4997  SFTX - The Exchange

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:00:02 -0700
From: m i l e s <miles@tangobliss.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: tango-l@mit.edu
format=flowed

(from TangoBliss.com)

The Exchange Itself

Many have asked this same question, what is a ?tango exchange? ? My
response to that question is somewhat of a derivation of an idea of
what Homer had in mind. I like to think of the answer to that
question this way:

First let me tell you that the Exchange is NOT a bunch of classes
that you sign up for and then stand around in a circle while a
teacher leads you through a series of patterns. Truth be told I hate
that format for learning tango. There has to be a better way. There
just has to be.

The Exchange is also not a critique session of what you?re doing
wrong or right. It never ventures there. The Exchange focuses on
possibilities, variations on a theme, and errs on the side that
everyone (and I do mean everyone) has something valuable to impart
either in the form of a question, an idea, a thought, or a consequence?.

The idea for the Exchange is something that so rarely happens in
Tango, most definitely NEVER at a Milonga, and almost never at an
actual practica with MULTIPLE partners, and damned never NEVER in a
group class, and not ever in a private.

And what is that something ? Its the open sharing of knowledge. It
just doesn?t happen. Stop and think about it for a moment. In what
other context do you ?share? your knowledge of tango, your
experiences, your successes, your failures, your explorations...? Now
add to that question, at what other time in your tango experience
have you sat with like-minded souls and not just talked tango (which
we all do till the wee hour of the morning at many a festival or all
night milongas), but actually worked on movements and sensations,
feelings, and patterns. Now add to that again with a large enough
group, say anywhere from 20 - 30 ppl of leads and follows. Where
leads work with leads as follows, and or follows, and followers work
with leads as leads and followers. When does this ?sharing? of
knowledge happen ? Almost never. Its never concentrated in one place
and its never more than on a one on one basis with your local
practice partners. Never on a grand scale. Never.

In Argentine Tango, the keepers of the knowledge (teachers) have to
make a living somehow and they hold that knowledge unless of course
you pay for their time and their expertise.

In a group class you can ask questions of the teachers, but engaging
the class in an active discussion and exploration of a given topic or
even a wide array of topics, not bloody likely.

In a private you can ask questions of a teacher and their experience
of the material and sometimes you?ll get what they?re yapping about
and sometimes you won?t but still you?re paying for the experience
regardless of your level of success (I don?t know that many
professions where you get paid no matter whether you fail or succeed
in your task. If tango teachers were paid on level of performance of
their students and not the time involved in teaching I think we might
see a slight shift in priorities)...

In a private practice session its one on one. You, your partner, the
music and a dance floor. And usually its, in my experience, limited
as that may be, where one person is directing the traffic of what
they want to work on. Its never bi-directional. And not more than
once a week, unless you?re me (in which case its 4 to 5 times a week).

So the Exchange fills that gap...kinda.

Truth be told though from my perspective it can not fill that gap.

The reason is because it doesn?t happen enough, once a year just
doesn?t cut it folks. How often do the Tango Brethren in the United
States get together (and I don?t mean at a social tango festival) ?
How often does that happen ? Damned near never. Sure at a festival
you see the ?teachers? huddled together and dancing the entire time
with each other and rarely do they deign to look in your general
direction (and rightfully so when you stop and think about WHY that?s
so). But an open exchange of tango knowledge ? Not happening. And
certainly not in a class room environment.

Tango has traditionally from the various sources I?ve discussed this
with been kept a secret art for some reason. Those who have the
knowledge hoard it. Those that don?t must come to the keepers of the
flame and pay homage, whilst sucking up, one may or may not gain that
which one seeks, as far as tango knowledge goes because in the end
you must integrate what you have learned. And ultimately its up to
you to make it all work.

The exchange seeks to change that for 4 days out of the year and
hopefully change the paradigm a bit, slowly.

