Monday 31 August 2015

Not-boring stage tango!


Here's a thing. The performance beginning at 13 minutes in this video is the very first time I've ever seen [professional] tango escenario (stage tango or tango-ballet) done as though it were being done sincerely as expressive dance, rather than just an athletic display or pose-fest. Her dress is designed to place the action in time; they make bold use of a simple prop to tell a touching story; it corresponds with the lyrics; they even act. The dancing mostly serves it. Acting is so much better when you've got something to say. The embed should start from 13:00.


They are couple number 546, Juan Pablo Bulich and Rocio Garcia Liedo.

They didn't win; they placed second. The winning performance comes at 11:19 in section 3, by Camila Alegre and Ezequiel Jesus Lopez. I think this one is also better than the others. I watched it without feeling bored, because it's another coherent performance with the dancing appearing to serve a sincerely-held idea that corresponds with the music, as opposed to a mess of conventional tropes serving as excuses for poses. It didn't grab me as much as the one above, but it might be better technique-wise. The second embed shows the winning performance from 1:15, with the presentations before that.


All the others are much of a muchness, to me, give or take some business with clothing, and I don't have any reason to suggest you watch them, except in order to find out if you agree or not. You can find all the relevant videos at the bottom of this playlist or at Aires de Milonga.

Friday 28 August 2015

Empathy in teachers

Sometimes you notice that someone is following their true vocation.

The ability to detect how people are feeling in themselves, independently of what they express, makes you a better teacher. It's not the same as the ability to explain things clearly. Instead, it allows you to go straight to the heart of whatever problem the student is having with understanding or execution. If you tell them how they are feeling, they will tell you what the problem is. It allows you to remove obstacles, easily, that would prevent someone else's just-as-clear explanation being any use at all.

Empathy, an unfeigned interest in other people, gets things done.