It is atrocious no matter what your level is
The on2 scene in nyc is where I got hooked on dancing. (Remark, that was 20 years ago.) As a follower, very dedicated, with very good teachers, I got to dance a lot right away even with decent leaders. I didn’t think much of gender ratios then, because I was not disadvantaged, (just like a lot of men don’t think much about what the actual ratios are in tango), so no wonder I had such a hard time when I switched to tango.
This happens when a student doesn't change teachers often enough. Then the student simply projects the typically sequence-oriented lesson content onto the social dance floor. No one will blame them for this, because it's precisely this environment that creates such students. A student only leaves their beginner status behind when they discard everything they've learned in the first two years, adopt a completely new perspective, and reinvent themselves. And this should be repeated several times in their career.
Changing teachers isn't always a possibility in small communities. There aren't the options available unless you can travel. You're right that it seems to take maybe 2 years. Then you may be dissatisfied, or want to show your skills to a wider world - to find that you weren't that good, or there are other options available, or start to research more...
A change doesn't have to involve a hard break: it's about a shift in perspective. Since the pandemic, there have been many online courses. Most beginners are encountering new teachers on tango vacations. The offerings there are very diverse and led by highly experienced teachers. The advantage is that you don't have to break up with your teacher at home in your small community. After three years, I went on my first tango vacation and learned a lot. And after the tango vacation, the next step is attending an international festival. Even the stars offer beginner workshops there. One last suggestion: you can also achieve a shift in perspective through other forms of movement: Alexander Technique, ballet, contact improvisation, swing...
If you’re lucky and have guest instructors from abroad you are often exposed to some of their different forms integrated into tango too. In just the last 3 months I learned about how some improve their awareness through yoga or the Feldenkrais methods.
Yes, and we use online resources (significantly greater detail and explanation than YT!). The downside is that there's no one to tell you what you're doing wrong - or right. It's missing the feedback.
Yes, we went with a couple who'd presented workshops we'd attended who arranged tango holidays abroad. Invaluable! Not so good if you only come across such teachers on vacation. There are a couple I'd avoid, and many mediocre. It doesn't have to be in the home country.
No, it doesn't. But that rather makes my point about travelling. It's not like there are plenty of good teachers readily available outside a metropolis. We were fortunate to come across good teachers at opposite ends of the country - and with the opportunity to spend time there having lessons. Locally? Well, some new ones sprang up - to disappear. Our originals survived - just. We still go to their workshops (if visiting teacher and topics are interesting), and attend milongas arranged by our initial teachers, but lessons are now private and further afield.
OOIHhhhh Ignacio Varchsusky is a fantastic resource!!! I had the privilege of attending daily in-person seminars with him for a week and have followed his YouTube material ever since. I REALLY liked his material on Gobbi and his series on Pugliese. He has first or second hand knowledge from the Who’s Who in the history of tango and is a walking encyclopedia.
I beg to differ, it has everything to do with the math. Please refer to my original 'perspective' offered.. I did also write somewhere that he'd be advised to question his motoives. Was he there to actually improve his tango or simply to have a woman in his arms. Trapped for three or four minutes in an unpleasant embrace, if he wasn't well-groomed, as often beginners are not. One lead expressed in a workshop sistuation.. What would you like to tell follwers? He replied: I appreciate clean hair. Bingo.
I was coached by advanced followers myself and I do also coach new followers and leads that are new in my community. The women who coached me back then openly said: I'm investing in you because it will pay off for me someday. It's a give and take in small communities.
Yes. It is a privilege to live in a metropolis that has tango studios, teachers, classes, workshops, prácticas, milongas, etc. everywhere – possibly so close that we can walk to them – along with a festival or three.
We have a pretty good-sized community, and the vibes are positive, so things here were quite the opposite.