[Tango-L] Level of dancing in Buenos Aires milongas

[Janis Kenyon]

Caroline Polack wrote:
Hi Janis,
I am curious as to why level of dancing is declining in Buenos Aires - I
thought more people than ever are taking tango lessons and travelling to
Argentine to improve their craft. Also, I would hear of the extinction of
the older milongueros, why hasn't the second generation or younger men
stepped up to take their place?



People of all ages in Buenos Aires are enthusiastic about learning to dance
tango these days.  The problem is they aren't being taught a social style of
tango.  They are learning to memorize choreography for stage.  The majority
of those who teach don't know how to dance well socially.   Check the roster
of any tango festival in the world and you'll find Argentines who are
primarily stage performers who teach.

Many young male dancers were first trained in folklorico.  They quickly
learn tango to get work on stage or to teach.  They aren't interested in
dancing socially.  It's all about doing choreography at one of the hundreds
of restaurants with a tango show.  They can't make a living dancing tango
socially.

And then there's the current trend in nuevo tango and electronic music which
isn't contributing anything to the development of good social dancing in the
milongas of Buenos Aires.

Good social dancing in the milongas of Buenos Aires is difficult to find
these days.