Milonga WAS given to us by the gods to bless our souls with joy and happiness.
But, it seems to me, the essence of milonga is not immediately devined by
the new lover of tango. Milonga is like tango itself; also like what an
interesting woman may do to an ardent gentleman admirer: kind of retreat
behind a veil while the pilgrim makes his journey to a sufficient level of
understanding that the veil may be safely let down for admittance.
My personal intuition is that there is kind of a path a good many people
follow in getting all the way to "getting" tango. We fall in love with the
tango dance; we eventually discover the joys of vals; after that, the
milonga is more accessible.
But, few there seem to be in the lands outside of Argentina who have a
feel for milonga.
The reason for this could be that, being in 2/4, it has the feeling of
being "fast." Dancers who start to enjoy it and sense the fun tend to
"run." Many orchestras have recorded milonga at a tempo pushing the limit
because that's what one does for shows.
So, many will use milonga to kind-of show-off. Even before they have the
skills to do so. In North America, one sees many men just running and
pushing and flailing around - not providing much enjoyment for the
followers who have to run to keep up. Those men are having fun, which is
good. But, the milonga veil is still up for them - or they would not be
that way.
I can only speak of personal experience and that may not be worth much.
But for whatever it's worth, I offer that milonga reveals its true nature
when danced slowly.
Those who attend my milongas or dance milonga with me know that I favour
the slow and moderate-tempo milongas first of all. Canaro (the Master);
Donato (a Genius); and of course moving up the tempo scale to Di Sarli,
D'Arienzo and Troilo (Genius Masters as well).
The veil has been lifted when one enjoys the SLOW milongas (if I may say).
Milonga danced well is very subtle. No wild movements. No running. I
always teach that - though it is very exciting music - the dancer should
be very calm and peaceful inside to dance it well. Purposefully put the
excitement meter on low. Slow the beating heart. Then everything opens up.
When I met with and interviewed maestro Roberto Alvarez of Color Tango, I
told him that to use his milongas when I dj, I slowed them down (without
changing the pitch) 4 B.P.M. so that they are danceable. (He did not take
offense).
You have to breathe when dancing milonga. You can't breathe properly if
your are running.
I recognize that fast milongas bring a lot of joy to many, many dancers. I
play them. But, I work my way up to them. Starting off a milonga tanda
with a really fast milonga doesn't make sense to me, musically. Start with
a slow one; go up in tempo; finish with a fast one. This is my way, at
least.
If the reader is not a milonga fan at this time, please know that your
tango will be much more satisfying to you when you have become a milonga
dancer whom others enjoy dancing it with.
To be a really good tango dancer, it seems one must have a beautiful vals
and a beautiful milonga in them as well. Then, you can dance tango.
All good tango dancers know this to be true.
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On Behalf of the Singers
Before Gardel, There Was Caruso
Who new to tango hasn't sought ought instrumentals first so they didn't have to listen to the "annoying" singers? Of all the aspects of tango requiring acquired taste, the singers take the most getting used to - to a non-Latin, non older-person ear.
For the first 30 or 40 years of tango, there were no singers. They kind of had to fight their way in. The one who really kicked the door down, of course, was Carlos Gardel. His was tango's biggest "before-and-after" moment.
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Conscious / Unconscious
Different Approaches to Tango
If you're thinking, your partner has to be thinking, too.
If you're lost in the music, the feelings, the moment, you're partner can be, too.
In such a state, tango takes over.
When you "direct" it yourself, it plays hide-and-seek with you.
It's all tango; but when your brain is "off," the pleasure and satisfaction increases in proportion to your surrender.
This is why my way of teaching is to make the body memory work; to make things as automatic as possible in order that spontaneous expression comes out effortlessly.
I like to show how to hold the body; how it should move with your partner. How it signals to keep everything together. All so that the mind can be sort-of shut-off. Seeking unconscious competence.
The less "thinking" the better.
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Ladies Leading
Opinion
Man though I am, I shall dare to offer another way of thinking about it all.
There is a very good reason why many women decide to give leading a go: so
they don't have to sit all night.
Typically, there are more good women dancers than men. Most of the women I
have seen, in many cities, giving lead a serious try is so that (as single
women) they don't get bored out of their minds every time they go out. I'm
on their side. Stay at home - or lead a bit? Why not? These tend to be women who have been dancing a long time and are good dancers.
No one should feel threatened.
Of course, they find me a willing partner and a help if they are seeking
that. The ladies who lead me are social friends and we are having fun for
a few minutes. Real tango fun.
It's a growing trend. 'Gonna happen whether people like it or not. Together with this is the trend of more men wanting to follow. It can only help their dancing.
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Tandas - So Cool
As a programmer and as a dancer, the Tanda custom in Argentine Tango seems to me to be such a cool invention.
What are it's origins? Sergio Vandekier explains from Mar Del Plata:
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ToTANGO RESTORATIONS
Paying Homage to Great Artists
The first email I received in 2008: "Hi Keith - I ordered 5 CDs for my husband's Christmas stocking and my goodness. they
are FABULOUS! What a difference compared to our other CDs. We absolutely
love what you've done and would like to order more with your 5 CD special
for $69."
The last thing I did in 07 was add 60 new Canaro renderings to the ToTANGO RESTORATIONS catalog. Also great additions by D'Arienzo, Laurenz, Troilo, Di Sarli and Lomuto.
And on the subject of recent emails, this from a DJ:
"Hi Keith ‚
Going through Troilo, I realized I had 2 versions of 'Orlando Goñi' from
1952. One from the recently released "Archivo TK", and one I got from you
awhile back. I wanted to believe that the new release might magically be a
bit better but whoa! Wait a minute ... sounds like the typical "goose the
bottom end and they will like it" treatment from TK. So listening a few
times more, I was easily convinced that yours is better, by far (to
discerning ears). I think you had good source material, and you took
special care not to mess up the tonality of the piano and bass. Ohhhhhh,
the piano sounds delicious on your copy! The whole thing is bright,
accurate, with the bass in its proper position and sounding like a musical
instrument rather than a fog horn.
So, out goes the TK version, and me with a knowing smirk on my mug as I do
it, thinking of you there with your ears laid back tuning that track up a
few years ago!!"
Have ToTANGO's Exclusive Restorations In Your Collection!
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Tango Conversations
One Way of Looking At It
It's easy to put oneself in a category, noticing that many other dancers are not the same.
We could be new or experienced; like to dance close, or not; prefer nuevo or not, etc.
Here is a category I am in: I don't really enjoy dancing if there is no conversation. By that I mean - both people expressing themselves.
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Considering Cortinas
The Dj's Personality Revealed
I've not discussed Cortinas here much, not wanting to criticize others nor reveal what goes into my special bag of tricks. ;-) But, really, with so many new dj's plying the trade, some of the issues ought to be examined and some guiding principles tossed around - for many nights are being diminished by bad cortina choices from amateur dj's.
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The Destruction of RCA's Masters
And now - the Details
When RCA destroyed it's Masters of tango recordings 40 years ago, a major reason for our Restoration Project took place.
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Tango Styles and Attitudes
Peter Bengtson's Tango Style table is humourous - and/but full of insight ... a kind of mirror in many respects. Do you see yourself in it?
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The Tango Trance
Seek it, and it will elude you;
Talk about it in too much detail
and it will haunt you evily.
Live for it, and you will die many deaths.
Treasure it, but don't hold onto it.
Dance with love and freedom
and it will embrace you.
Be vulnerable, and feel it's power.
Dan Boccia
Anchorage, AK
tangotrance.com
© 1997-2008 Elshaw Communications Inc.
All rights reserved.
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