Female leads in Argentine Tango

[MadamSamba]

Hi, folks...just a quick note to pick your expert AT brains.

Until I started learning it myself, I was always told that the AT was the only dance with a female lead. However, according to the people who currently teach me (real Argentines, probably the most respected and awarded AT teachers in Australia), that's not true. The male leads.

Just wondering where the confusion stems from and what the real story is.

[looyenyeo]

Historically, it was the other way 'round.

At the turn of the 19th century in Argentina, men outnumbered women 50:1. Men would practice amongst themselves to improve their dancing, in a quest for womens' favours. Men who could follow well were very highly sought after.

You can still this theme in some tango shows.

Regards,
Loo

[bordertangoman]

I've never heard this. I know of women who can take the man's role in a couple but the lead is the man. Having said this every lead a man gives is an invitation for the woman to take so there is constant give and take. The woman can add her adornments and, in such moves as the ochos, she can decide on the speed at which she carries out the step. :evil:

[MadamSamba]

Hmm...thanks for the feedback, guys...it's odd that I've heard it from so many people. I'm looking into it by backtracking from the people who've told me it. Hopefully I'll get an answer soon. In the mean time, I'll go with what I know, with the male leading.

[pygmalion]

Interesting topic, MadamSamba!

Needless to say, my google instinct was set off, and a I found a pertinent thread on tango-L. It's not as simple as I thought. Not at all. (Actually, I believe will35 alluded to this in a thread a couple months back. Maybe he can help us here with the historical info you seek.)

In the meanwhile, here are a couple excerpts from the tango-L discussion. Apparently, the female lead/not to lead debate is alive and well.

At 09:00 14.11.2002, you wrote:
>Re: Female leads (Give them a chance)

In my opinion the best women contribute a lot in a dance, but many women find it difficult to find ways HOW to contribute. One way to move away from the boring submissive role, is to learn to lead
1) this allows the women to get more in contact with the music and thus
later bring more of their own interpretation of the music in the dance.
2) understanding how leading works, they are able to 'see' openings in the
lead which allow for new adornos
3) they can communicate their mood changes etc. more effectively, so that I can respond to their feelings.
4) they can lear what they can NOT do without distroying my lead.
5) they can learn can how to influence the 'soul' and feeling of a figure
directly.

Most of the dances I have had that are truly fantastic, dances that you can't forget, but you also have no idea what actually happended... are with women who lead well, but prefer to follow the right leader.

So, I hope that we can encourage women to lead. And yes, it will change the way they follow. Perhaps the changes are not positive for all, and especially in the beginning, but for some the rewards are huge! :-)

Sincerely,
Eero
eero @bergentango.no





And the reply
Another subject - When follower and leader are in agreement to be sensitive to the followers initiative to add her own
creative improvisations within the dance. I don't mean adornments, but actually taking the lead for a moment or longer."

Would you please elaborate upon the last statement? I've always been led to believe that the concept of women leading men was anathema in the tango culture. What do you do and how do you do it when you "take the
lead", and what effect does it have on your partner?

Luda




And another reply
I'm back :) :)
There are many women that are better leads than most men. Ask any man that's danced with Mariela Franganillo ( http://www.tejastango.com/workshop_mariela.html ) She's incredibly feminine with power, and skill. I've seen her and experienced her taking the lead away from even very strong male leaders. Do men want to continue to control (lead) because they are afraid of the power of women? Maybe it's good to remember that women have a different sensitivity than men. Personally I believe that it's a good thing to learn the other part. It sometimes helps to understand what our partner is feeling. Like most things in life, when they are new, it takes time to develop into full form. There is (since the womens' movement) a trend towards understand our opposites. Men finding their feminine side, women expressing masculinity. Some come to a balance, some don't. There are cases, of men that are "New age wimps" or "tyrants", and women that are too much into control "dominant". It seems that women have an easier time being masculine, without criticism from their own gender. Men on the other hand are SO afraid of homosexuality that they often can't show sensitivity.

We are all afraid of intimacy.

>Would you please elaborate upon the last statement?
>I've always been led to believe that the concept of
>women leading men was anathema in the tango culture.
>What do you do and how do you do it when you "take the
>lead", and what effect does it have on your partner?

Ask Mariela

It effect different partners differently. I like it, I also like a woman that can get on top. Who wants the responsibility for everything? Not me. I can barely take responsibility for my own life..



Interesting stuff, isn't it? :wink:

[pygmalion]

Check this out. Even more good commentary on the lead/follow issue. Check out is blog, particularly the first one on lead/follow, and the third, "A follow is not an empty vessel."

http://www.tangophilia.com/blog/archives/cat_philosophies.php