Milonguero style

[AndaBien]

...Those who teach don't dance socially...

Are there any notable teachers who dance socially?

 

[AndaBien]

...Is it any wonder why dancers aren't learning the codes and customs of the milongas?...

I know of one Argentine teacher, from personal experience, who came from the social milieu and knows well the codes of tango. She teaches them in her classes. What students learn is always not the same as what teachers teach.

Even around here, there are students who ignore the codes, even though I'm sure they have been explained.

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

Are there any notable teachers who dance socially?

Alicia Pons dances socially, so does Enriqueta Kleinmann. Monica Paz, Muma Valino, Myriam Pincen, Romina Hahn. Among men, Blas Catrenau, Alberto Dasseu, Nestor La Vitola, Cacho Dante, Jorge Kero, Marcelo Solis ... Osvaldo and Coca Cartery. I am naming names that are probably considered notable by people from abroad, there are other milongueros and milongueras who give lessons and who still go to milongas to "milonguear", not to work or look for business.

 

[Subliminal]

There are plenty of teachers who dance socially. By definition, when more than one couple dances to music in a setting where it is for their enjoyment, it is social dancing.

 

[Mad Tango Scientist]

Yes, once in 13 years. She was in El Arranque many years ago. I was surprised. She may go to Salon Canning or Sunderland Club, I don't know. But if she showed up in Lo de Celia, she would have to be patient for invitations like any other newcomer.

This is from an interview at Tango Pulse:

"Graciela: Margarita [a now 70 year old Milonguera who was an old partner of Pupi Castello and now currently dances at Sutherland Club] said that when she doesn’t dance she feels bad. For these people, they say they want to be dancing when they die.
Q:…do you?
Graciela: No.
Q: Why?
Graciela: I believe that for the new generation, Tango is an element chosen but it’s not the only thing.
Q: Are you part of the new generation?
Graciela: I’m part of the generation of the 80′s. For example, last year when the fire happened there were no milongas for more than a month, the man El Tano Guillermo didn’t know what to do with his life. He was totally depressed. The place where he belonged was closed. So for many people of that generation, the milonga is their life. His past? He lived for a long time in Canada. He danced milonga traspie but with troubles with his life, he changed."



This quote above makes me think that Tango is not the center of Graciela's life and even though she calls herself a Milonguera, she isn't a Milonguera in the old sense. In fact, I myself start to feel lost after only a week without tango, which only happens if I go out of town.

 

[Mad Tango Scientist]

Alicia Pons, Enriqueta Kleinmann... Muma Valino

I have had workshops and private lessons with these three teachers and they are all amazing. I would highly recommend them. Alicia Pons is the only one of them that can speak English pretty well though. With Muma and Enriqueta, we had to use a lot of hand gestures, but it did not get in the way of understanding.

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

I have had workshops and private lessons with these three teachers and they are all amazing. I would highly recommend them. Alicia Pons is the only one of them that can speak English pretty well though. With Muma and Enriqueta, we had to use a lot of hand gestures, but it did not get in the way of understanding.

I thought Enriqueta's English was pretty good.

 

[Subliminal]

This quote above makes me think that Tango is not the center of Graciela's life and even though she calls herself a Milonguera, she isn't a Milonguera in the old sense. In fact, I myself start to feel lost after only a week without tango, which only happens if I go out of town.

That seems to be implying a lot from one single statement. I've had lessons with her, and she is as good as ever.

 

[fascination]

as in the rest of the forum...I think it imperative to stick to objective facts about named professional's skills rather than prolong subjective assessments of it...if we have a named occasion on tape where persons care to assess a particular person's dancing, that is fine...but to assess, absent that, a general capacity, really isn't fair when the person is not here to speak for themselves so I think it wise to veer off of those particulars...thanks guys

 

[jantango]

This is from an interview at Tango Pulse:

Graciela: I believe that for the new generation, Tango is an element chosen but it’s not the only thing.
Q: Are you part of the new generation?
Graciela: I’m part of the generation of the 80′s. For example, last year when the fire happened there were no milongas for more than a month, the man El Tano Guillermo didn’t know what to do with his life. He was totally depressed. The place where he belonged was closed. So for many people of that generation, the milonga is their life. His past? He lived for a long time in Canada. He danced milonga traspie but with troubles with his life, he changed."

