A few weeks ago, I had a talk with a Kizomba instructor.
It was amusing, because Kizomba dance community seems to have exact the same internal conflict as that in the Tango community.
The conflict is "Stage dance vs social dance".
His frustration was coming from his belief that he should show "authentic" Kizomba. In YouTube there are many show-oriented "Kizomba", which he knows are different from traditionally danced Kizomba, thus are adulterated versions.
When he needs to demonstrate Kizomba. he has internal conflict;
"authentic social Kizomba is not a kind of dance that moves around big and showy. But on stage I need to, otherwise I cannot connect to or appeal to the audience far away. Is it right to dance big and showy, or am I falsely presenting this dance? What I want to dance is (authentic) Kizomba, not urban Kizomba or nightclub Kizomba or whatever Kizomba they show in YouTube."
Doesn't this sound familiar, Salon-minded tango dancers?
You can present the case from the opposite side.
Think of a scene in "Dirty dancing". The "Baby" got interested in dancing after a showing of Patrick Sweyze character's Mambo routine.
Stage dance has strong appeal that captivates viewer's interest and fantasy. In many cases, people start learning a dance after watching a show and got inspired.
But what the instructors usually sell to a beginner is not a stage dance.
Let's say, you get interested in Tango after watching a show and impressed. You show up in a group Tango class. Then what you get is bunch of "basics" for milonga. You go to milonga and nobody dances like the stage show dancers, except demonstrations by Stage dance-proficient instructors. Look around, and you notice that many Salon dancers do not really have show-worthy appeal, even after years of social Tango dancing (ouch).You realize there may not be a Stage dance in this path, and feel deceived.
Is stage dance a false advertisement to sell less-appealing social version of the dance?
Certainly not.
Simply put, Social dance and Stage dance are different businesses. Although stage dance evolved out of its social version, after years, the dances became different games with different purposes.
Most group classes are for basics usable in Social settings. Of course you'll need high level "basics" for stage dance, but basics alone lack far-reaching flashiness and stage appeal, the "wow" factor.
To add "wow", there are many stage-specific moves. This is the difference between some other professional sports, where presenting high level basics alone can straightforwardly leads to score, point, or winning of the game, like baseball or football. Appearance matters less in some games.
If you want to dance a stage dance, ask instructors who dance stage dance to teach. They may have Stage dance class or would teach in private lessons. Stage dance is usually choreographed. Learn the choreographed moves. It is a shortcut.
And don't assume the Stage dance moves are leadable/followable in social dances. They usually aren't. Preparations make the use possible.
Stage dance and social dance are both a part of the dance as a whole. For instructors, easiest solution is just be able to do both. If you take a side, you might end up with vilifying the other, which is in my opinion non-productive.
There is a demand for social dance, and there are occasions stage dance is needed. Don't feel like selling your soul. Actually, I'd say, don't miss out.
