[Tango-L] Dance quality in Buenos Aires

[Deby Novitz]

On my first trip here in 2000 I was in awe.  To me everyone knew how to 
dance, everyone knew the music.  Now I know that is not true.  As my own 
dancing progressed and changed, so did the partners I danced with.  The 
men I thought danced like angels even 2 years ago are no longer suitable 
of partners for me.

I still find plenty of men to dance with.  Maybe not everyone has the 
style you want to dance, but there are still good dancers.  What I find 
is that maybe not everyone will want to dance with you, for whatever 
reason.  Maybe you don't want to dance with them.  Overall, the quality 
of dancing here is way better than anywhere else I have ever been. 

What is different here is that more people are coming here to dance, and 
more locals are learning.  In the past if you didn't dance well you went 
to a practica.  Now people throw themselves into the floor with vigor.  
People come from other countries (Not just the U.S.) and think they are 
going to show the Argentines how well they dance by doing ganchos and 
boleos in the middle of a milonga floor.  At certain times of the year 
there are more people here than others.  The floors are actually 
dangerous.  Many of us stay away from the milongas during CITA or 
realize we will not dance. 

As one progresses regardless of where you live, there are less people 
for you to dance with.  I never thought I would say that about here.  
But sigh.....