tangomaniac
Well-Known Member
Tango lesson. Surprised nobody mentioned it.
Movies About Tango
- Thread starter DanceMentor
- Start date
The Tango Lesson
Usually crops up as an example of lack of cabeceo and invitation to dance at a table (acquaintances) depicted in the film.
But... Even though it took a few years for me to start doing AT, (I saw it when it first came out) I have it on VHS tape and would probably buy a new copy of the tape jams up or breaks. Some (many) nice scenes in there and some nice fantasia type dancing and of course the scene with social dancing at a milonga that Brummbaer mentions.
Surprised it isn't in this thread.
Surprised it isn't in this thread.
opendoor
Forum Master
DanceMentor started this thread and mentioned The Tango Lesson right in the first post. And I once asked for the name of the first dancer Sally danced with in the milonga scene (El Flete), Steve. It is David Derman RIP, the accountant. He kept meticulous records of all his dance partners, noting their characteristics and preferences.
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opendoor
Forum Master
To put it another way: I used this scene repeatedly when the tango police denounced the lack of cabeceo. It's not appropriate at all to cabeceo into a group at a table. I'm the only one who pointed out their mistakes to the tango police.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
So, what do you recommend?
In some instances: don't! It depends on the group and the circumstances. Why would you if it's clear the group is only dancing amongst themselves and not looking for dances elsewhere? You have to read the social situation. It could be a different scenario with a group of strangers on the remaining table.
As is usual, a visit to the 'bar' or food may provide an opportunity.
opendoor
Forum Master
What do you think? Of course, you ask verbally. Watch the film scene again carefully.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
You and Brumbaer seem to be at odds on this point.
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
In some cases, I would say you're right. They're there to dance among themselves. In other cases (a table of women, for example), it's probably safe to assume that you can cabeceo them. At some point you figure out who the couples are and leave them to do their own thing.
As I said: in some instances
Like a good (excellent!) TDJ, you have to 'read the room and circumstances'.
Cabeceo/mirada's origins lie, to some extent, with young solo males looking for that girl and not wishing to be seen to be turned down. And then we get to couples and groups in a social setting (and separate seating and all the cultural arrangements). This early Argentine culture has been, let's say to save a long discussion, culturally appropriated, elsewhere as 'tradition' applying to every circumstance. And, of course, customs have changed so that it's no longer so simple and straightforward. If you're sat with someone you're not going to cabeceo them. A woman can just as easily invite with their 'cabeceo'. Couples just go to dance and wives/partners don't need permission. Solo women don't have a chaperone and the sisters can work to get someone a tanda.
Of course, this and more has already been expanded at length in other threads. And, doubtless, there's individual examples, and exceptions, of how it's done somewhere and how it should be done according to someone's códigos.
Would you interrupt a group enjoying themselves? You could try cabeceo in vain! Do you know, or are acquainted, with someone in the group? Maybe they're new? Or been a couple of times? You'd perhaps go to talk to them. Depending on circumstances you might exchange pleasantries and invite someone there to dance. Do you back away to cabeceo? You might join them - or leave them in peace for their evening. Polite local social culture overrides some solo looking for a dance harking back to some perception of an old Argentinian culture.
Sure, there may be a table/group of ladies. OK, try cabeceo. But they might be talking or scrolling on their phone, or sat in the worst place in the dark because that's what was left. Maybe, sometimes, a non-maskable interrupt is wanted in our social culture. Does anybody care if they're turned down?
One can speculate on numerous possibilities in your own culture.The film doesn't lay down any tango 'law' mandated to be obeyed. Read the circumstances. It's just a story to be sold to some non-Argentine audience.
Nope. I agree. I just added more circumstantial detail. I'd ask verbally - depending on the circumstances. In other circumstances I'd leave them to their evening together since cabeceo would be a waste of effort - particularly as I might interpret the scene in the film. But it's subjective. The scene had an objective - nothing to do with any merits or not of cabeceo. But attribute some if you wish to!
itwillhappen
Forum Master
Who postulates this "pure doctrine" - Hollywood?
And how is it enforced, who benefits, who gets restricted?
opendoor
Forum Master
Unfortunately I actually do not know any Hollywood tango production, Valentino's Three Horseman by chance which in deed was quite influential. The greatest source of historical distortion, in any case, are Argentine tango movies from the 1930s onwards. They created an image of tango that was, in turn, referenced by later films. Potter's milonga scene "El Flete" is harmless in comparison. It is a thank-you and a homage to the local scene in BsAs and its codigos back in the 1980s.