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:48:27 -0400
From: Keith <keith@tangohk.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: tango-l@mit.edu

Miles,

Can you please give it a rest; I'm starting to get a little tired of seeing your name in my mailbox.

You've been learning Tango for 8-months and you've NEVER been to Buenos Aires. Which, in my
book, means you know next-to-nothing. And yet you seem to think you're qualified to
lecture people on this list on what NEVER happens in Tango, what SHOULD happen in Tango
and how things should CHANGE.

I used to admire your self-confidence, but now it's getting tiresome. If people want to read what
you have to say, I think we all know your blog address by now.

And, from your previous message - there are NO American Tango Gods. If all you know about
Tango is what you've seen or learned from American dancers and teachers, well - as I said above
- you've seen and learned next-to-nothing. My advice - stop wasting your time and money on Daniel
Tenner, and other American teachers, and get yourself down to Buenos Aires. It really is the
ONLY way to learn Tango at the level you so obviously want. American teachers are big fish in
a very small Tango pool. So the question is, Miles - do you want to dance with the Goldfish or with
the Sharks?

Keith, HK



On Tue Jun 26 8:00 , m i l e s sent:

>(from TangoBliss.com)
>
>The Exchange Itself
>
>Many have asked this same question, what is a ?tango exchange? ? My
>response to that question is somewhat of a derivation of an idea of
>what Homer had in mind. I like to think of the answer to that
>question this way:
>
>First let me tell you that the Exchange is NOT a bunch of classes
>that you sign up for and then stand around in a circle while a
>teacher leads you through a series of patterns. Truth be told I hate
>that format for learning tango. There has to be a better way. There
>just has to be.
>
>The Exchange is also not a critique session of what you?re doing
>wrong or right. It never ventures there. The Exchange focuses on
>possibilities, variations on a theme, and errs on the side that
>everyone (and I do mean everyone) has something valuable to impart
>either in the form of a question, an idea, a thought, or a consequence?.
>
>The idea for the Exchange is something that so rarely happens in
>Tango, most definitely NEVER at a Milonga, and almost never at an
>actual practica with MULTIPLE partners, and damned never NEVER in a
>group class, and not ever in a private.
>
>And what is that something ? Its the open sharing of knowledge. It
>just doesn?t happen. Stop and think about it for a moment. In what
>other context do you ?share? your knowledge of tango, your
>experiences, your successes, your failures, your explorations...? Now
>add to that question, at what other time in your tango experience
>have you sat with like-minded souls and not just talked tango (which
>we all do till the wee hour of the morning at many a festival or all
>night milongas), but actually worked on movements and sensations,
>feelings, and patterns. Now add to that again with a large enough
>group, say anywhere from 20 - 30 ppl of leads and follows. Where
>leads work with leads as follows, and or follows, and followers work
>with leads as leads and followers. When does this ?sharing? of
>knowledge happen ? Almost never. Its never concentrated in one place
>and its never more than on a one on one basis with your local
>practice partners. Never on a grand scale. Never.
>
>In Argentine Tango, the keepers of the knowledge (teachers) have to
>make a living somehow and they hold that knowledge unless of course
>you pay for their time and their expertise.
>
>In a group class you can ask questions of the teachers, but engaging
>the class in an active discussion and exploration of a given topic or
>even a wide array of topics, not bloody likely.
>
>In a private you can ask questions of a teacher and their experience
>of the material and sometimes you?ll get what they?re yapping about
>and sometimes you won?t but still you?re paying for the experience
>regardless of your level of success (I don?t know that many
>professions where you get paid no matter whether you fail or succeed
>in your task. If tango teachers were paid on level of performance of
>their students and not the time involved in teaching I think we might
>see a slight shift in priorities)...
>
>In a private practice session its one on one. You, your partner, the
>music and a dance floor. And usually its, in my experience, limited
>as that may be, where one person is directing the traffic of what
>they want to work on. Its never bi-directional. And not more than
>once a week, unless you?re me (in which case its 4 to 5 times a week).
>
>So the Exchange fills that gap...kinda.
>
>Truth be told though from my perspective it can not fill that gap.
>
>The reason is because it doesn?t happen enough, once a year just
>doesn?t cut it folks. How often do the Tango Brethren in the United
>States get together (and I don?t mean at a social tango festival) ?
>How often does that happen ? Damned near never. Sure at a festival
>you see the ?teachers? huddled together and dancing the entire time
>with each other and rarely do they deign to look in your general
>direction (and rightfully so when you stop and think about WHY that?s
>so). But an open exchange of tango knowledge ? Not happening. And
>certainly not in a class room environment.
>
>Tango has traditionally from the various sources I?ve discussed this
>with been kept a secret art for some reason. Those who have the
>knowledge hoard it. Those that don?t must come to the keepers of the
>flame and pay homage, whilst sucking up, one may or may not gain that
>which one seeks, as far as tango knowledge goes because in the end
>you must integrate what you have learned. And ultimately its up to
>you to make it all work.
>
>The exchange seeks to change that for 4 days out of the year and
>hopefully change the paradigm a bit, slowly.

