I watched a video from "So You Think You Can Dance" show. Two dancers dancing a(n Argentine) Tango.
[Link to the SYTYCD dance video, via facebook:]
https://www.facebook.com/SoYouThinkYouCanDance/videos/1983275195062611/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDY1MTIxMzYyOToyMDY5OTQxMTI2MzcwOTA4/
It was impressive dance. As a spectator, I fully enjoyed the dance.
At the same time, I thought "This is a 'Dancers' Argentine Tango'. But this may not be 'Argentine Tango dancers' Tango'."
Here I feel like adding some elaboration to it.
"Dancers' dance" is danced by trained dancers, whose body is that of a "real" dancer, and whose execution is that of "real" dancer. Here, dancer is a trained person who has impressive body and motion.
Great dance can be performed when the dancer(s) have three key ingredients; (1) the body (how they look, and look right), (2) knowledge (demonstrate what they should do for the particular kind of dance), and (3) execution (how well they dance/move).
Trained dancers have right body and beautiful execution/motion. Their choreographer can supply the knowledge, even if the dancers were not grown in the dance community.
And the particular choreography in the show did not use much of traditional Tango figures, but was heavy with crowd-pleasing Stage Tango moves.
That was why I thought it was a "dancers' dance".
An "Argentine Tango dancer" is not always a trained dancer (many are). But they usually come from social dance floor, where you can get by with basic moves only.
Tango basic elements are; Standing. Walking. Back ocho. Forward ocho. Cross. and Giro.
Then you can add other leg usage like Barrida, Parada, Gancho, Enganche, etc, and embellishments like enrosque, tap, drag, boleo, etc.
Combining these, there are recognizable Tango figures.
"Recognizable" means "familiar".
While they dance Argentine Tango in parties/milongas, Argentine Tango dancers see these elements, moves, and figures many times, and get used to them. These elements, moves, and figures have become a part of community knowledge and tradition. Argentine Tango dancers use and share these common, familiar moves.
Knowing them is somewhat like having a community ID. They can distinguish whether a dancer belongs to them or not.
It takes some "nod" and doing recognizable AT figures to be recognized as Argentine Tango dancers. The "Dancer's dance" had little "recognizable Traditional Tango" contents. All meat, no fillings.They were mostly using impressive moves that only elites can use. Common AT dancers would have little to relate.
There are many AT dancers and teachers who emphasize "Authentic" Tango. Because they want to emphasize their ties to the community and tradition.
If you see yourself as a traditionalist, you'd understand this easier.
This mentality by traditionalists would explain at least in part why traditionalists tend not to like nuevo music, dance, and dancers. To traditionalists' eyes, nuevo dancers are strangers who speak different dance language.
Hope this note clarified the concept and the difference between "Dancers' Argentine Tango" and "Argentine Tango dancers' Tango".
Just a thought.
