gmane.recreation.dance.tango.tango-l

Re: Buenos Aires - Milonga Codes

2012-05-23T18:04:28

So very perfect Sergio!!!!....such harsh  criticisms and comments on  the 
list about such a beautiful social, cultural custom.  If this  aggression is 
in your head, what must your dancing be like...the dancers in BA  are not 
machines that try to crank out as many dances as possible in one evening  or 
matinee...not only don't they start dancing as soon as the music starts, they 
 dance far fewer steps to each song, there is really far less movement than 
in  our US milongas...all this leads to LONGEVITY with out tire or injury.  
It  is a very valuable strategy deployed to enable dancers to dance all 
night.  
 
And a really good milonga has its own character and pulse and everyone  
through their sensitivity has the shared sense about when the floor is going to 
 start moving.  People who want more chat, pull themselves out of the dance 
 lanes so as not to interrupt.  And the chatting in my opinion is a bit  
humorous from a foreigner's point of view, usually following the lines of: 
Where  are you from, when did you arrive, when are you leaving, where do you 
stay, what  is your name, where else do you dance.  If they recognize you from 
a  previous trip(and they always do since they have great memories of dance 
styles)  they will say : when did you arrive, when are you leaving, etc, 
etc...IF you  only learn how to speak enough spanish to answer these routine 
questions, you  will be a big hit!!!
 
I don't know why people travel if not to learn and absorb some of the most  
wonderful customs and culture of another country...other people might just 
have  it right...and if you incorporate these principles in your own life 
and  experiences, you may have a better time than you think you are having 
now.   Sherrie
 
 
In a message dated 5/22/2012 2:08:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
sergiovandekier990< at >hotmail.com writes:


Every code has an important reason to exist, some times more  than one; 
that reason may only exist in Argentina and in this case the code is  not 
understood or necessary abroad .  If you are a lady who comes to the  milonga 
alone, you have to be perceived as unattached for  men to ask you  to dance.  
You show this condition by entering the milonga alone or in  company of other 
women, greeting briefly some friends, men and ladies; a kiss  on the cheek 
is no problem. You sit alone or in company of other ladies. You  do not talk 
to a particular man. You accept the dance with cabeceo and stand  up 
waiting for the man to come close to your table or walk towards him and  meet 
halfway. When a tango ends and while you wait for the next one to start,  this 
is the only chance you have to chat with that particular man. The  
conversation could be an invitation to a cup of coffee after the dance or  about the 
weather.  In case of a date, both the man and the woman wish to  keep the 
"unattached condit!
ion" (for the time being) and therefore they  leave the milonga alone as 
they came. They meet later in certain place  described during the "chat". 
Another reason for the rest (talking or not) in  between pieces of music, is 
that a good tango dancer has the need to wait for  a moment to get the feeling 
of the music before he starts to dance. The same  as when he arrives to the 
milonga, he must sit and relax for a while,  absorbing the ambiance, 
studying his posibilities in reference to possible  dancing partners, perhaps 
having a drink, etc., before he starts  dancing.  The conversation we are 
discussing is very brief, a few  seconds, the duration depends on when the couple 
in front of you starts  moving, it does (it should) not disrupt the ronda at 
all. Best regards,   Sergio                      
_______________________________________________
Tango-L mailing  list
Tango-L< at >mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l

Re: chacarera skirts

2012-05-24T00:00:37

At the Argentine Association in LA the dj will play the first few bars and stop the music just to let everyone know to jump up and get ready then he starts to from the beginning. He plays it around 11:00...fun
David 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

----- Reply message -----
From: "Trini y Sean \(PATangoS\)" <patangos< at >yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, May 23, 2012 9:06 am
Subject: [Tango-L] chacarera skirts
To: <tango-l< at >mit.edu>

Hi Tiffo,

At the weekly milonga that we host, the chacarera is played after the second milonga tanda of the evening, and we just prefer to play one chacarera.  So the flow is

milonga tanda
cortina
chacarera
cortina

It works out well, and people have learned to expect it.   Sometimes the DJ will announce it during the cortina, but people also have fun rushing up onto the floor and joining in when they hear the music.  It's all very light-hearted.  It fits in with the relaxed atmosphere of our milonga, which is free and takes place at a bar.  The other weekly milonga, which is a little more formal, does their chararera at the very end, after La Cumparsita.  It's a fun way to end the evening and start the clean-up process.

