Motivations for studying Tango Nuevo

Ampster said:
OMy take on this is this is that, if these nuevo peeps all dance together in their own setting, its not a problem. Just like what you see here. Its when they decide to do this stuff in a "Milonguero" setting is when problems crop up.
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Good grief.

I think we're all agreeing with each other here.

That's a first. :D
 
BlueSkies said:
So from the above posts:
-To some nuevo appears to equal bad floorcraft, inconsiderate dancing, rude behaviour etc
-To some nuevo is rebellion against some established order or set of rules
-To some nuevo is open embrace
-To some nuevo is using certain "moves" for want of a better word
-To some nuevo is the music itself
-To some nuevo is a "feeling" of the dance, driven by the style of music
-To some nuevo is dancing "big" or "energetic"
-To some nuevo is more playful (with three different definitions of play so far)
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In very much the same way for some getting behind the wheel of an open top Bad Man's Wagon is a means to "mush-op" the roads by exercising scant regard for other motorists, the pedestrians, the old dear walking her poodle and yes, even the red light. STOP blaming the tool and start focussing on the tradesman. A bruised knee is not the result of another dancing nuevo, but as a result of the bloody-minded bar steward with an under-developed regard for their fellow human being that happens to be dancing nuevo. A woman barged in front of me this morning. I pointed out that there was a queue, she ignored my protest and shuffled her oversized a*se onto the bus anyway. Being bigger, stronger and fiercer than her I could've whacked and then thumped her into another time zone...but no, I decided to let karma be her slayer. But do you see? It has nowt to do with the milonga but everything - EVERYTHING - to with the trough in which the pig was brought up in and thus how that pig views life on the outside once he gets out.
 
Heather2007 said:
In very much the same way for some getting behind the wheel of an open top Bad Man's Wagon is a means to "mush-op" the roads by exercising scant regard for other motorists, the pedestrians, the old dear walking her poodle and yes, even the red light. STOP blaming the tool and start focussing on the tradesman. A bruised knee is not the result of another dancing nuevo, but as a result of the bloody-minded bar steward with an under-developed regard for their fellow human being that happens to be dancing nuevo. A woman barged in front of me this morning. I pointed out that there was a queue, she ignored my protest and shuffled her oversized a*se onto the bus anyway. Being bigger, stronger and fiercer than her I could've whacked and then thumped her into another time zone...but no, I decided to let karma be her slayer. But do you see? It has nowt to do with the milonga but everything - EVERYTHING - to with the trough in which the pig was brought up in and thus how that pig views life on the outside once he gets out.
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Hear, hear! Like that 'Bad Man's Wagon' - nice one! Can you think of an acryonym for Mercedes? Have noticed it creeping in.... :D
 
So getting back to the original " Motivations for studying Tango Nuevo" question:

kieronneedscake said:
What struck me as interesting were some of the things people suggested as their reasons for being there: (horribly paraphrased)

"More freedom"
Some other phrases involving freedom of expression as well as motion
"Breaking the rules"
"Being outside the box" (and getting into another one - Paul's response)
"I like how it looks"
Some comments from the teachers then reflected the promotion of the woman's personality and mechanisms of self-expression.
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Basically, from our discussions, it looks like none of those reasons are valid. If this is why people learn nuevo, it may explain why they're seen as disruptive. Which, yes, is the "BMW driver" explanation as Heather said.

But from your other question:

kieronneedscake said:
All things being equal, why would you choose to study tango nuevo instead of the broad umbrella of classical salon tango?
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We have a number of reasonable answers, I think:
- To develop non-progressive dancing experience
- To dance to non-traditional music
- To develop technique with areas such as axis and free leg movement.
- To improve our dance vocabulary
- To be able to "play" - for example, in musical interpretation

Does that sum it up?
 
Light Sleeper said:
Hear, hear! Like that 'Bad Man's Wagon' - nice one! Can you think of an acryonym for Mercedes? Have noticed it creeping in.... :D
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Actually the BMW thing is my watered down version of a deterogative sarf-east London terminology used way back when to target a particular type of um...person(s). Insulting as hell..but funny.

Why Mercedes?
 
Originally posted by Dave Bailey
So getting back to the original " Motivations for studying Tango Nuevo" question:

Originally posted by kieronneedscake.......
Some comments from the teachers then reflected the promotion of the woman's personality and mechanisms of self-expression.
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Basically, from our discussions, it looks like none of those reasons are valid.
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Originally Posted by Dave Bailey

To be able to "play" - for example, in musical interpretation
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DB does your comment on "play" equate to Kieron's comment on "the woman's personality?
Because I think you should not have included "the woman's personallity" point in your invalid list.
 
ant said:
DB does your comment on "play" equate to Kieron's comment on "the woman's personality?
Because I think you should not have included "the woman's personallity" point in your invalid list.
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Yeah.... I guess the "play" thing is the exception.

Although I have to say, most followers who try to "play" in my experience mess it up, and they charge at nuevo like it's an excuse to lose all sense of connection and, you know, following...

So nuevo gives you enough rope to hang yourself with that way.
 
In my opinion all styles are demanding when going for perfection Milonguero no more than Nuevo, and vice versa. I would say that the basic intention of Tango Nuevo was to go where no on was before, to dance like no one danced before, to try something new. Since Nuevo isn’t around that long, it’s much harder to draw the line what actually is Nuevo and what isn’t. Some Nuevo elements sneak into other styles. Not only into Show Tango but even into the Milonguero style. (Look at the YT videos of Oscar Casas) While I like to play around with Nuevo ideas, there seems to be little use for them. For the Milonga they are to big and for shows many are to boring.

Right now, Nuevo has the attraction of being new. It will be interesting how much of it will be around in 20 years or more. Eager to “develop” Tango, many Nuevo protagonist god rid of all tango cliches: no evening wear, no traditional music, no close embrace, no traditional rolls of gender, no absolute determination of timing and lead by the man, no figures you can dance when your 80, no high heels, no fancy stage shows, neither pattern to dance in tight space. All those factors which usually draw people into tango. To me the end product appears to be the crystal clear, sugar free, decaf, lemon flavored coke of dance. So maybe we witness the birth of a new dance, like the beginning of ballroom Tango 100 years ago. Pure Nuevo seems to be for people who like the Tango life style, but not the Tango.

Of all styles, tango nuevo seems to have the biggest attraction on rude dancers right now. Since there is little specific Nuevo tradition, there are no common rules on etiquette, which gives freedom but also the perfect excuse for you to pass off ruthlessness as the final peak in tango evolution.
 
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