453  Encouraging and teaching beginners: Redux

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 13:30:30 -0800
From: Barbara Garvey <barbara@TANGOBAR-PRODUCTIONS.COM>
Subject: Encouraging and teaching beginners: Redux

I've been surprised to note that many teachers, even seasoned (though not
necessarily old) milongueros still teach the initial back step. Al and I
now, after experimenting with various scenarios, teach walking, then the
cadencia, then walking to the cross, in line of dance and with the music. We
emphasize that they need nothing more in order to begin participating in
milongas, that the majority of dancers in Buenos Aires do little more than
these elements plus back ochos.

We approach front ochos more as a common ending to many other movements
rather than a separate (in place) step, and don't even mention the tango
close and the back step *one* until the final class in a beginning series
(so these won't come as a shock when they encounter other teachers or see
them on the dance floor.)

As the class progresses, we try to always point out duplication and
similarity of techniques, and which movements are being introduced for the
first time, in order to simplify the structure of the dance. We do number
the steps of the basic, even in its broken-up form (e.g. 2-5), as handy
tools None of this was clear ro us until we started teaching, after almost
10 years of dancing tango. For this reason we really prefer teaching
beginners, trying to get them on the right track with solid technique and
appreciation of the soul of tango.

Most importantly, we both seek out beginners at dances, complimenting
whatever they are doing well without criticizing weaknesses. Anyone who is
interested in encouraging newcomers might consider devoting a dance or two
per evening to this.

We also urge new students to continue at the beginning level of classes
until they are quite comfortable with basic techniques and can navigate the
dance floor at milongas before continuing with more intricate material. If
we had done that ourselves we would have avoided years of frustration with
combinations beyond our abilities, many of them inappropriate for social
dancing.
Barbara Garvey

Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 11:45:43 +1000
From: John Lowry <john@LOWRYHART.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: Encouraging and teaching beginners

At the last night of a beginners Tango course recently, I approached a
couple in the break between numbers showing the leader how he put a little
more "Dance" into his Tango. I was lightly reprimanded by the well
established tango tutor.

I agree with other comments, Bob. There is another problem and that is if
other students get the message that coaching from the floor is OK than you
get all kinds of advice, good and bad, being passed around. It can really
disrupt a class or workshop.
El Abrazo