Tango Learning

What are the methods of learning?
I have listed the main four below.

Regular classes
Evening class 1.5 hrs with some practice time

Workshops (day/weekends)
About 2/3 classes around 3/4 hrs per day. Often focus on one idea or technique allowing more depth than a regular class.

Festivals (extended workshops)
Last several days. Similar amount of tuition per day as the workshops. Events have large milongas well into the early hours each day. Attract people from much further and many nationalities.

Private Lessons
One on one tuition for 1 hour

The first three are all useful but the relative importance of each changes with time. I probably have about 60 hours tuition a year. Today it is nearly all from the middle two. This means months can go by with little tuition. In the first two years it was virtually wholly regular classes.

The last private lessons are the most expensive (per hour) but can be the most rewarding. Those I would not recommend in the first few months while you find your feet. After that I suggest taking one every quarter or two to three quickly twice a year. They take some time to assimilate, but they help prevent complacency.

I try to get a handful of private lessons each year. My belief is that these maintain your focus and alerts you to areas of trouble. It is very easy to convince yourself you know more than you do and that you are doing things correctly. Ideally one does not want to grow bad habits so they are harder to overcome.

In the past I have had private lessons generally with the same teacher. This year was different and that on its own was quite illuminating. To see different viewpoints of how to do the basic movements. Each brings their own point of focus.

TJ

In The Beginning

Oh dear, yet another tango blog! Well that is true and I can't deny it but I hope I can add a little value back into the tango community. It has given a lot in the last five years I thought it was time I put some of my knowledge gained to good use.

Well where to begin?
The beginning is the usual place. Well I live in Hampshire in the UK and as stated I started my tango excursion in November 2004. My first experience of Argentine Tango (AT) was at a modern jive weekender. For those that do not know modern jive is a partner social dance derived from Lindy and is popular in the UK since the early 90's. As to exactly what it looks like or what steps constitute it is a matter of debate. The reason being it is a bit of a magpie of other dances Salsa, Lindy, Blues, WCS and even AT. It is targeted at people new to partner dancing with an emphasis on social mixing. I started modern jive in 1999 and still dance at weekenders. Weekenders being very large (1000+) all weekend teaching and freestyle events mostly held at holiday camps.

What are my aims?
I want to share some of my learning. Through sharing knowledge we help to understand other people's viewpoints and perspectives. This helps are own growth and promotes respect of others. I have had the opportunity to meet and see many teachers over the years all of whom have slowly moved me forward. I am not saying I have not been equally confounded at several stages to. The journey continues.

What will I write about?
Well what I will post about will probably fit in the following self explanatory groups:

Festival
Introspection
Music
Teacher
Tips
Workshop

I would just like to say, welcome to my blog and hope you join me in the future to.

TJ