healthy for growing a tango community
where all should be free to choose their preferred style without
inflicting it on others -- including their dance partner.

It seems inappropriate to even think that I can dictate to a person what
their style preference should be. That would be like my saying to you
that I like brussel sprouts; therefore, you have to like brussel sprouts
and oh, by the way, it has to be creamed brussel sprouts because that's
the right way to fix them because ask me, I know what's best for you!
(Now, personally, I don't know why anyone would like brussel sprouts,
and I don't know anything about them except (to me) they are nasty,
shriveled up little green cabbages that stink, but if you want to sit at
my table and have creamed brussel sprouts, please, go right ahead, as
long as you don't make me cook them, eat them, or put them on my plate.
Notwithstanding an occasional gag reflex you may have to deal with, you
won't have any problems.)

I've seen certain open styles danced in a milonga where it's never
interferred and I've seen it danced where it ruined the evening for many
who have travelled a lot way to attend the event. Short of dictating
floorcraft, is there a way that a milonga can be held so that all people
can dance their preferred style? How is this accomplished on a
relatively small and/or challenging dance floor such as the steel beam
in the center? Should milongas coupled with a workshop be restricted to
attendees of the workshop only?

Signed, (according to one person) one of those "older people from years
before"