Code to allow Argentine milongas to re-open

[JournalInTime]

And don't forget that I joined this forum to complain about floorcraft. I learned from the ensuing discussions that my issues were with Montréal specifically. This place has a "big city attitude" that gets almost aggressive at times, and a rather libertine way of life even by Canadian standards. You might recall my "sex in the restrooms, cocaine in the back hall" complaints . . .

 

[WhiskeyPapa]

Las milongas estrenarán nuevos códigos para que se pueda bailar a pesar de la pandemia

La Nación aprobó un protocolo para la actividad. Sólo podrán asistir parejas de convivientes o de personas que bailen juntas en forma sistemática. Y no se podrá hablar en la pista.

www.clarin.com

English translation: https://translate.google.com/transl...-pueda-bailar-pesar-pandemia_0_kgOjrgMet.html

To me, a milonga where you can't change partners isn't a milonga. I know some people who only dance with each other do go to them in normal times for the atmosphere, but can't imagine much of an atmosphere in these conditions!

What do you think?

Ben

I think it is likely these rules will be observed in the breach. People are likely to change partners but quietly.....

once the milongas reopen (even under restrictive conditions), the rules will go out the window in 1-2 hours unless strictly enforced.

 

[JournalInTime]

once the milongas reopen (even under restrictive conditions), the rules will go out the window in 1-2 hours unless strictly enforced.

Here there will literally be a cop and fines of up to $6,000, if reopening with restrictions is even permitted at all. Our regional government isn't pulling punches any more. They've already shut businesses permanently for less-than-rigorous compliance during previous attempts to deconfine.

So, depending on where you live, enforcement might mean anything from "self-policing by dancers," through "milonga organizers getting on your case," to "surprise visits from LEOs empowered to ask for IDs, eject problem individuals, hand out fines, and put establishments out of business – all on a summary, no-warrant basis without judicial recourse." I'd count only the last one as "restrictive" or "strictly enforced." I agree that anything less than that will just go out the window.

 

[elpocito]

I think it is likely these rules will be observed in the breach. People are likely to change partners but quietly.....

once the milongas reopen (even under restrictive conditions), the rules will go out the window in 1-2 hours unless strictly enforced.

Agreed. Very likely, on the basis of the "forbidden fruit" theory...

 

[Tangogal]

The rules are a bit daft. They didn't mention chewing gum which many people chew while dancing and disturbs breathing at least as much as talking. Nor eating and drinking are they prohibited? Nor did they say anything about ventilation during the 2 hours of time to be spent with people outside of your support bubble.

The rules seem impossible to enforce and I can't imagine sitting 2 hours at a table mere meters from old friends without someone crossing the line and dancing outside their twosome. I can also predict people moving tables around to get a better view of the floor or to join their friends unless they can somehow nail them down.

I do like the floor circles though how would they be marked?

 

[JournalInTime]

Nor did they say anything about ventilation during the 2 hours of time to be spent with people outside of your support bubble.

At least where I live, the news is a daily freak-out about ventilation, with expert talking heads claiming that it may do more to stop the pandemic than distancing, hand-washing, masks, and possible vaccines . . . so I have the same question as you.

I do like the floor circles though how would they be marked?

Spike tape. Studios always – but always – have it around. Where I worked, there was a huge drawer stuffed with massive rolls in all colors imaginable. Two other dance studios where I've lingered have had the same. I think it's one of the secret items that dance studios keep on stock to avoid being shut down by the Secret Dance Police.

 

[itwillhappen]

The number of cases in Argentina is increasing again - despite the summer, however.
I wish good health but don't expect the milonga plans to do that for now, but who knows...

COVID-19 Data Explorer

Explore global data on COVID-19.

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P.S.: Might also be a deception, the number of tests goes also up and down.

 

[Rabbit]

The rules are a bit daft. They didn't mention chewing gum which many people chew while dancing and disturbs breathing at least as much as talking.

I don't think I've danced with someone who was actually chewing gum at the same time (and I don't want to)

 

[JournalInTime]

I don't think I've danced with someone who was actually chewing gum at the same time (and I don't want to)

In my first couple of years of tango lessons, there were breaks during which we were given information on the historical, social, and practical aspects of tango to go with the movement theory: Dispelling the myths about tango in bordellos, comparing and contrasting the great orquestas, outlining the códigos then and now, talking about manners, discussing expectation vs. reality regarding how long it takes to learn tango and be accepted into the community, even recommending brands of shoes. In those moments, personal hygiene and physical conduct were regular topics.

The teachers were insistent that while it's crucial that your breath smell good, chewing gum is gauche and Not Done. They were unanimous that the best option was to keep a travel bottle of mouthwash in your dance bag, and to take that with you and use it each time you visit the restroom. Honorable mention went to mints tiny enough to crunch in the mouth during a cortina. Gum? Never.

The person who ran the milonga where I worked had an ongoing, close-to-hot war with gum-chewers. This mostly had to do with the fact that they left gum stuck to things – a blacklist offense if caught. But she did regularly muse aloud, "Who chews gum while dancing?"

My friends who danced more swing and Latin at the time said that in those worlds, it was close to universal, so I imagine that's "who." While the studio where I worked was "all tango, all the time" when the owner was there, she rented the space to a kizomba school. As the barman and general factotum, I know that – not tango – is where the gum came from. Ick.

