3746 WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 12:36:19 -0400
From: Joanne Pogros <joanneprochaska@AOL.COM>
Subject: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
This article is too long for me to type in, also I do not know how to scan it in for emailing.
The article quotes Homer Ladas of San Francisco, Carlos Libedinsky (Narcotango), Stephen Brown and Tom Stermitz of Denver. Maybe one of them can facilitate the printing of the article on the List for all to read, if possible.
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 10:38:44 -0700
From: Michael at Tango Bellingham <michaele@TANGOBELLINGHAM.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Don't bother - it's like one of TANGO-L's periodic urination contests
about style put in newsprint. According to the article, before the
advent of nuevo, "American milongas...were kitschy affairs patronized by
an aging and dwindling cast of die-hards who danced to scratchy records
of accordion music."
Accordion music...riiiight.
The whole tone is nuevo = young, hip, "with-it", while any other style old, out-of-date, quaint.
Nothing to see here, move along....
Michael the Aging and Dwindling Die-hard
Tango Bellingham
www.tangobellingham.com
Joanne Pogros wrote:
> This article is too long for me to type in, also I do not know how to
> scan it in for emailing. The article quotes Homer Ladas of San
> Francisco, Carlos Libedinsky (Narcotango), Stephen Brown and Tom
> Stermitz of Denver. Maybe one of them can facilitate the printing
> of the article on the List for all to read, if possible.
>
> LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
>
>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 12:41:57 -0500
From: Martha Stephenson <mamastep@TDS.NET>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Here is a snippet from the The New Tango Trades Cheek to Cheek For Hot, Fast Moves; Heavy Beat, Lots of Twisting Draw a Young Crowd; Mr. Ladas's All-Nighters article. It is on page A-1 of the Wall Street Journal, so should be easy to find at your local library or newsstand.
"It still takes two to tango, but young urban aficionados have added some surprising new twists to the tradition- bound Argentine dance.
For most of a recent Saturday night, Homer Ladas staged what appeared to be a program of traditional tango at a small studio here. Locked in tight embrace, dozens of couples gently swirled on the scuffed wooden floor as the sound of violins from the golden age of tango in the 1940s floated in the air.
But by about 4 a.m., it was time for something quite different on the dance floor. With the traditional crowd gone home to bed, Mr. Ladas dumped the orchestra music and replaced it with the sort of modern, bass-heavy dance music that might be played in a hip nightclub. The dancing was different, too: The people in their twenties who remained switched over to a new kind of tango that had them lifting, twisting and ricocheting around the room.
This is "neotango," a new millennium version of the dance that was born at the turn of the last century in the brothels of Buenos Aires. It's booming all over the tango world..."
Martha
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 12:45:01 -0500
From: "Christopher L. Everett" <ceverett@CEVERETT.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Who was the author? Was it someone by the name of Kim-Mai Cutler?
Michael at Tango Bellingham wrote:
> Don't bother - it's like one of TANGO-L's periodic urination contests
> about style put in newsprint. According to the article, before the
> advent of nuevo, "American milongas...were kitschy affairs patronized by
> an aging and dwindling cast of die-hards who danced to scratchy records
> of accordion music."
>
> Accordion music...riiiight.
>
> The whole tone is nuevo = young, hip, "with-it", while any other style > old, out-of-date, quaint.
>
> Nothing to see here, move along....
>
> Michael the Aging and Dwindling Die-hard
> Tango Bellingham
> www.tangobellingham.com
>
> Joanne Pogros wrote:
>
>> This article is too long for me to type in, also I do not know how to
>> scan it in for emailing. The article quotes Homer Ladas of San
>> Francisco, Carlos Libedinsky (Narcotango), Stephen Brown and Tom
>> Stermitz of Denver. Maybe one of them can facilitate the printing
>> of the article on the List for all to read, if possible.
>
--
Christopher L. Everett
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 12:48:55 -0500
From: Martha Stephenson <mamastep@TDS.NET>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Yes.
> From: "Christopher L. Everett" <ceverett@CEVERETT.COM>
> Date: 2005/08/29 Mon PM 12:45:01 CDT
> To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
>
> Who was the author? Was it someone by the name of Kim-Mai Cutler?
