5177  When I was a hiker..

Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:02:15 -0700
From: "Igor Polk" <ipolk@virtuar.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] When I was a hiker..
To: <tango-l@mit.edu>

When I was a hiker
I have learned never trust locals for directions. They are not able to give
it.
Probably they know the things to well to mention important details to me,
or they never were interested in what I was interested,
or they plainly did not know, but "my uncle says..",
or even more plainly were trying to fool me around.

I have found that a simple map, and commons sense instincts, and ability to
use Sun and Stars for orientation serve much better.


Igor Polk

Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:30:58 +0300
From: "Krasimir Stoyanov" <krasimir@krasimir.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] When I was a hiker..
To: <tango-l@mit.edu>

Very good observation, Igor, I arrived to the same conclusion, tango-wise.
Now, when I know "the mechanics", I see all the time strange things said and
written about tango, how to dance it and feel it. Almost all teachers are
preaching, instead of teaching - so for me, they are not tango-teachers,
they are tango-preachers. And they all preach pretty much different and
often contradictory things.
And this is very sad, because people deserve better treatment. Simply said,
directions that they could understand, not strange sophisticated high-ordeal
stuff.

The dance has two (at least?) levels - one of them is purely technical, or
bio-mechanical if you wish. The other one is the spiritual level - the
music, the feeling, the tango-living. The latter one is far more difficult
to teach, if possible at all. That's why most teachers concentrate on the
mechanics. But most of them actually explain nothing. Do-it-like-me system
is awful in a class that badly needs some basic walking, leading and
following improvements. Yes, walking, leading and following are impossible
to separate, they are one and the same - the right walking is impossible
without being led properly and knowing how to transform that lead. The right
following is impossible without correct walking, and the lead is futile in
such a case.

And I think this is what must be taught - the holy trinity of tango -
walking, leading and following. All the rest is easy, when based on proper
walking, leading and following skills. Of course, one thing is missing, the
pivots, and they are the next important thing to learn - and they benefit
greatly from the good execution of the trinity. A pivot following an
imprecise step is going to be a disaster.

So, what else do we need - leading and following smoothly through the steps
and pivots - this is 99% of the dance. The rest is not so important and to
the people's preference - figures, combinations, adornos - vanity fair.

Many people reading this will say - "Hey, of course, we know that walking is
important". But what they don't know is that they don't walk correctly -
nobody is there to tell them and teach them. Of course, some people do know
how to walk, but they are minority even in Argentina.


----- Original Message -----

Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 11:02 PM
Subject: [Tango-L] When I was a hiker..

> When I was a hiker
> I have learned never trust locals for directions. They are not able to
> give
> it.
> Probably they know the things too well to mention important details to me,
> or they never were interested in what I was interested,
> or they plainly did not know, but "my uncle says..",
> or even more plainly were trying to fool me around.
>
> I have found that a simple map, and commons sense instincts, and ability
> to
> use Sun and Stars for orientation serve much better.
>
>
> Igor Polk
>
>
>
>
>
>

Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:56:14 -0500
From: "Tango Society of Central Illinois" <tango.society@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] When I was a hiker..
To: "Igor Polk" <ipolk@virtuar.com>
Cc: tango-l@mit.edu
<cff24c340709141756jace479egc3ea0dcb0b0eaa89@mail.gmail.com>

On 9/14/07, Igor Polk <ipolk@virtuar.com> wrote:

>
> When I was a hiker
> I have learned never trust locals for directions. They are not able to
> give
> it.

OK, if I translate this literally into tango, this means that when going to
Buenos Aires, don't ask porten~os where the good milongas are. Instead,
arrive equipped with your 'guide book' (map) of recommendations from
tangueros back home. Hmm. That's how I've ended up at La Viruta, Porten~o y
Bailarin, and Confiteria Ideal, which are flooded with tourists and make the
dancing back home seem good sometimes.


Probably they know the things to well to mention important details to me,

> or they never were interested in what I was interested,
> or they plainly did not know, but "my uncle says..",
> or even more plainly were trying to fool me around.

So don't expect to learn tango from porten~os (milongueros?). They can't
explain what they know. Maybe so. Maybe not. Instead learn from someone
who's skilled at communicating, even if its misinformation. (It might take
you years to figure that out.)


I have found that a simple map, and commons sense instincts, and ability to

> use Sun and Stars for orientation serve much better.

I have found something that helps in understanding tango is to approach it
like an anthropologist. Go to the source. Observe. Respect the cultural
norms. Communicate with people involved in the culture.

Or maybe you were just talking about how to get to La Esquina de Carlos
Gardel on the subte?

Ron





OK, if I translate this literally into tango

Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:18:39 -0700
From: "Igor Polk" <ipolk@virtuar.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] When I was a hiker..
To: "'Tango Society of Central Illinois'" <tango.society@gmail.com>
Cc: tango-l@mit.edu

Translation is an art.



Everyone translates to the best of his abilities following some guidelines
set by a publisher, community, or his own life experience.



Igor.