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:14:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leopoldo Betrico <iwanttotango@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: keith@tangohk.com, tango-l@mit.edu
Cc: miles@tangobliss.com

Keith HK,

Well said and to the point! I could have said it much better myself, except that there are no such thing as tango gods, period.

Saludos,
Leopoldo


----- Original Message ----

Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:48:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange


Miles,

Can you please give it a rest; I'm starting to get a little tired of seeing your name in my mailbox.

You've been learning Tango for 8-months and you've NEVER been to Buenos Aires. Which, in my
book, means you know next-to-nothing. And yet you seem to think you're qualified to
lecture people on this list on what NEVER happens in Tango, what SHOULD happen in Tango
and how things should CHANGE.

I used to admire your self-confidence, but now it's getting tiresome. If people want to read what
you have to say, I think we all know your blog address by now.

And, from your previous message - there are NO American Tango Gods. If all you know about
Tango is what you've seen or learned from American dancers and teachers, well - as I said above
- you've seen and learned next-to-nothing. My advice - stop wasting your time and money on Daniel
Tenner, and other American teachers, and get yourself down to Buenos Aires. It really is the
ONLY way to learn Tango at the level you so obviously want. American teachers are big fish in
a very small Tango pool. So the question is, Miles - do you want to dance with the Goldfish or with
the Sharks?

Keith, HK



On Tue Jun 26 8:00 , m i l e s sent:

