2983  technique and passion

Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 20:43:56 -0600
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: technique and passion

I disagree with both quotes. Martha Graham was speaking of something
other than Argentine Tango, maybe, but the quote is bogus. Laurie had
the right idea, until she said that passion may be copied. Laurie,
sorry; but I don't think anybody can copy passion.



Yes, both are required to become a great dancer of Argentine Tango,
but....while technique may very well be taught, there are those who will
never learn it. And even where passion may exist, there are those who
will never be able to express it in the dance.



This is part of the reason Argentine Tango is so different. Technique is
nothing without ability, and vise versa. The passion is a must, but
without the ability, and years of work on your technique, you'll never
become a good dancer.



I see ballroom dancers at the studio where I take tango lessons. They
work tirelessly, hour after hour, for years, on their dance, so that
they can compete and win all these accolades and titles. I also see
tango dancers take a years worth of lessons, or less, and decide they
know it all. To me, they all look silly out there, but at least the
ballroomers show some talent, and the result of lots of hard work.
(Sorry ballroomers, I'm glad you enjoy it, and I respect your abilities
and talent, but it still looks pretty weird).



My point is, that for us aficionados of Argentine Tango to realize our
goals, we must have ability, and passion, and work for years,
tirelessly, on our skills and technique. The best of us take it even
further. Not only do we keep learning, but we go way out of our way, at
much expense to find new teachers, new ways to learn, new people to
dance with, and to learn from.



"Great dancers are great because of their passion, and their sweat."



Michael from Houston

Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 03:39:30 +0000
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: technique and passion

Michael from Houston wrote:
"Great dancers are great because of their passion, and their sweat."

I agree completely with the quote, but maybe not with some of the
extrapolation. The logic of the statement is that yes, in order to be a
"great" dancer, whether Argentine Tango or anything else, you must have
Passion. I think that was the core point of the original quote, that
regardless of how much sweat and years of work you put in to refine your
technique, without a deep passion, you will never be "great."

And while I agree in the fallacy of trying to "copy" passion, and with the
probable impossibility of "teaching" passion, at least in the strictest
sense of the word 4teaching,4 I do regardless believe that any individual
can "discover" the passion within themselves, and can "learn" to express it
in their dance or in their life. And while I can4t bear witness to this from
personal experience, still I suspect there may well be teachers who can
successfully "coach" or lead a student to that process of self-discovery.
That may be the mark of a "great" teacher.

But beyond all that, I4m concerned with the whole argument, as if becoming a
great dancer is our "goal," and we should be dissatisfied or thought to be
silly if we haven4t attained that. I think that puts us in the same
situation as the much-reviled ballroom dance ethic of striving for winning
competitions. I4ve always loved Argentine Tango because of its character of
just being in the moment, enjoying whatever skill or technique or connection
you can offer to your partner and receive and appreciate from them in
return.

"Tango, like Life, isn4t a goal, it4s a process to be experienced."

J in Portland