In the Planet Tango series “Gavito teaches tango y nada mas” and referring to those who try to see a formula to life in tango, Gavito has said: “Listen guys, I’m a milonguero. I dance and I teach tango. I’m not a historian, I’m not a psychologist. And you people, if you think that because we teach tango and we dance tango, we have to give you classes on philosophy and psychology, you’re wrong. We teach only how to dance tango.”
It is taken for granted that our tango instructors are responsible to impart the code of behaviour that we need to respect as tangueras and tangueros; that doesn’t mean that we should look for spiritual leaders. We shouldn’t turn tango into something dogmatic, but that doesn't mean that the tango etiquette is not important. Or this is the way I see it. It's a matter for debate whether the tango etiquette is a flexible set of rules though. It's a burning-hot topic lately amongst the UK tango crowd, after this list hit the tango-UK yahoo! group:
ü The dancing should always move counter clockwise
ü Everyone should keep it's lane, without zigzagging or
becoming a `floor overtaker'
ü One should not move forward to the right of another couple
dancing in front of us.
ü One should avoid bumping into other couples. One should stop
for some sensible time before moving forward.
ü One should apologise if one bumps into or steps over another
person, even it is our own dancing partner.
ü When walking into the floor we should not shove nor push
those who are already dancing
ü Dancing exhibitions take place when there are no couples
around, so when dancing with other people next to us we should take into
consideration the space available.
ü Men should approach the woman they have invited to dance and
the woman should remain seated until they have confirmed such invitation
ü Men should walk their dancing partner back to her seat as far
as the floor limit
ü The invitation to dance should always be done with the
cabeceo, without forcing the lady into an uncomfortable situation, or
taking advantage of other milongueros who respect the codes
ü And while we are dancing we should not chat or
talk….because Chamuyo is not beat, rhythm nor melody.
And the question is, how much of this list's tango codigos are necessary for the dance to happen (so that we don't bump on other dancers for example) and how much is general social etiquette (aca a bit of a philosophy that might not reflect our ethics nowadays)? In the end how much of it can we change?
Monday, January 14, 2008
Gavito teaches tango y nada mas
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Hi Eleni:
Your post has a few parts to it. If Gavito said that then I must have to disagree with him. When I am having a workshop I am not expecting a mass but I am expecting inspiration. And many times the inspiration doesn't come from learning technique or sequences but by something that someone knowledgeable says. I can never forget the first time I met Rodolfo Dinzel, tango just changed drastically after that.
As for the etiquette. The problem with the etiquette these days is that youtube shows all these demos with fancy wide moves and people start getting ideas. I have written a lot about bad floorcraft, dancing with broomsticks and to be honest, I don't see the scene getting any better, at least in the UK. You still have the Pablo Veron wannabes that look menancinglyat you when THEY bump into you. But I don't blame youtube on this, I blame the people that teach tango as a performing art rather than a social dance.
The codigos (or etiquette) are there and always have been. It how you look into it that matters.
Koolricky, I agree that it's how you look at codigo that matters. But I am standing in awe in front of my pc reading all the different philosophising about what the codigo should be here and should be there and I want to agree with Gavito in that
tango is not a religion.
I just want to dance.
One of the etiquette rules says that a woman should remain seated until the leader who invited her to dance reaches her table!!! Please! In which century are we on?
Hi Eleni,
The problem is that the "original" códigos developed in the birthplace of Tango simply do not apply to other "non-latin" cultures. I adore the cabeceo and the being walked back to my seat, etc. I wish they would translate to the US - and to a certain extent, they do. Not so much the cabeceo, but I have definitely been walked back to my "general area" (dancing with eyes closed can really disorient you!). Some things on that list are just plain common sense - which may ALSO be in short supply on most dance floors.
Codes and behaviors do not always translate from one culture to another easily, or sometimes, at all. But when people start getting hurt from poorly led steps, I think it's time to call the Tango police...
I tend to divide it into what might actually happen in context and what won't. For instance I don't think the cabeceo thing will ever become that common, because it's neither necessary nor widely understood in the UK context. I may like it and use it myself with a few individuals who like or understand it, but I don't see any reason why either of us should be afraid to ask, or would take offence at a refusal. That just doesn't translate. And I think almost the same thing applies to walking the lady back to the edge of the floor - I may like the fact that some people do this, and I would probably do it if I were leading, and it does clear the floor slightly more efficiently if people walk off in pairs, but I don't see it as necessary and I take no offence if it doesn't happen. I also happen to like it if they play cortinas, but I understand if they want to get more dancing in by leaving them out. It's a matter of degree; I get a bit annoyed if the DJing is really chaotic - and I think it's totally unfair on the leaders - but a tiny pause or a little announcement instead of a cortina will do fine.
