Taking stock
As the end of 2011 draws near, time to take stock yet again of tango happenings here in Singapore.
In 2011, there have been at least four major events hosting internationally well-known Argentinian maestros every 2-3 months or so, and other visiting teachers in-between. While leading to many tired legs and bodies, they sure generated quite a bit of excitement in the local tango community. At the same time, the number of weekly milongas stands as of now at 6 – which I have to admit is surprisingly high – with steady attendance for all milongas except 1. Seemingly there are also more dancers but I suspect at least half of this is due to a) influx of expats, 2) Singaporeans returning from overseas stays, 3) more people travelling to festivals outside of Singapore, rather than locally trained dancers. Fortunately the tango scene remains relatively “intimate” (and not too large) in that I am still able to name each person at the milongas I frequent.
After having been involved in organising tango activities (more heavily and larger scale in the last 5) in Singapore for the past 9 years, well it is perhaps time to look out for new “organisational” talents to pass the baton too?!
Some interviews
Since I have been neglecting my blog for the past couple of months, thought I’d bump up the post count before the end of 2011! 😉
Here is Part 1 (of 5) of a series of interviews (English subtitles) with tango teachers in Rosario, Argentina (map below).
Thanks to Janis for alerting me to this series.
Innovators
Had a conversation the other day which gave me a new perspective on the roles played by the milongueros in Buenos Aires.
I had always imagined (or “misled” to have the impression?? 🙂 ) that the milongueros as we know were more or less the torch-bearers of tradition and everything old-school!? Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you, because otherwise we won’t be able to get glimpses of how tango was back in the Golden Age, 50-60 years ago.
However, perhaps due to the “competition” to dance with good followers, or entire nights of dancing to only one orchestra*, rivalries between barrios, lack of any one dominant style (more teachers??), etc., the milongueros were able to create many things which were distinctive and unique, both for themselves individually and at milongas at different barrios. Here I am not really talking about “innovating” as in the original spirit of Naveira/Chicho/Salas (and definitely not the modern-day tango nuevo) which for me has its place. I am referring to the act of pushing the boundaries of what was possible without opening the embrace, and discovering subtle ways of dancing to the music. It’s a pity that there are fewer and fewer examples of that variety from the Golden Age era every year.
* There is evidence to suggest that orchestras such as D’Arienzo, Di Sarli, Troilo, etc., played at one place for the whole night.
Viejos milongueros
Just discovered this nice series of videos of various milongas in Buenos Aires in the 90’s. Since this was before the influx of tango tourists, I presume that collectively they are quite representative of the milongas in Buenos Aires back then. “No gimmicks” tango, just social gathering and self-expression.