Levels
Beginner
Description: The embracing arm is rigid, and fixed to open the greatest
amount of distance between the partners. Clasped hand is white-knuckled
with tension, but the rest of that arm is loose and moves up and down
or pistons back and forth. The posture is wobbly or bent forward at the
waist. Line of dance is a "theoritical concept".
Conversation: (man) "Are you in the cross?"
(woman)
"Where do I step now?"
Found: In Intermediate classes, and stationary in corners
of the floor during the milonga or practica.
Intermediate
Description: The embracing arm is rigid, but partners are close enough
to perceive body lead. Clasped hand is usually relaxed, but still rotates
with respect to frame. The posture is upright and the couple is generally
moving with the woman back to the line of dance. Man knows how to maneuver
in corners of dance floor, but either partner may suddenly halt the dance
to "discuss" the latest pattern just learned.
Conversation: (man) "Okay, NOW you do a back ocho..."
(woman)
"Sorry!"
Found: In Intermediate-Advanced classes, and stationary
at any point on the floor during the milonga or practica.
Intermediate-Advanced
Description: The man spontaneously creates patterns based on learned
figures. The embracing arm is relaxed, with firm pressure directed in
a manner appropriate to the step being performed. The clasped hand is
relaxed and the frame is solid (sometimes to the detriment of grace).
The posture is upright with beginnings of tango lean. The couple is moving
generally with the woman's right shoulder pointing towards the line of
dance. May perform "above the safety level" for the number of couples
per unit area of floor.
Conversation: (man or woman) "Ooh, good one!"
(woman
or man) followed by "Excuse me!'
Found in: Intermediate-Advanced or Beginning classes, mostly
in line of dance, but sometimes in center of dance floor "showing off,"
during the weekend milonga or practica.
Advanced
Description: The man spontaneously creates patterns and figures based
on genuine understanding of the tango walk. The woman is able to take
advantage of freedom provided to make her own adornments. The frame is
solid but relaxed and graceful. The posture is straight with noticeable
tango lean where appropriate. The couple is moving generally with the
"V" of their embrace following the line of dance. Can make a simple pattern
elegant and know more patterns and figures than they use when dancing.
Conversation: (woman) "ahhhh"
(man)
low sigh of contentment. Man is silent
Found: Teaching Beginning, Intermediate and Intermediate-Advanced
classes, learning from professionals or teachers in/from Buenos Aires.
Too often found sitting at the edge of a packed dance floor filled with
stationary Beginners, debating Intermediates and show-boating Intermediate-Advanced
dancers.
Professional
Description: The man "just walks", woman "just follows". May have forgotten
why this dance is so difficult to learn (because it's become second nature
for the professional). The posture, the frame, the movement and the embrace
are all elegantly graceful and suitable for pointing out as a shining
example to other levels of dancers.
Conversation: (silent, their expressions are in the dance)
Found: Dancing tango. Teaching tango. Selling and performing
tango. Breathing, talking, living tango.