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:00:10 -0700
From: Jennifer Bratt <jennifer@CLOSE-EMBRACE.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
*This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire
address below into your web browser.
https://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2F0%2C%2CSB11252795888112525
0%2Demail%2C00%2Ehtml&nonsubURI=%2Farticle%5Femail%2F0%2C%2CSB11252795888112
5250%2DH9jf4NilaV4nJ2nbXqIcK6Im5%2C00%2Ehtml
Christopher L. Everett writes:
> Who was the author? Was it someone by the name of Kim-Mai Cutler?
>
> Michael at Tango Bellingham wrote:
>
>> Don't bother - it's like one of TANGO-L's periodic urination contests
>> about style put in newsprint. According to the article, before the
>> advent of nuevo, "American milongas...were kitschy affairs patronized by
>> an aging and dwindling cast of die-hards who danced to scratchy records
>> of accordion music."
>>
>> Accordion music...riiiight.
>>
>> The whole tone is nuevo = young, hip, "with-it", while any other style =
>> old, out-of-date, quaint.
>>
>> Nothing to see here, move along....
>>
>> Michael the Aging and Dwindling Die-hard
>> Tango Bellingham
>> www.tangobellingham.com
>>
>> Joanne Pogros wrote:
>>
>>> This article is too long for me to type in, also I do not know how to
>>> scan it in for emailing. The article quotes Homer Ladas of San
>>> Francisco, Carlos Libedinsky (Narcotango), Stephen Brown and Tom
>>> Stermitz of Denver. Maybe one of them can facilitate the printing
>>> of the article on the List for all to read, if possible.
>>
> --
> Christopher L. Everett
>
DU.
* * * * * * * * *
Jennifer Bratt
Maleva & Co.
www.close-embrace.com
jennifer@close-embrace.com
718.753.0521
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:23:59 -0700
From: NANCY <ningle_2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
--- Martha Stephenson <mamastep@TDS.NET> wrote:
>The dancing was different, too:
> The people in their twenties who remained switched
> over to a new kind of tango that had them lifting,
> twisting and ricocheting around the room.
This sounds more like Contact Improvisation to me.
What's next? Tango Mosh? And what is there left of
tango if the music and the abrazo is gone? Please,
Mr. Ladas, explain.
Most sincerely,
Nancy Ingle
An open-minded tradionalist
<<Rito es la danza en tu vida
y el tango que tu amas
te quema en su llama>>
de: Bailarina de tango
por: Horacio Sanguinetti
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 14:25:29 -0400
From: WHITE 95 R <white95r@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Thanks Jennifer, I'll check it out. I think it's kind of neat to see more
stuff like this conme out in newspapers magazines, etc. It can only help to
promote tango in all it's dimensions. It might also help us promote Homer's
visit to Atlanta next month. I think it will be a great tango opportunity
for everybody, including "old die hards" like myself ;-) After all, there is
room for all types of music and dance in all of us as long as we maintan an
open mind...... :-)
Manuel
visit our webpage
www.tango-rio.com
>From: Jennifer Bratt <jennifer@CLOSE-EMBRACE.COM>
>Reply-To: jennifer@CLOSE-EMBRACE.COM
>To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
>Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:00:10 -0700
>
>B *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire
>address below into your web browser.
>
>https://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2F0%2C%2CSB11252795888112525
>0%2Demail%2C00%2Ehtml&nonsubURI=%2Farticle%5Femail%2F0%2C%2CSB11252795888112
>5250%2DH9jf4NilaV4nJ2nbXqIcK6Im5%2C00%2Ehtml
>
>Christopher L. Everett writes:
>
>>Who was the author? Was it someone by the name of Kim-Mai Cutler?
>>
>>Michael at Tango Bellingham wrote:
>>
>>>Don't bother - it's like one of TANGO-L's periodic urination contests
>>>about style put in newsprint. According to the article, before the
>>>advent of nuevo, "American milongas...were kitschy affairs patronized by
>>>an aging and dwindling cast of die-hards who danced to scratchy records
>>>of accordion music."
>>>
>>>Accordion music...riiiight.
>>>
>>>The whole tone is nuevo = young, hip, "with-it", while any other style >>>old, out-of-date, quaint.
>>>
>>>Nothing to see here, move along....