Argentine teachers like it when a tango community is interested enough in their culture that they learn the chacarera.  There's interest in learning more folkloric dances, as well.  

Part of the appeal of the chacarera is the flirtiness of it, which was emphasized to us when the community learned it.  The constant eye contact with your partner, the lady showing off her skirt and then taking it away, the man showing off for the lady with the zapateo, the getting close and then moving away.  That is very similar to tango.

Trini de Pittsburgh

--- On Mon, 5/14/12, Tiffo D <nntp-posting-host< at >hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Tiffo D <nntp-posting-host< at >hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] chacarera skirts
To: tango-l< at >mit.edu
Date: Monday, May 14, 2012, 4:14 PM

A general comment: How is chacarera related to tango?  
I dislike how it is played at tango events.  It seems just because it is Argentinian, it MUST be embraced, but to me it is out of place.
I would rather salsa than do the "steps" of chacarera.

_______________________________________________
Tango-L mailing list
Tango-L< at >mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
_______________________________________________
Tango-L mailing list
Tango-L< at >mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l

chatting during the cortinas

Tango 22 — 2012-05-25T06:40:28

Sergio comments............The conversation we are discussing is very brief, a 
few seconds, the duration depends on when the couple in front of you 
starts moving, it does (it should) not disrupt the ronda at all.

This is why one wonders if this pleasant custom has become a boorish affectation, with at least a minute of loud conversation before every song where one can't hear a thing, let alone absorb and consider the upcoming song (often given as a reason).  never saw Tete do it; he loved the dance too much.
John

New in the appstore: Tango app "Tango Curso"

Ricardo "El holandés" — 2012-05-25T05:32:52

We like to inform you that in the appstore we uploaded a new tango 
app "Tango curso" version 1.1 (fixed in-app purchases)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tango-curso/id500129550?l=de&ls=1&mt=8
the app is free i hope you like it!


Ricardo



Discription app:

Free app with a presentation of tango classes: Tango de Salón, Tango 
de Fantasía, Milonga and Vals

The free app contains:
oA survey of the course material
oDances showing the content of every class
oOne chapter of every class (the others may be purchased)
oTexts for every class
oText and video on Buenos Aires
oRicardo´s CV
oVideo interview with Ricardo

All other chapters of the respective classes may be individually 
purchased as downloads.

The lessons
oare well-structured.
ocontain all basics, but also sequences for very advanced dancers.
oexplain the most important sequences as well as how to dance in the 
salón, posture, musicality, adornos etc.
oare well-balanced. Rotraut demonstrates and explains the womens´ 
steps at equal length and depth as does Ricardo with regard to the 
men.
oare perfect for all who wish to learn tango as it is danced all 
over the world in the salón
owere filmed in one of the famous Buenos Aires salóns, "Sin Rumbo"

About Ricardo:
Ricardo has been teaching tango argentino since 1990. He studied with 
famous maestros in Buenos Aires where he lived for 14 years, and 
where he still visits on a regular basis. Under the name of "Ricardo 
y Nicole" he achieved recognition as a dancer, teacher and producer 
of, among others, the first series of tango classes on video "Curso 
de Tango". 

With his current partner, Rotraut Rumbaum, he has been dedicating 
himself to tango de salón which they have been teaching across 
Europe. 
More information about Ricardo can be found at 
www.tango-argentino.info.

milonga chatting

2012-05-24T02:49:27

So very perfect Sergio!!!!....such harsh  criticisms and comments on 
the list about such a beautiful social, cultural custom.  If this 
aggression is in your head, what must your dancing be like...the 
dancers in BA are not machines that try to crank out as many dances as 
possible in one evening or matinee...not only don't they start dancing 
as soon as the music starts, they dance far fewer steps to each song, 
there is really far less movement than in our US milongas...all this 
leads to LONGEVITY with out tire or injury.  It is a very valuable 
strategy deployed to enable dancers to dance all night.