I don't think any of it can be encouraged very much except by example.
I haven't read back in tango-uk at all but I presume the same argument has been had many times by all? Or does it reflect the evolution of the scene, that it's happening now?
To be honest, I agree with Eleni in the point that tango is still a bit machista. Why can't women start inviting men, why can't they do cabeceo as well? I have seen many women giving up tango because they can't go through the seating the whole milonga without getting asked to dance once! If you're a beginner, you want action and that is the only way you can get better.
As for the floorcraft, I am not about prohibiting anything. I am totally for educating people. To be honest, is just like normal education, if your parents give you proper guidelines when you're a kid, you're less likely to become a criminal. So if your teacher insists in making beginner go around the outer lane of the dance, thinking of available space and teach you danceable milonga moves the floorcraft will be much better.
However, after a reverie of Strickly Come Dancing you want flash and sparkle. You want a stage so that everyone can see you. In reality, you're not dancing to yourself, you're dancing for the public. And that is what I think that broadly the Argentinians get and most people outside Argentina don't. Not because they are genetically programmed to do so, just because they are educated that way.
Koolricky, our "western" culture regards almost everything about Tango as "machista". However, in order to dance it properly, we must all agree to certain "machista" conventions. Personally, I do not feel the codes as macho, but rather an opportunity for me to strengthen my own "opposite energies", which make me a better dancer. (Yes, it can be frustrating to sit all night - I've done that too). But the other half of the "women should be able to ask men to dance" equation is "men should be more aware of women just sitting there and ask them to dance".
As for the "codigos" that create such friction outside of Argentina, almost everyone who goes there to dance comes back enamored of the way they dance. Perhaps they way they dance is also as a result of observing those codes.
WOW, what a debate. Hot hot.
I'm not taking sides, but I think I mostly agree with Johanna in this particular case.
> I think certain aspects of old-fashioned characteristics of tango are what attract some people to the dance. Nobody dislikes gentlemanly behaviour. Some ladies are quite adamant NOT to ask men and they may seem rather antiquated in this day and age. Personally, I like asking men to dance, but I do like a bit of romance and would like to act 'feminine' from time to time. I must admit, I don't ask men to dance with me in a place where I've never been before. Emphatically, I do quite often wish that men were more observant and took more initiative to "go for it" and asked ladies to dance. Ricardo, I know for a fact that you are quite the opposite, so you don't have anything to worry about.
> As for philosophy and religion. That just depends on the individual. People have various reasons for getting involved with tango. Some do it for "picking up chics", others just do it because it gives them sheer pleasure just dancing, others see it as a way of life, etc, etc. Some teachers may want to focus on dancing, some may want to teach other elements as well. It's just what suits you, really, after all.
> Etiquettes, debates on dancing space, collisions blah-di-blah. Well, it REALLY IS JUST COMMON SENSE. Cortina or no cortina, flash or non-flash. If you've got brain, some moral values and consideration, you're OK. I've danced with a wonderful leader in Madrid who was very flashy and technical and yet we never bumped into anyone, we never 'barricaded' anyone, and he also put a lot of emotion into what he was doing. A fantastic dancer. So, I know that this can all be done. It just depends on you...
> Ms Hedgehog, you're right, some things just don't translate in another culture/country. We have to adapt.
> Overall, I think, it's mostly "common sense", "personal choice" and "respect for the philosophy/ideas of the host person/environment". If you don't like it or doesn't suit you after several attempts, I say just try somewhere/something else.
Or, create your own for that matter... And see if you have people agreeing with you or disagreeing with you! ;)
hello from portugal !
i,m in a tango nuevo scene and we explore improvision, new tango or non tango music, and i think rules such as mentioned above cuts all the creative. sometimes when i dance with sandra i dance in a close circule 2 meters most, imagine the rule( should not move forward to the right of another couple
dancing in front of us).
it wiil be a lot of time waiting!!
Welcome Rui y Sandra!
Anyway, I know that depite the wide movements of tango nuevo you guys respect the other dancers in the dance floor. I have seen it many times. FOr some people these codigos may be necessary. But I don't advocate that they should be necessary in the milongas, they should be necessary when one is being taught!
Anyway, nice to see you around!
Post a Comment