[Tango-L] Learning vs. Practicing at Milongas (was: dull, dull, dull)

[Shahrukh Merchant]

Caroline says:

> It was only
>> when I stopped classes and practicas and went to milongas only that I
>> finally learned to ditch all the bad habits picked up from classes and
>> rather overly opined beginner leaders in practicas that I discovered
>> what Real Tango is.

No question, as others have pointed out, that the real learning happens 
in the Milonga, but you cannot do all your learning at Milongas without 
being a nuisance to your partner and fellow dancers (especially for the 
man), or without missing or taking an unnecessarily long time to 
incorporate fundamental techniques that will improve your dancing (for 
both men and women).

The way I like to think about it: One learns elements, figures and 
techniques at classes, but one learns _how to dance_ at the Milongas.

This actually brought up in my mind the flip side: the unfortunate 
custom of teaching or practicing at Milongas (as opposed to practicas or 
classes). A lot has been said of this practice, especially of the "know 
it all" man who subjects a victim to an uninvited drawn-out lesson on 
the dance floor, but often enough one sees mutually consenting couples 
practicing some figure or the other at a Milonga as well (I don't mean 
trying to incorporate it into their dancing, but rather reviewing their 
class or favourite step or whatever).

I mainly wanted to repeat a quote on this subject from Danel and Maria, 
which I remember well from my early and formative Tango years back in 
the Stanford Tango weeks:

"You go to a Milonga to dance, not to practice. If you are practicing at 
a Milonga, ask yourself this question: WHAT EVENT IS IT THAT YOU ARE 
PRACTICING FOR?"

Shahrukh