What Is Tango Doing Right/Wrong: Recruiting and Retaining

[opendoor]

1. Generic dance studios that have multiple rooms.. variety of dances..

I have a short question, Bailango: Is the #1 instructor self-employed, employed or self-employed within a franchise chain?

In Germany, the core business of the #1 dance school is the ten ballroom dances. But everything else from hip hop to Argentine tango is offered, provided it is profitable. There are almost no chains here, but the school is a member of an association, whether in popular sports or dance sport. At least the owner has acquired his teaching license from one of these associations. In order to teach hip hop or TA, available #2 and #3 instructors are hired. The associations in question also offer advanced training for affiliated ballroom teachers in TA. What they then will teach afterwards is what we disdainfully call ballroom AT. Technically, the lessons from these instructors are certainly not bad. But above all, the spirit is missing. Interestingly, the advanced training courses for ballroom instructors are often held by real Argentinian tango teachers who otherwise sell social TA in their own #2 studios. However, they are very happy to teach ballroom teachers at dance sport associations, because there they can finally show off their competence in stage tango. Most Argentine #2 teachers themselves studied at conservatories and academies in BsAs.

 

[opendoor]

..When we started there was just one class in the area (now supporting one couple)..

But every now and then there are counterexamples: mini-scenes carried out by aficionados willing to make sacrifices: before my time, my partner moved to the countryside, far to the east of Germany, to breed horses. (So I have a weekend relationship). The natives in that area live very hidden lives and do not dance at all. The nearest regular tango community is three hours away by car in a university town. But there is a mini AT scene of four couples on site. They all are immigrants from the west. They meet in a community facility. When they celebrate a party, some lindy hoppers even join them, as well as immigrants who are not dancers but love the atmosphere at these parties.

 

[Miradamiranda]

far to the east of Germany,…
do not dance at all. The nearest regular tango community is three hours away by car in a university town. But there is a mini AT scene

Interesting, several of my top-most absolute favorite (technically and musically and with-the-essence-of-AT) partners live in (and are from) former DDR and have only very small dance communities there. I’ve met them and met up with them in different places - Basel, Prague, Berlin, Leipzig - and also visited them in their small towns. Private invitation-only milongas are what they do, I think. And they travel. I went to one of those private milongas (in a castle!) and had a blast - I felt very welcomed.

 

[j_alexandra]

It was on Fresh Air by Terry Gross.

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-4971129

The link has transcript and also the recording which you can play.

Thank you!

 

[David_In_CA]

It was on Fresh Air by Terry Gross.

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-4971129

The link has transcript and also the recording which you can play.

Thanks for this, that was a very enjoyable interview!

 

[itwillhappen]

I believe one of the most important measures for "recruiting and retaining" is to keep discussions about "dancing in tight spaces on a very crowded pista" away from beginners. ;-)

 

[Brummbaer]

I believe one of the most important measures for "recruiting and retaining" is to keep discussions about "dancing in tight spaces on a very crowded pista" away from beginners. ;-)

Perhaps better to get them involved as a group rather than an individual against the traditionalists!

 

[opendoor]

..keep discussions about "dancing in tight spaces on a very crowded pista" away from beginners..

On the contrary, we could create a new didactic concept: Most beginners' courses always start with walking and ochos. Many people already fail at this. Why not just teach standing on the spot to begin with. You can learn so much from this: swaying, breathing, embracing in the flow of the music.

 

[Brummbaer]

On the contrary, we could create a new didactic concept: Most beginners' courses always start with walking and ochos. Many people already fail at this. Why not just teach standing on the spot to begin with. You can learn so much from this: swaying, breathing, embracing in the flow of the music.

Well, that should take them at least another year to be good enough before they can move. Zen Tango? Meditative Tango? Become one with the force?

 

[ralf]

Why not just teach standing on the spot to begin with. You can learn so much from this: swaying, breathing, embracing in the flow of the music.

Sounds like lots of lessons I've had - in Blues dancing

 

[Bailango]

Sounds like lots of lessons I've had - in Blues dancing

That’s what I was thinking.

When I watched that video of packed unmoving ronda where I said you can play rock or disco music, for dancing I was going to say blues

 

[Bailango]

On the contrary, we could create a new didactic concept: Most beginners' courses always start with walking and ochos. Many people already fail at this. Why not just teach standing on the spot to begin with. You can learn so much from this: swaying, breathing, embracing in the flow of the music.

Most milongas have more than enough space to move. Only a few are super crowded that you will move on a few feet in a whole song.

I dislike the concept of breathing and synching in very obvious way. To me it is a shallow and I would say almost useless concept. I have some followers that try to do that. You can dance while keeping breathing normal. Salsa, a much faster pace dancing is mostly done with normal breathing.

 

[opendoor]

Well, that should take them at least another year to be good enough before they can move. Zen Tango? Meditative Tango? Become one with the force?

You didn't understand that that was exactly the point of my post: a different tango. How many posts here praise the ronda. I want a tango that honors the music. And for that reason you don't need steps, just micro movements. With your breath you can depict the energy of the music, and with swaying you can emphasize the accents.

 

[Brummbaer]

You didn't understand that that was exactly the point of my post: a different tango. How many posts here praise the ronda. I want a tango that honors the music. And for that reason you don't need steps, just micro movements. With your breath you can depict the energy of the music, and with swaying you can emphasize the accents.

But that isn't the 'tango' we're discussing, or want to dance! We're talking about 'social AT', as distinct from 'ballroom', 'show', 'stage', maybe even 'competition'. And you want 'breathing/swaying tango'. But is it partner 'dance' without steps (and maybe without a partner)? You can sit in your chair listening to some music whilst doing as you suggest (AI generated whale song to habanero rhythm?). Maybe stand up for a 'warm-up' routine before settling down?

Find another name and start a cult movement. (Sadly, that's probably worthwhile)

 

[opendoor]

Find another name and start a cult..

I was at a milonga last night and asked a beginner to dance. I took her in my arms and although I didn't give her any lead impuls, she started doing wild back ochos on the spot. I stroked her head and slowly her back. I whispered: breathe out. Then I took in the music in very light movements, everything still on the spot for several minutes. Then I changed my height and as if moved by magic, she stretched her right leg backwards in slow motion. She had learned the principle of step projection in this. Only then we started moving and finally entered the ronda during the last bars of the piece. Everyone can dance if you first delete what the dance teachers usually teach.