3527 conflict and collision
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 02:03:11 -0500
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: conflict and collision
Hello List, and Happy Father's Day!
MARISA, yes, of course anytime you see imminent trouble I want my
follower to help. By refusing to step into trouble if necessary, etc,
but if I lead well, you will rarely sense this, since your eyes are
closed! I protect my follower at all costs, but the danger does not come
from those "crawling up our tails"; normally. I can sense them and
negate any danger with no problem; I just make sure that you're never in
a position where they can hurt you when they are present behind me.
In my opinion, and where I appreciate most your help (the tap or squeeze
of your left hand on my back, shoulder, or neck); is when I'm making a
turn and have arranged for plenty of room (having my back to the line of
dance), and somebody decides to take a backstep against the line of
dance, or somebody from an inside lane decides to inhabit the eighteen
inches of space that I've dedicated in which to finish my turn behind me
(into the line of dance, and which space was available half a second
ago). So yes; please help in those situations!!! My favorite teacher
actually teaches this technique in class, amongst all the rest of her
teachings of floorcraft.
LOIS: No, I'm not asking follower to "fix" a situation, just asking her
to help out when dangerous for us and convenient for her. I always
consider myself totally responsible for my partner, but appreciate her
assistance, when called for. And Lois, I disagree with your statement
that "this leader can ruin the reputation of that follower. She can also
be blacklisted by students of this leader" I myself would never allow
any leader, teacher or otherwise, to influence my opinion about a
particular follower's skills or abilities. And I believe that that
teacher's students, while maybe momentarily bedazzled, will very soon
realize that they are only screwing themselves by avoiding the
experience of dancing with others outside of their normal group.
I myself like the outside lane; I'm a milonguero. But I don't ever allow
too much space to develop in front that I inhibit those behind. I was in
fact sort of criticized once in Buenos Aires for doing six or seven
turns around the floor during a tanda at Lo de Celia. I never passed
anyone; I was just using the space available, enjoying myself, staying
in the outside lane, and reveling in the freedom of having some room to
dance with no worries. I can dance on two tiles, but I can also advance
as space becomes available. (Thank you Huck, and Marisa!) Do not invade,
but do not impede!!!
LEONARDO; I agree wholeheartedly; I will often move to avoid conflict,
but sometimes move to confront, and absorb it. At times, you have to
make a stand, especially here in Houston where we have more than several
so-called leaders who have been dancing tango for ten years, have not
had a lesson in eight years, and only dance with newbies and beginners
that they can pull out of the audience that night. They have no desire
to dance tango for the love of tango, only to enhance, and gratify,
their own desire, which really has nothing to do with tango at all,
Argentine or otherwise. It's mostly laughable, but sometimes totally
sickening. You can identify them immediately, because they look at their
own feet, and push and pull their partner around with their arms.
LEONARDO; yes I also agree with your assertion that many women let
idiotic (shithead) leaders discourage them. "Women should always realize
any leader who resorts to verbal instruction and criticism is admitting
without knowing it that he is still a beginner." (and a dumbass)
TANGUERAS, PLEASE NOTE; during a Milonga, any leader who tries to
instruct, guide, or change your style of dance verbally should be
immediately sent to the curb to wait for a cab.
CHAS; Hey, how's it going???? Yup, they're there, and maybe they won't
be influenced, but we can't ignore their effect. Yeah, they never run
into me, but I know how to stay out of their way, and damn, they can
really get in the way, huh? But they are not Peter Pan, unfortunately;
they are real people. I take heart in the fact that while there are
several in the Denver area that exhibit and use the nuevo/fantasia
techniques, even during crowded milongas, and crashing through to the
outside lane,,,,,,there are only several, and can be contained. Here in
Houston it's completely the other way around.
NICK/ISAAC; if you're listening! I really do highly respect and admire
your skills and abilities.....you and your friends do some amazing
shit!!!! Maybe one of these days I'll be up to learning some of the
stuff that ya'll find natural. But jeez, guys, please try to keep it in
the middle, and don't make your friends feel like they are in "ground
zero".
IGOR; dancing wild? Colliding all the time? Wake up! You can't dance
responsibly and collide with anybody repeatedly. And if you go for the
open space in front of me, I'll lead a huge-ass boleo into your nether
regions! "That supposed to be a joke"!
But I'll stop and help you up afterwards!
Warm regards to all, no matter your style.......
What I look for is a respect of the culture of Argentine Tango, its
music, its life!
Warm Regards,
Michael from Houston
