[Tango-L] dance etiquette [was: any advice for bad shoulders?]

[Keith]

It would be absolutely wrong to interrupt a dance to tell your partner anything,
regardless of how uncomfortable you are. I would also never go so far as to take 
the woman off the floor to explain something.

However, there's usually plenty of time between the dances, when the usual chit-chat 
takes place. If you need more time than that - wait until the end of the Tanda or, 
even better, wait for the next class or practica. 

Also, if you're a man, be absolutely sure you're actually qualified to give advice 
to a woman. I often watch in amazement as a man gives advice to a woman and I know
for a fact that the woman is 10-times a better dancer than the man. I could go on 
and on about this, but I'll stop. I'm certain that every single woman on this list
knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Keith, HK


On Tue Dec 25  5:26 , steve pastor  sent:

>WHAT IS DANCE FLOOR ETIQUETTE?
>   
>  The first goal is to avoid injury - to the follower, to other dancers,
>  and to walls and furniture and potted plants.
>  It is customary not to teach or talk at all on the dance floor during
>  a dance. If you want to talk or teach or discuss a step, it is polite
>  to other dancers to leave the floor and go elsewhere. This is the
>  accepted rule at milongas. At practicas, as mentioned above, it's OK
>  to do these things - talk, work on your steps, discuss technique -
>  while on the dance floor. 
>  It is appropriate to leave the floor after one song, or even in the middle
>  of a song, if you are sufficiently uncomfortable with your partner's
>  dancing or other behavior.
>
>  Perhaps I take things too literally, but I note that there is nothing in this list
>  that makes it permissible for a man to tell the woman that she is making 
>  him uncomfortable while dancing at a milonga.
>   
>  Although I agree with Carol's advice to tell the woman about it, I know for a 
>  fact what the result of that is. My goodness, you've talked to your partner, 
>  and you've also probably ruined her evening by criticizing her and being rude.
>  (OK I can't help  a bit of exaggeration, but I'm trying to make a point.)
>   
>  If leaving the floor after one or two dances, and not finishing the tanda is the 
>  accepted alternative to simple verbal communication at a milonga, I think we
>  need to think about this. We set people up to think that something is wrong
>  if you don't finish the tanda, but you aren't supposed to tell them what it is.
>   
>  Yes, I have tried to change some of these "rules", and what people teach to
>  their students. Specifically, I wonder why everyone isn't told that if you bump
>  into or kick (not brush) someone you should apologize. Tango Trance or 
>  something, I guess.
>   
>  Meanwhile, I think it's funny that the shoulder article is at a site with "testoserone"
>  in the name. Maybe if I had more I would just shut up and "take it like a man".
>   
>  Does this count as a rant?
>   
>