And a really good milonga has its own character and pulse and everyone 
through their sensitivity has the shared sense about when the floor is 
going to start moving.  People who want more chat, pull themselves out 
of the dance lanes so as not to interrupt.  And the chatting in my 
opinion is a bit humorous from a foreigner's point of view, usually 
following the lines of: Where are you from, when did you arrive, when 
are you leaving, where do you stay, what is your name, where else do 
you dance.  If they recognize you from a previous trip(and they always 
do since they have great memories of dance styles) they will say : when 
did you arrive, when are you leaving, etc, etc...IF you only learn how 
to speak enough spanish to answer these routine questions, you will be 
a big hit!!!

I don't know why people travel if not to learn and absorb some of the 
most wonderful customs and culture of another country...other people 
might just have it right...and if you incorporate these principles in 
your own life and experiences, you may have a better time than you 
think you are having now.  Sherrie

In a message dated 5/22/2012 2:08:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
sergiovandekier990< at >hotmail.com writes:

Every code has an important reason to exist, some times more than one; 
that reason may only exist in Argentina and in this case the code is 
not understood or necessary abroad .  If you are a lady who comes to 
the milonga alone, you have to be perceived as unattached for  men to 
ask you to dance.  You show this condition by entering the milonga 
alone or in company of other women, greeting briefly some friends, men 
and ladies; a kiss on the cheek is no problem. You sit alone or in 
company of other ladies. You do not talk to a particular man. You 
accept the dance with cabeceo and stand up waiting for the man to come 
close to your table or walk towards him and meet halfway. When a tango 
ends and while you wait for the next one to start, this is the only 
chance you have to chat with that particular man. The conversation 
could be an invitation to a cup of coffee after the dance or about the 
weather.  In case of a date, both the man and the woman wish to keep 
the "unattached condit!
ion" (for the time being) and therefore they leave the milonga alone as 
they came. They meet later in certain place described during the 
"chat". Another reason for the rest (talking or not) in between pieces 
of music, is that a good tango dancer has the need to wait for a moment 
to get the feeling of the music before he starts to dance. The same as 
when he arrives to the milonga, he must sit and relax for a while, 
absorbing the ambiance, studying his posibilities in reference to 
possible dancing partners, perhaps having a drink, etc., before he 
starts dancing.  The conversation we are discussing is very brief, a 
few seconds, the duration depends on when the couple in front of you 
starts moving, it does (it should) not disrupt the ronda at all. Best 
regards,  Sergio
_______________________________________________
Tango-L mailing list
Tango-L< at >mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l

chatting during the cortinas

2012-05-24T02:44:18

One more thing about the chat custom....it is a way to convey charm,to 
amuse, entertain, make yourself indelible in the memory of the partner. 
   Portenos have a wonderful sense of humor and if you can play any sort 
of word trick, pun or even sing songy answer to the question and answer 
period you will be remembered forever.  Reminder: this is fun, social 
interaction, not life and death black belt tango dancing.  Charm....a 
word mostly lost in our parlance and behavior...good to retrieve, 
revive and practice....a good charm offensive goes a long way...to 
providing enjoyment and memorability.  sherrie

AUTO: John Sing/San Jose/IBM is speaking at IBM Conference in Berlin, returning on 5/26/12 (returning 05/26/2012)

John Sing — 2012-05-23T22:04:12


I am out of the office until 05/26/2012.

I will traveling on IBM business returning on 5/26/12.

My manager is:  Pete Potosky/Rochester/IBM,  phone:1-720-396-3347


Note: This is an automated response to your message  "Tango-L Digest, Vol
74, Issue 7" sent on 05/23/2012 10:20:15.

This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away.

Re: chacarera skirts

Trini y Sean (PATangoS — 2012-05-23T16:06:14

Hi Tiffo,

At the weekly milonga that we host, the chacarera is played after the second milonga tanda of the evening, and we just prefer to play one chacarera.  So the flow is

milonga tanda
cortina
chacarera
cortina

It works out well, and people have learned to expect it.   Sometimes the DJ will announce it during the cortina, but people also have fun rushing up onto the floor and joining in when they hear the music.  It's all very light-hearted.  It fits in with the relaxed atmosphere of our milonga, which is free and takes place at a bar.  The other weekly milonga, which is a little more formal, does their chararera at the very end, after La Cumparsita.  It's a fun way to end the evening and start the clean-up process.

