507  Intergrading Workshops and Local Classes

Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 14:55:37 -0400
From: Randy Pittman <tango22@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Intergrading Workshops and Local Classes

Brian wrote

>I would be interested in getting comparisons of the frequency of similar
>performances from those who live in other communities of a few hundred
>dancers.

The Miami dance community has at most 150 Tangueros. We perform many more shows than you've mentioned mainly because of Miami's tourism =
industry. Restraunts and night clubs hotels are always looking for entertainment.

>I notice that more frequently it is the TEACHERS who like
>performance, not necessarily the STUDENTS.

Not only do the students want to perform, I'm amazed at the number of them that have their business cards proclaiming to be professors of =
Tango. Usually the worst dancers in the community.

>Since reading this I have been asking every fanatic I meet in the
>Denver/Boulder tango scene how they got their first impression of tango.
>Every one of them reported that it was watching a tango performance, as
>opposed to "stopping in" at a social dance or practica.

I will ask all this week that same question, but most of the people that I know, myself included received the fever from watching either Tango =
Argentino, Tango Passion, Tango X - 2 or one of the local Tango shows.

>What I don't understand is this strange perceived distinction between
>"social tango dancers" and "performance tango dancers", as if you can't be
>one person and enjoy both.

I personally dance 95% close embrace socially. I've added as much close embrace as possible to my show routines.

I can't imagine starting someone off in close embrace. Smooth Ballroom dancing (Foxtrot, Waltz American Tango and Peabody) is dance a close =
position with a pelvis contact. There is no way a new student can start at that level. They need space for their learning mistakes.

Tango Forever

Randy