Tete Rusconi

This article by Tete Rusconi was originally posted by Veronica Rue in the original Spanish. I found the Facebook translation impossible to understand. It has been translated by Nancy Segovia and edited by Bob Murray.

Tete Rusconi

With the respect that I have for the tango community, I would like to point out the many errors that are being made in the teaching of tango and the performances in tango shows. Each young person who dances tango should understand my motives. There is no need to mask or disguise tango in any way. Tango music is passionate, beautiful and gives us energy and pleasure so that we may feel better.

I always knew that the music is the principle base of tango. Also it is the basis to walk with the music, having balance and cadence. I could not tell you there is no technique in tango but more freedom could be taught. If you dance for yourself, it becomes fun. No one can jeopardise you for dancing for yourself.

Teachers and the community are disguising tango. You have to teach walking to the different musical beats, to be able to recognise different orchestras. Many teachers should learn to dance tango themselves, in order to teach, giving everything of themselves so as not to disappoint their students or damage their image as a teacher.

Tango is not a business even though many see it as such. Tango is part of our life, part of our grandparents, father, mother, brother and friends. We should not make so many changes but go back to conquer it, as we are losing it for a lack of respect.

Dear friends, dancers; in shows, dance more tango and not acrobatics, ballet etc.

I don't want to know that exhibitions are competitive. Every couple should create their own style and not use music that is not tango music. Don't lie to yourself nor to the people.

For the European community, my advice is that I would like you to open your eyes on how to learn to dance. When you organise something use the best dancers and maestros who can teach properly.

Without the music, the cadence, posture and balance, steps are not useful. We need maestros not athletic teachers.

Honestly from my heart but with some sadness, I would like you to think about changing the system. I am always available to discuss anything.

Translated by Nancy Segovia.

Tete Rusconi (1936 - 2010) was a much respected milonguero, particularly admired for the way he danced Tango Vals. He wrote this article in 2006 in Buenos Aires, clearly disappointed at the standard of teaching, the "show" steps being taught and the use of music which was not classic tango music. The music determines the dance.

He would not be pleased with the way things are right now and who am I to disagree!

Bob Murray

Musicality

Musicality

Musicality is the key to dancing. To assume all tango dancers have musicality is over optimistic!

In the population at large, a significant percentage cannot find the beat in music, as is obvious from watching almost any group of dancers. However if they are engaging with music, preferably in a partner dance and enjoying themselves, there are benefits to be found from simple exercise to possible health benefits. 

Another problem is that some people cannot recognise a tune. So many people are told they cannot sing and do not venture in that direction. However now we have the "Tuneless Choir" (Nadine Cooper) people can meet, enjoy social interaction, and sing, a really important human expression. Again there are many benefits.

Even if we assume people who persevere with tango can recognise a tune and tap their feet to music, all is not simple. To be in an embrace and lead a follower presents problems. The intention from the chest must precede the beat by a fraction of a second in order that the followers weight is transferred on the beat. That does not always happen!

Most classes teach steps. When it comes to the weekend milonga, the weekly step can be seen, as that step is imposed on the dance regardless of the music. If boleos were taught, then even if the music is slow, sad, nostalgic, there will be boleos!

Everybody (barring physical problems) will hear music, even if it is "white noise", some will listen to music and others will feel the music. If we feel the music we can explore musicality and thus interpret the music.

I spent the weekend at the Newcastle Tango Festival where we learnt steps but in the context of the music, appreciating the phrasing of the music, realising how we can walk to the beat of the music expressively; on the beat, double time or every other beat.

Musicality must be taught, it gives individuality to a person's dance. First listen to and feel the music, then explore a movement that will allow a part of that music to be expressed. With steps and no musicality we become automatons, replicas of the teachers.

Thanks to Maria Maragaki, Guillermo Torrens, Alexandra Wood, Richard Manuel, Caroline Hanson, at Newcastle.

IMHO for the best display of musicality, see the videos on YouTube of Horacio Godoy and Chicho Frumboli.

Lessons from Tai Chi - 3

The tai chi form flows serenely through a range of positions, alternating between yin and yang. As an exercise in Debbie Spencer's class we tried pausing on each yin step, to differentiate yin from yang. Of course this made me think of the most important "step" in tango, the pause.

Also as we moved our weight onto one foot, we lifted the other foot. This exercise made it clear where our weight was, that our axis was correct and helped us improve our balance. All of this is appropriate to tango. As a lead, I usually am on one foot or the other, on my axis and balanced. I have responsibility for moving the follower onto her axis. The follower has to arrive at and maintain her axis, wait and possibly decorate while in that position and be prepared to move in any direction ( so much more difficult than leading)

Lessons from Tai Chi - Posture

jLessons from Tai Chi - Posture

In Debbie Spencer's lesson this week, we focussed on posture. The form (pattern) that we perform in tai chi should flow but there are recognisable positions that we can practice to ensure our posture is correct. The strength of these specific positions is critically dependant on exact positioning of the body. A hand turned incorrectly can result in a weak posture and the person can easily be pushed off balance. Moving that hand to the correct position results in a stable posture which cannot be disturbed unless extreme force is applied. With practice these positions are obtained without thought but nevertheless generate joy as we pass from one to another.

Posture is one of the most important aspects of tango, which can easily be overlooked in the desire to learn steps. A leader with good posture can communicate much more successfully with a follower who has also adopted a correct posture. The frame of both partners will respond to each other if correct postures are in evidence. Poor posture or weak connection between partners will result in difficulties in communication. Just as with tai chi, if our posture in tango is maintained, and consequently our balance, then we move in consort with our partner, reflecting the music and generating a joy in our dance. This joy is shared between the two people dancing and may be observed by a skilled onlooker. There would not be extravagant show moves deliberately directed at onlookers! In the old days if a couple were clearly dancing to be watched, the milongueros would toss coins onto the floor!

In Tango, leaders tend to breathe high in the chest because we signal with our chest, show our intention. An intake and exhalation of breath can indicate the period of a pause, as important in the dance as any step. With a little practice we can breathe into different parts of the body. The easiest is to allow the belly to expand on the intake of breath. This is much more relaxing than breathing high in the chest and is used in meditation. A way of grounding the body is to breathe out from the lower back. This might sound strange but it is easy to do. Take deep breath and think lower back, below the ribs, as you exhale. Automatically you will be more grounded and your tango will improve.