At the end of the pandemic, maybe a new start?

[ArbeeNYC]

I haven't seen any sign of the latter, but certainly women here are realising they don't have to sit around waiting for men, they can dance with each other.

They can, but if they are always seen dancing with other women, they may to have to continue dancing with other women since men are less likely to try to dance with them. In a way, it becomes a role and you become typecast: female leader.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Yeah, that is surprising to me too: how come they do not employ their great skills knowledge and experience while driving, flying planes, and "captaining" ships to the simple task of keeping the ronda...

Tis a mystery.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

With dancers I am less familiar with, if they have visibly ignored or rejected my invitation upon making eye contact a few times, well, I'll never invite them again unless they approach me.

Same, more or less. My feeling is that if they turn you down once, they'll turn you down twice. Especially if they get up and dance with someone else immediately after turning you down.

 

[TTanguero]

Followers who visibly and repeatedly snubbed me for years because I wasn't a hot enough commodity for them suddenly decide that I'm worth dancing with now, after thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars of work . . . and I don't invite them, because I haven't forgotten their snobbery.

Heh – my mild facial aphasia can be 'interesting' in tango, but it does have the advantage that I can't hold a grudge!

 

[itwillhappen]

They can, but if they are always seen dancing with other women, they may to have to continue dancing with other women since men are less likely to try to dance with them. In a way, it becomes a role and you become typecast: female leader.

This could theoretically be the case, but is in my eyes practically not the case across the board in Northern Europe. There are more support groups formed by women who change roles frequently, and of course that carries over from the classes to the practicas to the milongas.

Since significantly more women than men are interested in tango, this is an excellent opportunity for those women who are "only" interested in tango and not in any kind of encounter with the opposite sex.

 

[itwillhappen]

To be fair, I've done something similar: Followers who visibly and repeatedly snubbed me for years because I wasn't a hot enough commodity for them suddenly decide that I'm worth dancing with now, after thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars of work . . . and I don't invite them, because I haven't forgotten their snobbery.

At the latest after the pandemic, I made a restart. Either I have the expectation at the moment of invitation that I will have a pleasant tanda with a woman, or I don't. Our versions of what happened before would probably differ greatly anyway.

 

[LadyLeader]

behind the wheel of a car on the public highway, let alone as a truck driver, or ship's captain, or flying an aircraft, or space travel.

All those areas require a specific *driving* license. People learn the skills they have to, not more.

So we maybe need to put up a milonga license!
What skills would you like to have on that license test?

 

[TTanguero]

They can, but if they are always seen dancing with other women, they may to have to continue dancing with other women since men are less likely to try to dance with them.

I haven't personally seen any sign of this. There are a number of women in London tango who dance both roles, and leading some of the time doesn't in any way appear to limit their following opportunities.

Perhaps there are some men who are intimidated, but others who see it as a sign that she's likely to be a fun, collaborative follower.

 

[Brummbaer]

What skills would you like to have on that license test?

Floorcraft

Obviously!

 

[LadyLeader]

Floorcraft

Obviously!

A license test has a list of the subskills needed. What would such a floorcraft list contain for the milonga.

The driver keep the car on the road, dancers stay on the lines is the basic rule, but the rest?

 

[opendoor]

..What would such a floorcraft list contain..
..dancers stay on the lines is the basic rule, but the rest?

I want to change lanes as it suits me. and I will do it whenever the opportunity arises. Dancing should be fun, not frustrating.

 

[Rabbit]

I want to change lanes as it suits me. and I will do it whenever the opportunity arises. Dancing should be fun, not frustrating.

People moving between lanes isn't actually the problem, the worst problem involving lanes is people dancing halfway between the outside and centre, and staying there. That lane doesn't exist!

 

[JournalInTime]

Heh – my mild facial aphasia can be 'interesting' in tango, but it does have the advantage that I can't hold a grudge!

I can't usually hold a grudge for psychological reasons, but I have an odd exception in the specific area of being rejected for an activity: For complex reasons linked to neighborhood politics and my father being a school teacher, I was the kid who was not popular at school, who was never chosen for the sports team, who was not invited to the party, etc. Part of my flight to being a punk rocker was driven by that: "I don't need you lot!" or whatever. Anyway, it left a mark, and now when someone repeatedly rejects me for an activity – dancing included – my reaction is "I don't need you lot!" I'm not sure whether that actually counts as a grudge, but I'm guilty of it.

 

[JournalInTime]

What would such a floorcraft list contain for the milonga.

Speaking for myself and the teachers who taught me:

• When entering the floor, turn to face the oncoming leader. Do not enter until you make eye contact and get nonverbal permission. Never, ever enter with your back to the oncoming leader.
• If you do not want to circulate, move immediately to the center and stay there.
• Do not stand on the dance floor and have a conversation, blocking everyone. There are tables and a bar for that.
• If space opens up ahead of you, move into it as soon as you finish what you are doing. Do not hold up the people behind you. Ideally, when you turn, always add a forward component so the turn advances into the space ahead.
• Start all turning movements with your head, so you can see where you are going to end up and confirm you will not hit anybody.
• Do not move backwards against the line of dance unless you have glanced and can see enough space for at least two couples behind you.
• Pick a lane (around here, there are usually two or three lanes that circulate in parallel around the center) and stay in it, except when someone is blocking it – usually by breaking one of the above rules – and you have to pass to keep the traffic moving.
• Collisions will happen anyway. Apologize even if it is not your fault.
  

 

[Brummbaer]

but the rest

The fundamental 'rule' is respect for other dancers and your partner. Anything beyond that just explains to some !;-**# what that means in a particular aspect (e.g. keep to your lane on the ronda, boleos, pausing too long, high sacadas, breaks, lifts...). There's plenty of 'traditional' codigos ranging from no weapons, don't spit in the floor .... only (male) leaders invite, cabeceo only, white shirt and suit for men... Take your pick regarding what needs enforcing or what fits your locale.