Re: [Tango-L] How to break couples who do not want to change partners.
The main reason I don't change partners in the workshops is that most people or at least too many people are in way over their head. I prefer to change partners, but when the women in class don't have basic following skills, it makes it a waste of my time and money. So when I take group classes, I usually bring my own partner or find one who is at the appropriate level and suggest we partner up. If you want people to switch, you need to make sure that : a) the class is gender balanced, or at least role balanced. if it's a beginner class, don't expect men to come back if they have to dance with other men. It took me a long time to get over my reluctance to dance with men. To make that happen I would suggest have the (more) advanced class first, and then offer to the/some more advanced students access for free or other incentive to volunteer to the (more) beginner class to cover gender balance. b) all the people in class are at the appropriate level. And by that, I mean actual level, not how many months/years they've been dancing. c) there is usually a mayhem when a switch is asked. Everybody starts moving like chickens with their head cut off. Make that organized. One teaching couple used a technique that I found interesting. At the beginning of the class they identified the gender larger in numbers (it was men in that case), and then they made them get a partner and sit in a circle. Then they placed the "leftovers" in between the couples. Then they asked the men to memorize the exact spot in the room where they were. When a switch was called, the men would bring their current follower at the designated spot and then the followers would move one to the right. This insured that everyone danced with everyone and it encouraged people to switch. Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com On 10/11/07, Igor Polk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ok, no one knows how to grow a good ( I mean excellent ! ) man-dancer. > GOOD ! > > Now, much more practical question. > > When one has 4 couples who do not change partners per, say, other 6-7 > couples, it is a real disaster. > These people just dump the energy ( not to speak that they needed it most > ). > Especially if the class is more difficult than average, and if there are > some extra women. > > What to do with it? > > I am ready to tell them to leave if they do not start to change partners. > > I already used all persuasion power I know of, telling stories that it is > good for them, bla-bla-bla, and for forth.. > > Can anyone help me with an advice how it works in practice? > > Note: all students are of the same level. Actually those who change are > better, and they do not mind practicing with less advanced stubborn > not-changing students. > > Or may be I am wrong? Should I dump those who are without a partner? > > Igor Polk > > > > > ___ > 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] "Would you like to lead or follow?"
>"Wow, this is confusing!..I dance tango in order to feel like a man... Hmm, maybe that's the problem. It could be just me, but in order to feel like a man, I just have to be awake/conscious. While not all women who lead are good dancers, nearly ALL great women dancers I ever danced with know how to lead. On Sat, Jul 19, 2008 at 1:54 AM, Mario <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tonight, I asked a woman to dance. She replied, "Would you like to lead or > follow?" > I was startled. I answered "Do I look like a follow?..Hello-o-o. I had > lapsed into Valley girl > speak when what I should have done was my impersonation of Christopher > Walken. > So, Ok, I got it together and did my best Chris "Wow, this is > confusing!..I dance tango in order to feel like a man...and what do I > get?...unisex? > What's this.. no more man, woman? Is that it? ...she replied again, "No, > I just wanted to > know if you wanted to lead or follow?" I could have milked the scene, it > was rich material > so, I did a couple more lines in my best Christopher Walken voice > (whenever I feel vulnerable, I go to Chris) and then we danced. > It's the man who approaches the woman. It takes a bit of nerve to feel > like you can > pull it off with her...it's not easy. There should be some respect..I > don't get any respect. > > > > > ___ > Tango-L mailing list > Tango-L@mit.edu > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l > > -- Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Labor Day Festival: a complaint
> > As bad as it all is, the only way to prevent it from happening is to not > accept such rude "invitations." But then you are blacklisted. The > One can argue that being "blacklisted" by these women/men would be a blessing ... I actually don't mind women asking, as long as they understand that asking carries the risk of being rejected. I do ask specific women based on the music, based on my mood, by my energy level, etc. If people would say "No" a lot more, I think things would improve a lot in the north american tango. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
[Tango-L] Pictures from the Oct 2008 New York Tango Festival are up ...
... at http://www.bostonphotographs.com/index.html?openfolder=events/2008-10/NYC%20tango%20fest/ or if the direct link doesn't work, under events\2008-10\NYC tango fest. Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Serpentine youth in Zagreb..look out!
Of course, elegance, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally find them elegant, and I find many of the dancers who are reputed to be elegant looking stiff. So, it's all a matter of personal preference and style. Trini, I find your tone condescending. Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 5:26 PM, Trini y Sean (PATangoS) <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: > My, Mario, you are too easily impressed. His arm thing is something I'd > attribute to personal style. It's a shame when young people sacrifice > elegance for the sake of steps, which is what this couple is doing. The > head positions are terrible, and it wouldn't take much to fix it. A > talented couple, but not one I'd care to have as a role model for my > community. Perhaps in Zagreb they don't have many options. > > ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Waiting for a dance
Well, asking for a dance is generally a good way to address that issue I would think. As far as you "feeling the pressure", well, it your prerogative to feel whatever you want and act according to your wishes. I dance with the people I want to for as long as we both want to dance together. The only exception to that it would be if I was hired to be a "taxi dancer". Assuming I would take such a job that is. "What do I have to do to get a dance around here?" > > Personally I normally only dance 3 songs with a lady at a practica, > especially if there are ladies waiting. If I dance longer, I feel the eyes > and pressure on me to change partners. > ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Report from Buenos Aires #7: Milonga Review
> > > 5. Miscellaneous > > DJs seem to follow the 2-1-2-1 approach to music. 2 tandas of tango, 1 > > tanda waltz, 2 tandas tango, 1 tanda of milonga. In the States, the > > pattern seems to be > > 4-1-4-1. > Where are you dancing? In the NE (Boston, NYC, Montreal) I have heard either 2-1-2-1 or 2-1-1-1. Same for all festivals I attended. Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Requesting Truth about Impact of Swine Flu on Buenos Aires milongas
I'm in BsAs now. A few milongas and classes have been canceled but not many. Attendence at milongas is pretty light, but they are not deserted. I'd say there are half the people there were before the health emergency was declared, which is quite low as this is the low season to begin with. It's hard to determine a trend, this seems a knee jerk reaction to the government "emergemcy" declaration Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 11:49 AM, Felix Delgado wrote: > > I have a trip planned to go to Buenos Aires (for the first time) at the end > of this month. I am still waiting to see what develops, but a declaration by > the government of a 'swine flu emergency' is not encouraging. I have family > members in Mexico City and ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
Re: [Tango-L] Nuevo Milonguero
Huh, I must've been to another BsAs in June and July. And maybe you should tell Tete that the way he dances is all wrong. I've seen him leading off axis moves, and reverse roles with a number of women. I actually have a picture of that. Good dancers use whatever they can to make the dance fun. The difference between them and the bad dancers is they will only lead the moves that can be done in the available space and both themselves an their partners can actually execute it. Maybe some people on tango-l could try spending less time arguing about tango and more time actually dancing. Just a thought. Sorin my photography site: http://www.bostonphotographs.com my milonga review site: http://www.milongareview.com blog: http://sorinsblog.blogspot.com email: so...@bostonphotographs.com On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 12:42 PM, RonTango wrote: > Nuevo elements are not part of the tango milonguero danced in the milongas of > Buenos Aires. > > A milonguero does not pull or push a woman off her axis. Bad dancers might. > The only colgadas I have seen in Buenos Aires milongas are the jewelry around > women's necks. As for 'linear', 'circular' and whatever direction boleos and > ganchos and the wrapping of legs around body parts that are best left > unwrapped, they just don't occur in Bs As milongas. ___ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
