First AT lesson coming up...

samina said:
I'm still in that great "dance hangover" space from last night's AT experience...:cool:
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Welcome to the good stuff, Sam. Don't let anyone take that feeling from you. Like all other dances, there are many persons who will mandate that you do it this/that way. Also, like all other dances, though there is a correct way to move in AT, what is ultimately most correct is that which makes you feel what you have already begun to experience. Feel free if I may ever help.
 
My first AT lesson will be this coming Sat.

Can anyone recommend a few videos on youtube worth watching? Something displaying a social style rather than a performance (choreography).
 
GJB said:
My first AT lesson will be this coming Sat.

Can anyone recommend a few videos on youtube worth watching? Something displaying a social style rather than a performance (choreography).
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Honestly I think most videos will give you the wrong impression about what social Tango dancing is...
 
GJB said:
My first AT lesson will be this coming Sat.

Can anyone recommend a few videos on youtube worth watching? Something displaying a social style rather than a performance (choreography).
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A few favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgJS7UYeBbE

http://tangovideos.blogspot.com/2006/08/geraldine-javier-milonga.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SodIdnzP4gI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN0o_ZgdCL0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFCzQYtCtFE

They're all performances, but also social, non-choreographed style. Sure, movements would have to be scaled down, but it's all still social style.

Video of people actually dancing in a milonga:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ziV0ixFE48&feature=related
 
GJB said:
My first AT lesson will be this coming Sat.

Can anyone recommend a few videos on youtube worth watching? Something displaying a social style rather than a performance (choreography).
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Here is one video that I would describe as having a social style of dancing. While I don't actually care for Detlef's (the leader) style, (at times it looks more like marching than dancing), their technical quality is rather good, and these are the type of steps that you would see at a milonga (at least in the US).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm_pFVzZq8Y
 
All my experiences with learning AT were brief, fairly cold, and had me full of disbelief when I was told having good "frame" or "connection" was less important. (I automatically assume anyone who tells me to have loose frame or less of a connection doesn't actually know anything about dancing, even if they can do pirouettes with a partner).

That was a tangent. I just wanted to say that in spite of the fact that I don't really know how to AT, I loved reading this thread. It was fun in and of itself.
 
RenOrsino said:
All my experiences with learning AT were brief, fairly cold, and had me full of disbelief when I was told having good "frame" or "connection" was less important. (I automatically assume anyone who tells me to have loose frame or less of a connection doesn't actually know anything about dancing, even if they can do pirouettes with a partner).

That was a tangent. I just wanted to say that in spite of the fact that I don't really know how to AT, I loved reading this thread. It was fun in and of itself.
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Connection: very important.
Frame: don't have. If you have a "frame," you're doing it wrong.

Be aware of your own biases and limitations when evaluating others. The frame in AT is exceptionally loose compared to other dances. I'd wager to say that it would be easy to consider it nonexistant or "noodle-armed" if one is speaking from a ballroom background. That doesn't mean connection can't exist anyhow. (I've followed basic things perfectly well with absolutely no physical connection at all.)

Just because it doesn't fit what you know to be "true" about partner dancing, or dancing in general, doesn't mean the teacher doesn't know what they're talking about.

...then again, there are plenty of teachers out there who don't know what they're talking about. And plenty of (ballroom) teachers out there who will teach with a frame...even if that shows they don't know what they're talking about.
 
Peaches said:
Connection: very important.
Frame: don't have. If you have a "frame," you're doing it wrong.

Be aware of your own biases and limitations when evaluating others. The frame in AT is exceptionally loose compared to other dances. I'd wager to say that it would be easy to consider it nonexistant or "noodle-armed" if one is speaking from a ballroom background. That doesn't mean connection can't exist anyhow. (I've followed basic things perfectly well with absolutely no physical connection at all.)

Just because it doesn't fit what you know to be "true" about partner dancing, or dancing in general, doesn't mean the teacher doesn't know what they're talking about.

...then again, there are plenty of teachers out there who don't know what they're talking about. And plenty of (ballroom) teachers out there who will teach with a frame...even if that shows they don't know what they're talking about.
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I think we misunderstand each other. However, I'll refrain from making an effort to explain myself until I have more experience with Argentine Tango in particular and can speak in same language and terms. Until then, I'll continue reading and learning in as many ways as possible.
 
RenOrsino said:
All my experiences with learning AT were brief, fairly cold, and had me full of disbelief when I was told having good "frame" or "connection" was less important. (I automatically assume anyone who tells me to have loose frame or less of a connection doesn't actually know anything about dancing, even if they can do pirouettes with a partner).

That was a tangent. I just wanted to say that in spite of the fact that I don't really know how to AT, I loved reading this thread. It was fun in and of itself.
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Ren I wasn’t there to hear first hand what your tango teacher was trying to communicate. He could have been telling you to forget the frame in order to concentrate on something else, you can’t be taught everything at once and it takes time and dedication to learn tango.
If you learn traditional open embrace tango you will most definitely have a frame and so will your partner. Just go to Youtube and look at tango you will notice that people have frames even the ones dancing close embrace So you might research a little and try another lesson.
Good luck
Hbboogie

“A chip on the shoulder often denotes wood higher up”
 
RenOrsino said:
I think we misunderstand each other. However, I'll refrain from making an effort to explain myself until I have more experience with Argentine Tango in particular and can speak in same language and terms. Until then, I'll continue reading and learning in as many ways as possible.
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There are different opinions (or philosophies on how some of this stuff works). I'm definitely in agreement with the "frame" philosophy, but not everyone is. I'm in agreement with what hbboogie1 said previously, although I might go a step further and say that using the "frame" to lead can be valid even in close embrace (although I know not everyone agrees with this).

IMO, this stuff is an art, not a science.
 
So, this wasn't exactly a lesson, but I was at a social earlier this evening and Gentleman G asked me to dance when some AT music came on. As at most ballroom socials, I expected to do some smooth tango. Instead, he said, "Walk with me," and took me in close embrace. So I closed my eyes and walked with him.

Holy cow.

No wonder the AT folks are so passionate about this dance. No fancy footwork, no showing off, just walking and sensing.

<swoons>
 
j_alexandra said:

Holy cow.

No wonder the AT folks are so passionate about this dance. No fancy footwork, no showing off, just walking and sensing.

<swoons>
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You have just experienced "Tango Magic." Not ballroom, but real Argentine Tango—MAGIC!

I wrote something about it HERE
 
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