tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819457662362650663.post8331772152124010315..comments2024-01-31T09:07:07.862-06:00Comments on In Search of Tango: Highbrowism and Populism in TangoPaul Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10850021582471988048noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819457662362650663.post-7784176167547884372015-10-24T18:33:34.033-05:002015-10-24T18:33:34.033-05:00Thank you for your wonderful complement. I totally...Thank you for your wonderful complement. I totally agree with you.Paul Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850021582471988048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3819457662362650663.post-8972226027503396432015-07-23T06:45:57.691-05:002015-07-23T06:45:57.691-05:00I am sorry, however I must respectfully disagree w...I am sorry, however I must respectfully disagree with your analysis. Yes, tango is a social dance, however it does have basic rules and technique that is aimed at human physiology, so as to enable competent dancing and use of steps. You are right that one may spend more or less time on technique, however tango, and all other dancing as well, social or not, comes down to body awareness and body conditioning. The technique that exists is not for show or arbitrary; it is there by necessity, to enable clean movement and to reduce risks of injury. <br /><br />As a social dancer myself, I can attest to the fact that one does not need to spend countless hours to improve one's dancing; a few hours of hard work and attention on the body a week, plus some youtube videos as guides, have done much for my dancing. <br /><br />The problem is a matter of the ecosystem; teachers need to get paid, and teaching steps instead of technique is the general way to do this. Add to the fact that most dancers are simply unaware of how tango works holistically and conceptually, since of course its a new environment for them, and this is a recipe for disaster as far as social dancing is concerned.<br /><br />I agree that tango should not be hijacked and made an inherent property of caste, as opera and much of classical music has become unfortunately, however it strikes me that you are going to the other extreme and excusing deficiencies in dancing as reflecting the popular will, rather than it being a failure of the tango ecosystem.<br /><br />P.S By all means correct any misconceptions I have with your OP. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com