506  passing as teachers

Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 12:03:05 EDT
From: Mary Jane Finley <MJWRITER@AOL.COM>
Subject: passing as teachers

Nancy wrote, "They would not dream of passing themselves off as teachers
because they know that the soul of tango dance cannot be taught."

My reply may be a bit off target but it seems like a good time to point out
that unfortunately, there is another aspect to this story.

Not only do many of the men who frequent the milongas of Buenos Aires try to
pass themselves off as teachers, they actually have business cards
identifying themselves as "Professors" of Tango. They prey on foreign women,
charm them with their attention, promise lessons and more for their favors,
and some of them actually get these women to bring them to the United States,
put them up in their homes and promote them HERE as teachers!

The sad part of this scenario is that most of these so-called teachers are
not particularly good dancers, just good con-men. They like to "teach"
flashy footwork and tricky sacadas and eager dancers take it all in thinking
they are on the fast track to Tango. Sadder still is the way the woman feels
when the con-man moves on. I've seen it more than once.

There are plenty of "dancers" willing to pass themselves off as "teachers" --
whether in Buenos Aires or in your own home town. But Tango is a long-term
commitment not to be accomplished with a quick fix or a flashy step. As with
everything, it is up to the buyer to beware.

Mary Jane