2457  First learning experience

Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 12:49:19 -0400
From: David Allen <dsaj@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: First learning experience

Sergio,

When I started 6 years ago I started taking from American teachers. My
first teacher was milonguero/social in style. After 3 months I started with
another set of teachers who taught more salon style, still social. The
salon style was taught from the "V" out close embrace. Both sets of
teachers emphasized the walk, balance, technique, quality of body movement
as primary with steps being a secondary part of dancing quality tango. I
was also taught that social dancing was between the two partners and not
about showing off. As a leader my job is to give my follower the best dance
I can danced to her level. My main job is to have her feel safe, taken care
of and to give her clear, concise leads. When dancing with a superior
follower, could be a teacher, only do what you can do best. Again give her
a good dance. As a result of my initial teachings I was able to go to
Buenos Aires after a little over 1 year of dancing and dance with them in
the most crowded of milongas. Until I talked with my dance partners in BsAs
it was assumed I was an Argentine they had not seen before. They were very
surprised that I was an American. I did have the priviledge of classes with
Susana Miller prior to going to BsAs. I was blessed with excellent
teachers who understood that tango is not about steps but quality of
movement with communication in the music. I am from Atlanta, Georgia. When
I go to a new city and dance tango and say I am from Atlanta, the automatic
assumption, is that if your from Atlanta you're a quality dancer, leader or
follower. To me that is the validation.

David Allen

1- How and what were you taught during the first ten lessons of tango. Were
you aware that the instructor was teaching a particular tango style? -
Salon, Milonguero, Nuevo Tango, Social dancing, Stage tango. Are you able to
distinguish those styles? what nationality was your instructor of?