argentine tango for showcase

[ballroomdancertoo]

I was watching some showcases for modern and since I will be performing a tango number I watched all the tango dances performed by Hawkins, Pino, Shingler, etc and they all seem to use argentine tango in some part of their routine. The videos were starting from 2003. Is it possible that some argentine tango moves will be accepted in the standard dance competition or has it already? Any comments?

 

[Genesius Redux]

I was watching some showcases for modern and since I will be performing a tango number I watched all the tango dances performed by Hawkins, Pino, Shingler, etc and they all seem to use argentine tango in some part of their routine. The videos were starting from 2003. Is it possible that some argentine tango moves will be accepted in the standard dance competition or has it already? Any comments?

From the little Argentine I've danced, I don't think so. Standard and Smooth Tango develops some of its characteristic look from the waist up. Argentine closes down that space, and most of the innovation is in the footwork. You have a totally different frame and a completely different set of principles when dancing Argentine.

Since ballroom tango is a specific historical development of what orignally happened in Argentina anyway, isn't it a bit of a moot question? Kind of like the way we diverged from a common ancestor to become humans and Klingons and chimps. Now only the humans and Klingons can really breed viably....

 

[NielsenE]

I'm not sure I understand the question...

You'll see some characteristic argentine tango figures in say Standard Showcase routines and in Open Smooth competition routines and Smooth showcases. I'd be amazinngly surprised to see the Standard Syllabus changes to include any new figures inspired from Argentine.

You won't see a standard couple adopting an argentine hold in compeittion, but I've seen it often in smooth -- especially as it helps to create the extreme contrast of complete internal couple focus against some of the more open position work.

Some of the FADS syllabus steps have an argentine flare to them even starting at the bronze level, haven't felt that in either USISTD nor DVIDA though.

 

[reb]

As NeilsenE, says, I suspect you'll see aspects of Argentine in Standard shows, and smooth in general, but . . . not likely in Standard (Modern) competition.

 

[Joe]

Eh, I've had at least one gancho in my comp routine for years now.

 

[tangotime]

There is a figure that was widely used a few yrs back that was very reminiscent of a gancho-- the Hinge ( found its way into waltz also ).

It would have come under the banner of " popular variations " . There is also a figure in T/A that resembles a " Chair " .

many may not be aware, that there is ( or was ) a publication entitled " Popular Variations "

 

[Joe]

Alex Moore.

 

[tangotime]

Lent my copy-- never got it back !!

 

[NielsenE]

what I meant was even if you have a figure whose footwork styling comes almost directly from argentine tango, you won't get the traditional hold/poise of argentine tango in standard and thus it won't really look like argentine...

 

[tangotime]

Point taken .

 

[Joe]

Lent my copy-- never got it back !!

You can always buy a new one.

Problem for syllabus dancers is, the book pretty much requires you to have some knowledge of non-syllabus patterns to begin with.