tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post732075377798095561..comments2023-07-08T02:39:59.762-07:00Comments on Confessions Of A Tango Dancer: Tango Sin #1 For Men: Tossing In Moves Above Our LevelMark Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03624215008409343913noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post-1448093358669185932008-05-25T20:01:00.000-07:002008-05-25T20:01:00.000-07:00La Tanguera--I'm so happy you've joined our conver...La Tanguera--I'm so happy you've joined our conversation! I think you've hit the nail on the head, which is that most leaders (myself included) don't practice enough outside of milongas.<BR/><BR/>I was on a salsa performance team for 3 years & now that I perform tango I can say I've learned this one truth, if nothing else: whenever I can't lead a move, it's because of technique, technique, technique.<BR/><BR/>And if I can't do a move with a beginner it's usually because I'm cheating my moves.<BR/><BR/>Now I know a lot of us are swamped with work and family, so sometimes it's not possible to more tango outside of milongas. But when leaders are in that position (myself included), we should only be doing the moves in milongas that we are confident we can lead well and safely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post-63357078772319867632008-05-25T19:52:00.000-07:002008-05-25T19:52:00.000-07:00Thanks, TangoBaby. And you actually picked up on ...Thanks, TangoBaby. And you actually picked up on another point when you said if "these moves were the were organic expressions of the leader's feelings about what he is hearing." <BR/><BR/>I'm working on post about this exact point because too often leaders don't pay attention to the music. Part of this is because it's damn hard in the beginning for beginning leaders to lead/connect/navigate the floor...all the while tangoing in a way that expresses the song. This was a big challenge for me in the beginning.<BR/><BR/>And thanks for your comment about performing. I hope our LiberTango team gets to perform at a milonga sometime this summer. Our recent performances have been at private fundraisers (SF Symphony etc.), weddings...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post-46047268135416232352008-05-10T15:01:00.000-07:002008-05-10T15:01:00.000-07:00Hi Mark!I'm so glad I discovered your blog! I tota...Hi Mark!<BR/><BR/>I'm so glad I discovered your blog! I totally agree with you, but let me add this question, which I think gets to the root of why we see so many funky and poorly executed moves at milongas: How many leaders really *practice* outside milongas? I bet you very few, even when the are avid enough to go dancing more than 2-3 times a week. To most, the milongas are their practice, their chance to try this or that... that's why moves come out before (way way before) they are "milonga ready"...Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798430025291155660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post-74399252885590665792008-05-07T16:41:00.000-07:002008-05-07T16:41:00.000-07:00Great post, Mark. It's very rare when someone snea...Great post, Mark. It's very rare when someone sneaks in a move from your "soup" analogy where it doesn't feel like an interruption than caused by the interpretation of the music.<BR/><BR/>If these moves were organic expressions of the leader's feelings about what he is hearing, then it wouldn't be a problem, right?<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on your performing, Mark. Good for you.tangobabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288974184200212536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post-82350421089209945782008-05-05T23:16:00.000-07:002008-05-05T23:16:00.000-07:00Great point, Alex! I was in a class last week lea...Great point, Alex! I was in a class last week learning a new move that was challenging. I couldn't enjoy it at first because I wasn't getting the technique. I kept over-thinking the move. I finally got & only then did I relax & start to get into the tango.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620431287674527501.post-43842225628217456482008-05-05T13:57:00.000-07:002008-05-05T13:57:00.000-07:00When there is no more mental step list...then ther...When there is no more mental step list...then there will be tango...AlexTangoFuegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13021896615610939454noreply@blogger.com