Argentine teachers like it when a tango community is interested enough in their culture that they learn the chacarera.  There's interest in learning more folkloric dances, as well.  

Part of the appeal of the chacarera is the flirtiness of it, which was emphasized to us when the community learned it.  The constant eye contact with your partner, the lady showing off her skirt and then taking it away, the man showing off for the lady with the zapateo, the getting close and then moving away.  That is very similar to tango.

Trini de Pittsburgh

 


--- On Mon, 5/14/12, Tiffo D <nntp-posting-host< at >hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Tiffo D <nntp-posting-host< at >hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] chacarera skirts
To: tango-l< at >mit.edu
Date: Monday, May 14, 2012, 4:14 PM


A general comment: How is chacarera related to tango?  
I dislike how it is played at tango events.  It seems just because it is Argentinian, it MUST be embraced, but to me it is out of place.
I would rather salsa than do the "steps" of chacarera.

flor de tango a great radio show on the web

gaby luna — 2012-05-22T16:38:48

http://www.radiocasbah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192&Itemid=47

Re: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires

Alexis Cousein — 2012-05-22T14:44:15

 > the cortina is for clearing the floor not for dancing
 > that's why it's not tango usually rock n roll.
They weren't even _on_ the floor; I'd advise not to
jump to conclusions without reading carefully.

And there are actually BsAs  milongas --certainly barrio
ones for people who're there with friends and family-- where
people will happily dance part of the cortinas. I was told
that was unchanged two weeks ago, so unless the sky suddenly
caved in there's a lot of overgeneralisation in that comment.

Not _everything_ in BsAs is one of the staunchest of El Beso milongas
(or wherever it may have moved to recently, depending on the
former El Beso milonga you pick).

To "zutalors": No, that's not the atmosphere the codigas are meant
to foster. Which doesn't mean I agree with your general statements;
it's not just because some codigas are old and from BsAs that they
may not be useful outside of BsAs and now.

Some are, some aren't, and some are actually more or less
neogtiated by the dancers and it's futile to try to resist.

If everyone chats for 30 seconds and you try to make forward
progress at the first line of even the intro --puzzling,
since you need a lot of time to successfully renegotiate the
embrace, something which I often do while talking since I'm an
inveterate chatterer-- you're acting quite the ass (British
English meaning), and if everyone not only has embraced
but has started moving and you're not even embracing and engaging
in idle chatter instead, if you don't move at least _almost_ out of
the way until you're ready to move you're also being an ass
(you also rob yourself of the opportunity to pick the leaders
in front and behind you that you trust to form a good ronda train).

But even for other dancers, common sense is also advisable. If
you see two people chat and they're in your lane, then bumping
them is not the best option. Slowly dancing close enough to
eavesdrop in on the conversation usually fixes the issue quite
rapidly ;). It's not like it's impossible to dance tango without
making forward progress, unless the back of the queue is
made out of "squeezer leaders" who try to squeeze you out in
another lane.