>(from TangoBliss.com)
>
>The Exchange Itself
>
>Many have asked this same question, what is a ?tango exchange? ? My
>response to that question is somewhat of a derivation of an idea of
>what Homer had in mind. I like to think of the answer to that
>question this way:
>
>First let me tell you that the Exchange is NOT a bunch of classes
>that you sign up for and then stand around in a circle while a
>teacher leads you through a series of patterns. Truth be told I hate
>that format for learning tango. There has to be a better way. There
>just has to be.
>
>The Exchange is also not a critique session of what you?re doing
>wrong or right. It never ventures there. The Exchange focuses on
>possibilities, variations on a theme, and errs on the side that
>everyone (and I do mean everyone) has something valuable to impart
>either in the form of a question, an idea, a thought, or a consequence?.
>
>The idea for the Exchange is something that so rarely happens in
>Tango, most definitely NEVER at a Milonga, and almost never at an
>actual practica with MULTIPLE partners, and damned never NEVER in a
>group class, and not ever in a private.
>
>And what is that something ? Its the open sharing of knowledge. It
>just doesn?t happen. Stop and think about it for a moment. In what
>other context do you ?share? your knowledge of tango, your
>experiences, your successes, your failures, your explorations...? Now
>add to that question, at what other time in your tango experience
>have you sat with like-minded souls and not just talked tango (which
>we all do till the wee hour of the morning at many a festival or all
>night milongas), but actually worked on movements and sensations,
>feelings, and patterns. Now add to that again with a large enough
>group, say anywhere from 20 - 30 ppl of leads and follows. Where
>leads work with leads as follows, and or follows, and followers work
>with leads as leads and followers. When does this ?sharing? of
>knowledge happen ? Almost never. Its never concentrated in one place
>and its never more than on a one on one basis with your local
>practice partners. Never on a grand scale. Never.
>
>In Argentine Tango, the keepers of the knowledge (teachers) have to
>make a living somehow and they hold that knowledge unless of course
>you pay for their time and their expertise.
>
>In a group class you can ask questions of the teachers, but engaging
>the class in an active discussion and exploration of a given topic or
>even a wide array of topics, not bloody likely.
>
>In a private you can ask questions of a teacher and their experience
>of the material and sometimes you?ll get what they?re yapping about
>and sometimes you won?t but still you?re paying for the experience
>regardless of your level of success (I don?t know that many
>professions where you get paid no matter whether you fail or succeed
>in your task. If tango teachers were paid on level of performance of
>their students and not the time involved in teaching I think we might
>see a slight shift in priorities)...
>
>In a private practice session its one on one. You, your partner, the
>music and a dance floor. And usually its, in my experience, limited
>as that may be, where one person is directing the traffic of what
>they want to work on. Its never bi-directional. And not more than
>once a week, unless you?re me (in which case its 4 to 5 times a week).
>
>So the Exchange fills that gap...kinda.
>
>Truth be told though from my perspective it can not fill that gap.
>
>The reason is because it doesn?t happen enough, once a year just
>doesn?t cut it folks. How often do the Tango Brethren in the United
>States get together (and I don?t mean at a social tango festival) ?
>How often does that happen ? Damned near never. Sure at a festival
>you see the ?teachers? huddled together and dancing the entire time
>with each other and rarely do they deign to look in your general
>direction (and rightfully so when you stop and think about WHY that?s
>so). But an open exchange of tango knowledge ? Not happening. And
>certainly not in a class room environment.
>
>Tango has traditionally from the various sources I?ve discussed this
>with been kept a secret art for some reason. Those who have the
>knowledge hoard it. Those that don?t must come to the keepers of the
>flame and pay homage, whilst sucking up, one may or may not gain that
>which one seeks, as far as tango knowledge goes because in the end
>you must integrate what you have learned. And ultimately its up to
>you to make it all work.
>
>The exchange seeks to change that for 4 days out of the year and
>hopefully change the paradigm a bit, slowly.

Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:15:53 -0500
From: "Clif Davis" <clif@clifdavis.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: <tango-l@mit.edu>

Hit the delete key Keith. Ming bai wo shuo ma

I think it is funny how people who think they are so much better than
everyone else want to control those they think are lesser beings.

Oh, don't worry about me, I am just one of those slug Americans you despise
so much.
Clif


-----Original Message-----

From: tango-l-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:tango-l-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of
Keith
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 10:48 PM
To: tango-l@mit.edu
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange

Miles,

Can you please give it a rest; I'm starting to get a little tired of seeing
your name in my mailbox.

You've been learning Tango for 8-months and you've NEVER been to Buenos
Aires. Which, in my
book, means you know next-to-nothing. And yet you seem to think you're
qualified to
lecture people on this list on what NEVER happens in Tango, what SHOULD
happen in Tango
and how things should CHANGE.

I used to admire your self-confidence, but now it's getting tiresome. If
people want to read what
you have to say, I think we all know your blog address by now.

And, from your previous message - there are NO American Tango Gods. If all
you know about
Tango is what you've seen or learned from American dancers and teachers,
well - as I said above
- you've seen and learned next-to-nothing. My advice - stop wasting your
time and money on Daniel
Tenner, and other American teachers, and get yourself down to Buenos Aires.
It really is the
ONLY way to learn Tango at the level you so obviously want. American
teachers are big fish in
a very small Tango pool. So the question is, Miles - do you want to dance
with the Goldfish or with
the Sharks?

