A reminder to the Englanders...

Light Sleeper said:
Hehe, funny :rolleyes: – we’re looking at it from opposite ends of the gender continuum, you find Juana Sepulveda mesmerising with Chicho – to me, she seems overpowered by him, like little red riding hood dancing with the wolf.. I’d love to see her with someone her own style.Anyway, who cares, Team Cola won and made my weekend! :bouncy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgieOrejLhY
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yeah, go the Hobbits! :mrgreen:

In case you havent seen this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B4JP6bX7fo

does this woman just have the perfect legs for tango or what?! :p Sorry, I'm just in awe...
 
As for the whole AT on Strictly.

  • Yes, it's awful show tango.
  • Yes, the judges and V&F do blather on about bordellos and suchlike.
  • Yes, the technique is rubbish.
But:

  • It's Argentine Tango, being danced, on prime-time Saturday night telly
  • It's discussed and hyped-up as The Premier Dance of the series, the week before and after the semi-finals.
  • Finally, it can - occasionally - produce real performances.

For example, I think Vincent and Rachel's AT performance last year was superb - OK, the music was rubbish, but the performance was magnificent.

And, Mark and Karen's set in Series 4 - whilst technically flawed - blew everyone away with the performance.

So, let's be grateful that it has such prominence. Who'd have thought, ten years ago, that we'd have 10 million people watching Argentine Tango on BBC1 on a Saturday night?
 
Light Sleeper said:
I liked R & N's better than V & F's
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Same here. Did you see their quickstep - whew - almost had to reach for the asthma pump. :tongue:

Light Sleeper said:
Notice Brucie only said 'World Champions' - he didn't specify in what - haha!
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Poor ole Brucie. He reminds me of Prince Philip. One shot of his gob and you can't but help cringe in anticipation of whatever it is he's going to say.

p.s. Still getting my BBC4 updates and still no word on Mad Men...
 
Dave Bailey said:
P.S. Love the sig :D
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:cool: .... of course, it is one of the few MT lines that doesn't contain a copious amount of four letter words which is verboten on here .. otherwise I might've had Tucker's Law as my sig, hehe.

Dave Bailey said:
As for the whole AT on Strictly.

  • Yes, it's awful show tango.
  • Yes, the judges and V&F do blather on about bordellos and suchlike.
  • Yes, the technique is rubbish.
But:

  • It's Argentine Tango, being danced, on prime-time Saturday night telly
  • It's discussed and hyped-up as The Premier Dance of the series, the week before and after the semi-finals.
  • Finally, it can - occasionally - produce real performances.
For example, I think Vincent and Rachel's AT performance last year was superb - OK, the music was rubbish, but the performance was magnificent.

And, Mark and Karen's set in Series 4 - whilst technically flawed - blew everyone away with the performance.

So, let's be grateful that it has such prominence. Who'd have thought, ten years ago, that we'd have 10 million people watching Argentine Tango on BBC1 on a Saturday night?
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Good points, Mr B..

And I also enjoyed Rachel and Vincent's routine, I love those two volcadas she does and I even quite like the music though would've preferred the original version instead of "BBC Orchestra now murders Prince" :rolleyes:

Really don't see the big deal about Mark thingummy's routine with Karen. And I think that music was even worse - Bond is so inappropriate! I thought some of her backward walks were good, though.

For me, Brendan's routine was superb, I enjoyed it immensely. For me, it's been the best so far. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suyh4tGuScw

I do think it could do with a re-vamp, though. I mean now they're broadening it out and doing more natural dances like salsa and AT... and this series more fun dances: Lindy, Charleston, Rock and Roll (eh, I thought that was just jive :confused:... well, jive before the BR staasi got their hands on it) etc etc

I'd like to see judges from a wider background be on the panel and also - why don't they start judging the professionals, too, hee hee?! Craig was so out of his depth... saying that Ricky came down the steps too early (yeah, whatever) and banging on about the only reason Ricky and Natalie weren't so good at the lindy was that they were tall - um, I don't think so, I've seen tall people do it and not look so ungainly as they did.

And actually - why don't they have ordinary people instead of celebs doing it? I mean, these lucky people get full time training for four months with a professional dancer. Jealous :(

But, also, I am interested in how it all works - where did V & F learn AT. Where do the other pro dancers learn? Who does their choreo - do they do it themselves?

Sidenote. Had a quick look at Flav and V's website .. at an IDO World championship comp in 2006 they did an AT comp and came 3rd overall but were placed 1st in the fantasia section... so they still have on their website 'World Argentine Tango Show Champions 2006' ... hmm, talk about bulling it up!
 
