Tete Rusconi was a great milonguero, who led a revival of Tango Salón in Close Embrace from the Golden Age of Tango. I was fortunate to take his classes on my regular visits to Buenos Aires and dance with him a little bit during the classes.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=About+tango+dancer+Pedro+Alberto+Tete+Rusconi&atb=v256-1&ia=videos&iax=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D73ti8-vaTmQ
Here is an open letter he penned for tango dancers on Jan. 9, 2006, 4 years before his death. Here is the translation (thanks to Google Translate and some of my Spanish speaking friends), the original Spanish follows below.
"Today, January 9, 2006, I would like to ask you something with the affection and respect I feel for all of you. This is not a reproach to anyone; what I want is for all the young people – and everyone who dances the tango – to understand my reason: Tango should not be transformed in any way, because its passionate music gives us life, energy, pleasure, and that makes us feel better. After many years of watching dancers and teachers, I think there should not be so many errors in teaching or in exhibitions. I'm going to tell you what I think. I always knew that music is the main foundation of tango. It's also learning to walk with music, maintaining balance and cadence.
I couldn't deny that there needs to be some technique when you dance, but it would be better if people were taught to dance more freely, for themselves... That's where the fun is. We shouldn’t worry about what others think while looking at us, because we dance for ourselves. What I'm saying is that I think many are making tango into something that is not what it actually is, because tango is music and it doesn't begin with steps, nor should we make a mistake of not teaching how to walk different musical beats to recognize each orchestra.
Many people who are teaching would have to first learn how to dance tango, to be able to teach by giving all of themselves, so as not to misguide their students or damage their image as teachers. Tango is not a business, although many see it that way. Tango is part of our lives, part of our grandparents, fathers, mothers, siblings, and friends. It is our life. We shouldn't be mistaken and we should master it again, since we are losing it by not respecting it.
Dear friends, dancers, since what you do is one more job in your life, out of respect for yourselves, in your performances it would be good if you danced more tango and less acrobatics, ballet, or anything else that is not tango. I don't want to believe that
they also compete with exhibitions. We know that each couple should create their own style and, besides, you should not dance to music that is not tango. Don't lie to yourselves or to others about that. And for the tango community in Europe and the rest of the world, I have some advice: I would like you to open your eyes about how to learn to dance. Especially to stage organizers [choreographers?] and the teachers: from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know, that when something is organized, it's about bringing the best dancers and teachers, to be able to teach properly.
Without music, cadence, posture, balance, steps are useless, and to preserve tango we need authentic teachers and professors. So, from the bottom of my heart, with a bit of sadness, I would like you to think about it, and if you have anything you want to tell me, I would like you to do so, whether through a comment or wherever. If you want to complain, talk to me: I go to the dance, you see me there. You can talk to me. ask me and I will answer, I am going to answer everyone, do not be afraid, I will not leave anyone unanswered.
But please, change the system. Create a system where we all can be happy, where we can dance the tango and where we can have many more people, without selling any more lies.
For now, I send a kiss and a hug to all of you, and I hope that this year that has just begun will be the happiest for everyone.
Thank you,
Tete
P.S. My only fear is that they will continue to be wrong... What a pity... sorry.”
“Carta abierta de "Teté" Rusconi
"Aprendamos a bailar el Tango"
“Hoy 9 de enero del 2006 quisiera pasar a pedirles algo con el cariño y respeto que siento por todos ustedes. Esto no es un reproche para nadie, yo lo que quiero es que toda la juventud y todo aquel que baila tango entienda mi motivo: No hay que disfrazar al tango bajo ningún punto de vista, porque esta música tan apasionante nos da vida, energía, placer y así nos
sentimos mejor. Después de muchos años de ver bailarines y maestros, pienso que no puede haber tantos errores en la enseñanza ni en las exhibiciones.Paso a contarles cual es mi idea. Siempre supe que la música es la base principal del
tango. También es aprender a caminar con ella, teniendo equilibrio y cadencia. No podría decirles que no hay una técnica cuando se baila, pero sí que sería mejor que se enseñara a bailar más libremente, para uno mismo…ahí esta la diversión.
Nadie nos compromete mirándonos, porque bailamos para nosotros.En esto que digo pienso que muchos están disfrazando al tango de algo que no es verdad, porque el tango es música y no se empieza por los pasos, ni tenemos que cometer el error de no enseñar cómo caminar diferentes compases musicales para reconocer cada orquesta.
Mucha gente que esta enseñando tendría que aprender primero a bailar tango, para poder enseñar dando todo de sí mismo, para no defraudar a sus alumnos ni dañar su imagen como profesor. El tango no es un negocio, aunque muchos lo vean así. El tango es parte de nuestra vida, parte de nuestros abuelos, padres, madres, hermanos y amigos. Es nuestra vida. No deberíamos equivocarnos tanto y tendríamos que volver a conquistarlo, ya que lo estamos perdiendo por no respetarlo. Queridos amigos, bailarinas y bailarines, como esto que hacen es un trabajo más en la vida de uno, por respeto a ustedes mismos, en sus exhibiciones seria bueno que bailaran más tango y menos acrobacia, ballet o cualquier cosa que no sea tango. No quiero creer que también con las exhibiciones compiten; sabemos que cada pareja debería crear su estilo, y además no se debería bailar música que no es tango. En eso no se mientan a ustedes mismos ni a la gente.Y para la comunidad tanguera de Europa y del resto del mundo les doy un consejo: me gustaría que abrieran los ojos acerca de cómo aprender a bailar, principalmente a los organizadores de stages y a los profesores, de todo corazón, quiero que sepan que, cuando se organiza algo, se trata de llevar los mejores bailarines y maestros, para poder enseñar como es debido.Sin la música, la cadencia, la postura, el equilibrio, de nada sirven los pasos y para eso necesitamos maestros y profesores auténticos. Así que bueno desde el fondo de mi corazón, con un poco de tristeza, me gustaría que ustedes lo piensen y si hay algo para decirme me gustaría que lo hagan ya sea por medio de revista o por donde sea, si quieren quejarse háblenme, yo voy al baile, me ven me dicen me preguntan y yo contesto, les voy a contestar a todos, no tengan miedo, que no voy a dejar a nadie sin contestar, pero por favorcambien el sistema, pongan un sistema donde todos seamos alegres, donde podamos bailar el tango, donde seamos felices y donde podamos tener mucha mas gente, sin venderle ninguna mentira más, yo desde ya les mando un beso y un abrazo a todos ustedes y espero que este año que ha empezado sea el más feliz para todos.
Gracias, Tete.
PD: Mi único temor, es que sigan equivocados; que
lástima…perdón.“
