The long-term solution is dual-role dancing?

Oh it’s all relative. Gee you guys have time to analyse the data of the attendees.
I’m pretty sure I’m considered the PYT (in my mid-50s) by many women 10-20 years older than me sitting on the sidelines while I’m out on the floor dancing my heart out. I normally count how many woman are present taller than me. At 178cm (5’11”) I’m often the 5th tallest. Tonight I’ll count how many women are present who ‘look like’ they are mid 60’s and upwards. And how many under 25. I’ll report back. As I said, it’s all relative.
 
By the second tanda tonight there were 16 women above 65. One around 60. One maybe 30-35. Two were max 22. That was when I was sitting and watching and able to count. 4- 6 leading women. An hour into the milonga I looked around again. Many more women doing dual role, only one man followed once or twice. With his wife. At that point in the evening, there were maybe 10 women who were in the 25-45 category. And maybe just as many 45-65. Many more above 65. For guys, at most 5-10 were under 55. (And re: height; I was again the 5th tallest. ) The floor was very crowded most of the evening but good ronda skills were present.
 
Miradamiranda said:
By the second tanda tonight there were 16 women above 65. One around 60. One maybe 30-35. Two were max 22. That was when I was sitting and watching and able to count. 4- 6 leading women. An hour into the milonga I looked around again. Many more women doing dual role, only one man followed once or twice. With his wife. At that point in the evening, there were maybe 10 women who were in the 25-45 category. And maybe just as many 45-65. Many more above 65. For guys, at most 5-10 were under 55. (And re: height; I was again the 5th tallest. ) The floor was very crowded most of the evening but good ronda skills were present.
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At our most popular milongas I don’t think there are more than one or two ladies above 65. The same with men. May be a couple who might be above 65 or 70.

However there are some other milongas where almost everyone is above 60. Both men and women.
 
Bailango said:
I can think of only one or two ladies in the entire community that lead far more than they follow. There are about dozen to dozen and half ladies that also like to lead in the larger community. Like men, 80% of them are okay to less than okay leaders. More ladies are trying to lead these days so that number might be double soon. The number gets distributed so at any given milonga there might not be more than half a dozen who also want to lead. There are a couple or so ladies who are good leads, but they seldom lead and only lead their men friends.
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I hear from experienced female leaders of the "first generation" that they are not entirely happy if more and more follower "want to lead them in turn" more and more often. This can be exhausting, the broad middle group of followers cannot consist mainly of exiting talents. This only happens to me very rarely; and as a man, you have options to politely (or not) decline.

I also have the impression that they are getting tired. If you have been leading for ten or twenty years, you have also become ten or twenty years older. And the status of being exceptional is declining; being able to lead at least somehow will be part of the usual skills soon.

Conservative events, if they are not directly gender-balanced, simply do not offer a double-role option at registering. Leading 90-100% is too much for almost all women. Not necessarily physically, but if they do not want to end up in the category of "old women who should look after old women", their optimum is more around 50:50.
 
I am both “older” and a “PYT” at milongas! Thanks to poor lighting and a generally more youthful appearance I pass as someone 15-20 years younger.

This has always been my gift and my curse! I don’t dance as much as my more assertive friends. Nor do I dance as much as the women who have partners. Nor do I dance as much as those strikingly beautiful women who dress in super-sexy dresses.

Outside of my own community I attract the old guys (they’re definitely retired so 65+) who want to dance with younger women. And I attract the young beginner leaders as I look like I might also be a young beginner (if the lighting is particularly dim).

And if I’m lucky there will be a few Italians visiting. They’re usually great dancers and will spread the word about decent followers amongst each other. Their criteria appears to be: tango shoes, appropriate height, bold enough to look them in the eye. They tend not to dance with the very old or very obese ladies.

Edit: I’m not asked to dance by dual role dancers. The men tend to seek out leaders or other dual role dancers to practice following (or swapping) and the ladies are too shy.
 
itwillhappen said:
I also have the impression that they are getting tired. If you have been leading for ten or twenty years, you have also become ten or twenty years older. And the status of being exceptional is declining; being able to lead at least somehow will be part of the usual skills soon.
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Most followers I know can lead a bit. It’s not too difficult to lead some walking and an odd giro. We also practice ochos with each other in beginner classes. Follower technique classes are another situation where we learn to lead. However, most of us don’t pursue leading beyond the most basic level.

A huge advantage to dual role dancers is they can register for workshops etc as a leader.
 
pianistamediano said:
It's a rarity to find followers about as tall as I am; I really have to find you one day!
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By all means! With all the other dancers from DF (4 that I know of) I’ve danced with, it has been very positive experiences. One got a bit spooked, though, I think... “Does the name Miradamiranda ring a bell?” I asked. “I have no idea who this person is”. “Well, now you do.” :cool: :p I would probably have been spooked too.
 
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