Heather2007 said:
Same here. Did you see their quickstep - whew - almost had to reach for the asthma pump. :tongue:



Poor ole Brucie. He reminds me of Prince Philip. One shot of his gob and you can't but help cringe in anticipation of whatever it is he's going to say.

p.s. Still getting my BBC4 updates and still no word on Mad Men...
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Heehee! I liked their cha cha the best..mind you, could've been because of the tune... god, I bet it's the first time Cream (sorry, "BBC Orchestra now Murders Cream") has been featured on SCD!! Mind you, I once saw a BR pro couple do a cha to Justin Timberlake - woooh!

Brucie - aw, I know, sometimes it's cringeworthy but sometimes it genuinely makes me laugh because I'm a big kid!

But seriously, Ricky was good but I don't think he was as exponentially better than Chris to warrant complaint about him not winning. And I think he judges were really biased towards Ali and Ricky... which only kind of proves the point that competitive BR is all about being perfect (physically) and text book perfect technically (mind, you, Ricky has bandy legs so...and I sympathise with him there, I don't have straight legs and I have to work on turning out my toes.) but I couldn't stand all the patronising comments re 'hobbits' and so forth.. and the bull comments after the Lindy I thought were disgraceful. Go back and watch Chris and Ricky's dances - on the assumption that this is about the joy and celebration of dance and performances to engage (as opposed to BR competition technicalities .. which would be like watching paint dry)... then you'll see there wasn't that much in it. Chris was the performer, hands down. And I thought the chemistry between him and Ola was palpable. I think there was something slightly inscrutable about Ricky and Natalie was too in-yer-face emotional... Ola and Chris just come over as very genuine and very sweet... Ricky said that he more or less came to it just with a desire to 'win'.

Anyway, I'm waffling on way too much off topic here!

GOOD NEWS Mad Men, back on in January, dahling!! The 21st - my friend told me, don't know how he found out but I trust the veracity of his information :D
 
Light Sleeper said:
Heehee! I liked their cha cha the best..mind you, could've been because of the tune... god, I bet it's the first time Cream (sorry, "BBC Orchestra now Murders Cream") has been featured on SCD!! Mind you, I once saw a BR pro couple do a cha to Justin Timberlake - woooh!

Brucie - aw, I know, sometimes it's cringeworthy but sometimes it genuinely makes me laugh because I'm a big kid!

But seriously, Ricky was good but I don't think he was as exponentially better than Chris to warrant complaint about him not winning. And I think he judges were really biased towards Ali and Ricky... which only kind of proves the point that competitive BR is all about being perfect (physically) and text book perfect technically (mind, you, Ricky has bandy legs so...and I sympathise with him there, I don't have straight legs and I have to work on turning out my toes.) but I couldn't stand all the patronising comments re 'hobbits' and so forth.. and the bull comments after the Lindy I thought were disgraceful. Go back and watch Chris and Ricky's dances - on the assumption that this is about the joy and celebration of dance and performances to engage (as opposed to BR competition technicalities .. which would be like watching paint dry)... then you'll see there wasn't that much in it. Chris was the performer, hands down. And I thought the chemistry between him and Ola was palpable. I think there was something slightly inscrutable about Ricky and Natalie was too in-yer-face emotional... Ola and Chris just come over as very genuine and very sweet... Ricky said that he more or less came to it just with a desire to 'win'.

Anyway, I'm waffling on way too much off topic here!

GOOD NEWS Mad Men, back on in January, dahling!! The 21st - my friend told me, don't know how he found out but I trust the veracity of his information :D
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Cor LS. And just when I was beginning to think I was the only stay at home anorak on a Saturday night sat in front of Strictly with my Sainsbury's takeaway. You know what? You're my favourite. Good commentary and in agreement. By Final Day couldn't care who won. Entertainment v. Good Technique? Both were exceptional and Cola's Charleston so good. Ta, for the MadMen notice. In my calenderrrr...Now!. Do hope you won't be carring, Eurostarring or planeing it anywhere over the next few days. Britain's turned into one massive fluffy white carpark and what with Ryannair skidding off the runway, a coach turning over and the rescue service car driving up to er...rescue it...crashing into the side of said coach. WHERE'S THE PIGGING GRIT? We Brits. Tch! You'd think we were situated somewhere south of the Equator. Have a good Chrimbo :together:
 
Aww, thanks, Heath, ditto! :together:
Yeah, we're supposed to have good old British Grit - where is it? Hehe, on the Strictly Come Dancefloor :D
And yeh, I'm a complete SCD geek, now. I watched Bridget Jones last night, and during the brill fight scene in the fountain, I found myself thinking "That's the song Cola did their Paso to!!"

No major travelling on wheels for me, last day in work, lucky enough to be within walking distance, I love walking in snow :D
 
Dave Bailey said:
As for the whole AT on Strictly.

