3592  Pedacito de Cielo

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 02:43:21 -0500
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Pedacito de Cielo

Always much room for contentious debate on this subject, but I have to
wonder about the complicated title of "Traditional Close Embrace Salon
Tango". Will we next have "Non-Traditional Close Embrace Salon Tango"?,
or "Traditional Non-Close Embrace Salon Tango"? Or even more
subdivisions? How about non traditional non close embrace non salon
tango?????



As I've grown to understand, in the US, Salon Tango is understood as a
style that alternates between close embrace and open embrace. This style
does not generally degenerate into "fantasia", or even devolve into
"nuevo", but goes from buttons to buttons, to a more v frame, and is
generally danced in an a more upright fashion. This is probably the most
common form of Argentine Tango in the US. To me, there is no "Close
Embrace Salon", since this style incorporates qualities of both closed
and open embrace. This is Salon Tango.



"Close Embrace Tango" can mean many things, but basically involves the
fact that there is ALMOST NEVER a separation between partners. Yes,
there is sometimes a slip and slide to left or right to accommodate
different movements, which involves a "V" formation between partners.
While a Salon dancer can dance close embrace at times, a close embrace
dancer cannot dance Salon, without graduating to the aforementioned
Salon label.



"Milonguero Tango" is very probably a misnomer when regarded from the
Argentine view. As I understand, in Argentina, historically, a
milonguero is one who habituates the milongas. A milonguero there in
Argentina has always been one who is recognized as a frequent attendee
of the milongas, and who is respected and appreciated as a dancer of
Argentine Tango. In the last few years, thanks to Cacho Dante, and
Susana Miller, and others, the definition has changed somewhat in the
US.



Many thanks to Cacho and Susana for introducing "Tango Milonguero" to
the US! I don't know what they call this in Argentina, and I don't care.
I've worked with each very, very extensively over the last five years.
At our last meeting Susana was down to trying to get me to lead without
muscles, and concentrating on "soft feet". I doubt seriously that
anybody in the US has worked more with Susana or Cacho than I have.



My opinion; Tango Milonguero is always "on the buttons, always headlight
to headlight! Yeah, this relationship can change a bit as moves grow
more complicated, but there is NEVER, NEVER, any separation between
chests/sternums. If separation occurs, its because partners have not
learned proper contra-body movement. There is also just enough "lean" to
provide the resistance necessary for both to be able to work. I do not
like the word "lean"; when I'm comfortable with my partner neither she
nor I is "leaning", we are one; we are truly one body. This is
"Milonguero"!



The elemental value of what I've been taught as "Tango Milonguero" is
what I enjoy, and appreciate. Somebody said earlier that milonguero was
about cadence, somebody else said that it's about small steps. Way off
the mark; Tango Milonguero is about feeling. It's about feeling the
music, feeling your partner, adjusting to both, enjoying nice long
pauses, savoring nice simple steps. But above all, in my opinion, Tango
Milonguero is about making my follower feel not only comfortable, but
making her feel like she's in heaven.



Pedacito de Cielo



Regards,



Michael from Texas