[Tango-L] Tango Gods or Mortals in BsAs

[NANCY]

Oh Mario,

  it is not that the women change, it is that the men, the milongas, the ambiance in BsAs are different!  It begins when I walk in the door of the milonga and am greeted with a kiss by the organizor who says, "Such a long time, I have been thinking it was time to see you again".  Then  the waiter, remembering my preference from a year ago, escorts me to my favorite table.  The DJ nods to me from his booth and makes a mental note that the blonde woman loves tango valzes and he will play an extra one or two in a tanda if he sees me on the floor. And the women nearby rise to greet me with a kiss when I sit down.  So you see, before I ever step out on the floor, I feel valued and cared for and appreciated.  

  Then the dancing with the lovely custom of the cabeceo so that I never am put in the awkward position of having to decline a dance with someone or dance when I am too tired or hot.  Once a partner is selected, he greets me with a kiss and some lovely complimentary words which immediately make me feel adored and beautiful.  He remembers me, my name, where I am from, asks how long I will stay.  (And on my last day he will make an effort to come to the milonga "for our last dance" because he remembers my departure day. Then we dance.  WE do not discuss weight changes or heel leads or style or what is best an open or close embrace.  I cannot imagine  EVER talking about dancing with any of these men except to comment on the music or the floor or the weather ( between tandas). And they never criticize - they are always encouraging and complimentary and express gratitude and amazement when I am able to follow something tricky and they show off for their
friends and tell them how well I dance, too. If, at the end of the tanda, I do what my mama always taught me and say, "thank you", they are likely to reply "It is I who should thank you for the honor of letting me dance with such a divine, elegant, yadda yadda woman."

  And perhaps, Mario, I am a different woman in Buenos Aires but who has the magic wand?  

Nancy


--- On Mon, 4/28/08, Mario <sopelote at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Mario <sopelote at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Tango-L] Are they really Tango Gods?.. or could it be me?
> To: tango-l at mit.edu
> Date: Monday, April 28, 2008, 12:25 PM
> "I know many women who have found that special feeling
> in tango when dancing in the milongas with Argentine men.
> It’s a feeling of security and being protected while
> losing oneself in the music. We can forget all our troubles
> and be present in the moment. No other dance has the feeling
> of tango." 
>    - from Tango Chamuyo  (Blog)
>   http://jantango.wordpress.com/
>    
>   I've heard this same song from so many women that
> I'm beginning to wonder what's up?
>    I'm beginning to think it must be like;  since they
> are not in their usual environment 
>    where they're own cultural buttons are easily pushed
> and where they are under  >the  very scrutinizing eyes of
> all their peers and those with whom they compete, gossip  
> >about, etc. etc.... things are naturally more
> relaxing...and so,  they loosen up themselves  >and quit
> being so on-guard all the time...this theory goes for the
> guys who come back  >from BsAs raving about the portenia
> women, too... 
> 
>        
> ----


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