By dynamic range I mean I can dance all large, small, fast, slow, rhythmic, smooth, lots of complex moves, mainly walking, and everything in between. I don't need to dance at the extremes, but I do need variety and contrast in both the music and dancers.
"...if you don't give everything to your partners, what's the point of dancing tango?"
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By dynamic range I mean I can dance all large, small, fast, slow, rhythmic, smooth, lots of complex moves, mainly walking, and everything in between. I don't need to dance at the extremes, but I do need variety and contrast in both the music and dancers.
opendoor
Forum Master
Sorry, then I misunderstood you. But the (acoustic) dynamic range is just as big a problem, and above all a problem that most people are not even aware of!
Oh, I agree with that as well, some of the characteristics people associated with 1930's or 1940's tango sound are actually artifacts of the recording technology of the time.
Why is that not possible at an ecuentro, like at any other milonga. Unless you want to dance wild neuvo not suitable for a ronda
are you saying encuentros lack variety?Why is that not possible at an ecuentro, like at any other milonga. Unless you want to dance wild neuvo not suitable for a ronda
exactly
itwillhappen
Forum Master
From a certain life philosophy perspective, it makes sense to experience every moment of your life fully and consciously. Therefore the question is answered.
On the other hand, there is a social value hidden behind it. One could also ask: "If you don't strive to dance with everyone, what's the point of dancing tango?"
On the other hand, there is a social value hidden behind it. One could also ask: "If you don't strive to dance with everyone, what's the point of dancing tango?"
But there are many who won't dance with another because they're 'not sufficiently competent', don't want that abrazo, don't engage with my abrazo, don't dance the style I want, like the music I like, don't accept the traditions I like... (see other threads), or some past event. OK, they have their own, limited, tango world.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
Yes, of course. Like tango doesn't become pointless for you either, just because you don't put in the intensity that others would prefer. It might get pointless for them.
opendoor
Forum Master
Their tango world isn't small and limited at all: There are so many shared similarities left: philosophizing about Piazzolla, the best record player, the next visiting tango maestro, the next tango vacation, the best parquet floor in town, tango photos, tango paintings and (very important) talking about dance shoes.
JournalInTime
Forum Master
You were at least in part joking, but even so:
Despite not being invited to encuentros nearly as often as my ego – however small I try to keep it – would like, I apparently fall into the category "acceptable to share photos and videos with, just not to invite." The videos, especially, give me the sense that encuentros do lack variety. There's a distinctive "encuentro style" that's almost as well-defined as "Mundial style," and which seems to privilege parallel-system movements, linearity, and pauses over constant, fluid system changes and turns.
That's fair. I think that despite our bold words, every one of us participating in this discussion has their own, limited tango world. That's a good thing, too, because "variety is the spice of life" isn't just a clever saying . . . It means that if, eventually, you get bored, there's always something new to explore.
Interestingly, there's a group of tangueras who like to dance with me because I dance with intensity. They discuss this unambiguously among themselves and with me, in person and on social media. I think that if I suddenly dialed back the intensity, I'd lose certain partners. Whether I'd gain others is anybody's guess . . . I imagine there are tangueras who like tangueros who dance with calm, with elegance, with romance, etc.
These are the common threads between people with different tango worlds. Disagreeing about steps, orquestas, floors, DJs, shoes, who knocked over the chair, etc. appears to be the glue the binds all these worlds together into a community.
I've seen Unrepentant Nuevo Guy and Conservative "Like in Buenos Aires" Guy bond over disliking the damned tango tourists who took all the best tables.pianistamediano
Forum Master
JournalInTime
Forum Master
All I'll say is that most of the dancing seems to be walking in parallel. I made a point of watching and counting. I don't think it's linked to what's "out there" so much as some odd perception that parallel walks are the gold standard of "real tango."
A good dancer should be able to express all of these emotions and more. I just try and tune the intensity level to the partner. Unfortunately it is possible to misread what they want sometimes, and they usually don't tell you.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
That's very egalitarian of you but I'm not sure you're being serious.
opendoor
Forum Master
Here you adopt the self-image of the encuentro organizers from the very beginning. But firstly, this picture is 10 years old and secondly, it doesn't quite reflect reality. Even at encuentros there are early and late sets, different dancers, different DJs, and different levels of filling of the dance floor. So there also is room for limited stylistic variation.