[Tango-L] musicality ( and sets )

[WHITE 95 R]

Hi Nancy,

When I DJ, I use a similar pattern. I love the valses and I also like milongas. But I find that the tandas of tango need to outnumber the vals & milongas because of the energy flow. As you say, there is a need to rest sometimes between tandas. Here in the US, the milongas then to be shorter in length than in BsAs or at least they don't go as late. So if you have a milonga that goes for 3 hours, you can get in about 12~15 tandas if you play full length songs between tandas. Also, even if you play a polka or klezmer the people will either stay in the dance floor or even try to dance tango steps to it... There are DJs who play fairly non-rhythmic music or alternative music too. You add to that some "creative" tandas of hard to dance tangos or novelty songs and you end up with maybe 7~8 tandas of good danceable music. If you make the cortinas a little shorter you can sneak in another tanda in the evening.....

There are some DJs in the US who'll play entire 4 minute songs (ballads, elevator music, whatever) between tandas and then play so-so music for the rest of the night... I don't like the results. If you don't go for the entire time, you might end up with only a few enjoyable tandas. Generally the milongas in the US are not the same social event that they are in BAires either. That's why the cortinas are shorter.

Manuel

> Actually, most DJs in BsAs play three tango sets, then
> a milonga set, three more tango sets, then a vals set.
> The dancers count on this pattern being used when
> thinking about their next partners. I like it
> because it gives me a rest from the intensity of the
> tangos and gets the blood flowing back into my brain
> but I am not so wired/sweaty/panting from a series of
> fast milongas that I can't mellow out for a tango. Of
> course, they use cortinas and actually clear the floor
> between sets and even give you a moment between each
> piece within the set to have a friendly exchange of
> words. Still searching for that in the US where
> everything is more rushed.
>
> Nancy