Tango in Torquay... Four: overall

21st January 2011

Tango In Torquay One | Tango In Torquay Two | Tango In Torquay Three | Tango In Torquay Four

Introduction

So, I've talked about getting there and the venue, I've talked about the classes, I've talked about the milongas. This last entry is, hopefully, an "overall impressions" bit.

The (Also) People

Arthur Dent:: "The people...the things..."
Ford Prefect: "The things are also people,"
Arthur Dent:: "The people...the...other people..."
~ The Restaurant at the end of the Universe

It's interesting to attend a Tango weekender with a group of people who come predominantly from a Modern Jive background, with that background's associated cultural expectations.

For example, I think it's fair to say that by and large, people are more relaxed, less intense, and less worried about things than in a "normal" Tango weekender. They don't see it as a way of life - it's a dance, which is there to be enjoyed and experienced. Obviously, this is both good and bad; it means that people are more relaxed generally, which means the atmosphere is lighter.

This is great for general relaxation and enjoyment; but it's less great if you want to lose yourself into the intense atmosphere of a pure milonga.

That said, it's very rare to lose yourself into the intense atmosphere of a pure milonga anywhere in London anyway, so you may not be losing out much.

The atmosphere

Again, similarly, the atmosphere was, I think, "lighter" than at a traditional AT weekender. This is probably most noticeable in the milongas, which were much more "relaxed and casual" than you'd find in many traditional venues.

That doesn't mean it was difficult to have some great, intense dances - I had some lovely close dances, with some gorgeous and experienced dancers. But overall, I'd class the atmosphere as a little more "fun" than "intense".

This is great if you want to relax, and it's also ideal if you're less experienced, I think - you don't have to stress too much about cabaceos or other codigos. So it's a lovely way to get started with the scene. It's arguably less-suited for the more experienced "hard core" tangueros and tangueras - but then, I'm not a beginner and I enjoyed it...

Would you go again?

'She has told me everything,' Wen went on. 'I know that time was made for men, not the other way round. I have learned how to shape it and bend it. I know how to make a moment last for ever, because it already has. And I can teach these skills even to you, Clodpool. I have heard the heartbeat of the universe. I know the answers to many questions. Ask me.'
The apprentice gave him a bleary look. It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
'Er ... what does master want for breakfast?' he said.
Wen looked down from their camp and across the snowfields and purple mountains to the golden daylight creating the world, and mused upon certain aspects of humanity.
'Ah,' he said. 'One of the difficult ones.'"
~ Thief of Time

I enjoyed the weekend, all of it. I loved the classes, and I regret not doing a couple more of them. It's also nice to go to a Tango weekender which is a bit more organised than the normal "turn up with a tent and sleeping bag" Tango weekenders. I'm getting old, and I like the luxury of having an all-in weekender where I can walk from the dance floor to my room, in my socks if need be, and then get my meals provided for me.

So I would definitely consider going again. Whether I definitely would go again next year is another question - I think the answer is "it depends", mainly depending on what I'm doing, when I'm doing it, and so on.

But to be honest, I think I'd say exactly that about any weekender - I've never yet been to one where I'd say "I'll definitely go again to this next year"... So that's just me.

The only thing I can say is that I'd absolutely recommend it, to anyone, at any level, as worth attending. The crew do a fantastic job, it's a great venue, and the rota of teachers is first-class.

~ David Bailey, 21st January 2011