3625  Tango in Grammar School

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 03:56:31 +0000
From: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Tango in Grammar School

Derik Rawson asks:

"How is Argentine Tango actually taught in Buenos Aires
historically, starting with the very young children at
the age of 6 years or so?"

Dear Derik and friends of Tango-L,

The Ministry of Education issued a law in 1996 authorizing the progressive
inclusion of Tango in the curriculum of different subjects such as music,
social sciences, history, physical education, etc. in Primary Schools. This
government secretary has jurisdiction all over the territory of Argentina.

This law has been implemented very slowly. This means that not all the
primary schools teach tango, only some of them under the direction of
certain teachers or headmasters. They teach how to dance to children ages 6
to 12.

Learning how to dance seems to have a very positive effect on the children:
spiritually, socially and also from the point of view of physical
coordination.

There is interest in developing curricula to teach other aspects of tango as
well (such as history, musicians, music, singers, movies, plays, etc.).

It is interesting that although these classes are elective, children that
never listen to tango at home become interested in learning it and
approximately about 7% of the 22,000 parents became interested in tango
because of their children.
The City or the schools also organize dances where many children
participate.

I was, with a group of friends at "Gricel" on a Friday last year when a
group of children (about 20 of them) came to celebrate a birthday dancing
tango. They had come on a field trip from a small town in the province of
Buenos Aires with their music and tango teacher to dance in the city.

It was beautiful and interesting to see those children, ages 11 to 14 to
dance tango so well and with such pride and elegance. Some of them came to
practice their English with my friends.

Summary: this aspect of cultural education is being incorporated rather
slowly to the primary school curricula but it is a very positive measure.

Best regards, Sergio.

Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2006 21:21:32 +1200
From: Melroy <melroyr@XTRA.CO.NZ>
Subject: Re: Grammar

I agree with Dani on this one !!