This quote above makes me think that Tango is not the center of Graciela's life and even though she calls herself a Milonguera, she isn't a Milonguera in the old sense. In fact, I myself start to feel lost after only a week without tango, which only happens if I go out of town.

The young generation today see tango as a way to travel the world making money with tango. It's not in their hearts as it is in the older generation from the milongas. Young people don't see any future in Argentina, and tango gives them a means of escape.

I knew El Tano Guillermo. Tango was his life. He didn't live in Canada, he lived for 30 years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He finally returned to BsAs and died here. His ex-wife, children and grandchildren are living in Wisconsin.

Tango isn't the same for Graciela, although she has a name in tango for her association with Pupy Castello. She took classes with Gustavo Naveira beginning in 1988. Pupy needed a short partner, and Graciela fit the bill. He trained her in his style. Milongueras like Margarita Serrantes, Amanda Lucero, Nely Fernando learned dancing in the clubs. Tango is everything to them. It's work for Graciela.

 

[jantango]

I have had workshops and private lessons with these three teachers and they are all amazing. I would highly recommend them. Alicia Pons is the only one of them that can speak English pretty well though. With Muma and Enriqueta, we had to use a lot of hand gestures, but it did not get in the way of understanding.

That's odd. Enriqueta's bio states she lived in the United States years ago. How is she managing to teach in so many cities in the USA without a good command of the language?

 

[Mad Tango Scientist]

That's odd. Enriqueta's bio states she lived in the United States years ago. How is she managing to teach in so many cities in the USA without a good command of the language?

I think I had problems understanding her accent. Maybe it was me, but Alicia Pons was the only one of the three whose English, I completely understood.

 

[Mad Tango Scientist]

The young generation today see tango as a way to travel the world making money with tango. It's not in their hearts as it is in the older generation from the milongas. Young people don't see any future in Argentina, and tango gives them a means of escape...

That is sad if it's true. Maybe they will appreciate it more when they grow older though. Tango is here to stay and is growing stronger all the time.

For me, Argentine Tango is not just a dance, it's a lifestyle and I admit that it's hard for me to trust learning from a teacher that does not live the argentine tango lifestyle, because they may have something to teach, but it will be soulless. Is that wrong?

 

[bordertangoman]

For me, Argentine Tango is not just a dance, it's a lifestyle and I admit that it's hard for me to trust learning from a teacher that does not live the argentine tango lifestyle, because they may have something to teach, but it will be soulless. Is that wrong?

yes

on a serious note; you are an intelligent human being. if you cant see what is useful in what a teacher is offering, because of their background, then I think it amounts to a prejudice....I find most of the teachers I evaluate as good, are teaching the same thing in their own way, with differing degrees of emphasis, and respond to the level of the people they are teaching.

 

[Subliminal]

Tango isn't the same for Graciela, although she has a name in tango for her association with Pupy Castello. She took classes with Gustavo Naveira beginning in 1988. Pupy needed a short partner, and Graciela fit the bill. He trained her in his style. Milongueras like Margarita Serrantes, Amanda Lucero, Nely Fernando learned dancing in the clubs. Tango is everything to them. It's work for Graciela.

More hate-filled ranting and attempts to smear the reputations of teachers you don't like. Why am I not surprised?

None of those names mean anything to me. I have never met a single one... Except for Graciela, who has been through my town to teach many times. If tango is to survive in the world, it will be because of people like her.

One more thing.... Do you even realize how snide and elitist it sounds to demean a teacher for daring to take classes? Most people in the world learned from classes because that's what is there.