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.