Despite some hilarious but unimportant errors (er, Luis is not Brazilian) and the bizarre headline (headlines never have anything to do with the writer) this is rather sweet:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-24014972-strictly-come-dalston-dancing-the-tango-in-hackney.do
Especially in the way it presents tango as a civilised entertainment for young people, and specifically a hell of a lot more pleasant and interesting than alternatives in Dalston. It's true; if you're dancing tango, getting drunk or high as well is very much optional rather than compulsory, and there are tight practical limits to doing both at the same time, at least unless you've had a lot of practice.
I was going to say that the article exaggerated the role of the East End; tango is not new to London, not by a couple of decades, and the East End is the latest place to get it rather than the first. But, on reflection, it changes all the time, and the milongas they mention certainly have an important role in the way it's has gone in the last couple of years and the way it's likely to go next. For the person likely to be interested in the article, that's what's important. (Then I started looking for my review of the Light Temple - it's stuck in draft, I can't remember why, and I haven't got time to fix it right now).
Congratulations to Luis and Elizabeth for managing to sound quite sensible and more or less like themselves, when transmogrified by print. That can be a bit of a lottery, I think you did well.
I have been to this milonga a couple of times, but not since the place was refurbished. I felt then that it was good choice for beginners, depending on who was teaching, and it sounds like it still is. In theory it's much nearer me than central London is, but it's a lot less accessible given the day and the time. That's nice in a way, as it might stay local and get its own crowd, which can be a very good thing.
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3 comments:
Why do journalists persist in sounding like giggling school children when they talk about tango? So persistently weird and immature and unable to really observe what goes on there? Well, this was not too bad, but the feeling of that discomfort still comes through.
Strange.
E
@Elizabeth: It's always hard to read a general-audience newspaper article about any subject that you actually know anything about. I think the journalist really was very young, and I agree it wasn't too bad - it was nice that she didn't make the art mistake I was talking about earlier. They are always in a hurry, too, and that kind of observation takes time or at least experience.
As for Luis, I'll see if he wants me to post an update ;)
.. I checked, Luis is fine with it. And I agree: if you get quoted in a newspaper and you're not "saying" anything you vigorously disgree with, it's a win for all sides. Nationality and possible orientation in the minds of Evening Standard readers are mere details.
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