New developments, trends over the last decade?

[itwillhappen]

The question came up in a recent discussion.
I can't think of much. Organized tango vacations? European encuentros? Double role dancing?
When it comes to the dance style itself, I can't think of anything.

 

[ardix]

Double role dancing?

I would say that double role dancing is getting really popular, at least in Europe/norden part of Europe. I also notice something that is rather connected to tango demographics than being a trend: in Central and Easter Europe those dancing tango are mostly young people, in their 30s, while in the rest of Europe the dominant age group is 50+....any thoughts on this?

 

[opendoor]

..demographics.. in Central and Easter Europe... young people, in their 30s ....rest of Europe.. 50+ ...any thoughts on this?

I agree with you, ardix. Tango is an epidemic. It goes beyond the landscape and opens up new focal zones. In the lee of the wave, the epidemic declines sharply. Tango went viral in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, followed by South Korea and Japan. I'm just waiting to see when Tango will replace Corona in China or India: Tango is non-political and can be organized privately. I know from the DJ group that there are also nests in North Africa. I'm just waiting for tango to conquer the Islamic world.

It is also the same with the innovations and new developements as with the viruses, itwillhappen. The more reproduction, the more variation. New corona variants also emerged in the hotspots. This promotes diversification. The selective pressure increases in shrinking populations. When I started dancing the tango, there were no give-way-signs and posters with codigos in the milongas.

 

[Brummbaer]

When it comes to the dance style itself, I can't think of anything.

In a dance form with multiple 'styles' it's difficult to see anything new that's come to prominence. I thought back to a recording of Gerardo Portalea (around 3:10) where he talks about the style before and after the 1950's (verdura - unfortunately the film doesn't show a good example, and the term seems to be used elsewhere for follower adornments). Has there been a noticeable evolution since 2010? Are we talking about the whole scene which goes with AT, or just the dance itself?

It's become more relaxed with a variety of styles. I'd say that good teachers have become better and innovative, and more aware of body mechanics for technique. There are probably more basic AT teachers (since anyone can setup and proclaim themselves).

There's certainly more crossover with blues/swing/jive dancers looking to AT; sometimes to add to their first dance, sometimes to move over to AT - with different music and style (can you call it Nuevo?). There's certainly more music used which wasn't intended initially for dance. On the plus side there are both better modern recordings and cleaned older versions of traditional AT music.

There's less clarity about codigos. It's unclear what they are now in any specific place, and consequent laxity in enforcement since it's not clear and organisers want paying bodies on the dancefloor. The pests are still around. They might have been tolerated less previously in a more female protective society. Have those rules relaxed? Perhaps stronger legally but less socially? Certainly cabeceo/mirada has changed out of Argentina, possibly because of dancers from other traditions coupled with societal changes.

 

[Brummbaer]

I'm just waiting for tango to conquer the Islamic world.

That could take some time! Simplistically, singing and dancing is not forbidden, but anything which stimulates desire (or leads to haram (unlawful) behaviour) is. This is open to lots of interpretation! The film Tango Shalom explores this from a orthodox Jewish perspective.

 

[itwillhappen]

It is also the same with the innovations and new developements as with the viruses, itwillhappen. The more reproduction, the more variation. New corona variants also emerged in the hotspots. This promotes diversification. The selective pressure increases in shrinking populations. When I started dancing the tango, there were no give-way-signs and posters with codigos in the milongas.

So you think the "Milonguero Wave", that yielded the "Encuentros" finally, was the last one in Europe?

 

[itwillhappen]

I would say that double role dancing is getting really popular, at least in Europe/norden part of Europe.

Yes, that's a trend for the mainstream.
Is it new? The queer tango scene claims such since the first years of the tango revival.

 

[ardix]

Is it new? The queer tango scene claims such since the first years of the tango revival.

What I would say it's new is the fact that it now goes beyond the queer community, being embraced by dancers that are/were otherwise "traditional". I think it has to do with the interest of exploring both roles and, for followers, with not being dependent of the limited availability of male leaders.

 

[Rabbit]

When it comes to the dance style itself, I can't think of anything.

The idea of stylistic purity is dying, and it cannot possibly die fast enough

 

[opendoor]

..you think the "Milonguero Wave", that yielded the "Encuentros" ...was the last one..

I'm not a prophet, but maybe something new will come up at some point.

The styles came in waves, but actually the different lines have always existed side by side. When I started, the first generation of tango teachers danced Escenario, the second generation Neo. But even then, a minority embraced Tete and Omar Vega, with their Milonguero style. Then the very traditional and backward directed Salón/Villa Urquiza wave swept across Europe. On the other hand I do not explain the advent of the Encuentros primarily in terms of style, although people like Melina changed from Salón to a very puritanical Milonguero style. It also had something to do with the female role. In Escenario and Neo the sexes were equal, in Villa Urquiza rather gents do adornos and shine on the dance floor. For me, the Enquentros were a women's invention due to split seating and gender parity. I feel free at milongas, but somehow chained in the few Encuentros I attended.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

"I also notice something that is rather connected to tango demographics than being a trend: in Central and Easter Europe those dancing tango are mostly young people, in their 30s, while in the rest of Europe the dominant age group is 50+....any thoughts on this?"

I'm guessing that it caught on later in eastern Europe and didn't have an already developed base of dancers as it did in the west of Europe. You might find the same or similar developments to have occurred in Asia.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Have those rules relaxed?

Outside of B.A.? Quite clearly they have, assuming they ever even took root elsewhere. Up here they are followed in most milongas but rather selectively (at least concerning cabeceo). Applies to dress, as well.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I feel free at milongas, but somehow chained in the few Encuentros I attended.

In what sense?

 

[Brummbaer]

Outside of B.A.? Quite clearly they have, assuming they ever even took root elsewhere.

Ah, I was thinking of rather specific rules relating to 'pests' and their targets, perhaps expressed in some extensive codigos here (quoted about 10 years ago, but possibly older). There's another thread regarding codigos, but more related to cabeceo and other dancers.

It was, apparently, a more female-protective society then, but why should it need to be? Shouldn't everyone be respected? Maybe those codigos are outdated regarding women as a special case? Perhaps the AT group is more respectful, but you still get stories of women being pestered; if not on the dancefloor, then afterwards. And who can you trust? Apparently not the police, given recent cases in London.

Personally I've only been aware of two cases of inappropriate behaviour. Both got banned. One was a visitor who declared he was 'on the prowl'; another was a regular who made inappropriate body comments to a follower. He was banned for a time, but to be fair he made inappropriate comments irrespective of gender (which doesn't excuse them). He seems to have reformed.

My comment was aimed more at whether societal rules had relaxed over the decade (e.g. women are no longer treated as 'special'), although legal powers may have increased. Also whether there's less care by organisers, since bodies on the dancefloor equates to income.

 

[ardix]

"I also notice something that is rather connected to tango demographics than being a trend: in Central and Easter Europe those dancing tango are mostly young people, in their 30s, while in the rest of Europe the dominant age group is 50+....any thoughts on this?"

I'm guessing that it caught on later in eastern Europe and didn't have an already developed base of dancers as it did in the west of Europe. You might find the same or similar developments to have occurred in Asia.

Partially, yes. But there is still the fact that many of those starting to learn tango in Northern Europe are 50+. The younger crowd is into salsa/bachata/kizomba. Why would the 30+ in Eastern Europe be more attracted to tango than their counterparts in Western Europe?!