3627  Ego, style et. al.

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 16:55:40 EDT
From: Bill King <Euroking@AOL.COM>
Subject: Ego, style et. al.

Being new to this list and relatively new to Tango (2 years on the later) it
intrigues me to read the diversity of thought and opinion expressed here.
Several things strike me as read the posts. One is: why is Tango so interesting
and two, why is it so addicting.

I must add that learning to dance has always proven to be a challenge for me,
until I was introduced to Argentine Tango. My wife on the other hand saw
Tango as being very difficult to learn. I found, however, Tango to be easier to
learn, but the more I did learn the more I realized that I seem to know less.
But the direction was positive. Early lessons taught patterns, because if
the student doesn't early on feel like they are learning something, the might
not come back. I learn this from 15 years of teaching downhill skiing.

My epiphany came when my instructor told me that Argentine Tango only had
three steps: forward back and to the side. He said that there are variations but
basically if you think at this level, then when floor circumstances occur you
know that one step (or no step) is all you have to worry about. Thus you will
always have almost infinite flexibility to adapt. This is a simple approach
but it worked for my mind. It took away multi-step patterns that if
interrupted would cause frustration.

The second point he made was "The lead is always right." However, with this
power of being always right, came an equally powerful responsibility, and that
was it was always the leads responsibility to allow the follow to look good.
You could not make her look good but you could make her look bad, and that was
not acceptable. The point was to look good, but both have to look good and
you can only achieve this through empathy you both have to share each other's
feelings and recognize the deficiencies and balance them between yourselves. In
the world of learning this presents problems as most likely you both aren't
always on the same page.

It is a continuum, but it is a learning continuum. As we progress, either as
a couple or individually on this path of learning and experiencing the music,
the movement and the thrill of engaging in Tango, we must keep in mind we are
always learning and never are masters. Others may consider some masters, but
keep in mind it should always be someone else's opinion and not your own.
Thus we can learn from all teachers, some more than others and some less, and
that balance will very from time to time and student to student.

People have told me, and they are people I respect, certain teachers are this
style or that style and they are more or less demanding or unforgiving. But
to me, I will learn something because that is my objective. I might not learn
the pattern or the teacher's prime objective but I will always leave the
class with something more than I entered with. I may not return to that
particular teacher, but I guarantee that I did learn. Also, if they are teaching and
have been for a while, that are imparting despite their style and attitude
something of value to somebody or they would not continue to find clients.
Criticism is helpful within this forum as it helps me decide what my learning
objective might be, if I get the opportunity to take a lesson from that individual.
I won't avoid, but will adjust my expectations prior to the lesson.

The seemingly infinite variety of music and ability offered by Tango is what
I believe is the root cause of my addiction.

Just some thoughts

Bill King