[Tango-L] Cabeceo

[Glenn]

I agree that the cabeceo is preferable, but I disagree that it should be enforced.  And women are just as bad as men when it comes to using the cabeceo, "it takes two to cabeceo" ;-) and I think most people (men or woemen) would rather dance than sit on the side as a martyr to the cabeceo.

There are many reasons the cabeceo is not used often:

The biggest problem is the instructors don't spend enough time teaching it.  

Dark venues could be a problem, but I haven't been to many that were too dark for people with normal eyesight.  (Many newer cameras have low light settings, if you must take pictures)

Eyesight is a problem for some who cannot see another person initiating a cabeceo from more than a few feet.

Venue layout can be a big problem.  It is sometimes impossible to get within the other persons field of cabavision.

etc.

Then there are the times when you see someone leaving the dance floor who is obviously distressed from their last partner (most often a newer dancer who may be ready to throw in the towel on tango) and may be oblivious to any cabeceo but would benefit from a considerate verbal request to dance from a caring individual.

Again, to be clear, the cabeceo should be the preferred method of asking for and accepting a dance, but there are valid exceptions.

Glenn


> I wish more people would abandon asking to dance verbally;
> above 
> conversation should never take place and if it does it
> should
> be after the couple has started dancing (and at that time
> in a changed 
> way).  Cabeceo needs to practiced more and enforced, too.
> My friend D from the next town up North has said that women
> should 
> decline verbal invitations and only accept those made by
> using cabeceo (she is a she herself).  Since the men are
> inherently 
> incapable of complying with the old rules the women should
> do the policing for the good of us all, IMHO.  Surely
> doesn't help, 
> though, that the milongas are kept darker than my bedroom.
> One can hardly make out who is sitting on the other side of
> the room.
> 
> Question:  WHY are the milongas in the US kept so
> friggin' dark, 
> anyway?  Isn't the motion and the dance itself 
> 'romantic' enough?
> I don't understand why one needs to have a flashlight
> with them to the 
> milongas.. and this is happening from coast-to-coast in the
> US.,
> even during festivals when one would like to take video and
> photos, but 
> alas, can not.
> 
> Ta.
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