[Tango-L] Tango Detente

[Brian Dunn]

--- On Tue, 10/27/09, RonTango <rontango at rocketmail.com> wrote:
What do traditionalists need to do to let attendees know that at their
milongas, one adheres to a line of dance, keeps feet on the floor, and
generally respects the space of other dancers on the floor?... We don't
enjoy playing tango police nearly as much as you think we do. We just want
to dance in peace.
~~~
Trini wrote:
Honestly, I don't understand this not being able to set the tone of the
milonga or develop a reputation such that standards of behavior are not
known.  I really don't.  Certainly not up to the point that it feels as if
one is trying to keep people away...  
I've never had a problem like this...I don't feel a need to separate out
people who do social nuevo steps at our local milongas...Perhaps the
approach should focus on what the milonga organizer stands for, what his/her
image needs to be, and that should be strong enough on its own...
<<<

As much as I might agree with Trini, clearly Ron perceives a problem, a
conflict in need of resolution.  So if we take his question at face value:
"What do traditionalists need to do?..." - we might refer to strategies used
in the past at milongas in Buenos Aires to control attendees' behavior.

I once saw a sign posted at the El Arranque afternoon milonga, mentioning a
dress code requiring slacks for men.  Some Buenos Aires milongas back in the
last century would have signs saying (roughly translated) "Cortes and
Quebradas prohibited" (cortes and quebradas were tango moves that were
considered scandalous by some at the time, and unfit for nice girls to have
to endure at a dance).  

So one approach might be to pick some "nuevo" moves or inconsiderate
behaviors that from the organizer's perspective cause problems to other
dancers, and prohibit them with a sign near the door, where the money will
be taken.  To avoid misunderstanding, perhaps include in the sign some
photos showing the prohibited moves and behaviors.  If necessary, offenders
could simply be offered a refund of the entrada and requested to leave - not
fun, I know, but probably only necessary once or twice before word gets
around a relatively small tango community.

I would think that a simple and obvious step like this would go a very long
way to directly solving the problem as it's defined here.  

On the other hand, milongas (and tango communities in general) are social
networks whose collective behavior can be very difficult to predict. Here's
a cautionary note concerning such direct action (and its unforeseen
consequences):

"You make what you defend against, and by 
Your own defense against it is it real 
And inescapable..."
- A Course in Miracles

All the best,
Brian Dunn
Dance of the Heart
www.danceoftheheart.com
"Building a Better World, One Tango at a Time"