OK, here's my first attempt at a syllabus...

[Dave Bailey]

I don't use a syllabus, and I claim to be a decent teacher.

Instead, I watch my students dance, decide what aspect(s) they could use some work on, then think about ways to present that aspect prior to class.

Well, that's kind of following a syllabus. It's simply a reactive one, rather than a pro-active one. Also, what if your students know nothing? I mean, presumably you have to tell them something before they can dance, right?

As a general point, I've noticed that some people seem to have a visceral, and frankly irrational, hatred of the word "syllabus". They think it means The End Of Social Dancing or something.

Admittedly, given some of the syllabuses I've seen, I can see their point...

 

[Dave Bailey]

I'm not sure how agreement on a common body of concepts and agreeing to plan in advance is different from a syllabus.

Me neither. It's irrational.

But whatever. If the word syllabus is a sticking point, then why not call it something else?

Because that word is a good definition?

 

[bordertangoman]

Well, that's kind of following a syllabus. It's simply a reactive one, rather than a pro-active one. Also, what if your students know nothing? I mean, presumably you have to tell them something before they can dance, right?

As a general point, I've noticed that some people seem to have a visceral, and frankly irrational, hatred of the word "syllabus". They think it means The End Of Social Dancing or something.

Admittedly, given some of the syllabuses I've seen, I can see their point...

could a syllabus be presented as a venn diagram? ie a series of bubbles with overlap where most people are in agreement, and separate areas to cover differences; eg apilado nuevo...

 

[Dave Bailey]

Actually, maybe not. There are all sorts of tango moves I would never teach, because I don't use them in my own dancing.

Firstly, that seems a little unfair on your students. Personally, I hate doing the cross in my dancing, but that doesn't mean I don't (at least try to) teach it.

Secondly, a syllabus is not "a list of moves".

I object to the idea of a syllabus because it would tend to standardize the teaching, and therefore the dancing, of tango.

Well obviously we wouldn't want a standardised dance, I mean then people would be able to communicate and dance easily with each other, and that's clearly a bad thing.

I don't think standardizing tango would lead to better tango, if individuality is valued, and I think it is.

It's a question of degree.

As I said earlier, Leonardo Da Vinci followed an intense structured training session. That didn't seem to damage his creativity or individuality...

Why should I teach tango the same way another teacher does?

Because your students would benefit from some degree of standardisation. They wouldn't have to re-learn the dance with every new teacher.

Crazy thought I know.

 

[Dave Bailey]

could a syllabus be presented as a venn diagram? ie a series of bubbles with overlap where most people are in agreement, and separate areas to cover differences; eg apilado nuevo...

Yeah, or maybe a set of concentric circles, with the outer layers labelled "here be controversy"

 

[dchester]

I object to the idea of a syllabus because it would tend to standardize the teaching, and therefore the dancing, of tango. I don't think standardizing tango would lead to better tango, if individuality is valued, and I think it is.

Why should I teach tango the same way another teacher does?

I don't think that someone creating a syllabus would prevent you from creating a different one. It also wouldn't prevent you from updating it every year, or even every week, for that matter.

 

[dchester]

Firstly, that seems a little unfair on your students. Personally, I hate doing the cross in my dancing, but that doesn't mean I don't (at least try to) teach it.

Here is where I part ways with you. I would never teach a linear boleo.

 

[pygmalion]

Me neither. It's irrational.


Because that word is a good definition?

Yes it is. A good definition and a lightning rod. *shrug*

 

[Subliminal]

could a syllabus be presented as a venn diagram? ie a series of bubbles with overlap where most people are in agreement, and separate areas to cover differences; eg apilado nuevo...

That's a cute idea. I sort of started making a "Spectrum of Tango" graphic, with one end being Subtlety and the other being Complexity. It could work as a venn diagram too.

Or... have any of you ever seen the Map of Metal? We could do one for tango!

http://mapofmetal.com

 

[AndaBien]

...Well obviously we wouldn't want a standardised dance, I mean then people would be able to communicate and dance easily with each other, and that's clearly a bad thing.

Yes, I think that would be bad. That would turn tango into standard ballroom dancing. I don't object to ballroom dancing, for those people who want a standardized dance.

...As I said earlier, Leonardo Da Vinci followed an intense structured training session. That didn't seem to damage his creativity or individuality...

I am not opposed to training. I just don't think art would be better if every student was trained the same way.

...Because your students would benefit from some degree of standardisation. They wouldn't have to re-learn the dance with every new teacher...

The assumption seems to be that students would benefit from standardized teaching. I don't accept that assumption, and I haven't seen it defended yet.

Why is it good for all students to learn the same way?

 

[AndaBien]

I don't think that someone creating a syllabus would prevent you from creating a different one. It also wouldn't prevent you from updating it every year, or even every week, for that matter.

I have no objection to a teacher using a syllabus. I just don't like the idea of creating a standard one and suggesting that teaching would be improved by using it.

 

[dchester]

I have no objection to a teacher using a syllabus. I just don't like the idea of creating a standard one and suggesting that teaching would be improved by using it.

OK, it's possible that I missed something along the way in this thread. If DB is proposing that all teachers use the same syllabus (regardless of who creates it), then I am not in agreement. I actually thought he was simply soliciting feedback for a syllabus that he is making for himself.

 

[bordertangoman]

Yeah, or maybe a set of concentric circles, with the outer layers labelled "here be controversy"

and ye pictures of serpentes and the edge of the worlde

 

[nucat78]

That's a cute idea. I sort of started making a "Spectrum of Tango" graphic, with one end being Subtlety and the other being Complexity. It could work as a venn diagram too.

Or... have any of you ever seen the Map of Metal? We could do one for tango!

http://

How about concentric circles like Dante's Inferno with a special circle of Hell, er, milonga reserved for BA whorehouses where this all started?

 

[bordertangoman]

That's a cute idea. I sort of started making a "Spectrum of Tango" graphic, with one end being Subtlety and the other being Complexity. It could work as a venn diagram too.

Or... have any of you ever seen the Map of Metal? We could do one for tango!

http://mapofmetal.com

great! though it doesnt show the Midlands where it all began with Ozzy....