5790 To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a good
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:02:18 +1100
From: Myk Dowling <politas@gmail.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a good
dance?
To: tango-l@mit.edu
Vince Bagusauskas wrote:
> More importantly, in the last few days I have been in correspondence with
> Dierdre which made me take stock on: nuevo, life in BsAs, gringos and the
> dominance of leaders navel gazing on Tango-L, whereas all she wants is a
> bloody good dance. Maybe one day Dierdre we can can catch-up and see if I
> can measure up.
>
This is a good point. I can talk for hours about what it's like as a
leader; what I'd like to hear from this list is what I can do to make
things more enjoyable for the ladies I dance with. Here's a few
questions to start things off. Replies from ladies/followers are
particularly desired here.
How firm an embrace do you like? There's a big range between a firm hug
and a gentle arm resting on your back. What's best, or what
circumstances make different options right at the time?
Ganchos, colgadas, volcadas, etc - are they fun to be led into? How many
in a dance is good?
What's better, a dance with lots of changes of direction and swirling
around, a dance stepping only forward and side steps, but really
following the rhythm, a mix of both, or some other focus?
Leaders get to choose the kind of dancing they like to do, and followers
pretty much have to make do with what's being offered. So what exactly
does make for a "bloody good dance"?
Myk,
in Canberra
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:32:55 +1000
From: June es <esjune@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a
good dance?
To: tango-l <tango-l@mit.edu>
Myk, your questions deserve some response. Here's my humble opinion.
Embrace.
1. When a leader's embrace is gentle but firm, this provides a sense of security to the follower. When a follower feels secure, that person can follow you better. Gentle and firm sound like a paradoxical situation but I think of being a baby held in someone's arms and feeling secure because the hold is gentle but firm.
2. I also like an embrace that is flexible, allowing the follower to move within the framed space, even in a close embrace. Let me suggest that you think how you like to be held for three minutes or so, and you get the idea that you must be allowed to breath in and out freely when you are in that hold. I always imagine the bandoneon's expansion and compression which is undoubtedly an exaggerated way of looking at how the embracing arm can allow the framed space (and the follower in it) to "breath".
Fun moves.
They are fun, but the leader must gauge the follower's ability to execute the moves without injury to both dancers and those around them. I enjoy them myself but only if I am confident that the leader has the correct timing and stability to support me. Skill is required from both dancers.
Music, music, music.
This factor determines whether you walk simply or swirl busily. Let the music be your guide, and respect those around you while lose yourself in the music. I can talk forever about musicality, but I won't do so here.
What's regarded a good dance?
I dare say it depends on one's mood, so it can vary from one moment to another. At 1am at a milonga I am happy to relax into soft movements. But if a vals is played, I am prepared to dance more expressively. If a leader is sensitive and picks up on the follower's ability and mood, the leader can allow the follower more freedom to determine how she implements his lead. It's about give and take - a converstaion between two people.
I hope this helps.
Take a peek at other people's pay and perks Check out The Great Australian Pay Check
https://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/157639755/direct/01/
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:33:42 -0400
From: Barbra <buffmilonguera@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a
good dance?
To: tango-l@mit.edu
I have said it before in this forum - but for me, as a follower, the
essence of tango is a warm embrace (I use the baby-holding analogy all
the time), confident walk and musicality - that's it. Everything else
- the fancy stuff - is fun only when well and safely done, and it's
tango only if the basic three elements are there. Otherwise, it's
something, but it's not tango - to me.
When new folks show up at milongas for the first time, I like to ask
them who they think is the "best" on the floor. Invariably they pick
the folks doing the ganchos, high boleos, lots of kicking, etc. When I
ask them again after they've actually been dancing for a while,
especially followers, they have usually changed their minds and enjoy
the connection and quiet, intimate expression that I think of as tango.
barbra
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wed, Oct 14, 2009 7:32 pm
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] To the ladies on Tango-L - What makes for a good
dance?
Myk, your questions deserve some response. Here's my humble opinion.
Embrace.
1. When a leader's embrace is gentle but firm, this provides a sense of
security
to the follower. When a follower feels secure, that person can follow
you
better. Gentle and firm sound like a paradoxical situation but I think
of being
a baby held in someone's arms and feeling secure because the hold is
gentle but
firm.
2. I also like an embrace that is flexible, allowing the follower to
move within
the framed space, even in a close embrace. Let me suggest that you
think how you
like to be held for three minutes or so, and you get the idea that you
must be
allowed to breath in and out freely when you are in that hold. I always
imagine
the bandoneon's expansion and compression which is undoubtedly an
exaggerated
way of looking at how the embracing arm can allow the framed space (and
the
follower in it) to "breath".
Fun moves.
They are fun, but the leader must gauge the follower's ability to
execute the
moves without injury to both dancers and those around them. I enjoy
them myself
but only if I am confident that the leader has the correct timing and
stability
to support me. Skill is required from both dancers.
Music, music, music.
This factor determines whether you walk simply or swirl busily. Let the
music be
your guide, and respect those around you while lose yourself in the
music. I can
talk forever about musicality, but I won't do so here.
What's regarded a good dance?
I dare say it depends on one's mood, so it can vary from one moment to
another.
At 1am at a milonga I am happy to relax into soft movements. But if a
vals is
played, I am prepared to dance more expressively. If a leader is
sensitive and
picks up on the follower's ability and mood, the leader can allow the
follower
more freedom to determine how she implements his lead. It's about give
and take
- a converstaion between two people.
I hope this helps.
Take a peek at other people's pay and perks Check out The Great
Australian Pay
Check
https://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/157639755/direct/01/
