[Tango-L] Socio-ethical behavior

[Charles Roques]

rcgimmi wrote:


<BTW, one strategy that couples can use to increase the number of dances they get in BsAs is to split up and sit in the singles section.  You can dance with your regular partner and maybe get a few with the locals, too. >

It's not a strategy as much as it is a common practice. Often couples arrive together but split up in two sides.  Some milongas are designated for couples only on certain nights (Gricel has a couples night, or used to) so if you were to go solo that night, you probably wouldn't get to dance with anyone.

<Sorry to report that women who arrive with partners are often regarded as their partner's property and left alone.>  

It is considered bad manners to ask someone's date to dance if they are together—that is why they split up. 

<Catch is:  don't come in separately, sit separately and then leave the venue together at the same time.  Leave separately and meet out on the sidewalk or close by the entrance. Otherwise, the woman can wind up with a bad reputation.  This matters if you go back to the same milonga and crowd on another evening.>

That is not necessarily true.  As stated above, couples often arrive together but split up to dance, but then leave together. The important thing is to be aware of the protocol for that particular milonga or night you are attending.  Milonga protocol varies not only because of these conventions but also because of the DJ or host sponsoring it that night, i.e. the style of music or dancing, nuevo or traditional, so always do a little homework before going randomly to any milonga.

Cheers,
Charles