Iv'e danced outside on asphalt surfaces, flat stone, and wooden boards (the kind you find on a boardwalk), and that concrete floor in that dungeon. None of them were very workable for tango. Unless our milongas are held in a dance studio, most of the floors we dance on are in relatively poor shape. But we're grateful for what we have and you learn to adapt.
As someone with knee osteoarthritis, that really sounds terrifying. 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. The couples probably only swayed on the spot. In an interview (Monica Paz), Cacho Dante made a distinction between dancers and milongueros. Real dancers (like himself) went to the cabarets with Pugliese and Gobbi playing.
I agree with second and third point. Making an eye contact in non tango situations is such a common and universal thing. Historically in some places and cultures there might be a tradition or rules on when eye contact can be initiated and by whom. I consider it to be a very natural thing and like that Cabaceo is also a part of Tango tradition. One of my biggest complaints is the smaller subset of dancers who flout it at a milonga. I can’t recall being at a milonga where Cabaceo wasn’t a norm. As a leader, when a subset of dancers do that, it creates a quandary as to which follower is looking out for Cabaceo and which one expects to just sits there till a leader approaches her. Walking to where a follower is seated and then initiating eye contact isn’t Cabaceo. If the intent of Cabaceo is to be subtle, that is exact opposite. I have been cut off many times where I am trying to make an eye contact from distance and some leader will cut in by walking up to the follower. I observe that happening to others. Most places I have danced don’t have a geography that makes Cabaceo easy.
Sometimes in live salsa music you could get stuck dancing a 15-20 minute song. Though with mutual consent both partners can call it off early. That is applying common sense. My point is whether you are stuck for 4 minutes or 10 minutes, there isn’t anything exceptional about gettting stuck in Tango. I have felt more often agitated for getting stuck in one song at salsa than at a tanda LOL
Sand can be quite forgiving for pivots, so maybe 'dirt' is similar. I remember reading somewhere that early dancers (poor immigrants) would probably have had clogs, or wooden soled boots, so maybe some surfaces weren't that bad with appropriate materials.
With any convention it's those who don't conform that are the problem to the rest - until it evolves to become the standard, if it's seen to be more successful. I'd suggest the motivation for different approaches is perceived lack of success in achieving their objective. A direct approach seeks to maximise dances/tandas irrespective of opinion/rejection, and maybe the environment isn't conducive; cabeceo/mirada is a subtler approach seeking to conform to the perceived rules in that group, and 'belonging' in a group.
I keep getting surprised this is viewed through lens of “permission”. This is a widely discussed topic among those who are into latin dances. As are stories about latin men who felt disrespected when someone asked their partner directly by ignoring them. There are numerous incidents in Latin American countries about both women and men considering it rude or unwelcome when a stranger directly approach the woman. Also leading to fights. Granted there are some chauvinistic men who might want others to seek their ‘permission’. Controlling men are not exclusive to dancing domain. Just as there are men who will feel disrespected. I have known women too who felt offended about a stranger ignoring their partner when asking for a dance. When there is some sort of acquaintance or familiarity among the three parties etiquettes are more relaxed.
True and agree. That is not my point. I am referring to practical impediment caused. Especially when there are more leaders than followers. I wish at the entrance people pick up sign that indicates “okay to ask me” or “only Cabaceo” and stick it on their head
That depends where you are located in 'western society'. It's not homogeneous, and older attitudes survive, or we haven't yet found appropriate language terms.
I'm pretty sure dance shoes existed and were accessible for even poor people. Nonetheless "good shoes" were hard-soled leather and "regular floors" were polished wood.
Depending on the customs and traditions of the locale the "correct etiquette" was to ask the man for permission to dance with his partner. Women were the property of their fathers and then their husbands. They could not vote, sign contracts or own property in their own name. For many women seeking permission form a male partner before asking her to dance is harking back to those times and not gallant or chivalrous.
Yes, I suspect that's true. To avoid ambiguity with my own comment about wooden-soled shoes, I was referring to early immigrants, and more that Tango comes from the slums, not the [ballroom] dancefloor (although it's ended up on a dancefloor). It all depends on the particular era, and the strata of society which danced in particular locations. There are certainly early records of tango boots and fine evening shoes - if you could afford them.
Thats why I posted the scene with Pugliese vom 1948, the camera focusses on the shoes at 0:26