 

[Tangogal]

I don't think I've danced with someone who was actually chewing gum at the same time (and I don't want to)

It was a regular occurrence even at house milongas back when such things were in vogue. Hosts even left out sticks of gum alongside canapes. (I hate the sound of chewing so I found it all very stressful).

 

[Brummbaer]

I think it is likely these rules will be observed in the breach. People are likely to change partners but quietly.....

When we could have lessons it was for [dance] couples - although at least a couple of solos turned up with different partners after a few weeks, partly prompted by increased lockdown in neighbouring areas. What they do outside the studio is up to them...

once the milongas reopen (even under restrictive conditions), the rules will go out the window in 1-2 hours unless strictly enforced.

Here there will literally be a cop and fines of up to $6,000, if reopening with restrictions is even permitted at all.

Yes, we had the cops around, but only to check what the building was being used for. Fortunately the host was strict about enforcing the rules (contact details, keeping distance, hand-wash, ventilation, had to pre-book, etc.) As an aside I read of a potential fine on someone who's stupidly posted on Instagram where they shouldn't have travelled to in lockdown. I guess it's how much risk there is (infection rates) when any social activity returns.

I do like the floor circles though how would they be marked?

I guess the same tape that's used in gyms; they used mini-cones to mark out areas we used (the venue didn't allow anything to be stuck to the floor).

At least where I live, the news is a daily freak-out about ventilation, with expert talking heads claiming that it may do more to stop the pandemic than distancing, hand-washing, masks, and possible vaccines . . . so I have the same question as you.

Ventilation is cited as the best option for reducing infection risk. Reportedly used in schools, but with the usual problems of someone finding the room too cold/draughty. Seen articles and studies suggesting improved small ventilation systems for offices to make them workable during the pandemic. When we had in person lessons last August there was a one-way system in/out of the hall with the doors kept open. We wouldn't have gone unless that had been stated - and was pleased to find that it was adhered to, albeit with reservations about the impending colder weather. Sadly the next lockdown hit in our area before we found out.

Given a suitable surface with a well-ventilated room, or even under cover, I'd have happily gone out in full thermals.

 

[JournalInTime]

Given a suitable surface with a well-ventilated room, or even under cover, I'd have happily gone out in full thermals.

Dancing here would have to happen outdoors. Looking out the window at the snow, ice, and -10° air, I'd say that practically speaking, that would require crampons and enough layers that – accounting for winter clothing for both people – you'd be 5-10 cm farther from your partner than usual, with a very spongy connection. Plus the weight of snow boots on your feet. I suppose we could do it, though, and I'm getting desperate enough to think, "How bad could it be?"

 

[Brummbaer]

Dancing here would have to happen outdoors. Looking out the window at the snow, ice, and -10° air, I'd say that practically speaking, that would require crampons and enough layers that – accounting for winter clothing for both people – you'd be 5-10 cm farther from your partner than usual, with a very spongy connection. Plus the weight of snow boots on your feet. I suppose we could do it, though, and I'm getting desperate enough to think, "How bad could it be?"

Well, have done an AT on outdoor ice at -12°C, although that was many years ago (long, long, long ago), and it certainly wasn't more distanced. The surface condition is always the problem.

 

[Mladenac]

I think it's safe to say that tango is like tofu: It has well-known origins (Río de la Plata/soy), but rapidly takes on the flavor of the environment where it's used (other foods/cultures). Sure, there are people go around claiming the way it's used in its place of origin is the One True Way (Asian chefs/Argentine teachers), but their words only catch on if there's nothing pushing back against them. Canadian culture exists, and is almost famously polite; the line of dance and floorcraft are excellent fits to it, so it strikes me as plausible that things evolved differently here than in other countries.

More like Chicken breasts. Tasteless if you don't add spices, easily can be overcooked and become dry.
And it is easily spoilt if not cared after properly.

 

[Mr. Moustachio]

JournalInTime wrote:

"Looking out the window at the snow, ice, and -10° air"

To our American friends: he means 14 deg. F., so it's not as cold as it sounds.

JournalInTime wrote:

"She has described 1990s milongas ... as having terrible-to-nonexistent floorcraft ..., and today's milongas as playing a greater range of orquestas"

That's true. The people who built the tango dance scene in Montreal weren't social dancers. They taught patterns like the 8-count basic step instead of lead-and-follow and collision avoidance. We danced what we were taught. We chained step pattern after step pattern.

In the '90s, filming in Buenos Aires milongas was taboo and YouTube didn't exist. We didn't know that our step patterns weren't done there.

Only a few Montrealers visited Buenos Aires. A friend of mine who did, reported that the girls there didn't like collisions. In other words, collisions were common/expected here but rare there.

Floorcraft in Montreal is a lot better nowadays. I don't think I've had a collision for at least 10 years. However, I did get stepped on while I was seated. Only the second time that has ever happened.

Tango music in the '90s was hard to get. The local record store (the defunct Sam the Record Man) had a sparse selection. At the Tangueria, for a waltz tanda, they played French musette. (Well, an accordion is like a bandoneon.)