That's great. You're in the 'club' you chose with others of a similar inclination (i.e. PLU).
Encuentros.. Please explain. thx
- Thread starter Gaiatango
- Start date
itwillhappen
Forum Master
Oddly enough, I found myself at dinner with two people who would never attend an encuentro because of the many arrogant dancers.
The background is that this encuentro isn't actually called an encuentro, and the website doesn't contain any of the superfluous copy-and-paste codigos that would be ignored anyway. (Several people here in the forum have already written about their power fantasies, such as a few burly milongueros pushing a ronda rowdy to the sidelines or asking him to leave. But of course, that doesn't happen (these days?) at either a local milonga or an encuentro.)
The organizers clearly stated their goal was to create very welcoming (and respectful) events. However, we were clearly at a private event where registration had to be accepted before one was allowed to dance to the thoroughly traditional music preferred in close embrace. But the invitation system operated more on the principle of "friends bring friends" than selection. (But anyway, at this first time there weren't more registrations than available places.)
TTanguero
Forum Master
You haven't been to Eton events.
The organiser is very hot on floorcraft, and will warn offenders once and then throw them out if they do it again. But I agree it's rare for organisers to act.I already like that organizerYou haven't been to Eton events.
pianistamediano
Forum Master
I already like that organizer
He's a good chap, and their events are always quite enjoyable.
There have been hosts at social dancing (not tango) who warn the leaders that indulge in lifts and tricks on the dance floor. Which can be quite dangerous including to those dancing around such leaders.He's a good chap, and their events are always quite enjoyable.
I have witness a few organizers stop the milonga for a few minutes and make announcements asking dancers to respect Ronda and line of dance (floorcraft). I wish more organizers paid attention to Ronda.
brujo
Well-Known Member
It can go either way. A friend of mine went to a milonga and, as a new tango dancer, she was dancing at the cortina with her partner. The DJ just stopped the music and didn’t start it again until they both got off the floor. Just silence and him yelling at them to get off the floor and telling them the cortina was not to be danced. Wasn’t a great experience for them and then they wonder why they can’t attract people to their town.
That DJ needs to be banned
This is probably one of weirdest story from a milonga I heard! People dance cortinas all the time. Sime DJs will extend the cortina if they a see more than a couple of people dancing.
Apparently in old BsAs days, tango was not the only dance at milongas. Also heard that during cortinas, Argentinians would dance other dances (primary rock, which is what jive/swing is called in BsAs). I have myself seen some old AT “maestros” from BsAs dance rock.
In short there is no foundation to that DJs belief that no one should dance cortinas.
opendoor
Forum Master
Many DJs are cowards. They don't want to lose their reputation as traditional DJs. Yet they know that many dancers would also dance to pop music, and they see how cheery many dancers leave the dance floor and snapping their fingers to 50s rock and roll. I myself don't play dance music as a cortina, but I would never fade out the music if someone still was dancing.
It's not the wriiten, or unwritten, códigos; it's how it's dealt with. Lifts and similar in a crowded environment are a significant safety issue and perhaps need immediate action by the organiser (is the DJ the appropriate person?). Dancing to a cortina, or similar considered infraction of someone's idea of 'rules', should not be dealt with by public embarrassment as reported.
I see no problem with spelling out the codigos at length - and wish it was done more often.
Anyone who feels patronised or thinks this is condescending is probably someone I would not want to be near on a crowded dancefloor - or they are lucky enough to dance in an area where everyone actually pays attention to others on the ronda and therefore genuinely don't need it spelled out.
Yet again this weekend I saw a follower with a red line scratched into her calf surrounded by bruising that measured 4 and a half inches long caused by someone else's heel when dancing a boleo. Last year I had to provide first aid to a follower who had her ankle stamped on by a leader dancing a large volcada. That was on day 1 of a 3 day marathon and she was unable to dance for the rest of the event.
These rules are not just there to make the dancing more pleasant for everyone on a crowded floor but are genuinely for safety since there are far too many dancers out there who only care about themselves and their flashy moves and I am genuinely sick of it.
Anyone who feels patronised or thinks this is condescending is probably someone I would not want to be near on a crowded dancefloor - or they are lucky enough to dance in an area where everyone actually pays attention to others on the ronda and therefore genuinely don't need it spelled out.
Yet again this weekend I saw a follower with a red line scratched into her calf surrounded by bruising that measured 4 and a half inches long caused by someone else's heel when dancing a boleo. Last year I had to provide first aid to a follower who had her ankle stamped on by a leader dancing a large volcada. That was on day 1 of a 3 day marathon and she was unable to dance for the rest of the event.
These rules are not just there to make the dancing more pleasant for everyone on a crowded floor but are genuinely for safety since there are far too many dancers out there who only care about themselves and their flashy moves and I am genuinely sick of it.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
In my opinion, such only demonstrates the host's helplessness and incompetence, and in my experience, it's practically useless.
If the host had sufficient communication skills, he would address the individuals in question calmly and discreetly.
opendoor
Forum Master
Hi, Eleven, please don't take this personally. But the argument about high voleos is so overused. I've been dancing since 2000 and started when high voleos were commonplace on the dance floor. But the bloody injuries only increased with the rise of the conservative backward roll. I've seen many really serious injuries because people are supposed to dance small. The zombie trot in the ronda is dangerous: couples occupy two lanes, take steps backward, or ram the person in front. The small steps lead to deep perforations that seriously injure the metatarsal bones.
The fundamental problem there is that there's no fixed set of the códigos. Banning high voleos/sacadas is not, usually, a código; it's just common sense to avoid on a crowded dancefloor - but not in a performance, and fine if there's space. You could also ban cortes (ocho cortado?) and quebradas on some quest for an era of 'tradition'. Should stepping backwards be banned? What if it's towards the middle (say, salida del cuarenta)?
And there's no homogeneity amongst milongas.
There's no problem with a locale's cultural códigos (etiquette). When in Rome... applies. The issue is how perceived infractions are dealt with. I have no issue with being asked to dance by a woman, which is also regarded as a código in some locations, although there are reports of it being frowned on in BsAs even if much of the rest of the world has moved on.