The long-term solution is dual-role dancing?

[pianistamediano]

since many young dancers are not attached.

Funny, I have the impression that many are! At least if you define young to be anywhere below the mid-30s...

The younger scenes I’ve observed were at the huge festival Ostertango in Basel or in Eastern Europe.

Yes, especially the Balkans.

 

[Rabbit]

And you might ask yourself carefully why exactly you want to go to an event if you can't ask anyone personally.

I won't get reliable information. People's opinion of different events and milongas can be very different even if they went at the same time. Also I often disagree with tango people on what constitutes good dancing.

 

[itwillhappen]

I won't get reliable information. People's opinion of different events and milongas can be very different even if they went at the same time. Also I often disagree with tango people on what constitutes good dancing.

Well, with videos you might try to evaluate correctly the time of day, the person filming, the equipment, original music. And it's similar with personal opinions.

I've just signed up for another Encuentro with my partner in the last two videos. Of course she's learning to lead <topic/>, but not for these events. I don't think she's really interested in whether other men, after a thorough video analysis, come to the conclusion that their own tango skills are higher. What's important is the calendar, the distance, a few familiar faces, a partner who doesn't babysit her. As an Eastern European, she simply assumes that men make a lot of effort to be able to hold a beautiful, intelligent and elegantly dancing woman in their arms. And they are allowed to beat their chests a bit if it makes them feel good.


P.S.: Who hasn't noticed the gender separated rows of seating on the long sides has no clue anyway. And I also see leading women in the video.

 

[pianistamediano]

As an Eastern European, she simply assumes that men make a lot of effort to be able to hold a beautiful, intelligent and elegantly dancing woman in their arms.

She's not wrong, and I'd add another thing: ...who can make them feel good.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

No, I speak from experience, and it's not like you know what it's like to be me. I never said there weren't any good dancers either; I even mentioned a few followers I would cabeceo, based on that short video alone.

You would feel out of place because they are mostly older?

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I have just seen videos of a marathon where the participants hold hands beforehand and walk past each other in long lines and look at each other. So that everyone has the feeling of being seen there.

Yikes. No thank you.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I've just signed up for another Encuentro with my partner in the last two videos.

Everyone looks happy.

 

[Bailango]

I won't get reliable information. People's opinion of different events and milongas can be very different even if they went at the same time. Also I often disagree with tango people on what constitutes good dancing.

It really depends on who is giving the information. Then I have follow up questions. If possible I will casually ask a few others who might have attended. I agree with you. There are times I will disagree. This more when an event feedback is positive from average dancers.

 

[pianistamediano]

You would feel out of place because they are mostly older?

Not just older, much older; it isn't as if I don't dance with dancers of their generation, but I would feel very out of place in a milonga full of them.

 

[pianistamediano]

Yikes. No thank you.

Same, I like to stay under the radar and be noticed only by discerning followers.

 

[TTanguero]

It really depends on who is giving the information.

100% this. A random recommendation means nothing, and a recommendation from a friend whose criteria differ from mine likewise. But the times I've received recommendations from dancers whose criteria and tastes are similar to my own have usually* proven reliable.

*Obviously every event is different, so nothing is guaranteed

 

[Bailango]

100% this. A random recommendation means nothing, and a recommendation from a friend whose criteria differ from mine likewise. But the times I've received recommendations from dancers whose criteria and tastes are similar to my own have usually* proven reliable.

*Obviously every event is different, so nothing is guaranteed

Totally!

 

[itwillhappen]

Same, I like to stay under the radar and be noticed only by discerning followers.

I think a lot of behavior at milongas is to protect yourself against unpleasant situations. Some people expect this from a big-family event, others from a well-protected seat, double-role skills can be helpful, and - with restrictions - encuentros too.
At the compact encuentro shown, I found it quite exhausting that you couldn't lounge around at a table and dance from time to time. The expectations regarding leaders here are quite high, ideally over nine hours a day. I avoided the event then for six years, until I had the impression at the monthly regular milonga in the location that I was now sufficiently connected and capable.

 

[pianistamediano]

At the compact encuentro shown, I found it quite exhausting that you couldn't lounge around at a table and dance from time to time. The expectations regarding leaders here are quite high, ideally over nine hours a day. I avoided the event then for six years, until I had the impression at the monthly regular milonga in the location that I was now sufficiently connected and capable.

Definitely sounds exhausting, not my preferred modus operandi! I usually prefer to dance two or three tandas an hour and spend the rest of the time drinking coffee/tea, snacking and discussing all manner of thing with friends, though it really depends on how much I like the DJ's tandas. I usually travel for marathons only these days, but I find milonga weekends quite appealing too. It's nice to get a feel for what the local scene is like in the local milongas.

Never heard of that marathon with the weird practice before (thankfully) — a bit too New Age for me. Quite an artificial and contrived way to connect people, though I suppose it ensures that people notice everyone else, and thereafter, if you're being ignored, you know that you may as well cut your losses and head home, because they've seen you already and decided you're not worth it.

 

[Miradamiranda]

Yes, especially the Balkans.

Eastern Europe, yes. Porec for sure, considering pictures I’ve seen from there. What about the big ones in Turkey? Has anyone on here been to Antalya or Istanbul for the marathons? I haven’t, but am vaguely contemplating one. I guess if all the old guys go for the PYTs, the outliers who get left out are the young men and old ladies.