"...if you don't give everything to your partners, what's the point of dancing tango?"

[itwillhappen]

Dancing for spectators or for the people in the table corner, inappropriate clothing, constant demonstrative open hold like in neotango, expansive figures (high circular boleos, linear boleos, wide circular colgadas), dancing on the spot.

In other words: the leaders follow at an encuentro the usual wishes of followers?
But personally, I don't dance differently at a regular milonga.

 

[Rabbit]

That’s why it took me by a bit surprise about the comment on dancers spending more time in parallel. I never consciously notice so in others nor am aware what I do. Intuitively I think people will be more in parallel than cross. But I don’t have any data or empirical observation to back it up.

From the replies it seems that it is mostly considered to be a consequence of the vocabulary and figures.

I do think that in the context of walking, switching to cross system creates a sort of tension (in the musical sense) where it is expected that the dancers will resolve it by returning to parallel, or using it as an entry point to some figure

 

[Rabbit]

In other words: the leaders follow at an encuentro the usual wishes of followers?

It wouldn't exist if there weren't both leaders and followers that subscribe to that style

 

[opendoor]

..In other words: the leaders follow at an encuentro the usual wishes of followers?

Exactly! As already mentioned in the other thread: Basically women ruled the enquentros.

 

[Bailango]

Exactly! As already mentioned in the other thread: Basically women ruled the enquentros.

So the gazillion dollar question. What do the women want

 

[opendoor]

So the gazillion dollar question. What do the women want

You misunderstood me. The women who started the encuentro movement had a plan and it was very obvious. The milonga is dominated by men, women have the say at encuentros.

 

[pianistamediano]

... women have the say at encuentros

Don't most of them they still have waiting lists for followers?

 

[ArbeeNYC]

There are two chapters: Escenario and Pista. In Pista they do not open the hold and stick to the ronda.

For the "pista," they do stick to the ronda, but it's not always a conventional abrazo and they open it up from time to time. It's still too escenario for my taste.

 

[Tango Newbie]

My wife at the time, now my ex, was into all kinds of dance, including tango

Up until I met my SO a few years ago when Covid started I had only danced 'freestyle' in clubs etc., took CW line-dancing, and Salsa lessons (twice).

Early on in our relationship, my SO mentioned she danced tango for 20 years (and salsa before that) and showed me her extensive collection of dresses and expensive shoes. She said they were collecting dust, saying she wanted to get back into it when things settled down. (Prior to all of this I had been thinking about taking some sort of 'formal' dance lessons such as Salsa, but never considered Tango.)

I took note of her desire to get back into Tango, so shortly thereafter she had to visit an older couple (friends) she knew in Crete for a couple weeks that was planned before we met. During this time I started taking some beginner group classes without her knowledge.

When she returned and found out she was shocked, pleased, and excited, and it kick-started her enthusiasm to dance Tango again. I continued to take beginner classes, then she decided she wanted to be my partner in the classes, so she joined me despite not really needing "beginner-level" classes. Her reasoning was she was "rusty" due to being sidelined by Covid. But truthfully I suspect she was 'curious' as to the followers I was working with and wanted to be my (main) dance partner going forward for all the classes (and now private lessons) we take.

After taking classes and private lessons 2x per week for the last 3 years, and attending practalongas and milongas, I (we) have gotten very good. Plus, being "fresh meat" to our local community, I have no shortage of followers who want to "test-drive" my abilities, with some even approaching me and asking. Not wanting to be a 'slug' I pour every ounce of energy, skills, and abilities into all the Tandas I dance, whether it's with my SO, or others followers. After a tanda, a lot of followers have told my SO how 'well' I'm doing, plus how lucky she is to have a partner and how good we look together.

Having limited Spanish-speaking skills, I don't have the comprehension to understand most of the lyrics, so I focus on my musicality. I will admit, I see Tango as Argentine's version of the 'country western' music here in the US, with broken hearts, etc., so I don't quite embrace the music as I did in the club scene. Another thing that's clear is unlike the 'club scene' where people are outwardly expressing happiness, joy, and laughter, most Tango is danced in a somewhat 'somber', peaceful way. Not 'always' but usually.

Either way, like I said, I pour all my heart-and-soul, knowledge, skills and abilities into the dance no matter 'who' I'm dancing with, and it seems to be paying off. There have been a few occasions where I executed something a follower didn't know, or do before (such as a boleo) and they expressed their happiness and joy (laughter). That feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.

 

[pianistamediano]

Not wanting to be a 'slug' I pour every ounce of energy, skills, and abilities into all the Tandas I dance, whether it's with my SO, or others followers.

Ah, a man after my own heart! It's great to hear that your followers appreciate that; being genuine and trying your best to give a follower a good time never goes out of style.

... have been a few occasions where I executed something a follower didn't know, or do before (such as a boleo) and they expressed their happiness and joy (laughter). That feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.

Those serendipitous moments are delicious!

 

[pianistamediano]

Having limited Spanish-speaking skills, I don't have the comprehension to understand most of the lyrics, so I focus on my musicality.

You can try this: if there is a song with vocals that you really, really enjoy, you can always look up its lyrics and use Google translate/find other people's translations of that song. I find it always enhances my understanding of the music, and lends an extra layer.

I will admit, I see Tango as Argentine's version of the 'country western' music here in the US, with broken hearts, etc., so I don't quite embrace the music as I did in the club scene. Another thing that's clear is unlike the 'club scene' where people are outwardly expressing happiness, joy, and laughter, most Tango is danced in a somewhat 'somber', peaceful way. Not 'always' but usually.

For a taste of the Argentinian countryside, have a listen to this lovely milonga campera:


It might help you to embrace tango music more if you understood the lyrics, I guess, but honestly expressing whatever emotions the music itself inspires in you is definitely enough for the vast majority of dancers.

I'm glad you can conceive of dancing tango as peaceful. Too many see it as nothing but passion, drama and theatricality.

 

[itwillhappen]

And since I started this I'll also go first with answering it: I came (and stayed) into tango for the music. It is the music that does it for me, the possibility of expressing how the music runs through my body.

Does this mean that you listened to tango music intensively before you started dancing?
Well, that was definitely not the case for me, I started dancing tango to fill my free time, and it wasn't until years later that I found a taste for tango music, in the meaning that I also listened to it in my -now- free time.

 

[Tango Newbie]

Ah, a man after my own heart! It's great to hear that your followers appreciate that; being genuine and trying your best to give a follower a good time never goes out of style.

Thanks for the kind words! I see it this way, everyone's there, including me, for a reason; to get joy, peace, and satisfaction out of tango. So as a leader I feel it's my responsibility to do my part to provide the best dance experience I can, which is reciprocated making it joyful and peaceful for both of us.

Those serendipitous moments are delicious!

As for those moments, it's always rewarding to give 'something' to remember from our dance together.

 

[Tango Newbie]

you can always look up its lyrics and use Google translate/find other people's translations of that song. I find it always enhances my understanding of the music, and lends an extra layer.

Great suggestion. I just started doing that. There was one 'alternative' song played at a festival held at our local studio and I looked up the lyrics. The song was; Me so 'mbriacato.

 

[opendoor]

...since I started this I'll also go first with answering it: I came (and stayed) into tango for the music.. expressing how the music runs through my body. And then is the aspect of the conversation thus created with a partner....

I heard tango music long before I started dancing tango. That's why I always view the couple dance aspect somewhat critically. I like to dance and we also danced nicely together recently. But somehow the leading-following restrictions always come between me and the music.