2043  style and the nature of dance

Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 12:57:57 -0600
From: "Frank G. Williams" <frankw@MAIL.AHC.UMN.EDU>
Subject: style and the nature of dance

Hi Friends,

Here's a little rambling as I avoid an unpleasant job that awaits...

Sergio wrote:

>>So that a person will not be disappointed when after spending time and

money expecting to be taught "social classical tango" is faced with
"alternative tango" or the opposite.<<


A student's expectations are, it seems to me, based on their personal
definition of 'dance'. When you think about it, 'dance' is no easier to
define than 'music'! In music, what is the point of perfectly playing notes
that were written 200 years ago? Obviously, it's something that people
value, they study at length, and (thankfully) attain excellence.

Concerning dance, what are the qualities that people *hope* to learn from
tango instructors? For the moment, let's leave out the musicality question
- the interface between music and movement.

Tango technique, like dance technique in general, is a discipline. A set of
ideals (that vary among instructors) defines what is 'good' personal
movement and what is (for lack of a better term) 'sloppy'. [We must not
forget that physical prowess contributes to technique, but in tango (as
opposed to, say, ballet) the contribution is relatively unspectacular.]
IMHO, questions of technique are both more fundamental and different from
questions of style.

Defining tango by elements of style is common. It's what Sergio suggests
should be advertised so that workshop participants don't waste time and
money. This seems to be common. Why? In trying to distill this question
to it's pure elements, lets remember the obvious that dance (like music) is
*nothing* without freedom. Without freedom, it's no fun to dance. To many,
dancing *implies* freedom. Those who focus on learning style, IMHO, think
that they are adding freedom to their tango. ...one element at a time...
linear boleos, follower's sacadas, etc., etc.... Whose bag of tricks is the
biggest??? This 'move' goes in the Tango Nuevo bag, that 'move' goes in the
Milonguero bag... To newcomers, the disciplines among Tango styles are
certainly more obvious than the discipline inherent to individual technique.
Moreover, the freedoms of one versus another style are very easily
appreciated - the more steps you memorize, the more 'freedom' you have to
combine and shuffle them!

Of course, there are higher freedoms to consider. They include attaining a
sweet connection, finding appropriate musicality in whatever your situation,
and higher pursuits of taste, culture and artistic expression. Yet, at each
level there is a discipline that defines the freedom. Debussy's 'Claire Du
Lune' comes to mind. It's defined by the notes, right? Yet, the
transcendent pianist can make the notes disappear. [If a few notes are
muffed, though, you might feel you've been slapped ;-) ]

I, for one, think distinctions among 'style' are so overblown. Although new
students generally want to adhere to some stylistic discipline, it often
distracts from the almost universal need for more basic discipline. At some
point, students should be told that they know enough about style and they
need to study *movement* [wherein much more freedom can be found, IMHO].
And I know many of you agree that other freedoms that transcend 'style' are
the ones that put the fascination in tango. These even extend to codes of
behavior - where the freedom to feel "a new lover every three minutes" (or
15...) requires mastery of certain social disciplines above and beyond
dancing.

My message, then, is this. Each of us perceives the discipline and freedoms
of tango differently. Many of our discussions blur or distort them,
comparing the freedom of apples to the discipline of oranges ;-). Whether
we're critiquing other's dancing or sharing our own approaches... Whether
we're walking alone at the mirror or totally lost with our partner in 'Desde
al Alma'... At every level (for leaders and followers alike) there is
*both* discipline and freedom.

... now, that *ANNOYING* job in the lab!!! :-(

Saludos,

Frank in Minneapolis


Frank G. Williams, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
612-625-6441

Department of Neuroscience
6-145 Jackson Hall
321 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
205 Veterinary Science
1971 Commonwealth Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108