[Tango-L] Let's save the social dance!

[Gary]

Someone wrote:

>
> Nuevo and tango de salon events should be kept separate.
> ...

And someone else wrote:
>
>      It's just not ever going
> to happen.

You might think its "not ever going to happen", but in fact it  
happens a lot, and pretty successfully.  Particular milongas get a  
reputation for having plenty of space for big dancing, or for having  
a good flow of close couples dancing together. Sometimes for having  
each, at different times of the night.

This can be affected by the milonga organiser's choice of venue, and  
of course the music.

Yes, someone will always be unhappy. Its up to each organiser to  
decide what kind of event to run -- ie who to make happy, and who to  
worry less about. Alternative milongas don't worry much about people  
who really don't like to dance tango to alternative music;  
traditional milongas don't worry much about people who need lots of  
space or don't want to dance to traditional tango all night; some  
target people who are happy with a bit of everything, and leave those  
who only like one or the other unhappy.

Both separation and integration provide choices. If you enjoy going  
to events where both big and small tango co-exist on the floor, then  
go to them, but don't be distressed if people who only like one or  
the other don't come. But if you prefer one or the other, then choose  
events that do that, and don't be distressed if people who want both  
don't come.

As a dancer and as an organiser, I choose separation because that's  
what I enjoy and value. Clearly, mileage varies.

GB