Getting criticised on my tango walk by a newbie!

[opendoor]

... homogenized, codified, artificial elevator music...

like Gotan Project, Otros Aires, Libedinsky, Bajofondo ... ?

In a way these bands actually resemble those orchestras of Canaro, d'Arienzo, and Biagi. Of course at first sight it seems to be more pretentious to arrange for an increased orquestra tipica. But have you seen the number and the frequence those golden age bands used to throw their productions onto the market? Canaro, d'Arienzo and Biagi worked with precast arrangement modules.
And concerning Libedinsky, please do not doubt his skills as a solist, theoretist, and as an arranger. He is on a par with many of the arrangers of the golden age. Look at his works with classical string orchestras. And one reason I get a little excited about Libendinsky: he brought me to play bandoneón 2004 when his band played in Hamburg.

 

[bordertangoman]

I hear that US forces are using traditional tango music broadcast from to defeat Taliban insurgents. Their own forces are given Heavy Duty ear protectors

 

[opendoor]

In history

 

[Mr 4 styles]

I hear that US forces are using traditional tango music broadcast from to defeat Taliban insurgents

perfect!! as the try to dance with each other and argue incessantly about who is right they will be easy pickins for the marine snipers

 

[dchester]

The "cross" (Crusada) is a staple (but for some reason, it gets led poorly by a lot of people)

That's because a lot of followers cross automatically, so we don't really have to do much to lead it with them. That's one of the things I'll normally test out with someone I haven't danced with before, (what does it take to get her to cross).

 

[twnkltoz]

That's because a lot of followers cross automatically, so we don't really have to do much to lead it with them. That's one of the things I'll normally test out with someone I haven't danced with before, (what does it take to get her to cross).

And if we don't cross sans lead, we're instructed, "You were supposed to cross there." :|

 

[Mladenac]

And if we don't cross sans lead, we're instructed, "You were supposed to cross there." :|

Than tell him what you felt. If you didn't feel you couldn't follow.
And try to communicate how both of you instructed to lead and follow certain elements.

 

[twnkltoz]

Than tell him what you felt. If you didn't feel you couldn't follow.
And try to communicate how both of you instructed to lead and follow certain elements.

I usually respond, "I'm sorry. I didn't feel the lead for that."

Then there was the guy who kept leading back ochos and trying to lead me out to the cross, but he wasn't changing back to parallel, so he kept trying to lead it when I was on the wrong foot. When he finally did it correctly, he said, "There you go!" :|

 

[LKSO]

Than tell him what you felt. If you didn't feel you couldn't follow.
And try to communicate how both of you instructed to lead and follow certain elements.

You may or may not believe how these minor quips can lead to full scale heated arguments on a dance floor. It's probably not worth it.

 

[Steve Pastor]

they don´t focus on music. If they would, the same developement would set in as in the BR-world: homogenized, codified, artificial elevator music.

I've been very fortunate to have instructors who did in fact start with the music: Alex Krebs, who plays bandoneon and has done several recordings, etc, Bill Alsup, who is a French Horn player (was?) with the opera, Steven Payne, who had previous dance training (contact improvisation). Any dance music should have some sort of discernible beat to dance to. Around that requirement, though, an awful lot of complexity can occur. And these teachers always used "authentic" tango music!
So, I don't think teaching to music will lead to homogenized music.

 

[dchester]

And if we don't cross sans lead, we're instructed, "You were supposed to cross there." :|

Geez, around these parts, the response to every issue is, "It's the leader's fault".

 

[Zoopsia59]

Geez, around these parts, the response to every issue is, "It's the leader's fault".

And your point is..?

 

[LKSO]

Well I think "Arg Tango has 'no steps' and is a 'feeling" is so much BS*.
Its a dance, its like learning to play a saxophone, you need to do a lot of steps and practice. Any feeling you put into the dance comes from mastery of the steps and enjoying the music...

AT is not about steps even though there are steps. Per your example, any musician will say that music is not about notes. It's the meaning that matters. Someone who is still learning steps isn't dancing, just as someone who is still learning scales isn't making music. And someone who hears only notes isn't feeling the music, just as someone who sees only steps isn't feeling the dance.

 

[Subliminal]

AT is not about steps even though there are steps. Per your example, any musician will say that music is not about notes. It's the meaning that matters. Someone who is still learning steps isn't dancing, just as someone who is still learning scales isn't making music. And someone who hears only notes isn't feeling the music, just as someone who sees only steps isn't feeling the dance.

I disagree with the metaphor.

Steps are equivalent to learning the fingerings to produce a note on the saxophone. Not scales. I play the saxophone. You can't pick one up and start playing by "feeling" the music. You have to start somewhere. Usually with instruction.

 

[LKSO]

But I'm referring to the end result, not the process. The process is just learning about the many parts of music or dance. The end result is music or dance.