[Tango-L] Women's power in tango

[Petra Starmans]

​Hello everyone

>The common element in most if not all of these, is that a milonga is a
>*social* event and not a dance competition where you have to pick your
>partner based almost exclusively on dance skill or compatibility.
>(Unfortunately, this seems to be increasingly forgotten at many levels.)

I find that a very good point Shakrukh. Just this morning I discussed with
my partner that those type of milongas seem to be disappearing around here,
where people want to MEET and dance instead of exercise/improve/show their
unspoken ranking.

And women also have the power of dancing with 'not-so-good' dancers in
order to help them gain practice and confidence and so support a lively
community. No good tango dancer ever sprouted from having been turned down
the whole evening. So I guess experienced dancers, be they male or female,
should have the courtesy and grace to accept a couple of tanda's with the
"non-usual suspects". The hard part here is that one seems to lose one's
own silly community ranking by doing so: Ah, if she dances with a guy like
that, she can't be that good and I can't be seen with her too, otherwise it
will spoil my own ranking. Sad story, actually..

Of course I use the power of cabeceo and of looking away, if not
interested. There are dancers which are physically unpleasant, unkempt or
obtrusive. If I end up dancing with such a dancer, I will most definitely
look away next time. And if they return obnoxiously and even stand in front
of me blocking my sight, it can happen I literally and unpolitely tell
them, sorry, I gave you clear sign of not wanting to dance with you.

Petra

"Still living in Zurich where Argentine Tango can be all sorts of things"
:-)






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