  • Yes, it's awful show tango.
  • Yes, the judges and V&F do blather on about bordellos and suchlike.
  • Yes, the technique is rubbish.
But:

  • It's Argentine Tango, being danced, on prime-time Saturday night telly
  • etc.
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Spot on, Dave!

Such shows introduce the tango to the general public and make it less strange. Most people will never go beyond recognizing that there is a dance style called Argentine Tango, and retain a few memories of the blather and rubbish technique.

But a few people will become hooked and swell the ranks of the students at classes they can get to. Many of those will drop out when they find they can't do the showy stuff, and make enemies at the milongas if they do manage some of it.

Others, however, will find that some of the music reaches their hearts, that close and simple can contain amazing subtleties, and they can find an intimacy with another person that they have a hard time finding elsewhere.

Those will be our new co-conspirators in this sometimes subversive activity we call tango.

Laer Carroll
 
larrynla said:
Spot on, Dave!

Such shows introduce the tango to the general public and make it less strange. Most people will never go beyond recognizing that there is a dance style called Argentine Tango, and retain a few memories of the blather and rubbish technique.

But a few people will become hooked and swell the ranks of the students at classes they can get to. Many of those will drop out when they find they can't do the showy stuff, and make enemies at the milongas if they do manage some of it.

Others, however, will find that some of the music reaches their hearts, that close and simple can contain amazing subtleties, and they can find an intimacy with another person that they have a hard time finding elsewhere.

Those will be our new co-conspirators in this sometimes subversive activity we call tango.

Laer Carroll
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watched White Christmas today, and boy it beats Strictly hands down. Yanks sure know to choreograph and whats this, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye dancing close embrace, though its not tango

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-1DgMHBbw watch at 1:34
 
bordertangoman said:
watched White Christmas today, and boy it beats Strictly hands down. Yanks sure know to choreograph and whats this, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye dancing close embrace, though its not tango

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-1DgMHBbw watch at 1:34
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Well, I wouldn't say it beat Strictly as the dancing is quite different in WC - a mish-mash of tap and contemporary jazz ballet and thus no ballroom pieces. The Americans know how to choreograph? Did you never see Oliver, Half a Sixpence etc. And the Crosby/Kaye close embrace style dancing was common all over before the arms slung around the neck and dance like your drugged style arrived during the 60s.

Hope you had a wonderful Chrimbo BTM...now, Russell Crowe's Gladiator has just started ;)
 
larrynla said:
Spot on, Dave!

Such shows introduce the tango to the general public and make it less strange. Most people will never go beyond recognizing that there is a dance style called Argentine Tango, and retain a few memories of the blather and rubbish technique.

But a few people will become hooked and swell the ranks of the students at classes they can get to. Many of those will drop out when they find they can't do the showy stuff, and make enemies at the milongas if they do manage some of it.

Others, however, will find that some of the music reaches their hearts, that close and simple can contain amazing subtleties, and they can find an intimacy with another person that they have a hard time finding elsewhere.

Those will be our new co-conspirators in this sometimes subversive activity we call tango.

Laer Carroll
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Yes - it's simply a specifc case of the wider discussion about how you promote / teach AT to The Masses.

Like it or not, almost no-one gets first attracted to AT because of salon-style close embrace musicality in small spaces. We mostly start it wanting to learn the fun stuff - ganchos and volcadas seem to be a firm favourite around my neck of the woods at the moment, for example.

The trick is to balance the show stuff with technique, and slowly, gently, persuade new students, one at a time, of the virtues of dancing small and simple in close embrace.

So I'm very happy that AT is being promoted by the largest broadcaster in the UK, as one of the highlights of their flagship light-entertainment programme.

P.S. Shame Rachel and Vincent didn't do an AT yesterday. And what on Earth was Alesha thinking giving their rumba a 9?
 
larrynla said:
Spot on, Dave!

Such shows introduce the tango to the general public and make it less strange. Most people will never go beyond recognizing that there is a dance style called Argentine Tango, and retain a few memories of the blather and rubbish technique.

But a few people will become hooked and swell the ranks of the students at classes they can get to. Many of those will drop out when they find they can't do the showy stuff, and make enemies at the milongas if they do manage some of it.

Others, however, will find that some of the music reaches their hearts, that close and simple can contain amazing subtleties, and they can find an intimacy with another person that they have a hard time finding elsewhere.

Those will be our new co-conspirators in this sometimes subversive activity we call tango.

Laer Carroll
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Nicely put, Laer,

And even stranger... this is what planted the seed of AT for me, many years before I actually started http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WrM5Rd5ieY :rolleyes: ... it's a really cheesy strict tempo version of Piazzolla too :rolleyes:
 
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