Re: chacarera skirts

Alberto Gesualdi — 2012-05-21T14:12:46

well... how is chacarera related to tango ...
not in the way that it could be considered. We have to remember, what was happening with tango dance, in Buenos Aires , on the 60`s and 70`s . It was gone, except for a few places , where milongueros and milongueras gathered to have some dancing.
as a school of dance, there were many so called "Peñas" , places where people take lessons to dance, or gathered for a social encounter. Buenos Aires used to receive, and still does, many people from the provinces.
so , the santiagueños, from the province of Santiago del Estero, has their "Peñas", the tucumanos from Tucuman, their Peñas, etc..
On the early 80`s , since the tango was having some comeback, after Tango argentino at Le trottoir de Pairs, and later the boom of Tango Argentino on Broadway, some of this Peñas of folklore, introduce some tango music.
Also some pupils of folklore like Carlos Rivarola, and other young persons -like "Los Ocampo , he is a formerly dancer of El Chucaro and Norma Viola ballet"( early 80`s) started to take for themselves tango lessons. There were no place to take lessons, such as chacarera , zamba, gato, escondido, who have their space , beside the "Peñas" , on oficial schools of fance, of the Town Hall of Buenos Aires.
The school of dance Maria Ruanova , has been promoting native dance teachers for the last 50 years, as well as other institutios, like the "Escuela Nacional de Danzas Nro 1 Nelly Ramicone", that on year 2011 after 37 years, have their own premises in a new build place , excellent place , I have been for a party celebrating this new building and collecting funds for the graduate travel of pupils.
This school of native dances mentioned, has recently also, an extension on Tango dance .
to end with, it is not the tango came first, and then appear la chacarera or la zamba, is the contrary, places for native dances like the "Peñas" were actively on the 60`s and 70`s , while the tango was fading. Then on the 80`s tango come back.
The milonga "Almagro" started at Club Almagro, on a space allowed for a "Peña" of native dances.
The Susana Tango Pial, a great milonga, is host by Peña El Pial , a long time "Peña"
on personal preferences, nothing is to be said, those who like salsa or brasilian samba besides chacarera, gato, escondido or argentine zamba.... as far as the DJ of the place, have so many music to offer... but it looks more like an end of the year ballroom this offer, with so many different , music.
alberto
buenos aires
p.s. chacarera, zamba, are dances of seduction , the use of handkerchiefs on argentine zamba, is not for wipe the perspiration or clean the nose , but to make a seduction of the woman throughout the dance, when the dance ends, both handkerchiefs are entangled
ure

________________________________
De: Tiffo D <nntp-posting-host< at >hotmail.com>
Para: tango-l< at >mit.edu
Enviado: lunes, 14 de mayo de 2012 17:14
Asunto: Re: [Tango-L] chacarera skirts

A general comment: How is chacarera related to tango?
I dislike how it is played at tango events. It seems just because it is Argentinian, it MUST be embraced, but to me it is out of place.
I would rather salsa than do the "steps" of chacarera.

_______________________________________________
Tango-L mailing list
Tango-L< at >mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l

Re: Chacarera

Alberto Gesualdi — 2012-05-21T13:56:19

yes , a beautiful chacarera, really.
 
argentine zamba, is with "Z"like Zulu , samba with"s" is the brasilian dance .
 
argentine zamba, an icon , sung by "Los chalchaleros" zamba de mi esperanza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98I_nZ7JPtU
 
the greatest zamba dancer of ARgentina, El chucaro, with Norma Viola , his counterpart.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMDsflpl-Kc&feature=related
 
--.
brasilian samba , as danced on carnival parades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4a-qbFMAAk&feature=related
 
 
warm re


________________________________
De: robin tara <robinctara< at >gmail.com>
Para: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990< at >hotmail.com> 
CC: Tango-L List <tango-l< at >mit.edu> 
Enviado: domingo, 20 de mayo de 2012 12:35
Asunto: Re: [Tango-L] Chacarera

A beautiful chacarera -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMmGJ6u6lws

and in another related video, a samba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-33DO-jy-34&feature=relmfu

On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 10:09 AM, Sergio Vandekier <
sergiovandekier990< at >hotmail.com> wrote:

Re: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires (WAS chacarera skirts)

2012-05-22T00:34:14

Ah .. would that it were only 30 seconds...
My wife's friend, while in BA, took the trouble to time this phenomenon 
- and it was 1m20s before the last couple stopped talking and used the 
dance floor to actually dance.

Locally, we have a number of exponents of the custom, and often they 
find it necessary to talk beyond a minute while dancers negotiate the 
resultant chicane.. Far from making any effort to be aware of the 
inconvenience they cause, an air of studied indifference is de rigeur. 
It adds to the authenticity, it seems. On one occasion I saw  this 
carried to the extreme, by a particularly staunch adherent spending the 
entire track, hands in pockets, engaged in conversation.

