3720  Tango elegance

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 16:12:13 +0000
From: Lucia <curvasreales@YAHOO.COM.AR>
Subject: Tango elegance

The topic of elegance, which appeared recently on this
list is worth further exploration. I couldn't find a
definition for Tango specific elegance on the web,
albeit applied many times as an adjective to dancers.

The standard dictionary definitions were wanting,
IMHO, not quite reflecting the spirit of the Tango.
However, the terms applied to wines were quite
satisfactory:

"Tasting term sometimes used for wines that are
well-balanced and agreeably restrained and subtle in
their flavours."

"Suggests a wine of a certain delicacy and grace as
opposed to power and intensity."

"A well-balanced wine that can only be considered
classy."

There's no term defining beautiful wine. Isn't class
superior to, and encompassing, beauty?

Abrazos,

Lucia


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Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:17:35 -0700
From: Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM>
Subject: Tango elegance

Interesting category.

Elegance is the result, reflection of the solid internal structure of
movement and well developed body and body skills, confidence in the dance,
These things should be a goal, and then elegance will come itself.

Making elegance a goal may mislead obtaining good tango skills such as lead
and follow skills.

But it is not enough. More elegance may be obtained by making the moves more
free, flowing.
If there is not much of these moves in the figure - they can be added, like
a movement of an arm. Or a foot. Can sharp moves be elegant. Hmm. I do not
know..

Also moves of different body parts can be balanced structurally and
visually.

Is it obvious? Am I saying a conventional thing which are well known?
Have you met similar thoughts in a book? What book?
Please, help me, tell me. I am not a specialist in the dance theory, I'd
like to know if I am on the right track here.

Igor Polk

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 18:49:18 +0000
From: Lucia <curvasreales@YAHOO.COM.AR>
Subject: Re: Tango elegance

--- Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM> escribis:

> Elegance is the result, reflection of the solid
> internal structure of
> movement and well developed body and body skills,
> confidence in the dance,
> These things should be a goal, and then elegance
> will come itself.

You are correct, mostly. You omit however the
naturally endowed, physically elegant people (many in
Latin America). If they have dancing talent as well,
they may become great dancers. Talent is rare though,
this is the reason that we see so much pedestrian
dancing at the milongas (not to be confused with
walking! :->)

> Making elegance a goal may mislead obtaining good
> tango skills such as lead
> and follow skills.

Not necessarily. A paused couple, swaying lightly to
the music, in a good position, usually creates a
more elegantly arresting image than a led movement.

> But it is not enough. More elegance may be obtained
> by making the moves more
> free, flowing.
> If there is not much of these moves in the figure -
> they can be added, like
> a movement of an arm. Or a foot. Can sharp moves be
> elegant. Hmm. I do not
> know..

Ahhh, Movements and Figures, the bane of the Tango
social dance! So many dancers seem to be working,
really working, on the dancefloor, legs flailing
every way...working diligently and seriously. Pauses,
sparse movements ARE elegant and convey feeling...It
allows one the time to feel the partner "sensually",
instead of sweating it together...Personally I enjoy
more watching a good couple dancing a Tango Liso than
YET ANOTHER frenzied professional stage dance.

> Is it obvious? Am I saying a conventional thing
> which are well known?
> Have you met similar thoughts in a book? What book?
> Please, help me, tell me. I am not a specialist in
> the dance theory, I'd
> like to know if I am on the right track here.
>
> Igor Polk

You are perfectly right: the kind of training you
mention at the beginning is being done in dance
schools with little pupils from a tender age.
Latecomers to Tango with average talent, yearning to
dance like the professionals they see on stage(!)
should be educated, and helped, to understand what
they see, and the many ways that Tango can be danced
satisfyingly and beautifully. Sorry, Elegantly! :-)

Abrazos,

Lucia

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 14:16:02 -0500
From: "Christopher L. Everett" <ceverett@CEVERETT.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango elegance

Igor Polk wrote:

>Interesting category.
>
>Elegance is the result, reflection of the solid internal structure of
>movement and well developed body and body skills, confidence in the dance,
>These things should be a goal, and then elegance will come itself.
>
>Making elegance a goal may mislead obtaining good tango skills such as lead
>and follow skills.
>
>But it is not enough. More elegance may be obtained by making the moves more
>free, flowing.
>If there is not much of these moves in the figure - they can be added, like
>a movement of an arm. Or a foot. Can sharp moves be elegant. Hmm. I do not
>know..
>
>Also moves of different body parts can be balanced structurally and
>visually.
>
>Is it obvious? Am I saying a conventional thing which are well known?
>Have you met similar thoughts in a book? What book?
>Please, help me, tell me. I am not a specialist in the dance theory, I'd
>like to know if I am on the right track here.
>

I think elegance comes from simplicity.

To be more specific, it's about signal to noise ratio. A large part of
learning the dance is about removing bodily movements unrelated to the
task at hand. As we learn to deactivate muscles not contributing to
proper movement we get more elegance happening. Incidentally, we start
having more fun as well.

--
Christopher L. Everett