Can Tango change?

Jan's linked opinion piece raises 1 (one) valid concern - that many tango nuevo dancers pretty much miss the point of dancing tango for pleasure.

However, I grow very tired of such rampant bigotry.

There is no effort to understand why, only a damning "Look at these stupid people, see how foolish they are.". In short, the article persuades nobody but those who already agree.

Why do the kids dress trendy? Because kids feel need to differentiate themselves. It's what young people do, tango or camping.

Personally I think the old guard would be surprised at how much appreciation the younger generation have for what came before. That appreciation and respect will only be eroded by such hostility.

Playground tango has a certain ring to it. If I want to play with my partner, I shall. If I want to scale the dizzy heights of internal emotion, I shall. I prefer the latter, but the former can be fun. Enjoyable. You know, like a hobby.
 
kieronneedscake said:
Jan's linked opinion piece raises 1 (one) valid concern - that many tango nuevo dancers pretty much miss the point of dancing tango for pleasure.

However, I grow very tired of such rampant bigotry.

There is no effort to understand why, only a damning "Look at these stupid people, see how foolish they are.". In short, the article persuades nobody but those who already agree.

Why do the kids dress trendy? Because kids feel need to differentiate themselves. It's what young people do, tango or camping.

Personally I think the old guard would be surprised at how much appreciation the younger generation have for what came before. That appreciation and respect will only be eroded by such hostility.

Playground tango has a certain ring to it. If I want to play with my partner, I shall. If I want to scale the dizzy heights of internal emotion, I shall. I prefer the latter, but the former can be fun. Enjoyable. You know, like a hobby.
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You make some good points. I've never understood why so many people wish to limit themselves to only one style (regardless of which style it is). It's perfectly normal for new generations to try new things. Some will favor the classics, while other will not, but there's no need to be dissing people because they have a different preference or perspective.

One thing I like to do at times, is see how many of the nuevo moves I can do, while in close embrace.
 
jantango said:
http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/new-nuevo-tango-sacrifices-tradition-and/
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Terence Clarke says:
"...the basic precepts of Argentine tango dance are being ignored, things like a proper lead, following the music, knowing the history of the dance and the music, respecting your partner, dressing well."

The teachers at the school I attend here in New York City teach the importance of all of these things. My question for the forum is about the last item "...dressing well".

Is "dressing well" the norm for both men and women at the milongas you attend? If so define "dressing well" for men. Define "dressing well" for women.

What type of clothing do you usually wear to the milonga?
 
that article said:
"...the basic precepts of Argentine tango dance are being ignored, things like a proper lead, following the music, knowing the history of the dance and the music, respecting your partner, dressing well."
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I don't believe the items in bold are vital. The others are.

The items in bold, to me, are "nice-to-have"s, they enhance the experience - but so do many other things (for example, I could add "being polite"). And there's no mention of floorcraft, which I'd personally put down as far more important than knowing the history of the music.

As for the "dressing well" thing:

When you look like a skateboarder in your baggy cargo-pants or intentionally tattered tennis warm-up suit, when you have a beard that has not been trimmed since the day you began growing it a few weeks ago, when you’re wearing a sweat-band around your forehead that has a faded New York Knicks logo on it, and when you’re dancing in scuffed Wal-Mart athletic shoes, you’re not letting yourself shine.
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Sounds exactly like the look Pablo Veron wore when he last came to London...

In short, that whole article is just an attempt to freeze, codify, and ultimately fossilize a dance style - to own it, in fact.

Well, tough. No-one owns Tango, I don't care where they live or what they claim. It's my dance, as much as it is yours, and I'll fight for my rights to use it however I see fit.

All that ranting said, I have to admit that I'd love to see a harmonious, close-embrace, relaxed tango Milonga in London, without this frenetic move-monster stuff I see all over the place.
 
It seems people have some differing ideas of what 'Respect' means. Maybe we need a Voltaire approach; I may despise the way you dance tango but I recognise your right to dance that way.

Like I've said before isnt what's being expressed is just a case of my kung fu is better than your kung fu!

I understand that different generations have different dress codes; my Father wears a jacket when he goes out anywhere. i dont put a jacket on unless its a formal occasion. I dress up for tango balls, my legs are too short for baggy pants like Homer wears ( and I'm too old anyway) Most people I know seem not to need much excuse to dress up anyway, but there isnt a younger generation dancing (tango) around here.They do hip hop or break dance
 
parents and children

bordertangoman said:
... different generations have different dress codes; my Father wears a jacket when he goes ..
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I agree. The tango evolution resembles most likely what happens at home, when your children get older, and want to go their own way. The parents pass on a lot, but in the end the children are responsible of their own. But, what the parents pass, they have got themselves from their parents, and so on!

