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Our teaching develops your musicality, connection, technique & improvisation with social tango, as well as insights into tango culture and critical skills to build your confidence with milonga etiquette.



Thursday 7 January 2016

Food for thought


Ever wondered why some people don't seem to look in your direction when a new tanda starts?  There are so many possible reasons, quite apart from lack of confidence with the cabeceo-style of invitation.

Many of these possible reasons would be beyond your control eg. your height, the person's mood, musical preference, etc.  So, no need to take their lack of interest personally.

However, there are some things we can influence. In any social setting, personal hygiene, dress and the way we conduct ourselves will affect how others respond to us, of course.  And in the tango social event which we call a milonga, additional factors come into play, not least of which are your social dancing skills.  (By the way, I don't mean how many volcadas, ganchos and decorations which you can squeeze into one tango!)
  • Are you easily able to dance with the music and with your partner? 
  • How comfortable and enjoyable is your dancing for your partner? 
  • Can you dance on a busy and disciplined dance-floor without collision or kicking someone ... and enjoy it? 
If your answer to any of these questions is in the least bit negative, then possibly you  have found an answer to the very first question.  And these things you can change ... if you want to, that is.

Veronica Toumanova has some food for thought for all of us in her piece called Why tango dancers lose interest in improving their skill.

PP

2 comments:

  1. I can say with an open Mind and from your previous Blogs, that you are continually talking about Personal Hygiene, Dress and how we conduct ourselves at Milonga’s.
    What I will say, I am not sure about the people you are dance or socialising with, but the people I have danced with, do not smell and always dress appropriately and with an open heart I would say that the people are trying to find a connection with the music and the person that they are dancing with, in a world filled with mixed messages.
    I feel that you are negative it what you write, you continual put the blame on others in your dance circle.
    Why not look at couples that are happy, smiling and enjoying the dancing even sharing a great tanda and discuss what is that they bring and not forgot at home.
    Rather than looking at the negatives and if you are surrounded by negative views and attitudes then you need to discuss. What are you doing to improve that type of discussion? What are you bringing to the social scene? Because it sounds like you are with the wrong crowed and get over the cabeceo we live in Australia this is not Argentina where men sit on one side and women on another side of the room.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your comment, Anonymous.

    It is interesting to read your negative view of our blog. We each interpret information differently, no doubt according to our own experiences and agenda.

    Our intention in this blog is to inform and assist members of our tango community. We love to see people finding a connection with their partner and the music. We love seeing the social scene of the milonga spawning friendships. We love seeing people dancing in a way, which allows others to also enjoy their time on the dancefloor. Yet, as in all social situations, difficulties may arise. Frequently, a blog-post will be a result of dilemmas or concerns which fellow dancers have raised with us.

    The current post, 'Food for thought', is no exception.

    Feel free to review our posts through this prism.
    PP

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