[Tango-L] Milonga 101 -- leaving the floor at the end of a tanda

[ceverett@ceverett.com]

Speaking only from my personal experience, This happens because most 
American (and perhaps European and Asian as well) women don't expect 
the man to walk them back, and act a bit uncertain about the fellows 
who do try to escort them back to their seats.

As a result, most men are quickly conditioned to drop their partner
right in the middle of the floor.

Christopher
 
On Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:56:36 -0300, "Janis Kenyon"
<Jantango at feedback.net.ar> said:
> It's surprising how many men in the milongas turn around and walk the
> other
> way when a tanda ends, leaving women on the floor.  They either haven't
> observed proper ballroom dance etiquette or are too lazy to accompany the
> woman to the edge of the floor.  Unfortunately, this isn't usually
> discussed
> in classes; many teachers don't practice this themselves.
> 
> Men need to be reminded.  I was amazed when I saw a friend of mine, who
> has
> years of experience in the milongas, constantly leave women in the middle
> of
> the floor at the end of a tanda.  He seemed to be opting out for the
> shortest distance to his table, rather than escorting a woman back to
> where
> he met her on the floor.  Often he was seated before the woman reached
> her
> table.  Last night the woman seated next to me returned alone practically
> every tanda.  That says something about her choice of partners.
> 
> There are gentlemen in Buenos Aires.  It is common practice by
> milongueros
> to hold the woman's upper arm or place their hand on her back while
> escorting her to the edge of the floor.  There is no handholding or hand
> on
> her shoulder by the man unless he is seated with his partner.
> 
> As any milonguero will tell you, it isn't necessary to say "thank-you"
> because you made a mutual agreement to dance together.  If you danced to
> the
> end of the tanda, mutual enjoyment is understood.  Nothing needs to be
> said.
> 
> Janis
> www.ToTango.net/milongueros.html
> 
> 
> 
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