[Tango-L] How to spot the tourists in Buenos Aires milongas

[Keith]

Hi Everytbody,

Why do some people feel the need to ridicule others? Does Janis' message 
have any point other than to embarrass and humilitate the people who visit 
Buenos Aires to learn Tango and dance in the milongas? I've recently returned 
from a 6-week visit with my wife and, although it was our sixth trip since 
1998, we're still obviously tourists. So this message is aimed at me, my wife 
and the many of our friends who have also visited Buenos Aires. Come to think 
of it, many of the people on Tango-L also visit and, since we don't live or 
work there, we're all tourists. 

Well, at least we now know what Janis thinks of us - we dress badly, we're 
rude, uncouth, sweaty, smell bad, dance badly, don't know the music and we're 
stupid. Well, at least we bring our dollars so we're doing something right. 

I'd like to know if this is only Janis' opinion or is this what many of the 
milongueras in Buenos Aires think about us? If it is, I'll just stay home. 
Here I can dance with young, slim, beautiful Asian girls who are full-of-life, 
appreciate the efforts of the leaders and, once they get over their initial 
shyness, are some of the best followers you can find anywhere in the world.

Other than because she's a mean and spiteful woman, with an overly-inflated 
opinion of herself, why would Janis take the time and trouble to sit down 
and compose such a message? It certainly tells me a lot more about her than 
is does about the tourists she's supposedly talking about. Janis, get over 
yourself; you're just a social tango dancer who's lucky enough to be able 
to live in Buenos Aires. You're not god's gift to the world of dance.

Keith
 



On Sab Mar 17 18:53 , "Janis Kenyon"  sent:

>
>They arrive wearing a backpack.
>They change their shoes at the table.
>They wear black t-shirts and cargo pants.
>They arrive after a class wearing the same clothes and no deodorant.
>They are shy about making direct eye contact in order to dance.
>They walk across the floor to meet their partner.
>They accept verbal invitations at their table.
>They ask men to dance.
>They don't observe dancers before they dance.
>They begin dancing as soon as the music starts.
>They expect or try to dance every tanda.
>They dance consecutive tandas with the same man.
>They add embellishments to excess.
>They prefer quantity over quality of partners.
>They will suffer through a tanda just to be dancing.
>They dance with their eyes closed.
>They don't carry a handkerchief to use between dances.
>They share the table with their partner and wonder why locals won't look at
>them.
>They attract the worst dancers.
>They hire a taxi dancer without knowing if he can dance.
>They know they are beginners and believe the milonga is for practicing.
>They are hustled for classes by men who can't dance.
>They arrive early and leave within a short time if they haven't danced.
>They are the only ones doing the 8-step basic.
>They don't feel the music or know the orchestras.
>They believe they have the right to videotape and photograph dancers in the
>milongas.
>They think that every man in the milongas is a milonguero.
>They don't learn or follow the rules of the milonga.
>They attend CITA and go to the milongas to show off their new moves.
>
>
>
>Janis Kenyon
>Buenos Aires
>
>
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