>>>
>>>Michael the Aging and Dwindling Die-hard
>>>Tango Bellingham
>>>www.tangobellingham.com
>>>
>>>Joanne Pogros wrote:
>>>
>>>>This article is too long for me to type in, also I do not know how to
>>>>scan it in for emailing. The article quotes Homer Ladas of San
>>>>Francisco, Carlos Libedinsky (Narcotango), Stephen Brown and Tom
>>>>Stermitz of Denver. Maybe one of them can facilitate the printing
>>>>of the article on the List for all to read, if possible.
>>>
>>--
>>Christopher L. Everett
>>
>
>
>
>* * * * * * * * *
>Jennifer Bratt
>Maleva & Co.
>www.close-embrace.com
>jennifer@close-embrace.com
>718.753.0521
>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:51:41 -0700
From: Jennifer Bratt <jennifer@CLOSE-EMBRACE.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Let's not jump on Homer because of this article, especially since he is not
on this list to defend himself. Homer has one of the comfiest, most
sensitive embraces of anyone I know, in any style. He is extremely
open-minded about tango, loves open and close embrace, neo and traditional
music, and has done a whole lot for the promotion of the dance on the west
coast of the US.
I think we should be glad whenever tango stories come out, especially when
they are in such a highly-respected newspaper with world-wide distribution
and get such prominent placement! -- even if the focus of the article is not
the style that we ourselves prefer. The message of the article is that
tango is growing, booming, and becoming popular among the younger
generation. That's a good thing!
-Jennifer
NANCY writes:
> --- Martha Stephenson <mamastep@TDS.NET> wrote:
>
>>The dancing was different, too:
>> The people in their twenties who remained switched
>> over to a new kind of tango that had them lifting,
>> twisting and ricocheting around the room.
>
> This sounds more like Contact Improvisation to me.
> What's next? Tango Mosh? And what is there left of
> tango if the music and the abrazo is gone? Please,
> Mr. Ladas, explain.
>
> Most sincerely,
> Nancy Ingle
> An open-minded tradionalist
>
> <<Rito es la danza en tu vida
> y el tango que tu amas
> te quema en su llama>>
> de: Bailarina de tango
> por: Horacio Sanguinetti
>
>
* * * * * * * * *
Jennifer Bratt
Maleva & Co.
www.close-embrace.com
jennifer@close-embrace.com
718.753.0521
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 12:56:32 -0700
From: Michael at Tango Bellingham <michaele@TANGOBELLINGHAM.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
I don't think anyone is jumping on Homer - bless 'em, Homer, Jaimes,
Mario, and the rest of the nuevo teachers up here in the States are all
excellent dancers and teachers - a pleasure to watch and a pleasure to
learn from. Now, some of their followers need lessons in taste and
floorcraft, but that's a topic for another day....
It was the journalist's choice of negative images and phrases for more
traditional tango that set my teeth on edge - "tradition-bound",
"kitschy", "aging", "accordion music." The first image that popped into
my head after reading that was 2-3 couples in their 80s shuffling around
the floor to Lawrence Welk. Not the image we want conveyed to the
general public, who in my experience think tango is either what they see
on PBS specials with Juliet Prouse or that it involves lace mantillas,
roses in the teeth, and castanets. Nor do we want people to think that
it's only for the young suburban 20-somethings who dress like gangsta
wannabes and stay out all night.
Just my $0.02 USD,
Michael
Tango Bellingham
www.tangobellingham.com
Jennifer Bratt wrote:
> Let's not jump on Homer because of this article, especially since he
> is not on this list to defend himself. Homer has one of the
> comfiest, most sensitive embraces of anyone I know, in any style. He
> is extremely open-minded about tango, loves open and close embrace,
> neo and traditional music, and has done a whole lot for the promotion
> of the dance on the west coast of the US. I think we should be glad
> whenever tango stories come out, especially when they are in such a
> highly-respected newspaper with world-wide distribution and get such
> prominent placement! -- even if the focus of the article is not the
> style that we ourselves prefer. The message of the article is that
> tango is growing, booming, and becoming popular among the younger
> generation. That's a good thing!
>
> -Jennifer
>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 16:32:25 EDT
From: Richard deSousa <Mallpasso@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
I second that! I was at his latest All-Nighter on Saturday (no, I didn't
stay all night.. too old for that!) and I had a great time. He played
traditional tangos until around 3am by which time old farts like me pack up and head
home to sleep.
