In 2010 I started with my interviews with the milongueros. By then, the Tango Nuevo was at its peak.
Orillero, Salón, Fantasía, Cruzado and Milonguero are the tango styles that milongueros mentioned in my interviews. Also some descriptions of the ways it was danced. Such as: “They were kind of dancing with little jumps”. “We danced more stylized”. Each one narrated what they saw, different moments and different experiences. Today I would like to share mine that probably looks like yours.
I remember around 2010, students came to me wanting to perfect their colgadas and volcadas. For my better understanding, I had signed up for a Colgadas y Volcadas workshop weekend. On Saturday the teacher (she) was late. The teacher (he) had made us dance among the students. When it was time to start class, he asked me to dance with him to show. He led me very well and I was able to do the colgadas and volcadas for the first time in my life.
The thing was, that style didn’t appeal to me. It had been different a few years before when, after going through some stressful times when they hugged me with no space between bodies, I was able to relax and I began to enjoy that hug. Those subtleties of the movements that they were indicating to me without my consciously perceiving it. That arm that surrounded me had not alterned, it had stayed in one place! It was a container hug that invited me to enjoy, to be able to hear the music better. I was able to interpret the music!
Well, let’s go back to the situation in which the students asked me colgadas and volcadas. When they did, I replied that I did not teach that style of Tango. I explained to them that there were different styles. Many looked at me in surprise.
Remembering my time as a voracious student of tango, I put myself in the shoes of my students. It would have saved me a lot of time and would have avoided a few bad moments if I had known that there were different styles and that, for example, the hugs and even the techniques of some steps often differ according to the style. Clear examples of this are the backwards ochos and the giros.
I consider that defining styles is important to be clear especially with students who come to tango mostly without knowing the variants. Without knowing it, I started learning Salon and then “I went” to the Milonguero. It was a personal decision, which I would not have been able to make if I didn’t know they both were Tango but different styles.
Knowing which style is preferred, one can propose it to the partner. Defining the styles not to divide, of course not! I respect the decisions of each one, but being clear about what I want prevents me from losing myself in limbo.
Once again I thank the milongueros, those who asked me for firmness in my right hand and those who protested against the tension in that same hand. Thank you for your patience.
Below, the tanda I repared with the music to practice. One tango from the biggest orchestras. Each of them are examples of their style 🙂
Un abrazo,
Monica
La tanda
- ♫ El flete. Juan D’Arienzo
- ♫ Cuidado con los 50. Carlos Di Sarli
- ♫ Tinta roja. Anibal Troilo – Francisco Fiorentino
- ♫ Seguime si podes. Osvaldo Pugliese