Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
Well, if I don't remove my glasses I'll be crashing with everybody, my sight is that bad. And most ladies (at least 20 cm shorter than me) didn't have a problem at all with my hat. Sergey ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
Your shampoo not working for you? Try Pantene. :o I would think wearing a hat would cause one to unconsciously tighten the muscles in the neck, which would inhibit the spiraling of the spine. It's a subtle but important thing. Trini --- On Fri, 9/17/10, Sergey Kazachenko syarz...@gmail.com wrote: And most ladies (at least 20 cm shorter than me) didn't have a problem at all with my hat. Sergey ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
What's going on here? I don't understand. Why are people with boundary issues, or those who want to perform or compete, dancing Argentine tango anyway? Aren't there other dances they would prefer? Didn't they find out that tango was not for them at the first lesson? I think much of the blame here lies with the teachers. Teachers need to teach close embrace from the beginning. Not only does it turn out better dancers more quickly, it lets people know what tango is about in the beginning, not 6 months in when they have more of an incentive to force their idea of tango on the community, rather than adopting tango as it is. Tango classes should weed out people who are really not interested in tango, don't you think? Oh, yes - in my very biased opinion, it would help if all teachers knew what they were doing before they started to teach. I hear too many stories of teachers who only know fancy figures, and can't comfortably dance close, and don't visit Buenos Aires. Those that don't even play tango music in class. Of course that's how they are going to teach. Of course they, and their students, could potentially change a community adversely. Prominent members of the community can help, though. As a teacher who has been teaching for over 10 years, I get frustrated when I see students going to teachers who have 2 or 3 years of experience, because they are new, or dance fancy figures. It's human nature to run to the latest or fanciest thing, but learning to teach tango takes some time. Understanding the music takes time. So I selfishly ask - support those teachers who turn out good dancers! Go to their classes, and recommend them to others! Bring in traveling teachers who insistently teach solid, clean basics! And who teach tango. Loisa Donnay Minneapolis, MN - Original Message - From: Sandhill Crane grus.canaden...@yahoo.com I agree that boundaries, wherever you set them, are a serious issue, and it's true that close embrace is just too close for some people. I don't have any problem with dancing in an open embrace. Maybe I usually prefer a close embrace but I don't have anything to gain by imposing on my partner. As long as we have good communication in the embrace, which is possible with open or close embrace, we have a good dance, from my point of view. I have to take issue with your suggestions about bigger figures, though. One can approach the essence of tango through figures, but that's definitely the slow way to do it. If you start out doing figures, you might never get beyond that, and I do believe there is much more to tango than just the steps. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
I believe the term close embrace as it relates to tango was coined by a native English speaker to distinguish it from the hold of ballroom. An embrace is an embrace. Do you embrace someone at arm's length in normal life? The tango embrace is the same as the embrace of someone you love, even though you may not know or care about the person. It is the dance position. In my experience as a tango dancer and teacher, many foreign dancers, especially those from Anglo-Saxon traditions, are indeed afraid of the embrace. They are not used to being that close to someone who is not their sweetheart or close relative, and sometimes their emotions get all confused after a tanda of moving together as one hugged so close by a stranger. The embrace is the position for dancing tango--it's the base for all of the emotions and feelings that arise from the music and feeling connected, not only to your partner, but to the universe. There is no such thing as an open embrace. If you can stampede a herd of elephants between the couple, there is no embrace. Tango is danced heart to heart. The beating of two hearts united together is the rhythm of tango. And men wearing hats when they dance? Well that's fine on stage during the historical bits, especially in the comedy milonga that is always part of the show. Wearing a costume in a milonga while dancing socially? Ridiculously affected. And one other thing, if that hat is worn a lot for dancing, it usually smells really bad. cherie http://tangocherir.blogspot.com ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