Rich
In a message dated 8/29/2005 11:52:39 Pacific Daylight Time,
jennifer@CLOSE-EMBRACE.COM writes:
Let's not jump on Homer because of this article, especially since he is not
on this list to defend himself. Homer has one of the comfiest, most
sensitive embraces of anyone I know, in any style. He is extremely
open-minded about tango, loves open and close embrace, neo and traditional
music, and has done a whole lot for the promotion of the dance on the west
coast of the US.
I think we should be glad whenever tango stories come out, especially when
they are in such a highly-respected newspaper with world-wide distribution
and get such prominent placement! -- even if the focus of the article is not
the style that we ourselves prefer. The message of the article is that
tango is growing, booming, and becoming popular among the younger
generation. That's a good thing!
-Jennifer
NANCY writes:
> --- Martha Stephenson <mamastep@TDS.NET> wrote:
>
>>The dancing was different, too:
>> The people in their twenties who remained switched
>> over to a new kind of tango that had them lifting,
>> twisting and ricocheting around the room.
>
> This sounds more like Contact Improvisation to me.
> What's next? Tango Mosh? And what is there left of
> tango if the music and the abrazo is gone? Please,
> Mr. Ladas, explain.
>
> Most sincerely,
> Nancy Ingle
> An open-minded tradionalist
>
> <<Rito es la danza en tu vida
> y el tango que tu amas
> te quema en su llama>>
> de: Bailarina de tango
> por: Horacio Sanguinetti
>
>
* * * * * * * * *
Jennifer Bratt
Maleva & Co.
www.close-embrace.com
jennifer@close-embrace.com
718.753.0521
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 16:52:51 -0400
From: WHITE 95 R <white95r@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
>From: Michael at Tango Bellingham <michaele@TANGOBELLINGHAM.COM>
>
>I don't think anyone is jumping on Homer - bless 'em, Homer, Jaimes,
>Mario, and the rest of the nuevo teachers up here in the States
It's good to know that nobody is attacking Homer :-)
>Now, some of their followers need lessons in taste and
>floorcraft, but that's a topic for another day....
Hmmm, this is true but I think it's a gratuitous swipe at Homer's tango
predilection, no? I think Homer is a good teacher and dancer. Obviously he
teaches what he does and how he does it. It follows that his "followers"
will try to dance like he does. That would not be a bad thing, right?
People only can do what they can do. Everyone has his or her limitations.
Homer's "followers" are not different in their range of skill and talent
that any other "followers" of other teachers. The good ones are good and the
not so good ones are trying to learn and do better.
>
>It was the journalist's choice of negative images and phrases for more
>traditional tango that set my teeth on edge - "tradition-bound",
>"kitschy", "aging", "accordion music." The first image that popped into
>my head after reading that was 2-3 couples in their 80s shuffling around
>the floor to Lawrence Welk.
I can understand your dismay and dislike of the article based on those
words. I'll have to read the article and see it all in context before I pass
judgement, but I still think it will probably help in promoting Argentine
tango throughout the USA.
With regards,
Manuel
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 16:04:49 -0500
From: "Christopher L. Everett" <ceverett@CEVERETT.COM>
Subject: Re: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"
Thanks Jennifer for the link. I used tinyurl.com to make a shorter one:
*https://tinyurl.com/99xcs*
I wrote a letter to Ms. Cutler and the WSJ letters section about the
article:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: The New Tango Trades Cheek to Cheek For Hot, Fast Moves
> Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 15:28:37 -0500
> From: Christopher L. Everett <ceverett@ceverett.com>
> To: kim-mai.cutler@wsj.com, wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
>
>
>Dear Ms. Cutler:
>
>I suppose you're going to get a fair number of flames about this article.
>
>On reading it, the only part I have a real problem with is the sentence:
>"But the tango was withering away. A lot of American milongas, or dance
>parties, were kitschy affairs patronized by an aging and dwindling cast
>of die-hards who danced to scratchy records of accordion music", which
>presents an interesting brew of editorializing presented as fact ("A lot
>of American milongas, or dance parties, were kitschy affairs"), outright
>falsehood ("aging and dwindling", "accordion music") and incomplete data
>("scratchy records").
