1723  Milonguero, simplicity?

Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 10:09:59 -0400
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Milonguero, simplicity?

Robert Says:

>"I differ with Sergio on this point. He claims that milonguero is very

simple and very limited. This is an often repeated misconception about
milonguero. Anyone who has spent time in Buenos Aires watching the
older dancers of this style knows this."

I agree with Robert. The dance style is not simple or limited per se, it is
only when compared to other more complex forms or styles.
Milonguero is a beautiful, gratifying style, it is easier to learn than
salon, it gets you dancing on the floor in a shorter time, it is preferred
to dance to certain orchestras, it may allow you to understand the music
more easily, it is ideal for crowded floors. The apilado has a special
feeling.

I spend a fair amount of my free time at the milongas in Buenos Aires.
I can say that milonguero is simple and limited only if we compare it with
salon. When compared to the average ballroom dance it certainly is rich and
complex.
Most people are happy repeating certain moves all night long. The milonga
has a lot of energy due to the alternating tandas, tangos, milongas,
valses, salsa, merengue, swing.

>"It has only

recently been taken to the stage, in a show intended to showcase real
milongueros (by this it is meant those older dancers who have spent a
large part of their lives dancing tango. Those recognized as
milongueros in Buenos Aires)."

Some old milongueros improvised on stage to dance without any choreography,
my humble opinion:
It is like going to the zoo to see sparrows and hens. if you are lucky you
may see a cat . :)) Has any one seen the show? I believe that somebody wrote
about it in the list.

>" This then leads to the second reason that milonguero is perceived as

very simple and very limited. There aren't many people in North America
who have the experience with milonguero to dance a more complex dance."

That may be true but I have gone to milonguero workshops, with great
announcements "intended only for advanced dancers", workshops given by the
ones that are supposed to be the best instructors in the whole world of this
style. They are still teaching the same few moves that they were teaching
ten years ago. Here I could be told that the instructor was adjusting to the
intended audience, I am willing to accept that but...I am not convinced yet.

There is a limitation in the fact that you dance in a crowded room and
apilado. This closeness to other people and to your own partner has to
impose certain limitations. You will have to agree with that, at the very
least. Limitations that in certain places are needed but that in others are
self-imposed. (Most places in North America).

In my opinion it does not matter if you are an old or a new milonguero the
moves are:

Walking forward, two slow steps, followed by three steps: one forward (lt)
two side to side (rt - lt). A (lt) slightly backwards to restart the
sequence. Some balanceo, side to side waiting for space to appear. Back
ochos, walk to step #4 of the base and come back for an ocho cortado. Turn
right, turn left. Some turning rocking step. One isolated sacada on the way
to a right turn. Walking forward with little syncopations. You could do a
calesita. Walking forward with rocking steps, change of front.

You can do many other moves if you have room.

It requires a lot of skill to dance apilado, to the music, navigating the
floor properly, I agree with Robert here. It could be very romantic. It
probably has more moves than the average ballroom dance.

So the limitation depends on against what you compare it. In reference to
Salon which is the parameter I used, I have no doubt it is more limited.
But then who needs to know one hundred different moves after all.

There are many Salon clubs where you are not allowed to do boleos, amagues
or ganchos. Francisco Santapa (to give an example), a very elegant dancer,
an old milonguero, has groups where the students are required to dress
formally and to dance with extreme elegance without doing the above
mentioned ornaments. Francisco will be a resident instructor in Detroit in
the near future.

I will probably see Robert at the Cacho Dante workshop in Cleveland next
month. I will officiate as translator. I am curious to see it, since I am
familiar with Tete, Tomy O'Connel and Susana Miller. I do not know Cacho. I
will retake this discussion after that workshop.

Summary: Milonguero is not limited or simple per se. The simplicity arise if
one compares it to Salon.
The style we chose to dance has to do more with our own personality than
with anything else, including simplicity vs. complexity.

Somebody could argue that simplicity is a virtue.