Cabeceo and Other "Rules"

[JournalInTime]

There are certainly early records of tango boots and fine evening shoes - if you could afford them.

Even today, "if you can afford it" is an issue.

The perception that learning and loving tango is somehow for the rich is a bizarre illusion perpetuated by (1) how tango is depicted in movies these days (beautiful actors in extravagant costumes at Hollywood-ized events) and (2) the perception that the privileged few who can afford travel for festivals are the norm (not that most non-dancers even know about this). It's quite similar to the image problem that ballet, Broadway, classical music, and opera have: "Man, ain't nobody got money for that!"

I've met plenty of people who were passionate about tango but poor. For them, it was definitely a choice: Shoes or lessons? Shoes or events? Etc.

In my immediate tango social circle, there are numerous, mostly younger, mostly student dancers who can just barely afford lessons. They go to prácticas, which are often included in lessons and which are in any case cheaper than milongas, never mind festivals – but they never go to milongas. And that's the budget, so they dance in running shoes or their one good pair of formal shoes. I've even seen socks.

So, the need to teach tango that can be danced in something other than perfectly pivoting shoes is there.

Perhaps more on topic is the codigo(??) of high-heeled, strappy, shoes for female followers - and the whole supply business of tango fashion.

That's a big deal for wealthier dancers. Plenty of women I know at the more modest end of the economic spectrum dance in street clothes and ordinary chunky shoes. The looks they get really don't help wipe out the perception that tango is snobby . . .

 

[JournalInTime]

How different life was in Europe in 1948. My parents (Germany) had no shoes at all at the end of WWII and no food either. Without American aid, they would have starved. They had never heard of tango either, because they grew up in a hermetically sealed environment that demonized anything foreign.

That's rough.

I'm clearly younger. My parents were born in 1937 and 1946 . . . they were youth of the 1950s and 1960s, respectively, in Canada. Dad was a leather jacket-wearing, motorbike-loving type with slicked hair; mum, a flower child.

Even so, they'd never heard of tango. Couples dance in general wasn't a thing where I grew up, even after I was born. I first encountered it in Montréal in the 1990s, before which it wasn't on my radar. Most smaller Canadian cities and nearly all towns were pretty insular right up until the end of the Cold War.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

But I take comfort in the fact that (according to Christine Denniston) in the GA, the level of dance has hit an all-time low.

Is this true? Where does she say this? I'd like to know more.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I've met plenty of people who were passionate about tango but poor. For them, it was definitely a choice: Shoes or lessons? Shoes or events? Etc.

I didn't buy a pair of actual dance shoes until I had been taking lessons for a couple of years. Just wear an old pair of dress shoes. As for economic hardship, yes, it can be hard. I've met students who had a hard time paying the $10 or $12 cover charge at a milonga (it's much higher now). For women, costs can be greater given the price of shoes and, especially, dresses, etc. I'm always surprised when people tell me they go to three or four encuentros or festivals a year in distant places. It's a lovely idea, but travel isn't cheap when you factor in lodging, food, and ground travel. Even if you dance locally several times a week, it can add up. The things we do for tango!

 

[JournalInTime]

I didn't buy a pair of actual dance shoes until I had been taking lessons for a couple of years. Just wear an old pair of dress shoes. As for economic hardship, yes, it can be hard.

This is why I stress to anyone willing to listen that upon moving from student to part-time staff at a tango studio, the free lessons and workshops I got were far more valuable than the pittance I didn't get in cash. There's no way I could've afforded 20+ hours/week on my own.

I've met students who had a hard time paying the $10 or $12 cover charge at a milonga (it's much higher now).

We're up at around 15 CAD / 12 USD / 10-11 EUR here, too. Well, we were before it all shut down again at the start of the winter.

I'm always surprised when people tell me they go to three or four encuentros or festivals a year in distant places. It's a lovely idea, but travel isn't cheap when you factor in lodging, food, and ground travel.

I, too, am surprised. I get the impression that there's a real class system in tango: tango travelers, local regulars, and struggling students. I'm in the middle category. I find it hard to connect with discussions here that start with the assumption "Well, we're not just talking about somebody's local scene." I'm always talking about my local scene.

Even if you dance locally several times a week, it can add up.

Between transport, door fees, and occasional shoes, it eats my full pastime budget.

The things we do for tango!

Yep!

 

[Cabbit]

So... how much do you invest in 'tango fashion'? It could add up fast, but it doesnt have to. I did not wear skirts before tango, so it was a slow transition for me. Once i got to six tops and six skirts that are comfortable and flattering, i stopped actively looking to buy more. I have a bit more than that, but im counting on a weekend event having five or six milongas, so that looked like a good number. Nothing was more expensive than 35e, and most things much cheaper.

Since im not traveling, all the tango money goes to private lessons.

