3054  I am new to this list, but I used to post here many years ago in the beginning days of tango in 1997.

Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 21:55:38 -0600
From: Derik Rawson <d.rawson@RAWSONWEB.COM>
Subject: I am new to this list, but I used to post here many years ago in the beginning days of tango in 1997.

Dear All:

I am new to this list, but I used to post here many years ago in the
beginning days of tango in 1997. I feel that I have to say a few
things now that I am here living and dancing in Houston again for
awhile.

I feel that I will be attacked, so before that happens, to protect
myself somewhat, I just want to say that Michael Figart II is not a
friend of mine and neither is Joan Bishop, the person that he keeps
promoting. I wish them luck, but I do not agree with their approach
to tango at all. I think that they are both much too critical of
other dancers, and are maybe not all that good themselves. I myself
am not that good a dancer, but at least I am not critical of others.
I try my best to encourage people to enjoy themselves first and maybe
learn how to dance later.

For the record, Houston has many wonderful people here dancing tango
from many different countries, who know more about tango than any of
us. We could be learning a lot from them, but many of these dancers
are very intimidated by the self appointed "American" experts and are
too polite and nice to speak up. They just recede into the woodwork,
and sometimes stop coming to tango altogether. Iliya who now dances
at Crossroads Coffee was one of these people for awhile, but he
finally came back to tango. I am sure that there are many others
like him. To me this is a very sad thing.

Houston is supposed to be an international city of the future, not a
provincial cowtown. I hope that things improve here soon and we
become much more encouraging and open to others...more worldly. We
loose dancers here everyday because they are upset. Someone is
always around to tell them that they are not perfect. This is not a
good thing.

Michael Figart II in particular should remember that the girl he
dances with all the time, Bellita, from Brazil was introduced to
tango, not by himself, but by me, many years ago at Cafe Brazil. She
has said many times that she would never have danced tango if someone
was not there to encourage her in the beginning. She also complained
that he bumped into me from behind two weeks ago at the Continental
Club and that it was not my fault, so she wonders why he says that I
am ALWAYS at fault on the dance floor, taking up space...lol.
Interesting... What is going on here. Things need to change. I
hope that they do and soon.

Anyway, I will try to post here and stay out of trouble, but it will
probably not happen...lol. Everyone have a great day.

Sorry to introduce myself this way, but I felt that it was necessary,
so people know where I stand. Thank you for your time.

PS- I am a native Houstonian.

PPS- I promise that I will never repost private E-mails to this or
any other public forum or list, so feel free to E-mail me anytime in
the strictest confidence. All private conversations will remain
private.


William Derik Rawson

--
W. Derik Rawson
d.rawson@rawsonweb.com
https://www.rawsonweb.com
d.rawson@cal.berkeley.edu
d.rawson@haasalum.berkeley.edu
713-522-0888 Landline to Cell Phone Direct
281-754-4315 Landline Voice/Fax