Why some women are not asked to dance

[LadyLeader]

So to be a good DJ or dancer, you must understand the orchestras, the composers, the band leader's style and eras. You must understand the types of music (habanero, canyenge, candombe, etc.) the various instruments' contribution to the whole, the tempo, and rhythm.
You must understand the importance of the embrace and its contribution to smooth and fulfilling dancing.

I would also add the skill and knowledge to read the crowd and create the needed impact.
They know what kind of tanda is needed to organize, calm down or cheer up a pista.

 

[opendoor]

..The paradigm shift was the change from the external dance to an internal one!

Well said!

 

[LadyLeader]

Actually, I know the history, and I don't think it makes me a better dancer at all. I dance intuitively not analytically, everything I need can be found by listening to the music and partner in real time.

I could imagine that additional information/knowledge makes it easier for a DJ to find songs to match a new tanda.
For dancers, it is not so important as you said! Though I have heard about nerds who want to match a song with figures from the same period! Hmmmmm.

 

[LadyLeader]

And to take up your idea, we also have to learn to age in tango. The learning curve has a turning point, never forget!

Have done this!
A few years ago I decided that I was going to peak my skills during 2022! After that there will be maintenance and inspirational activities but not main learning!

 

[WhiskeyPapa]

When it comes to tango, I limit myself to Fresedo, di Sarli and Salamanca.

Three of my favorite composers. What about Pugliese?

 

[opendoor]

..What about Pugliese?

It depends, Pugliese isn't that consistent. Many of his beautiful late pieces are energetic. I am a responsive dancer, on the floor I simply must express the character of a piece. Too many dancers simply behave like deaf, or autists on autopilot, stick to the ronda, trample in line, or concentrate on the women in their arms. I cannot, my dance partner always is the music. For Pugliese I need the dance floor all to myself. That's why I better sit down, then.

 

[Skrappy@tango]

5 Worst Argentine Tango Habits for Followers

 

[Fanny-K]

..."anti embrace with ballroom flavor" might be because the guy has bad breadth.! Or both.

 

[itwillhappen]

And each pairing of a dance couple for the duration of the tanda is unique and that experience at that specific moment can never be repeated.

Yes, but that's true for every moment, every movement in your life.

 

[itwillhappen]

You know, this thread and the other one that's going on are confirming a thought I had that tango is essentially incomplete - in other words, that most of the characteristics that are really sought after in a dancer or DJ can't be efficiently, if at all, acquired just by studying tango - and maybe that's why some people find the dance difficult or frustrating

Good point! But I wouldn't consider tango as incomplete nowadays. The framework for couple dance seems to me to be pretty complete, it even includes many aspects for dance events.

But it's just a framework, what the individual makes of it, what the individual is really looking for, is very individual. That is why I think the title topic is inappropriately worded, it would be better the other way round: "Why should I be asked to dance?".

When I started tango, I was able to give clear answers. Because men are generally asked to dance. Because I had positive experiences with dance lessons in my youth (e.g. a Sunday afternoon dancing with Ute Lemper). Because I'm relatively tall and not overweight. Because I was free now. Because I got an academic degree. Because I was able to find a class mate over the internet easily. What ever.
But not "because there are codigos that enforce it" or "because I dance well enough".

 

[itwillhappen]

It's not that Tango is incomplete - in my view, many have the wrong understanding of what Tango is and what it's not.

Let's be good democrats. I strongly suspect that the absolute majority will vote for: "Tango is a nice lesson per week for us"?

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Actually, I know the history, and I don't think it makes me a better dancer at all. I dance intuitively not analytically, everything I need can be found by listening to the music and partner in real time.

It gives you context, which is always useful.

 

[Cabbit]

New not-dancing theories, or a trend that has been emerging on milongas. I noticed that most leaders i know avoid me for the first half of events, because they need time to warm up, relax and whatnot. I asked. And then they all want to dance in the last hour.

 

[Tango Distance]

New not-dancing theories, or a trend that has been emerging on milongas. I noticed that most leaders i know avoid me for the first half of events, because they need time to warm up, relax and whatnot. I asked. And then they all want to dance in the last hour.

I'm curious, did you outright ask "Are you avoiding me the first half of events?" or if not how did you ask more subtly?

I let the ladies in my local scene know that I try to ask newbies and visitors the 1st hour, as they often leave early (particularly if they are not getting dances).

Maybe it's the introvert in me, but in the rare event I go without the Tango Closeness, my dear wife, I'll tend to show up late. Madame extrovert wants to arrive early when we go, and we go to the very end!

 

[Cabbit]

Depends, i know some of them well enough to ask outright. Or to tell them that if they wait for too long, the tanda might not happen, that i might disappear like cinderella.