Interview of three Taxi Dancers in Buenos Aires

[daisy_r]

I've had some experience using taxi dancers in Buenos Aires. It's not something I would have sought out myself, but it was included in the trip that I booked: the package included semi-private lessons where taxi dancers were our lesson partners, and on the evenings in which we went to milongas as a group, taxi dancers were also hired for a couple of hours.

I've got to say, it was really cool. It felt like we got to see the Buenos Aires tango scene from backstage. The taxi dancers were all very professional and super nice people. Many of them perform, DJ, teach, some have day jobs not related to tango too.

Logging that many hours of practice with very good dancers, not just in a lesson setting but at the milongas as well, probably sped up my dancing progress like nothing else ever has.

I'll admit that the most memorable dances I had during that trip were not with our taxi dancers, but it's quite likely that they were made possible by them, either because of the sheer amount of quality practice time I was getting or because I was seen out on the pista dancing decently, probably a bit of both.

 

[Brummbaer]

behind the supermarket checkout, packing the goods in bags

Very la-di-da

And so my focus goes away from the dance service providers and towards their customers.

It's a job, with a whole spectrum of provision for a spectrum of customers.

 

[Bailango]

And in her tango hostel, a women's tour group ordered a number of taxi dancers, none of them half their age, to choose some of them for lessons and milongas. This was an optional part of their travel package. And in this case you can ask questions:
Is a wealth gap being exploited? Does a feeling of power develop? Are jokes made beforehand? Does a group dynamic arise? Maybe alcohol is also involved? Get all taxes paid properly, like in Finland?

More than wealth gap I view it as demand supply dynamics. For the demand supply to find equilibrium, the demand side has to be able to afford the price. The supply side has to find the price acceptable. Replace price with offer if the exchange is non-monetary. Wealth gap between north and south is a completely valid debate. I think not applying it to the smaller tango world is worthwhile in this particular context. If the Argentine cost of living was equivalent to the Nordics, a lot of people wouldn’t afford to visit BsAs.

Feeling of power here is more complex. It could be argued power of purse is higher or the taxi dancer’s superior skills/popularity and local knowledge.

The last question is how do you define exploitation. Exploitation can exist without a wealth gap and power dynamics too. Or what sorts of “perceived” exploitation is acceptable or not.

Your example of colored person packing bags causing embarrassment is interesting. May be the person is new refugee or asylum. To the person packing might see such opportunity as godsend and finally providing some stability in life. At the other end people of color who are prosperous and successful in the same Nordics complain about more prevalent subtle racism in the society beneath the surface. All these are too complex socio-economic issues for which people get paid well to research I don’t believe those dynamics are going to disappear. They exists in every society and in every country.

Why not enjoy dancing instead Dancing with taxi dancers included. People must be having positive experience if the market for them exists.

 

[Dancing Gorilla]

Taxi dancers also exist in ballroom. Apparently, it's also very common in China or Hong Kong. I think they call them DI or dance instructor. I met a guy before who does this here in US. I was wondering why he really likes to dance with Chinese ladies at my studio. I've danced with him too although I'm not Chinese. And keep inviting me on some dancing events. He keeps telling me like...I have this girl who I'll dance with in there but I can do 1 or 2 dances with you. I was wondering like why he sounds like he got some dance date but inviting me? Then I went to this event, saw this DI guy there and it's a dancing event but they just dance with their DI every single time. While I just sit out lol

 

[opendoor]

..telling me ...I have this girl who I'll dance with ..but I can do 1 or 2 dances with you... went to this event.. but they just dance ..every single time. While I just sit out..

The job comes first. Maybe you should have arranged with another leader to ask the customer. Then the DI would have been free for you?

 

[Dancing Gorilla]

The job comes first. Maybe you should have arranged with another leader to ask the customer. Then the DI would have been free for you?

Yeah I get this type of job now. He should have told me about it. He made it sounds to me he's just doing this for free. And I didn't know taxi dancer or DI exists before

 

[ArbeeNYC]

That doesn't necessarily follow. Maybe they need to do it more often in order to make an income. In some cases it's also another side-hustle in the black economy to make a living.

Depends what they charge. I'm not saying they're getting rich, but if you charge $100/hr and work two hours a day, five days a week, that's $1,000/week. Not big money, but not bad if combined with something else.

 

[OthinkingDesign]

Did they say anything about having to spend an entire evening with a dancer that is actively draining (not painful, merely uncomfortable enough) to dance with? Because surely that must have happened at some point, given that they've been doing this for a while.

It's not unusual for a connected taxi dancer to get flown to other countries, all flights, accommodation, food, expenses and PAID.

 

[David_In_CA]

No way! Too much financial insecurity and relationship issues. Keep the day-job to pay the bills and finance retirement with AT as a consuming hobby.

It sounds like it would be an amazing semi-retirement "job", though.

 

[Brummbaer]

It sounds like it would be an amazing semi-retirement "job", though.

Wow. You seriously think that as, say, a 68+ yr old someone is going to want you as a taxi dancer? OK, maybe if you're a worn down, aging, but once well-known maestr@ by someone who really wants to dance AT rather than have some form of 'escort'. And if you were a maestr@, maybe you want to broaden your horizons as you retire.

But then, maybe that's your best option to keep some accomodation if that was your trade.

 

[opendoor]

It sounds like it would be an amazing semi-retirement "job", though.

Six friends of mine were asked by the owner of a ballroom dance studio if they could be available as taxi dancers on socials in exchange for certain benefits. Everyone agreed. After two months, everyone had found a new love who forbade them to dance with other women. The dance teacher gave up the project with taxi dancers then.

 

[David_In_CA]

Wow. You seriously think that as, say, a 68+ yr old someone is going to want you as a taxi dancer? OK, maybe if you're a worn down, aging, but once well-known maestr@ by someone who really wants to dance AT rather than have some form of 'escort'. And if you were a maestr@, maybe you want to broaden your horizons as you retire.

But then, maybe that's your best option to keep some accomodation if that was your trade.

I was imagining someone doing it as an *early* semi-retirement.

 

[Brummbaer]

I was imagining someone doing it as an *early* semi-retirement.

How early? 20-30 something?

 

[David_In_CA]

How early? 20-30 something?

I was imagining someone in their 40s or 50s making it work for the older tourists?

 

[Brummbaer]

Ii

I was imagining someone in their 40s or 50s making it work for the older tourists?

Dancers might choose someone who's a competent, experienced, wiser dancer. Otherwise it's ageist against the 'escort'.