The latest from Chicho and Juanana
- Thread starter LadyLeader
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Seems, he doesn't like that kind of music. In any case, he cannot play to his rhythmic strengths with long musical phrases.
LadyLeader
Forum Master
I agree that there were no explosions here but it could be that the performers also need a few weekends to catch their best shape. It could also be about - as you opendoor said - that they are exploring new music and movement vocabulary.
opendoor
Forum Master
I had several privates and workshops with Chicho and Juana between 2009-10. And I found Chicho is the non plus ultra concerning rhythm and agility. But he has his weaknesses in dealing with melodies and longer musical phrases. And please excuse my tone and claim: I criticize without being able to hold a candle to him!
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ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Well, Juana is always terrific. I don't much care for the switching back and forth between open and closed. Not sure what to say about this. They've done more interesting things together and, you're right, it doesn't play to their strengths.
Strengths! Do they actually have any?
I have long been surprised at the innocent and unknowing
admiration for Chicho,a man who for me does not dance.
His posture is poor and his legs seem detached and
independent from his body. At least his feet are attached
to his legs, otherwise he couldn't perform his pastiche tango
foot plonking over emphasis.
To make matters worse, he is an arm paddler but then,
since his body doesn't dance, his arms have to lead
or push his partner about. She probably deserves better.
opendoor
Forum Master
I think you could be a little more appreciative: dancing is show business. Those who can assert themselves have at least aroused needs or were able to satisfy needs of the customers. We're not talking about mastery of the body, of style, technique, or musicality here. Popularity is always the product of two parties, the artist and the buyer.
Dancing for Chicho, one of the Nuevo gang of three, obviously is show
business as it was/is for them all. They all teach - for money of course.
You have confirmed that for you he also was a teacher.
So I think my comments are relevant.
This performance was at a dance studio and presumably
he was there to teach. Social dancing there after his teaching
must have been an unsocial nightmare of flailing couples.
As far as I am concerned, as a dancer, aesthetics are affected
by lack of technical merit. More simply, more directly, the flow (or lack it)
of being able to move his body (and that of his partner) elegantly
and fluidly is an essential part of the visual experience.
This isn't unique to dance but is also part of the mastery of many other
physical activities whether for entertainment, for competition, personal
pleasure or for some other practical functional purpose.
Surely by now on here we should be able to separate flimflammery
from substance, superficial visual trickery from significant competence.
Nope! Just look at the world around.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
It's more than just popularity, however. Don't forget, Chicho is considered a "master" and an innovator by many aspiring dancers. It's not my thing but a lot of people like his work and his workshops are always full.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
It's tough to buck a trend. He's popular in many circles and probably has more name recognition than most other contemporary dancers.
I wasn't looking at the wider world around
but at you, and you, and you, and you on here!
Those who display in order to dissect and demonstrate
should understand the why and the what of what it is
they are dissecting.