[Tango-L] Milongueros for Hire

[Victor Bennetts]

Janis, my comments are not intended to be a criticism. I also could only afford two weeks in BsAs on my first and only visit and probably wont get back there for some time. I had both good and bad nights there and on the bad nights certainly would have benefited from an arrangement like this one, so I can well understand the benefits and motivation. But I guess reading this sort of post raises all sorts of interesting issues in my mind. The milongueros hold a pretty special position in tango and if they (and potentially other experienced Argentinian dancers) start charging money on a more widespread basis for social dancing, what is that going to do to the Milonga scene over there in general? Secondly, why is it valid to pay them for social dances, but presumably not the many other experienced dancers around the world? I don't know the answers to these sorts of questions, but I do know what I feel, which is that tango (i.e. the social dancing part) must always be absolutely free! Its libertango after all, right :-).

Victor Bennetts
________________________________________
From: tango-l-bounces at mit.edu [tango-l-bounces at mit.edu] On Behalf Of Janis Kenyon [Jantango at feedback.net.ar]
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2007 10:28 AM
To: Tango-L
Subject: [Tango-L] Milongueros for Hire

Victor Bennetts wrote:

...it also makes me think that tango then becomes a bit like a fast food
where you just order up your dance partner.>


A trip to Buenos Aires is an investment of time and money.  Few foreigners
have the luxury of living six months in Buenos Aires--the time it takes to
become known in the milongas.  In the near future, there won't be any more
milongueros.  I can name a dozen who are in poor health and who no longer
dance.

Women who hire one of the many taxi dancers available have one partner for
the afternoon or evening.  The group of European women I mentioned had six
different milongueros during four hours.  They were all tall, slim women
over 50 dancing with men 65-83.  I saw smiles on all of their faces.  I
didn't have to ask if it was worth the money.  They hired the same men for
six nights.  Their dancing probably improved as a result.  They didn't have
to deal with the cabeceo since the men were ready for every tanda.  This
week they will be going to the milongas alone and without arranged partners.

I had to make five trips over three years before I danced with a milonguero.
First-time visitors can hire a milonguero.  Call it fast food or whatever
you want.  I call it the only way to dance with the best while they are
still around.




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