Are practicas really practicas--or milongas in disguise

[tangomaniac]

My teacher told me that it's helpful to go to practicas to practice. Yet, they all seem like milongas. Nobody seems interested in getting advice to improve.

What is your experience?

Michael
Washington, DC

 

[bafonso]

Depends on the practica and who you are dancing with.

I start by saying what I am working on and what I'd like feedback on. Breaks the just dancing mood.

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

My teacher told me that it's helpful to go to practicas to practice. Yet, they all seem like milongas. Nobody seems interested in getting advice to improve.

What is your experience?

Michael
Washington, DC

To me, practicing does not equal getting advice.

The matter is, when I come to a practica, I already got homework from my private lesson, something I am planning to work on. Therefore, all I need is music, sometimes people around, and a partner who can lead (if I practice as a follower). Since I mostly work on a very basic stuff, the leader does not have to be "advanced" or know fancy steps, just a good lead is more than enough. Of course, he/she is most welcome to try whatever he/she wants, new steps or whatever. It is understood that it may not work, or not feel good at first, and it is OK, because we are in a practica. We may talk to figure out how to make it work better, but to me, most of the time it does not require words. We are communicating with our bodies.

About getting advice at a practica. In my opinion, very few people are qualified to give valuable advice. I do not consider myself one of them, either. So, if somebody asks me for feedback, I try to keep it as simple as possible, and mostly positive, telling my partner what he or she is doing well rather than pointing out bad things (of course, if it hurts, I will tell).

Even when I had a steady partner, with whom we knew each other very well, were comfortable to work together, we hardly ever said things to each other in a practice session. Most of the time we assumed that each one of us was aware of one's "mistakes", and was working on correcting them.
I felt like the best feedback I could give to my partner was to follow his lead as honestly as possible, and he was in full agreement with that.

So, to random people, whom I might not know very well (at what point they are in their tango? what they are ready for? what do they expect from the practice session? they might not even be in a practica to practice, but to dance and have fun, and I guess it is OK, too ) I would not think of giving unsolisited advice.

Also, practicas are good for trying out new partners. Some people, I would not dance (at least for the first time) with in a milonga, but certainly in a practica.

 

[Dave Bailey]

My teacher told me that it's helpful to go to practicas to practice. Yet, they all seem like milongas. Nobody seems interested in getting advice to improve.

What is your experience?

Spooky. I just wrote an article about that exact thing for the London scene:
http://www.jivetango.co.uk/UnlockingMilonga/Lightbulb.html

- in short, I agree.

 

[pascal]

In Paris all the alleged practicas but one are milongas.

 

[Captain Jep]

In Paris all the alleged practicas but one are milongas.

And the one? (I think you can name it.. )

 

[bordertangoman]

Spooky. I just wrote an article about that exact thing for the London scene:
http://www.jivetango.co.uk/UnlockingMilonga/Lightbulb.html

- in short, I agree.

Loved the post: it may be a matter of time for London; have you danced in Cambridge? Floorcraft was certainly taught there.or Bristol ( or Cardiff?)


Maybe the standard and experience of London dancers is not consistently high enough
so you either have to create a test of people's ability before allowing them onto the dance floor or create a club with some rules that people agree to respect and follow. It sounds like policing; I dont bother here out in the sticks; too few people to worry about whether they are dancing well; There would be only about six dancers if I laid down that policy.

Or an Induction before going on the dance floor. Its queueing I hate; if a couple ahead have a huge gap ahead of them. The only practica here is definitley a sloppy milonga nobody is attempting to improve theyir technique. So I dont go.

 

[bastet]

To me, practicing does not equal getting advice.

The matter is, when I come to a practica, I already got homework from my private lesson, something I am planning to work on. Therefore, all I need is music, sometimes people around, and a partner who can lead (if I practice as a follower). Since I mostly work on a very basic stuff, the leader does not have to be "advanced" or know fancy steps, just a good lead is more than enough. Of course, he/she is most welcome to try whatever he/she wants, new steps or whatever. It is understood that it may not work, or not feel good at first, and it is OK, because we are in a practica. We may talk to figure out how to make it work better, but to me, most of the time it does not require words. We are communicating with our bodies.

