What makes you cringe in tango?

[Brummbaer]

No one actually cares about milongueros today.

Depending how you define milongueros! Of course there's an interest - especially from the Strictly/DWTS crowd who like the myth - rather like Valentino of old. But those with such 'interest' rarely dance. There are, of course, social AT dancers who still dress to emulate that. There are still ne'er-do-wells around, grifting even as teachers. Sadly some of the tanguera side appear to like that (and, doubtless there are other viewpoints from that side!)

I would definitely call that a way of life!

I don't see an issue with how a business is marketed (provided they also teach AT well and don't become pedants for a 'style'), but I see the primary (cringeworthy) issue as through FB and other influencer channels. Yes, they may dance, even dance well and be 'advanced', or 'teach', but they're marketing a 'wellness' lifestyle - and require that influencer income to pay the bills.

 

[tangoing]

I don't see an issue with how a business is marketed (provided they also teach AT well and don't become pedants for a 'style'), but I see the primary (cringeworthy) issue as through FB and other influencer channels. Yes, they may dance, even dance well and be 'advanced', or 'teach', but they're marketing a 'wellness' lifestyle - and require that influencer income to pay the bills.

I don’t think there’s actually any tango “influencer” who makes enough through ad money to pay their bills. Unless they get hundreds of thousands of views per post (which I think may even supersede the global tango population), they’re not making much.

 

[Brummbaer]

I don’t think there’s actually any tango “influencer” who makes enough through ad money to pay their bills. Unless they get hundreds of thousands of views per post (which I think may even supersede the global tango population), they’re not making much.

I don't see such people having a single job. It's a variety of side-hustles to pay the bills, or for 'extras' - unless you can significantly reduce the 'bills'. As an old advert here goes: Every little helps.

 

[brujo]

In the golden age, a very careful distinction was made between milongueros, aficionaros, and dancers! No one actually cares about milongueros today.

In an interview I heard a dancer refer to the creepy old men as 'rockeros' because they didn't grow up with tango but with rock and are there to squeeze the young women at a milonga while pretending to have danced all their lives.

 

[Rabbit]

Who exactly has the authority to judge to which degree someone understands tango? And wouldn't that claim be rather elitist?

No one really understands anything. I don't either. I'm just always trying to find a better version than what currently exists.

 

[Rabbit]

And as for me, tango was my lifestyle in the beginning. Tango regulated my social contacts and my sex life. Tango scheduled my workouts and shaped my knowledge of muscle groups, bodywork, balance and fitness. I cleared out a room in my flat for dancing. Tango also set cultural standards; I began to take an interest in Spanish and in shellac records. I bought a bandoneón. I applied for a dance teacher training program; I wanted to become a professional. I was completely immersed in tango. I would definitely call that a way of life!

I think it is an addiction, but I don't judge because we have all been addicted to some degree or other, probably still are otherwise we wouldn't be posting on here

 

[Tangogal]

Last time I used Twin Peaks for tango, Miami Vice for vals, Magnum for milonga, and Breaking Bad for neotango. But I'll be swapping the Twin Peaks theme next week, as one couple actually started dancing WCS.

TV theme tunes are my favourite Cortina genre! Law & Order is really good but probably danceable. Most memorable cortina : C’est La Vie by B*Witched.

 

[Bailango]

but who doesn't necessarily recognise the orchestra to which we're dancing.

A maestro long back said in a first class of a series, that tango dancers have to know their orchestras. He also put on a few songs to quiz the class about the orchestras.

Once a follower said to me after a tanda, “I would love to dance D’arienzo (had to look up spelling) with you”. I understood she wanted to dance strong rhythmic tanda. Because as I have said a few times. I am a black sheep. Never bothered to learn orchestras. It seems to be rite of passage for all beginners to know their orchestras or atleast main ones. I know many who dance poorly but know a lot of about orchestras. Thank god, I never aspired to be a DJ

 

[opendoor]

TV theme tunes are my favourite Cortina genre..

Thank you for all your suggestions!

 

[opendoor]

In an interview I heard a dancer refer to the creepy old men as 'rockeros' ..

Milongueros, like rockeros, represent a stereotype that emerges with every popular music hype. And tango, too, once was a pop phenomenon.

..rockeros.. because they didn't grow up with tango but with rock..

There's another dig in that statement. Many of the Argentine tango legends, also praised by some forum members here as role models, only started dancing tango after the age of 30. Naturally, they did everything they could to have their disparaging remarks about tango erased from our collective memory.

 

[opendoor]

..Once a follower said to me after a tanda, “I would love to dance D’arienzo (had to look up spelling) with you”. I understood she wanted to dance strong rhythmic tanda. Because as I have said a few times. I am a black sheep. Never bothered to learn orchestras..

Please don't try to stylize yourself. Firstly, you're familiar with tango orchestras by now; and secondly, during your salsa period, you quickly became familiar with your orchestras, styles, and rhythms.

 

[opendoor]

Depending how you define milongueros! Of course there's an interest - especially from the Strictly/DWTS crowd who like the myth..

I don't watch this newfangled stuff on TV. But the myth of the "milonguero" was invented in tango films of the 40s and 50s. It experienced a resurrection in those big traveling tango shows at the end of last century. And DWTS may have drawn on that. But basically, it's all just fiction and mystification.

 

[brujo]

Depending how you define milongueros! Of course there's an interest - especially from the Strictly/DWTS crowd who like the myth - rather like Valentino of old. But those with such 'interest' rarely dance.

Do you see a difference between the Strictly/DWTS crowd vs ones who are not?

I think the way people get interested in Tango is super fascinating. Reading about how broadway and touring shows being what got tango basically revived in North America. I even had a much younger Argentinian woman in my US based tango class start taking tango because she saw it in a show back home called “Para Bailar un Sueño” and was inspired.

Not to mention that some of the great influencers like Miriam and Leonardo also choreograph shows like DWTS

 

[Brummbaer]

Do you see a difference between the Strictly/DWTS crowd vs ones who are not?

Yes - but only as a matter of degree. I think the AT myths and stereotypes are embedded anyway from what we've observed in the media over time. With the Strictly 'sparklies' it's been awakened and brought to the fore. It's the 'sexy' dance, the 'rough', the macho side, men dancing with men (for some), the latino males, retro styles, drinking dens, brothels, fighting... And all as stage entertainment. Seems to be perceived/portrayed as a time when men were real men... The audience is predominantly women - for many some dance exercise would help.

For everyone else there's a sort of myth - and shock at social AT. You dance with different partners? You hold different women close? Isn't that a bit... And then there's a contrary view of stylised ballroom tango posture as a dance norm.

We were inspired by seeing social AT rather than any stage or ballroom version. We've also had AT workshops with former Strictly choreographers. They also teach other dance, and different styles of AT - but good on the social style, especially technique for the social dancefloor.

Our initial teachers took great pains in explaining to newbies the difference between social AT and whatever perception they had from the media.

 

[Rabbit]

I don't know anyone who started dancing because of the TV shows, which are all about competition and don't make it look accessible.