Keith, HK



On Tue Jun 26 8:00 , m i l e s sent:

>(from TangoBliss.com)
>
>The Exchange Itself
>
>Many have asked this same question, what is a "tango exchange" ? My
>response to that question is somewhat of a derivation of an idea of
>what Homer had in mind. I like to think of the answer to that
>question this way:
>
>First let me tell you that the Exchange is NOT a bunch of classes
>that you sign up for and then stand around in a circle while a
>teacher leads you through a series of patterns. Truth be told I hate
>that format for learning tango. There has to be a better way. There
>just has to be.
>
>The Exchange is also not a critique session of what you're doing
>wrong or right. It never ventures there. The Exchange focuses on
>possibilities, variations on a theme, and errs on the side that
>everyone (and I do mean everyone) has something valuable to impart
>either in the form of a question, an idea, a thought, or a consequence..
>
>The idea for the Exchange is something that so rarely happens in
>Tango, most definitely NEVER at a Milonga, and almost never at an
>actual practica with MULTIPLE partners, and damned never NEVER in a
>group class, and not ever in a private.
>
>And what is that something ? Its the open sharing of knowledge. It
>just doesn't happen. Stop and think about it for a moment. In what
>other context do you 'share' your knowledge of tango, your
>experiences, your successes, your failures, your explorations...? Now
>add to that question, at what other time in your tango experience
>have you sat with like-minded souls and not just talked tango (which
>we all do till the wee hour of the morning at many a festival or all
>night milongas), but actually worked on movements and sensations,
>feelings, and patterns. Now add to that again with a large enough
>group, say anywhere from 20 - 30 ppl of leads and follows. Where
>leads work with leads as follows, and or follows, and followers work
>with leads as leads and followers. When does this 'sharing' of
>knowledge happen ? Almost never. Its never concentrated in one place
>and its never more than on a one on one basis with your local
>practice partners. Never on a grand scale. Never.
>
>In Argentine Tango, the keepers of the knowledge (teachers) have to
>make a living somehow and they hold that knowledge unless of course
>you pay for their time and their expertise.
>
>In a group class you can ask questions of the teachers, but engaging
>the class in an active discussion and exploration of a given topic or
>even a wide array of topics, not bloody likely.
>
>In a private you can ask questions of a teacher and their experience
>of the material and sometimes you'll get what they're yapping about
>and sometimes you won't but still you're paying for the experience
>regardless of your level of success (I don't know that many
>professions where you get paid no matter whether you fail or succeed
>in your task. If tango teachers were paid on level of performance of
>their students and not the time involved in teaching I think we might
>see a slight shift in priorities)...
>
>In a private practice session its one on one. You, your partner, the
>music and a dance floor. And usually its, in my experience, limited
>as that may be, where one person is directing the traffic of what
>they want to work on. Its never bi-directional. And not more than
>once a week, unless you're me (in which case its 4 to 5 times a week).
>
>So the Exchange fills that gap...kinda.
>
>Truth be told though from my perspective it can not fill that gap.
>
>The reason is because it doesn't happen enough, once a year just
>doesn't cut it folks. How often do the Tango Brethren in the United
>States get together (and I don't mean at a social tango festival) ?
>How often does that happen ? Damned near never. Sure at a festival
>you see the 'teachers' huddled together and dancing the entire time
>with each other and rarely do they deign to look in your general
>direction (and rightfully so when you stop and think about WHY that's
>so). But an open exchange of tango knowledge ? Not happening. And
>certainly not in a class room environment.
>
>Tango has traditionally from the various sources I've discussed this
>with been kept a secret art for some reason. Those who have the
>knowledge hoard it. Those that don't must come to the keepers of the
>flame and pay homage, whilst sucking up, one may or may not gain that
>which one seeks, as far as tango knowledge goes because in the end
>you must integrate what you have learned. And ultimately its up to
>you to make it all work.
>
>The exchange seeks to change that for 4 days out of the year and
>hopefully change the paradigm a bit, slowly.

