SLO Tango -- rotating & all that jazz

[Glenna Thompson]

OK, well now I am going to add another 1/100 of a cent.  I responded 
carelessly to an earlier post as one of those hysterical 
how-dare-you-not-rotate-people.  I realize from reading subsequent posts 
that the subject was COUPLES ONLY classes.  Never having been able to 
participate in those classes, I managed not to notice that essential 
part of the discussion.  Although I've never had a class partner, I have 
spent many hours practicing with a single partner in a focused way, and 
thus agree that there is immense value to being able to stick with one 
thing and one person for as long as it takes.  So, please forgive my 
mistake -- I'd like to be on record as another voice on the side I 
seemed to be opposing before.  However, I still wonder if its 
appropriate to use class time for that. 

As far as sophistication not being part of tango!  You can't be 
serious!  Isn't is just so so much more fun to dance with someone who 
has taken the time to develop depth and really understand what they (and 
you) are doing?? 

Finally, one more comment about Jeff's original message -- same sex 
rotation.  If only there were more opportunities for this.  Not only 
should people learning dance be comfortable touching anyone, learning 
how it feels to be handled in both good and bad ways is invaluable.  So, 
I say: Get over it guys.  Please!  Dance with each other!  However, 
using judgment about when that is appropriate is a good idea.  I've been 
in a dance situation where there were 10 or 15 women standing around 
waiting all night to dance, and three men to go around.  Frustrating for 
the women, of course, and way too much pressure for the men. So, what 
did they do to relive that?  Two of them danced together for half an 
hour or so, and what could the remaining guy to but give up.  Most of 
the women just got mad and left.  Of course, that sort of thing would 
never happen here, and I do mean that.  Because we have a Precious Tango 
Bubble.

Throughout our lives we experience times and places and people and 
combinations of the three that we know are unique and valuable and we 
know we must hold on to them and treasure them and even when those times 
are past we'll still have the feeling we got from them.   This little 
San Luis Obispo dance community is one of those, and these messages are 
a testament to that. 


DB wrote:

>Bravo Willow!! Well said! 
>
>Tangamente,
>Debbie 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: slotango-bounces at slotango.org [mailto:slotango-bounces at slotango.org]
>On Behalf Of Willow RunningHawk
>Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 8:41 AM
>To: slotango at slotango.org
>Subject: SLO Tango -- rotating & all that jazz
>
>
>Queridos compañeros/compañeras:
>Laura asked me to put in my $.02, so here goes:
>I liked Jeff's email (copied below for those of you who haven't seen
>it) it's a nice list of good sense vis-a-vis tango.
>
>Some people get so worked up about the classes and to rotate or not to
>rotate, it makes me think that they're just letting off steam that is being
>generated elsewhere.  I think our tango community is fabulous! Let people do
>what they like, if they want to be exclusive, well, that's their perogative,
>who cares?  (Apparently this does bother some people quite a lot... but you
>can't please everyone no matter how hard you try.)  Most of our more
>experienced dancers DO make an effort to dance with the less experienced and
>less familiar partners, and I love you all for that!
>
>There has been talk of a tango town meeting, but that makes me quite
>uncomfortable.  Meetings are for work-related stuff, please!!  l don't want
>the outside world to contaminate my precious tango bubble.  Tango is what I
>do to escape from all that! I say we stay focused on what we love about
>tango... the dance, the music, the atmosphere, the warmth of our tango
>community... I love you all!
>
>besos, Willow
>
>**Hi all,
>
>This is Jeff from the Salsa world and  I wanted to share my opinions about
>rotating.  I believe that in any group lesson, except those involving
>dangerous lifts and tricks, rotating should be strongly strongly encouraged.
>I'd go one step further by arguing that advanced Tango dancers should rotate
>with the same sex, so that they learn the follow and lead.  Tango originated
>this way, did it not?
>
>Here's why rotation should be obligitory:
>
>1. It's more inclusive.  All those single dancers out there will want to
>take the class that let's them participate, obviously.
>
>2. You'll learn how to dance with many types of leads/follows.  Do you
>really want to be a great dancer with your parter but no one else?
>
>3. Work out bad habits more quickly.  If you learn with only one partner,
>he/she may not be able to catch everything you are doing wrong.
>
>4. Stronger bond between participants.  You will make your Tango community
>stronger by rotating.  It sounds cheesy but it's true.
>
>5. Better way to gage the different levels of dancing.  You'll have a better
>understanding of what makes a good dancer and what makes a bad dancer by
>learning with the good and the bad.
>
>6. Chance to take a mini-vacation from partner.  Do you really want to dance
>the whole time with your partner, anyway?
>
>So that's about it.  It's an interesting debate but I think rotation wins
>hands down.  Good luck and I hope you figure out what is best for you and
>your Tango community.  -Jeff.**
>
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