3411 campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 16:00:17 -0300
From: Janis Kenyon <jantango@FEEDBACK.NET.AR>
Subject: campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
Last night was the seventh qualifying round at Parakultural in Salon
Canning. At midnight, when the competition was to begin, there were only
two couples signed up. Once again, staff went to every table to solicite
the participation of other dancers. The judges were Ernesto Balmaceda,
Eduardo Arquimbau, and a young woman. It should be noted that Ernesto
taught a class in Canning before the milonga, so it's possible that his
students may have competed. He should have excused himself from judging if
that were the case.
An hour later there were six couples signed up to compete. It was obvious
that most of them made last minute decisions to compete because their
clothing was awful, even though it is not considered by the judges. The
staff informed me that after six qualifying rounds, there are 15 couples in
the semi-finals. Do the math. Fifteen is 20% of the total number of
couples who have participated so far in the competition. People aren't
signing up to compete. Why not? Everyone says, look at who the judges
selected to win the world tango competition. The competition isn't about
how well you dance, it's about who you are to the judges. I have to agree.
After the judges deliberated, they wanted to see two couples on the floor
for another round. No. 5 was the one couple who danced on the beat of the
music, followed the line of dance, and stayed together in the embrace, as
specified in the rules of the competition. No. 6 was probably selected
because the guy is a friend of one of the judges. I was prepared to have a
discussion with the judges if No. 6 won the round--they finished in a stage
pose. Couple No. 5 was selected, and the popular vote (33 of 95 votes)
allowed a young couple to continue to the semi-finals in June.
Janis Kenyon
School of the Milongueros
Buenos Aires
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 23:20:44 +0200
From: Christian Lüthen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
On 11 May 2005 at 16:00, Janis Kenyon wrote:
> People aren't
> signing up to compete. Why not? Everyone says, look at who the judges
> selected to win the world tango competition. The competition isn't about
> how well you dance, it's about who you are to the judges. I have to agree.
By chance and coincidence we were able to attend the finals for the 1st
world championships of tango de salon in Buenos Aires back in 2003. The
winners weren't the worst, put it that way. But we never understood
(dancingwise, allthough they were not too bad either) why the german
couple became 2nd. Only reason we could figure out were: great for tango-
tourism promotion. Also we heard that they frequented the right 'in-
teachers'.
Well: we still loved the night as we had Orq. Beba Pugliese, Orq. de
Escuela, Los Reyes and Sexteto Major to enjoy playing live for us ... :-))))
Happy (self)dancing to everyone!
Christian
christian@eTanguero.net
https://www.eTanguero.net/
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 08:11:31 +0900
From: astrid <astrid@RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Subject: Re: campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
> > People aren't
> > signing up to compete. Why not? Everyone says, look at who the judges
> > selected to win the world tango competition. The competition isn't
about
> > how well you dance, it's about who you are to the judges. I have to
agree.
>
Or, in general, depending on who are the judges.
I remember that music competiton in BA a few years ago, where one of the
judges chose his own orchestra as the best and several of his songs as the
best of the year. I think, it was Quinteto real, and Horacio Salgan.
I have observed in Tokyo and other places, that the student the Argentine
teacher chooses publicly to do a demo with at a milonga (supposively for her
outstanding skills) usually happens to be the one with the most money.
Astrid
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 12:02:50 -0400
From: andrea <ako31@NYC.RR.COM>
Subject: Re: campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
as an american i have suffered a lifetime of competition that leads to
nothing of any value- at home or abroad.
as an artist i refused to make art a competitive sport, as an art
education administrator i removed competition from all exhibitions, and
as a parent i encouraged my sons to do their best - not in comparison
to others.
in competition there are winners and losers, us and them, and all
judging is subjective.
i am not comfortable with tango, a private experience that is done in
public, put into the arena of competitive games.
we all have our favorites whom we like to watch, dance with, study
from. why not just be satisfied with the doing and not
being the better or best at something that calls for anything but?
!
andrea in nyc
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 09:16:22 -0700
From: Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG>
Subject: Re: campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
Andrea,
Very well said, I feel the same way.
Carlos Rojas
El Morocho
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 8:03 AM
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
as an american i have suffered a lifetime of competition that leads to
nothing of any value- at home or abroad.
as an artist i refused to make art a competitive sport, as an art
education administrator i removed competition from all exhibitions, and
as a parent i encouraged my sons to do their best - not in comparison
to others.
in competition there are winners and losers, us and them, and all
judging is subjective.
i am not comfortable with tango, a private experience that is done in
public, put into the arena of competitive games.
we all have our favorites whom we like to watch, dance with, study
from. why not just be satisfied with the doing and not
being the better or best at something that calls for anything but?
!
andrea in nyc
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 09:19:16 +1000
From: Christine Biles <cbiles@THESENTIENTGROUP.COM>
Subject: Re: campeonata de tango continues in BsAs
Oh how well said! My sentiments exactly. Can you imagine a dancesport
of tango!
Christine
-----Original Message-----