__________ NOD32 2353 (20070625) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
https://www.eset.com

Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:12:45 -0400
From: Keith <keith@tangohk.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: tango-l@mit.edu

American slug? Your words, Clif, not mine. And why so hostile? I was just giving Miles some honest advice.
He takes pride in his blunt and forthright manner so I doubt if Miles will be upset.

As he recently wrote about his dance partners ...

"later they asked me for honest feedback, and you know how scathing I can be, and I laid it on in the full light
of day. Its a rude awakening folks." Nice ... ah?

If you like to dish it out, you have to be prepared to take it and I'm sure Miles understands that.

Oh, and I certainly don't think I'm better than everyone else - but, when it come to Tango, I do think the
Argentines are better than everyone else. Which, with his glorification of American dancers, is something
Miles obviously doesn't know yet. And it's something many Americans just hate to admit.

Keith, HK



On Tue Jun 26 12:15 , "Clif Davis" sent:

>Hit the delete key Keith. Ming bai wo shuo ma
>
>I think it is funny how people who think they are so much better than
>everyone else want to control those they think are lesser beings.
>
>Oh, don't worry about me, I am just one of those slug Americans you despise
>so much.
>Clif
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: tango-l-bounces@mit.edu [tango-l-bounces@mit.edu','','','')">tango-l-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of
>Keith
>Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 10:48 PM
>To: tango-l@mit.edu
>Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
>
>Miles,
>
>Can you please give it a rest; I'm starting to get a little tired of seeing
>your name in my mailbox.
>
>You've been learning Tango for 8-months and you've NEVER been to Buenos
>Aires. Which, in my
>book, means you know next-to-nothing. And yet you seem to think you're
>qualified to
>lecture people on this list on what NEVER happens in Tango, what SHOULD
>happen in Tango
>and how things should CHANGE.
>
>I used to admire your self-confidence, but now it's getting tiresome. If
>people want to read what
>you have to say, I think we all know your blog address by now.
>
>And, from your previous message - there are NO American Tango Gods. If all
>you know about
>Tango is what you've seen or learned from American dancers and teachers,
>well - as I said above
> - you've seen and learned next-to-nothing. My advice - stop wasting your
>time and money on Daniel
>Tenner, and other American teachers, and get yourself down to Buenos Aires.
>It really is the
>ONLY way to learn Tango at the level you so obviously want. American
>teachers are big fish in
>a very small Tango pool. So the question is, Miles - do you want to dance
>with the Goldfish or with
>the Sharks?
>
>Keith, HK
>
>
>
> On Tue Jun 26 8:00 , m i l e s sent:
>
>>(from TangoBliss.com)
>>
>>The Exchange Itself
>>
>>Many have asked this same question, what is a "tango exchange" ? My
>>response to that question is somewhat of a derivation of an idea of
>>what Homer had in mind. I like to think of the answer to that
>>question this way:
>>
>>First let me tell you that the Exchange is NOT a bunch of classes
>>that you sign up for and then stand around in a circle while a
>>teacher leads you through a series of patterns. Truth be told I hate
>>that format for learning tango. There has to be a better way. There
>>just has to be.
>>
>>The Exchange is also not a critique session of what you're doing
>>wrong or right. It never ventures there. The Exchange focuses on
>>possibilities, variations on a theme, and errs on the side that
>>everyone (and I do mean everyone) has something valuable to impart
>>either in the form of a question, an idea, a thought, or a consequence..
>>
>>The idea for the Exchange is something that so rarely happens in
>>Tango, most definitely NEVER at a Milonga, and almost never at an
>>actual practica with MULTIPLE partners, and damned never NEVER in a
>>group class, and not ever in a private.
>>
>>And what is that something ? Its the open sharing of knowledge. It
>>just doesn't happen. Stop and think about it for a moment. In what
>>other context do you 'share' your knowledge of tango, your
>>experiences, your successes, your failures, your explorations...? Now