>
>I understand journalists commonly use the device of build mountains out
>of molehills, but your writing here is blatantly innaccurate, and plays
>the "young turks" vs. "old farts" card for more than what its worth.
>
>New tango could never have come into being without the old tango, and
>historically every generation has taken tango, stripped it down and
>built it back up as their own tango. In fact, the so-called "new tango" was created from a rigorous, almost mathematical analysis of traditional
>tango.
>
>The jury is till out on whether "new tango" is a mere fad or if it has legs for the long term. Meanwhile, much of the "new tango" vocabulary
>has already become standard in more traditional circles and the athletic
>demands of "new tango" put an upper age limit on who can participate.
>I suspect many of today's "new tango" dancers will come to appreciate
>the rewards of traditional tango in time, or find something else to do.
>
>
Jennifer Bratt wrote:
> *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire
> address below into your web browser.
>
> https://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2F0%2C%2CSB11252795888112525
>
> 0%2Demail%2C00%2Ehtml&nonsubURI=%2Farticle%5Femail%2F0%2C%2CSB11252795888112
>
> 5250%2DH9jf4NilaV4nJ2nbXqIcK6Im5%2C00%2Ehtml
>
> Christopher L. Everett writes:
>
>> Who was the author? Was it someone by the name of Kim-Mai Cutler?
>>
>> Michael at Tango Bellingham wrote:
>>
>>> Don't bother - it's like one of TANGO-L's periodic urination contests
>>> about style put in newsprint. According to the article, before the
>>> advent of nuevo, "American milongas...were kitschy affairs
>>> patronized by
>>> an aging and dwindling cast of die-hards who danced to scratchy records
>>> of accordion music."
>>>
>>> Accordion music...riiiight.
>>>
>>> The whole tone is nuevo = young, hip, "with-it", while any other
>>> style >>> old, out-of-date, quaint.
>>>
>>> Nothing to see here, move along....
>>>
>>> Michael the Aging and Dwindling Die-hard
>>> Tango Bellingham
>>> www.tangobellingham.com
>>>
>>> Joanne Pogros wrote:
>>>
>>>> This article is too long for me to type in, also I do not know how to
>>>> scan it in for emailing. The article quotes Homer Ladas of San
>>>> Francisco, Carlos Libedinsky (Narcotango), Stephen Brown and Tom
>>>> Stermitz of Denver. Maybe one of them can facilitate the printing
>>>> of the article on the List for all to read, if possible.
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Christopher L. Everett
>>
>> LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
>
>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * *
> Jennifer Bratt
> Maleva & Co.
> www.close-embrace.com
> jennifer@close-embrace.com
> 718.753.0521
>
> LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
> -
--
Christopher L. Everett
Chief Technology Officer www.medbanner.com
MedBanner, Inc. www.physemp.com
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:40:47 -0700
From: Igor Polk <ipolk@VIRTUAR.COM>
Subject: WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "WALL STREET JOURNAL 8-29-05 ARTICLE ON "NEOTANGO"NEOTANGO"
I have just got the newspaper.
Does somebody want me to scan the article and put it on the net?
By the way, Richard, I was at the all night milonga at the Beat. I came
there at 2 am from Golden Gate where I had great time as usual.
Homer at the Beat played better non-traditional music in curtinas then in
tandas. Booooooring! At about 3 am I left - few people stayed. I remember in
old days at that time the Beat was packed with the best San Francisco
dancers. Not any more.
This is totally opposite to what they say in the article.
I will write more about it later.
Igor Polk from San Francisco.
PS:
and I had such a wonderful time at the milonga at Studio Gracia! Marcelo and
Bocha played so well! Real Tangos!
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 16:51:57 -0400
From: JULIO FERNANDEZ <gluemax@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Re: "NEOTANGO"
Curious thing listening to this neo Tango I hear the strains of something that is quite
old. What I hear tells me that what parades as new seems to be largely borrowed and
plagiarised rock and Jazz and largely borrowed and plagiarised classic Tango all mixed
into a hodgepodge which 'earns it' the new marketing label, the "Neo Improved" thing,
itself quite an old soap-selling trick.
Great it would be that something really new had been created, but I guess creation takes
an uncommon genius and is a lot harder to do. Time will tell, mediocrity has a way of
being short-lived while true beauty lives forever. Forever Tango.
Julio Fernandez
----- Original Message -----