 

[Rabbit]

Tango shoes are mostly overpriced, and most people would be better off wearing generic dance practice shoes anyway. That's what I do for anything other than a special event.

 

[TTanguero]

So... how much do you invest in 'tango fashion'?

Not much - except for shoes.

I wore linen shirts anyway, but did get a few more for a BsAs trip where I wore two a day. I bought some tango trousers while there, but those were £25 ($34) each.

My biggest tango clothing expense has been shoes. I’m on my 5th pair, so have almost as many tango shoes as street ones …

 

[opendoor]

So... how much do you invest in 'tango fashion'?....

I'm often at flea markets and vintage markets looking for shirts with pre-war collar styles. I also have several fedoras that have been refurbished. At performances, I also want to appear visually stylish.

 

[Tangogal]

I began Tango in socks; cheap, thick, black, sports socks. I then used an old pair of strappy sandals with a leather sole - they may have been my mother's before me. After that I used mass-produced fashion shoes approx €5 - they had plastic soles. I bought a pair of tango shoes on eBay for €20 they were super high and crazy colours. I became an expert on exchange rates and customs to buy my first pair of CIF with my Christmas money.

I financed my classes by not buying coffee (my budget was very tight so €20 had to cover all my classes and milongas). I only went to classes where there was a practica included or where I could take the beginner and improver classes on the same night with a single entrance fee. I helped tidy up and sometimes assisted the beginner class at another milonga night (the organiser took the money at the end of the evening and made enough from people attending the milonga alone so he was usually able to waive my entrance). If I wanted to go to a big milonga I used my whole entertainment budget and some of my food budget.

I still don't have a tango wardrobe! I wear what I like and most of my clothes are at least dual purpose. Black trousers and skirts with a nice blouse are fine for casual milongas and work and Sunday brunch. Sportswear is fine for practicas, lessons and practilongas. When I buy a dress it will be functional for dancing and weddings and Christmas parties and any other formal or semi-formal event. So tango and practice shoes are my only true tango exclusive staple.

 

[Rabbit]

My biggest tango clothing expense has been shoes. I’m on my 5th pair, so have almost as many tango shoes as street ones …

and I thought women were bad

 

[Tangogal]

Tango shoes are mostly overpriced, and most people would be better off wearing generic dance practice shoes anyway. That's what I do for anything other than a special event.

I actually don't think they're overpriced. They are cheaper than running shoes or other specialized sportswear and comparable to high-street prices for all-leather shoes.

Madame Pivot - Italian leather - cost €140 or so and several pairs at €90.

Comme il Faut - Argentine - €107.80 on Etsy today

I think the price of tango shoes has stayed the same and the price of regular shoes has gone up considerably. I also found that at the higher levels Latin shoes and Ballroom practice shoes (Capezio, So Danca etc) weren't quite right for tango. The heel placement held my weight too far back and there were other issues with heel shape for adornos. My swing dance heels were too blocky and held my weight too far back but were the best for pivots. I've used my low-heel Darcos tango shoes for swing dancing and they held up really well.

The hardest thing for beginner dancers is getting a low heeled tango shoe so I don't recommend tango shoes before the dancers' muscles are ready for the higher (7.5cm +) heels.

 

[Tangogal]

and I thought women were bad

I actually think 5 is about the right number for dance shoes. You need to give shoes 24hrs between wears to dry out so you need 2 pairs to take lessons on consecutive days. You need a back-up pair for when your main shoes need repair and you need two different milonga pairs to go with different outfits. With 5 pairs you should only need to buy a replacement pair every 2 years as you demote the milonga shoes to lesson shoes, lesson shoes to spares and spares to the bin.

 

[Cabbit]

I think that good tango shoes at atound 100e are well worth the money. Im not rich enough to spend that money lightly, but for me it is a good investment, and the price-per-wear ends up being in cents by the time im done with them. The same with tango clothes. With at least one milonga per week for the whole year, everything gets worn at least ten times a year. Even heavily repeated outfuts still turn heads, so it all works out.

My favourite time is when stores have sales of their new year/ party items in january. Normal people wear those silly things once a year, i wear them a lot more.

 

[Tangogal]

I think that good tango shoes at atound 100e are well worth the money. Im not rich enough to spend that money lightly, but for me it is a good investment, and the price-per-wear ends up being in cents by the time im done with them. The same with tango clothes. With at least one milonga per week for the whole year, everything gets worn at least ten times a year. Even heavily repeated outfuts still turn heads, so it all works out.

My favourite time is when stores have sales of their new year/ party items in january. Normal people wear those silly things once a year, i wear them a lot more.

If you're in need of new shoes now is a good time to buy - last year's designs didn't sell so they all seem to be 30% off or more. If you know your size and preferred style in each brand you can pick up some real bargains.

I'm still searching for a jumpsuit similar to the one I saw on Juana Sepulveda - I am sure it is the key ingredient to dancing like her