Trini: Show some sensitivity. You don't know what's going on under the hat. The Rogaine might not have kicked in yet!! It only works on 85% of the men. Michael I danced Argentine Tango --with the Argentines - Original Message - From: Trini y Sean (PATangoS) patan...@yahoo.com To: tango-l tango-l@mit.edu Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 9:09 AM Subject: Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace Your shampoo not working for you? Try Pantene. :o I would think wearing a hat would cause one to unconsciously tighten the muscles in the neck, which would inhibit the spiraling of the spine. It's a subtle but important thing. Trini --- On Fri, 9/17/10, Sergey Kazachenko syarz...@gmail.com wrote: And most ladies (at least 20 cm shorter than me) didn't have a problem at all with my hat. Sergey ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
It has been proven in recent scientific studies that the sweat on the hat causes it to shrink around the mans head cutting off necessary blood flow to the brain sending him into uncontrollable gyrations often associated with nuevo tango. In a message dated 9/17/2010 9:46:32 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, tangoman...@cavtel.net writes: Trini: Show some sensitivity. You don't know what's going on under the hat. The Rogaine might not have kicked in yet!! It only works on 85% of the men. Michael I danced Argentine Tango --with the Argentines - Original Message - From: Trini y Sean (PATangoS) patan...@yahoo.com To: tango-l tango-l@mit.edu Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 9:09 AM Subject: Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace Your shampoo not working for you? Try Pantene. :o I would think wearing a hat would cause one to unconsciously tighten the muscles in the neck, which would inhibit the spiraling of the spine. It's a subtle but important thing. Trini --- On Fri, 9/17/10, Sergey Kazachenko syarz...@gmail.com wrote: And most ladies (at least 20 cm shorter than me) didn't have a problem at all with my hat. Sergey ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace
This reminds me of the time I (as the milonga organizer) had to tell a man to stop teaching on the floor. He was respectful to me and said No problem - it stops right now That was nice. (Other times men have blamed me and never returned to the milonga.) Then he went right over to my boyfriend and said Who was that b who complained about me giving her some tips? Because I'm never going to dance with that b___ again! The point is - women would love to stand up for themselves and tell men to stop acting like such cads. How should they do that without having bad manners themselves?? Loisa Donnay Sergey wrote: And most ladies (at least 20 cm shorter than me) didn't have a problem at all with my hat. Alexis wrote: Pet peeve: teaching/lecturing at a milonga, in the middle of the ronda. I sometimes really can't understand why the unfortunate (usually female) victim doesn't kick the offender where it hurts. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Just say NO: (the fear of close embrace)
Lois: The easiest way to deal with the situation is to think of telemarketing phone calls. Somehow, my name landed up on an investors list. Companies called trying to get me to buy gold, precious metals, oil, gas and I forget what else. The moment I say I'm not an investor and I don't know how you got my name, the company immediately terminates the call. I suggest women practice That's not what my teacher said. That should end the conversation. If the man persists, when you become my teacher, I'll do it your way. It's polite without any emotion. I'm surprised there aren't workshops on this topic at festivals. I bet the workshop would fill up in no time with a waiting list. Of course, it would be for women only! Michael I danced Argentine Tango --with the Argentines - Original Message - From: Lois Donnay don...@donnay.net Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 1:32 PM Subject: Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace This reminds me of the time I (as the milonga organizer) had to tell a man to stop teaching on the floor. He was respectful to me and said No problem - it stops right now That was nice. (Other times men have blamed me and never returned to the milonga.) Then he went right over to my boyfriend and said Who was that b who complained about me giving her some tips? Because I'm never going to dance with that b___ again! The point is - women would love to stand up for themselves and tell men to stop acting like such cads. How should they do that without having bad manners themselves?? Loisa Donnay ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Just say NO: (the fear of close embrace)
it's really very simple... two words... thank you... and, walk back to your table... if more women would do that... less guys would teach on the floor... tony - Original Message - From: Lois Donnay don...@donnay.net Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 1:32 PM Subject: Re: [Tango-L] the fear of close embrace This reminds me of the time I (as the milonga organizer) had to tell a man to stop teaching on the floor. He was respectful to me and said No problem - it stops right now That was nice. (Other times men have blamed me and never returned to the milonga.) Then he went right over to my boyfriend and said Who was that b who complained about me giving her some tips? Because I'm never going to dance with that b___ again! The point is - women would love to stand up for themselves and tell men to stop acting like such cads. How should they do that without having bad manners themselves?? Loisa Donnay ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
