2250  Two Elements of Tango

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 10:21:30 -0600
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Two Elements of Tango

It seems as though we can identify to basic elements of dancing Argentine
tango. One is purely the relationship between a man and a woman. The
other is purely the expression of creativity in movement. All of the
styles of Argentine tango are a mixture of these two elements--and
probably other elements.

Fantasia tango places a greater emphasis on the visual expression of
creativity in movement, but in remaining tango, fantasia at leasts
acknowledges the relationship between a man and a woman. A recent modern
dance performance that I saw reminded me how androgenous creative movement
can be. In comparison, fantasia is about a relationship between a man and
a woman--even if it is stylized. Of course, if the dancers are dancing
memorized routines, the expression of creativity in movement in fantasia
is in the original choreography.

Milonguero-style tango places a strong emphasis on the relationship
between a man and a woman, as does the culture of tango, but in remaining
tango, milonguero-style tango still has a relatively large vocabulary for
creative movement. An embrace, without movement, is enough to express a
relationship between a man and a woman.

The nuevo approach to tango is to increase the understanding of the
vocabulary for creative movement and self expression. As we might expect,
some critics of the approach are concerned about the possibility that the
nuevo approach dilutes the relationship aspect of tango.

What about dancing memorized figures in an open embrace? Although this is
how many people start in Argentine tango, such an approach is more like a
memory of tango. The use of memorized figures transfers the creativity to
the person originated the figures and the distant embrace can dilute the
relationship between the man and woman. Intensifying the experience of
tango comes through the development of improvisational skills and in
closing the embrace.

With best regards
Steve (de Tejas)

Stephen Brown

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 09:52:41 -0800
From: catmum <catmum@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: two elements of tango

Over the years, reading all the endless analyses of what tango is or is
not, by such ernest listeros, I am more and more convinced that tango
is like the Tao:
"....the Tao that can be named, or written, is not the Tao..."
Get out there on the Path and dance!
Claire