>>add to that question, at what other time in your tango experience
>>have you sat with like-minded souls and not just talked tango (which
>>we all do till the wee hour of the morning at many a festival or all
>>night milongas), but actually worked on movements and sensations,
>>feelings, and patterns. Now add to that again with a large enough
>>group, say anywhere from 20 - 30 ppl of leads and follows. Where
>>leads work with leads as follows, and or follows, and followers work
>>with leads as leads and followers. When does this 'sharing' of
>>knowledge happen ? Almost never. Its never concentrated in one place
>>and its never more than on a one on one basis with your local
>>practice partners. Never on a grand scale. Never.
>>
>>In Argentine Tango, the keepers of the knowledge (teachers) have to
>>make a living somehow and they hold that knowledge unless of course
>>you pay for their time and their expertise.
>>
>>In a group class you can ask questions of the teachers, but engaging
>>the class in an active discussion and exploration of a given topic or
>>even a wide array of topics, not bloody likely.
>>
>>In a private you can ask questions of a teacher and their experience
>>of the material and sometimes you'll get what they're yapping about
>>and sometimes you won't but still you're paying for the experience
>>regardless of your level of success (I don't know that many
>>professions where you get paid no matter whether you fail or succeed
>>in your task. If tango teachers were paid on level of performance of
>>their students and not the time involved in teaching I think we might
>>see a slight shift in priorities)...
>>
>>In a private practice session its one on one. You, your partner, the
>>music and a dance floor. And usually its, in my experience, limited
>>as that may be, where one person is directing the traffic of what
>>they want to work on. Its never bi-directional. And not more than
>>once a week, unless you're me (in which case its 4 to 5 times a week).
>>
>>So the Exchange fills that gap...kinda.
>>
>>Truth be told though from my perspective it can not fill that gap.
>>
>>The reason is because it doesn't happen enough, once a year just
>>doesn't cut it folks. How often do the Tango Brethren in the United
>>States get together (and I don't mean at a social tango festival) ?
>>How often does that happen ? Damned near never. Sure at a festival
>>you see the 'teachers' huddled together and dancing the entire time
>>with each other and rarely do they deign to look in your general
>>direction (and rightfully so when you stop and think about WHY that's
>>so). But an open exchange of tango knowledge ? Not happening. And
>>certainly not in a class room environment.
>>
>>Tango has traditionally from the various sources I've discussed this
>>with been kept a secret art for some reason. Those who have the
>>knowledge hoard it. Those that don't must come to the keepers of the
>>flame and pay homage, whilst sucking up, one may or may not gain that
>>which one seeks, as far as tango knowledge goes because in the end
>>you must integrate what you have learned. And ultimately its up to
>>you to make it all work.
>>
>>The exchange seeks to change that for 4 days out of the year and
>>hopefully change the paradigm a bit, slowly.
>
>
>
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Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:03:09 -0400
From: "Jake Spatz (TangoDC.com)" <spatz@tangoDC.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: tango-L@mit.edu

Miles,

Am I mistaken, or did you really just copy your blog to the list? And
did you really just ask the following question--

m i l e s wrote:

> (from TangoBliss.com)
>
> [...] In what other context do you ?share? your knowledge of tango, your
> experiences, your successes, your failures, your explorations...?

-- in an open forum?

Jake
DC

Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:06:43 -0700
From: "Igor Polk" <ipolk@virtuar.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] SFTX - The Exchange
To: <tango-L@mit.edu>

SFTX - The Exchange
was a Neo Tango event.

I was there, at the last milonga called "Ice, Ice, Baby" or something..
Dancing like crazy to non-tango music. Great !
Only there was very little Hip-Hop music to my regret ( None, to be
precise ). That is a pity - I was dressed appropriately.

Igor Polk