1359  Rejection-Hypersensitivity & the arithmetic of Social Tango

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 02:46:53 EDT
From: Arthur Greenberg <AHGberg@AOL.COM>
Subject: Rejection-Hypersensitivity & the arithmetic of Social Tango

Hi Listeros:
Hyper-sensitivity to declinations when one is asked to dance can be a
devastating psychological blow, depending on the circumstances. A simple, "No
Thank you!" should be adequate. Sometimes, however, it is far from adequate.
One should use a declination IMHO as carefully as one would use bullets in a
pistol to discharge into the forehead of unsuspecting victims.
First, let me observe that all declinations are not given (meant to be) as
"rejections" and I would suggest that neophytes in the social environment be
better prepared for acceptances as well as declinations (or vice versa). If one
is really very sensitive it is quite understandable that the person who
receives a declination takes it as a personal insult......and why not? It is a
very personal act to approach another person at a dance and request a dance!
Holding a person in an "abrazo" should be considered (if you haven't given it
much thought) as quite a personal thing. There are people who need to gather a
large quantity of "resolve" before they can get up enough courage to ask
another person to dance, particularly in a public place (as a milonga), and one
needs (is required) to introduce them-selves to the new person in this
encounter. Many long-experienced dancers might take the touching of another person's
body "for granted". Well I would advise those dancers to "rethink" their
attitude and perhaps make an adjustment in just how casual ( intensity) they
should be when contemplating more deeply on this subject.

THE ARITHMETIC OF SOCIAL TANGO
I rarely decline a person who asks! I am considered as an excellent leader
by most of the ladies. This is part of the problem. I have only a certain
limited amount of stamina to bring to the dance floor. My limit on the evening
at a Milonga is perhaps 15 to 18 Tangos.
I have come to know the names of at least 25 eligible women (followers) who
attend our milongas on a regular basis. Obviously there is a numerical
shortage. I usually attend a milonga with my wife and another very close friend
of my wife's. I get severe complaints from my wife should I not dance at
least 1/3 of the Tangos with her and I do not question her right to let me know of
her dissatisfaction. I need to dance at least 1/3 of the dances with my
wife's friend. That leaves only a half dozen (aprox 6) dances left for all other
ladies. There are at least 6 ladies that I really am required to dance with
and with whom I have a nice dance relationship with. That leaves some
substantial number of ladies who I am obliged to apoligize to at the end of the
evening (for failing to dance with them) and promise to do better next week (or the
next time I meet them) .

I present the above simply as an observation; certainly not as a complaint.
I also do not seek a remedy. I take my vitamins daily and try to get enough
rest. I promise to try to do better and keep myself in better condition so
my Tango encounters will be enjoyable to "the last drop"! Honestly, Ladies! I
do the best I can!

Sincerely,
Arturo
West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
P.S. I will be 72 on my next birthday!

Date: Mon, 01 May 2006 17:35:29 +0000
From: "Sergio Vandekier" <sergiovandekier990@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Social tango
To: tango-l@mit.edu

I think that at this point it is important to define 'Social Tango'.

As you know the first division of tango in Argentina is Salon (the one done
socially at the salons or clubs) and Stage (the one performed for
exhibitions or on stage).

IMO when people gather to socialize and dance they are doing 'social
dancing' irrespective of the style they are doing.

So people may gather to do Salon Open embrace or Nuevo tango and this is
Social dancing.

People may do an exhibition in close embrace tango and this is Stage tango.

What do you think?

Sergio

Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 14:16:13 +0200
From: Melina Sedo & Detlef Engel <tango@tangodesalon.de>
Subject: [Tango-L] Social Tango

Dear Maria, Michael, Diana and everyone else.


We're quite overwhelmed, as we seldom received so many encouraging
and nice emails - both public and private - in such a short time.
Thank you all so much. We are really happy that there are people all
over the world sharing our ideas of Tango as a social dance and hope
to meet you (again) in the world of tango.


Please allow me to post a public response to Michaels mail, as it
illustrates a fact about social Tango and it's perception. If you're
not interested in reading another analysis of Tango styles, please
just skip this mail. I don't want to bore or annoy anyone.


Michael wrote concerning our Corazon-Pomar-Performance:
... is that they did absolutely NOTHING. No wild figures, no
volcaldas, no colgaldas and ...

Unfortunately, that's not true: we actually danced 1 volcada, 1
colgada and 3 ganchos during our perfomance. I just checked again...
So, we're not quite so pure as Michael stated. ;-)
Ok , we don't overdo it, but nevertheless we use these elements. For
us, they have to be something special and have to be triggert by
something special in the music. We exclusively dance to very
traditional Tangos, which don't induce us constantly to use these
elements, so they stay rare.
(This is just OUR approach, don't feel insulted, if you like doing a
lot of them, just for the fun of it. That's totally up to you.)

Some time ago, after a performance, a friend made us a compliment
about our dance, again stating the absence of "wild figures". And
then he said: "Don't be sad about the ganchos-workshop not being
booked so well,you don't dance ganchos anyway." hmmm.... we just
danced at least 3 or 4 ganchos in our performance....

Things like that happen to us a lot.


There seems to be a general phenomenon:
As we concentrate on walking, the spectators tend to fade away the
"modern" elements in our dance. There are others who notice that we
use them. But all agree, that we dance social Tango, no matter if you
call it Milonguero or Sal?n, like most of the Milongueros (and we) do.

(Please, don't get into an argument about the definition of
Milonguero and Salon, these labels are not so important. Let me just
talk about Social Tango. And please, now don't argue that Nuevo is
also Social Tango, I just have to use one word...)


Just, what does all this say about the perception and definition of
Social Tango per se?

Social Tango can very well be a quite complex dance and can integrate
"modern" elements if you adapt them to the dancefloor and music and
if don't change the general impression, the focus of the dance.
Social Tango stays social, even if you use the tipical modern
elements - but how long? How many and which kind of ganchos, volcadas
or colgadas does it take, until people perceive it as Tango Nuevo or
an exibition-oriented Tango? I really don't want to discuss this
quantitatively, but...

In my opinion, the perception of different styles does not derive

>from the usage or non-usage of certain elements, but from the focus

of the dance:
- If the focus of a dance lies on the embrace, you'll perceive it a
social Tango.
- If the focus is on the "organic" movement without an "acting"
approach, you'll perceive it most likely as Tango Nuevo.
- If the focus lies on the "artistic" movement AND you act out a
story or a feeling, your dance will be perceived as Show-Tango.

For us "Tango is walking in embrace". This is why we don't teach or
dance elements which depend on breaking up the embrace. We
nevertheless use several "nuevoesque" elements and our teaching is
strictly improvisational and analytical.
There are friends like Gustavo and Maria (check out Gustavos Book
"Embracing Tango" at www.tangosalon.com.ar) and Andreas ("The primary
of the embrace", see www.tangokombinat.de/uk.htm) and others all over
the world who share our approach.

But although we do make a statement with the "Primary of the
embrace", in the same time the whole picture shows, that the
definition-borders between the styles are shifting constantly and the
gap between the different Tango worlds are not so deep as we
sometimes perceive them. Tango - all kinds of Tango - are developing
constantly and nourishing each other.

So, it's very important to know and say where you stand, but there's
really no need in fighting or denying the mutual influence.


Please excuse my rather lengthy mail, I just got into a flow... ;-)

Have a nice day,

Melina



Melina Sedo & Detlef Engel
www.tangodesalon.de
www.youtube.com/tangodesalon
tango@tangodesalon.de
(0049) (0)681 9381839
(0049) (0)177 4340669