About getting advice at a practica. In my opinion, very few people are qualified to give valuable advice. I do not consider myself one of them, either. So, if somebody asks me for feedback, I try to keep it as simple as possible, and mostly positive, telling my partner what he or she is doing well rather than pointing out bad things (of course, if it hurts, I will tell).

Even when I had a steady partner, with whom we knew each other very well, were comfortable to work together, we hardly ever said things to each other in a practice session. Most of the time we assumed that each one of us was aware of one's "mistakes", and was working on correcting them.
I felt like the best feedback I could give to my partner was to follow his lead as honestly as possible, and he was in full agreement with that.

So, to random people, whom I might not know very well (at what point they are in their tango? what they are ready for? what do they expect from the practice session? they might not even be in a practica to practice, but to dance and have fun, and I guess it is OK, too ) I would not think of giving unsolisited advice.

Also, practicas are good for trying out new partners. Some people, I would not dance (at least for the first time) with in a milonga, but certainly in a practica.

I tend to agree with you on a few points here.

Generally, when I am practicing, they are more personalized "internal" fixes I am working on (Generally because like you said, I've just gone and spent cash in a private lesson) as opposed to leading steps I have learned. Most of what I need to practice comes from dancing and making as many of those internal adjustmants as I can.

I tend more to dancing than advice taking or giving so I try not to hand out unsolicited advice, unless I am being hurt.

And in the rare case when I go to practicas anymore, I think it is a good place to dance with someone you don't normally dance with.

 

[jantango]

Practicas in Buenos Aires

They seem to be gaining in popularity since there are many who are not ready for the milongas. The codes aren't observed, there are no tandas, you don't have to be well-dressed, a variety of music is played, and they are more social than a milonga.

A milonga has:
- tables with chairs facing the dance floor
- music played in tandas with a cortina
- invitation to dance by cabeceo
- dance floor codes
- a deejay

 

[Dave Bailey]

They seem to be gaining in popularity since there are many who are not ready for the milongas. The codes aren't observed, there are no tandas, you don't have to be well-dressed, a variety of music is played, and they are more social than a milonga.

A milonga has:
- tables with chairs facing the dance floor
- music played in tandas with a cortina
- invitation to dance by cabeceo
- dance floor codes
- a deejay

I'm fairly certain that no "milongas" in London meet those criteria.

Our milongas are (in BA terms) practica-milongas, they're the worst of both worlds I think.

 

[jantango]

No milongas in London

Another reason London doesn't have milongas is there are no milongueros.

 

[bordertangoman]

Another reason London doesn't have milongas is there are no milongueros.

Are you trying to start a war?

 

[wooh]

Nobody seems interested in getting advice to improve.

Is your problem that nobody wants to give you advice, or nobody seems interested in getting your advice?

 

[Ampster]

My teacher told me that it's helpful to go to practicas to practice. Yet, they all seem like milongas. Nobody seems interested in getting advice to improve.

What is your experience?

Michael
Washington, DC

In Seattle, pacticas ARE practicas. The lights are up, the line of dance is not clearly defined as people are trying to dance/practice. Lots of talking/advising/instructing/watching going on. The floor is clear of tables and chairs.

The milongas, even if done in the same venue on a different day has a different vibe going on. The lights are down, people are quiet, concentrating on their dancing, floorcraft, line of dance, etc. The tables with their table cloths, candles, and chairs are out. People lounga about, visit, in between tandas. The wine and munchies are enjoyed. There are a couple of newbies who will insist on teaching on the floor. People see that, and tend to NOT dance with them afterwards.

 

[tangomaniac]

Giving and receiving advice

Is your problem that nobody wants to give you advice, or nobody seems interested in getting your advice?

The problem is that when something goes wrong, nobody wants to discuss why the figure didn't work. Some women pushed me right off the alignment to my left with their stiff right arm. Because I was out of position (We weren't in each other's center), we didn't have a chance. But nobody wanted to listen or said "try it again" with the same disastrous results.

It seems milonga rules apply at practicas and sharing information is not wanted.