Epiphany
I finally acquired a reasonably clear understanding of what Nuevo is and where it belongs. (It only took me six workshops over a weekend with a knowledgeable teacher who kept defining Nuevo by reference to classical, a series of stupid questions asked and answered over time and a debate over "ideological differences")
Essentially it is an offspring art form - not a style or a product of natural evolution of tango - it has changed too much in the underlying concepts. It shifted attention from the expression of emotion to the exploration of physical abilities of a human body. It replaced the deep connection based on feeling with a shallow and showy based on competition. Its reward is closer to the excitement from an aerobic exercise than to a pleasure of experience shared with another human being. It is demanding, restrictive and elitist as well as complex, precise and measured. It can be exquisitely beautiful and disgustingly sloppy.
The emphasis on the physics of the dance requires from its practitioners a level of fitness and understanding of the body mechanics way above the level of an average gym customer. Usually such level is achieved by years of rigorous and disciplined training (ballet, gymnastics). The use of centrifugal force and momentum demand well developed ability to precisely measure and deliver the kinetic energy, again, something that can only be acquired over time and with a lot of concerted efforts. The complexity of the combinations of the moves command the need for the carefully chosen body proportions of the partners on their own and with respect to each other.
When all of the above is present - it can produce a performance of breathtaking beauty. When it is not (as is usually the case at social dancing) - it looks sloppy, ugly and can be outright dangerous for those who dance it as well as for those who have a misfortune to be around at the wrong moment.
I understand why it seems appealing, especially to the younger people. I'd love to learn it and experiment with it myself. But the limitations are clear - this art cannot be learned in pre-milonga classes and should not be taught there, it requires a solid foundation that most people are reluctant to build and it requires very well chosen partner(s) (who are rare and hard to find).
One last thing that is now left is to figure out how best to cope with the garden variety of Nuevo found at milongas.
Essentially it is an offspring art form - not a style or a product of natural evolution of tango - it has changed too much in the underlying concepts. It shifted attention from the expression of emotion to the exploration of physical abilities of a human body. It replaced the deep connection based on feeling with a shallow and showy based on competition. Its reward is closer to the excitement from an aerobic exercise than to a pleasure of experience shared with another human being. It is demanding, restrictive and elitist as well as complex, precise and measured. It can be exquisitely beautiful and disgustingly sloppy.
The emphasis on the physics of the dance requires from its practitioners a level of fitness and understanding of the body mechanics way above the level of an average gym customer. Usually such level is achieved by years of rigorous and disciplined training (ballet, gymnastics). The use of centrifugal force and momentum demand well developed ability to precisely measure and deliver the kinetic energy, again, something that can only be acquired over time and with a lot of concerted efforts. The complexity of the combinations of the moves command the need for the carefully chosen body proportions of the partners on their own and with respect to each other.
When all of the above is present - it can produce a performance of breathtaking beauty. When it is not (as is usually the case at social dancing) - it looks sloppy, ugly and can be outright dangerous for those who dance it as well as for those who have a misfortune to be around at the wrong moment.
I understand why it seems appealing, especially to the younger people. I'd love to learn it and experiment with it myself. But the limitations are clear - this art cannot be learned in pre-milonga classes and should not be taught there, it requires a solid foundation that most people are reluctant to build and it requires very well chosen partner(s) (who are rare and hard to find).
One last thing that is now left is to figure out how best to cope with the garden variety of Nuevo found at milongas.