Reasons to give up Tango

[Tango Newbie]

You've brought up an excellent topic; there is an overt emphasis on dance technique, but proper body conditioning and care is only tangentially mentioned by a few teachers and dancers.

Thanks for your reply. My SO also goes to Pilates 3-4x/week in the morning and does a lot of stretching and low-impact conditioning exercises in the class. Plus, we take weekly tango classes (and some privates) to work on technique. One of the contributing factors is her job. She's a doctor and does a lot of standing during her day, so when we / she takes a vacation, a lot of the hip pain goes away.

Quite frankly, her hip issues were also brought upon by several factors; one was from an injury she sustained years ago, and the other from years of living in Colorado going to college with lots of skiing (which also affected her knees, but those were surgically repaired). We still ski, and just went a couple weeks ago, but she takes it easy versus the ski-jumping and acrobatics she did in college.

Once in a while when we're doing too many boleo's on one side, I'll even it out and do them on the other so it doesn't put too much strain on her left hip.

From your posts I would think she's rather young for that. Besides, if she dances well, leaders will seek her out. Young doesn't always translate into good.

Well, we're in our mid-60's and we both look younger (mid-50's) due to our genetics and being active. And yes, she dances well with me and other leaders who seek her out. But, just like other communities, there are plenty of other (available) followers so it can be a hit-and-miss.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Well, we're in our mid-60's and we both look younger (mid-50's) due to our genetics and being active. And yes, she dances well with me and other leaders who seek her out. But, just like other communities, there are plenty of other (available) followers so it can be a hit-and-miss.

Oh, my. I thought you were both in your twenties. Yeah, if you're both mid-60s, that's a whole different ballgame and I can certainly understand her concern. That age bracket can be tough if you're dancing with a much younger group of dancers. It can be done but it's not always easy to break into the group.

 

[pianistamediano]

I thought you were both in your twenties.

I'm probably the only active poster here in this subforum still in their twenties!

I'd very much prefer to dance with followers around my age. But if they're enjoyable to dance, I'll dance with them no matter how old or how young they are.

 

[Steve Pastor]

-I'm missing some sociometric infos: part of the world, percentage of singles, percentage of caring professions.

Clay Nelson was a major player in bringing AT to Portland, Oregon and an early organizer of the Portland Tango Festivals. (edit HA! just found this local newspaper article about Clay.) (Also he had a studio on the west side of Portland where I went to some of my first lessons and practicas.) So there is your location information.

I'm also interested in the selection of dances in question 5. Some of them aren't available in isolation at all, but only in packs of ten at ballroom schools. And was the country and folk dance clientele identical?

In this part of the USA country and folk dance are different scenes. Country Western has been pretty popular here for many decades. I've traced it back at least as far as the Western Swing days of Bob Wills and Spade Cooley - the forties. West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing waltz and the sort of fox trot country western two step are part of the country western scene. You can learn those dances at the dance venues for the price of the cover charge, at least at the beginner / intermediate levels.
I think Clay's choice of dances for the survey are a reflection of local tastes.
Folk dancing is around, but you don't see big venues with hundreds of dancers a night 5 days a week like back before covid as you do for country. I was interested in a Hungarian dance group for instance, but failed to make it there. And they had a pretty low profile verses CW which had it's only tabloid size newspaper back in the late 80s.

 

[Rabbit]

Unfortunately not, my girlfriend can no longer walk or dance in high heels. This led to a total break with tango. She totally identifies with the stylized sujet of the sexy dancer that the best people want to dance with. If not this way, then not at all. I can't understand that

I understand it, I don't think I would continue in the same position either.

 

[Tango Newbie]

Comfort is more important than looks

Yes, which is 'why' she not only buys comfortable shoes as much as she can, but brings her go-to, most comfortable pair (black) as backup that goes with just about everything she wears. Some of her shoes match an outfit she'll wear to milonga, and if they're not quite as comfortable as her go-to pair, she'll change midway through.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I'm probably the only active poster here in this subforum still in their twenties!

I'd very much prefer to dance with followers around my age. But if they're enjoyable to dance, I'll dance with them no matter how old or how young they are.

I prefer to dance with followers your age as well.

 

[Tango Newbie]

That age bracket can be tough if you're dancing with a much younger group of dancers. It can be done but it's not always easy to break into the group.

You're right about that. However, she's one of the 'peacocks' in the room who comes well-dressed with skills equal to, or better than many of the younger ladies.
That said, most of the older patriarchs in the community she has danced with over the years enjoy dancing with her, but some of the younger guys do as well (if she's not dancing with me or someone else).

 

[pianistamediano]

I prefer to dance with followers your age as well.

I am a (rubbish) follower my age, Arbee — I expect to be cabeceo-ed every tanda when I visit!

 

[pianistamediano]

You're right about that. However, she's one of the 'peacocks' in the room who comes well-dressed with skills equal to, or better than many of the younger ladies.
That said, most of the older patriarchs in the community she has danced with over the years enjoy dancing with her, but some of the younger guys do as well (if she's not dancing with me or someone else).

I'll have to steal your SO for a tanda or ten sometime then!

 

[Bailango]

I'll have to steal your SO for a tanda or ten sometime then!

So you prefer to dance with followers your age. And you want to steal the followers old enough to be your mom’s and grandmom’s age. Hmmmm.

 

[Greybeard]

Being a 'beginner' (3 years now), my SO has been dancing for several years. While she's slim and fit, has great skills, and dances very well, but after dancing for just 2 hours (even with a few rests) she's starting to show the signs that it is beginning to take it's toll on her feet (depending on the shoes she wears) and one of her hips.

The hip pain is probably the more prevalent of the two, which could last a few days.
So from my observation, at some point I could see her scaling-back (at first), then maybe giving it up altogether if things worsen.

She's probably already thought about this, but there's a radio commercial locally talking about how hip and knee pain often comes from the feet. They're advertising custom shoe inserts (orthotics [I know spelled wrong]). Maybe they would help while working, even if they don't go with any tango clothes.

 

[Tango Newbie]

I'll have to steal your SO for a tanda or ten sometime then!

Nice, I'm sure she'd accept your cabeceo! If you're ever this way (Southern CA), give me a shout.

 

[Tango Newbie]

She's probably already thought about this, but there's a radio commercial locally talking about how hip and knee pain often comes from the feet. They're advertising custom shoe inserts (orthotics [I know spelled wrong]). Maybe they would help while working, even if they don't go with any tango clothes.

Most definitely, she has tried EVERYTHING imaginable. She's a doctor who's on top of all this. She even seeks diagnosis and treatments for things from other doctors and has an appointment with a specialist next week. But, she still dances very well despite paying for a couple days after, and dance just about every weekend.

 

[Tango Newbie]

So you prefer to dance with followers your age. And you want to steal the followers old enough to be your mom’s and grandmom’s age. Hmmmm.

Well, my SO and I are in our mid 60's and old enough to be grandparents, and we both look years younger, with her having that 'dancers body' from years of dancing.
And yes, lots of young leaders enjoy dancing with her.