What's your opinion on the Villa Urquiza style in the context of Mundial de Tango? - Julio Balmaceda

👱 Interviewee : David Palo, Pepa Palazon
🧑 Interviewer : Julio Balmaceda
📺 Full Interview : • JULIO BALMACEDA Tengo ...
#TangoTalk

[@Abrazotv]

Q (👱 Interviewee) : and a question by David Palo. What's your opinion on the Villa Urquiza - style in the context of the Tango World Championship? A (🧑 Julio Balmaceda): Why didn't you leave this question for later? What I do not understand is the following: Why should it be necessary to take classes in Villa Urquiza in order to participate in the Championship? This is already a wrong premise. It's not ok that if a couple's dance style is a bit different to the rest, they are not chosen to pass to the next round. There are some basic issues at stake here. First: The people who take the decisions about who passes have no clue at all. Unfortunately. Many of them just have no criteria whatsoever. It cannot be that someone who does a gancho - even if a "gancho" is not permitteed in the competition rules for tango salon - just because they do a gancho or a boleo in a turn the lose points... That's just the wrong premise. First, I don't agree at all, that has never been the case. If someone told you so, it's a lie. Recently I watched a video of my dad in 1975. Transferred from Super 8 film. From 1975! He looks like "Sandro de America" (Argentine singer): long hair, combed back with gel. Very valuable! I did not have this recording. And those guys were not dancing according to the rules that today define tango salon. They were doing the exact opposite. Of course! But now... Poor guys! Poor them! I really feel sorry for them. I feel bad for them. They are forced to this posture. They are not allowed to move! And I say to myself: for god's sake, let them breathe! I believe that happens in all dance styles: If there is anything tense in the body, you cannot dance. So... Look... For me all this is really stupid. But it seems to be changing now. How can someone take class with... whoever... For example: a person who takes class with Chicho cannot participate. Nor if they study with Parejita(Eduardo Pareja "Parejita"). And he is 80 years old! Parejita is another one. But dancing is dancing! There are things that have to be respected, and I think that's fantastic. I'm obviously not going to do ganchos in the air and lift the lady above my head etc., that's for stage. Competitions have existed ever since I can remember. I can remember my dad participating in competitions. They even received awards. In '75. It's nothing new. Some people are against the World Championship, I don't see it as a bad thing, because it gives you... ..it doesn't matter if you win or not, it's just good to compete. But what happens to many people who dance very well is that they do not want to participate due to fear... And I understand them, it's not ok that you do not qualify for the next round just because your style is different to that of Villa Urquiza. And also, if I get more in depth into this topic, I've been dancing for half of my life. Yes, for about... 15 years. Half of my life. There are people in Villa Urquiza who've been dancing less than that. People who danced for ten years, got married at 25, and returned to tango at the age of 60, some 10 years ago. So if you compare... It doesn't compare... In fact, I'd like to talk about this with them. I'd like us to get together, and I'd take the challenge. I would sit down with them and face the challenge! I'll change seat, oh, the camera. Shall I sit next to Pepa? Participant 159, where are you from? ... So they are from Tokyo.. Tomorrow they are taking me to Japan, Three tours of Three months each. So 10,50. 10,50 is the score. I've seen that. - Out of 10! We are not doing well like that. This was one of the first Championships in which we took part, together with Gustavo (Naveira) and others. Actually, Gustavo was the first one to get fed up, he could not accept this. I endured two more years and I also left. Sometimes they call me to be part of the jury for a day now, I'm ok with that. Especially if it's for the final round. There I say: yes! Yes, I'll go! Because I need to show them! It's just not ok to be such bastards! Imagine the people sitting next to me in the finals! You understand, do you? I'm not talking about any competition, like at Gricel, but about the finals in Luna Park, sitting as jury in front of the TV cameras. I've sat there listening to them comment things like: "Number 59 danes spectacularly. what score are you giving them?" Firstly, that's clearly the wrong premise. Secondly, they just have no concept at all. Not even in their own dancing do they have a concept. Why is Gustavo (Naveira) who he is? Because he has a concept. A very clear one, whether you like it or not doesn't matter. If he says this is so, you realize he is right, even if you don't like it. Then just don't do it. Well, he is a maestro. But you can listen to anyone who makes sense. It's perfectly ok. But those guys do not have the slightest idea. They have no idea of what they are doing. And I repeat: many of those from Villa Urquiza, people I knew, ... some don't even dance with the music! The main referent of Villa Urquiza is deaf! He's deaf, please! Please! He is deaf! He doesn't walk to the beat! If he doesn't walk on the beat, it's all really bad. I'm not interested in naming people, I mean, if you want I can, but I don't want to. If one day I have the opportunity, I will tell him. But it's not his fault! It's other people deciding that the rest should follow him. Beyond what I like or dislike, there has to be a reason.

[@waynechiefcooper4190]

I really feel sorry for guys think that taking breath and moving in a good posture is difficult. It is not difficult. Just you can't managed to do that. As a tango instructor When you courage students to don't care a good posture you create dance floors without elegance bleed our eyes.