In the Susana Miller workshop on Argentine tango in the milonguero style over the July 20-21, 2013 weekend we simplified our movement patterns to the utmost for the sake of perfecting our partner connection. Then we had wonderful opportunities at house milongas to try these tight, small space movements about our partner in conditions simulating the crowding at Buenos Aires milongas.
The small, constrained, intense connect of the milonguero style made for an interesting contrast with the posters festooning the walls of the pleasant dance studio that serves the Claire School of Dance in Houston. These posters, speaking to ballet dancers, also spoke to me of creativity, and as a rich source of ideas for interpreting music.
“Schottische” and Argentine tango … really?! Yeah, some of it requires a stretch, but it’s a mean sort of imagination that doesn’t find some form of inspiration for interpretation with the incredible diversity and richness of tango music informing these concepts.
As my musicality education continues, and my familiarity with orchestras and songs increases, I’d like to revisit this and supply some examples. In the meanwhile, I’ll use it as a source of inspiration for playfulness over patterns.
The Concept of Movement Locomotor Basic Walk Slide Run Skip Jump Crawl Hop Roll Leap Etcetera Gallop Combined Step-hop Schottische Waltz run Jop Prance Slither Two-step Creep Grapevine Etcetera Non-locomotor Bend Punch Rise Twist Dodge Sink Stretch Kick Burst Swing Poke Wiggle Push Lift Curve Pull Flick Curl Fall Float Lunge Melt Glide Stash Sway Press Dab Turn Wring Etcetera Spin Shake The Concept Of Time Speed Fast / Slow Rhythm Pulse / Pattern / Breath The Concept Of Space Place Self space / General space Size Big / Small Far reach / Near reach Level High / Low (Transitioning upward, downward) Direction Foward / Backward Right / Left, Up / Down (Diagonal) Pathway Curved / Straight / Zigzag Focus Single focus / Multi focus (Intense / Soft / Unfocused) The Concept Of Force Energy Sharp (sudden) Smooth (sustained) Weight Strong / Light Flow Free / Bound The Concept of Form Recurring theme Theme in variation / Canon / Round ABA' A = one phrase, B = another phrase, A' = a variant of A Abstract Non-representational Narrative In the form of a story Suite Moderate beginning / Slow center / Fast end Broken form Unrelated ideas The Concept of Body Parts Head (Forehead, eyes, Spine ears, mouth, lips, Pelvis tongue, cheeks) Hips Neck Legs Shoulders Knees Arms Ankles Elbows Feet Wrists Toes Hands Heels Fingers Etcetera (Thorax, ribs, belly) Trunk Shapes Curved / Straight Angular / Twisted Symmetrical / Asymmetrical (Sharp / Dull) Relationships Body parts to body parts Body parts to objects Individuals to groups Individuals and groups to objects Near / Far / Meeting / Parting Alone / Connected Mirroring / Shadowing Unison / Contrast, Over / Under Above / Below, On / Off Around / Through, In / Out Beside / Between Gathering / Scattering Balance On balance / Off balance (Tension Soft / Firm / Rigid) (Movement Staccato / Legato) (I've suggested additions in parentheses.)
Pasos felices,
–David