That means: the argentinians must let go of the actual developement, and bring to mind, that they have got all the ingredients (like artificial insemination) and the further stimulations for TA from abroad: First the dance praxis of all the sailors and immigrants, secondly the exchange with the contemporay styles and fashions within latin america (i.e. caribian dances) , and finally the recurrent rebounds of the atlantic and european tango traditions.

And, the influence of the current TV showes will do the rest: All these mixed memories, suggestions, and emotions of our medial world does perform a really heavy impact especially on the younger stage and performance dancers.

I thinks the last development is more influential than the dancing of nuevo, neo, and of these cross over styles, we do sometimes.

OD
 
jantango said:
Tango Commuter has written a worthwhile post. http://tangocommuter1.blogspot.com/2009/08/can-tango-change.html

Is tango evolving into a new form of itself? Does it really need to change? What is going to make those changes happen?

Dance comes from the music. If we dance to the music of the 1940s, we are going to dance tango as the music dictates for a social floor.

There aren't many tango composers and lyricists today in Buenos Aires as there were during the 30s and 40s. Nor are there hundreds of orchestras performing live for radio audiences and in downtown cabarets. The climate for the dance and music is different today. There is more emphasis on performance tango for business. At least the milongas continue although fewer of the seasoned dancers are present. The atmosphere is totally different than it was years ago, but at least the classic dance music remains as the anchor that holds a grip on our hearts and makes us want to dance.
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One man's music is another man's NOISE!
 
Today's Nuevo is Tomorrow's Golden Age

Hi everyone, my name is Pete and I'm a bonifed newbie on this forum. I recently attended an alternative milonga and I wasn't satisfied with the music they played – Jack Johnson, Harry Potter theme music, Beck – because it was totally void of any classical tango instruments.
One nuevo song and dance that I really enjoy is from Chicho and Juana. I fell in love with the way they move to this song. Enjoy!

Pete
http://www.tango-blog.com
 
Tango WILL change, no matter what. What amazes me after 20 years of obsession with it, and trying and often discarding every new thing that comes along, is how much it stays at core the same regardless.

As for the eminem example: notice that the basic rhythm is a steady walking beat, what some teachers call a slow-slow rhythm. As long as a piece of music has that basic rhythm, maybe hidden in louder layers, you can dance the tango to it.

Laer Carroll - ShapechangerTales.com
 
larrynla said:
Tango WILL change, no matter what. What amazes me after 20 years of obsession with it, and trying and often discarding every new thing that comes along, is how much it stays at core the same regardless.

As for the eminem example: notice that the basic rhythm is a steady walking beat, what some teachers call a slow-slow rhythm. As long as a piece of music has that basic rhythm, maybe hidden in louder layers, you can dance the tango to it.

Laer Carroll - ShapechangerTales.com
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as I understand it in rap the voice becomes a percussive instrument so you are getting llong and short staccato phrases which could also be danced to.
 
opendoor said:
that means: The argentinians must let go of the actual developement, and bring to mind, that they have got all the ingredients (like artificial insemination) and the further stimulations for ta from abroad: First the dance praxis of all the sailors and immigrants, secondly the exchange with the contemporay styles and fashions within latin america (i.e. Caribian dances) , and finally the recurrent rebounds of the atlantic and european tango traditions. Od
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well said!!!
 
opendoor said:
I agree. The tango evolution resembles most likely what happens at home, when your children get older, and want to go their own way. The parents pass on a lot, but in the end the children are responsible of their own. But, what the parents pass, they have got themselves from their parents, and so on!

That means: the argentinians must let go of the actual developement, and bring to mind, that they have got all the ingredients (like artificial insemination) and the further stimulations for TA from abroad: First the dance praxis of all the sailors and immigrants, secondly the exchange with the contemporay styles and fashions within latin america (i.e. caribian dances) , and finally the recurrent rebounds of the atlantic and european tango traditions.

And, the influence of the current TV showes will do the rest: All these mixed memories, suggestions, and emotions of our medial world does perform a really heavy impact especially on the younger stage and performance dancers.

I thinks the last development is more influential than the dancing of nuevo, neo, and of these cross over styles, we do sometimes.

OD
Click to expand...

yOU could also draw a parrallel with Buddhism; it spread from India to countriees around and they all added or included their own traditions that existed in their own culture. But its still all Buddhism
 
bordertangoman said:
yOU could also draw a parrallel with Buddhism; it spread from India to countriees around and they all added or included their own traditions that existed in their own culture. But its still all Buddhism
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Very true. This is true of an dance form, really. Dance is not static. It evolves as music and society evolve. :shrug: It is what it is. I enjoy watching the evolution of dance. 8)
 
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