Tango y Cultura Popular ® English Edition TyCP Special | Page 64

Teachers supporting
each other
One of the most important
things you can do if you teach
tango, whether full-time or
part-time, is to support your
fellow teachers. There are a
wide variety of ways of doing
this. You can acknowledge the
validity of different approaches
to technique and pedagogy
and, while you do have to
clearly and confidently explain
why you use the approach
you have personally adopted,
you need to make it clear that
you understand that there are
other methods out there, which
are not necessarily wrong. (Of
course, there are erroneous
ideas and there is bad teaching
out there, but there is plenty of
great teaching too: support it
and promote it).
You can acknowledge the
people you yourself have
learned from and continue to
learn from, your own teachers
and role models, especially if
you are using specific exercises
you have borrowed from
them. You can be ready to
recommend teachers locally
(providing you know the local
scene). You can, whenever
time and money permit, take
classes from your peers (yes,
not just your superiors, but
your peers -- people do this in
Baires because it works). You
can take a humble approach
to your own learning and be
ready to adapt your methods
or allow your opinions to evolve
and change. You can work with,
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teach with, perform with local
teachers if you are travelling.
You can understand that not
everyone is a potential student
of yours or will respond well to
your approach - and be ready
to recommend an alternative
teacher, if necessary. You
shouldn’t pretend your
approach is unique or
revolutionary, or denigrate
other teachers or pretend to be
the only one in possession of
the truth.
You don’t have to follow all
the guidelines listed above,
but I strongly feel that a good
teacher should observe at least
some of them, at least some of
the time. I have a deep distrust
for any teacher who does not
mention their own influences,
teachers and role models
with respect and affection.
As a tango teacher, you are
transmitting a shared cultural
heritage and form of art, you
are part of a larger project,
everything you do is within
the context of a tradition, a
heritage, a set of conventions,
an agreed language. Don’t
behave like a teleevangelist or
try to convert people to your
own tiny cult. Be a vicar in the
broad church of tango. Teaching
is an honour and a privilege.
Try to be humble when you
serve the tango gods.
Abrazos,
Terpsi