It would be nice to see adherence to a custom of using a little common 
sense.

Roger Edgecombe
Melbourne, Australia.

ATTENZION: Florence/Italy: 'Tango with a View!' STARTSLATER

2012-05-22T09:24:02

We are really unhappy to inform You, that the city of Florence has postponed the beginning of the 'Tango with a View!'
at the Florentine cathedral!

un abrazo
Patricia Muller

Buenos Aires - Milonga Codes

Sergio Vandekier — 2012-05-22T06:07:24

Every code has an important reason to exist, some times more than one; that reason may only exist in Argentina and in this case the code is not understood or necessary abroad . If you are a lady who comes to the milonga alone, you have to be perceived as unattached for men to ask you to dance. You show this condition by entering the milonga alone or in company of other women, greeting briefly some friends, men and ladies; a kiss on the cheek is no problem. You sit alone or in company of other ladies. You do not talk to a particular man. You accept the dance with cabeceo and stand up waiting for the man to come close to your table or walk towards him and meet halfway. When a tango ends and while you wait for the next one to start, this is the only chance you have to chat with that partic
ular man. The conversation could be an invitation to a cup of coffee after the dance or about the weather. In case of a date, both the man and the woman wish to keep the "unattached condit!
ion" (for the time being) and therefore they leave the milonga alone as they came. They meet later in certain place described during the "chat". Another reason for the rest (talking or not) in between pieces of music, is that a good tango dancer has the need to wait for a moment to get the feeling of the music before he starts to dance. The same as when he arrives to the milonga, he must sit and relax for a while, absorbing the ambiance, studying his posibilities in reference to possible dancing partners, perhaps having a drink, etc., before he starts dancing. The conversation we are discussing is very brief, a few seconds, the duration depends on when the couple in front of you starts moving, it does (it should) not disrupt the ronda at all. Best regards, Sergio

Re: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires (WAS chacarera skirts)

Sergey Kazachenko — 2012-05-22T03:51:52

5. The song starts, about half of the couples start dancing, the other
half is still chatting. Navigation is (usually) not an issue, but
hearing the music over the voices is.

Re: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires (WAS chacarera skirts)

Lois Donnay — 2012-05-22T02:28:54

Great subject.  A few other things I note:
Milongas are at different times here - not starting at 11PM!  They are also
shorter.  When I DJ, I choose 3 song tandas, because 4 is too much for all
but the best dancers, and also makes it impossible to dance with lots
of people in 3 or 4 hours.

All these BA codigos should be introduced when the community is ready for
it, not be forced on people.  After all, this should be enjoyable! Being
thrown into a new cultural milieu can be exciting, or miserable when nobody
is comfortable.  After dancing tango worldwide for 16 years now, I believe
there is no milonga in the world like a Buenos Aires milonga nor will ever
be. That's why I go back every year.  And sit and commisserate with the
other US teachers and complain that there are no milongas anywhere else in
the world like a Buenos Aires milonga. :)

Lois
Minneapolis

chatting between songs, was: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires

Robert Dodier — 2012-05-22T02:21:14

Shahrukh,

thanks for your interesting observations. It's always nice to hear
from people in different places.

My $0.02 about talking before the dance begins is based on my
experiences in North America, at regular milongas and festivals.
What I've seen is that festivals have bigger crowds and more
social energy, and that just makes people chatty. What I think I
see is that people are ardently communicating nonverbally while
the dance goes on, then when the song ends, they keep on
communicating -- they just switch to a verbal mode. Then it takes
a while for everybody to switch back to nonverbal mode.

At regular milongas, there typically just isn't the critical mass of
social energy to spark the conversation. Most people just go
back to dancing as soon as the music starts. But sometimes
people do get chatty, which, as a DJ, I take as a very good sign.

As to what people should do, it seems like "when in Rome" is
enough advice.

All the best,

Robert Dodier
Boulder, CO

Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires

Tango 22 — 2012-05-22T00:42:45

On 22/05/2012, at 2:25 AM, tango-l-request< at >mit.edu wrote:

From: Shahrukh Merchant <shahrukh< at >shahrukhmerchant.com>

As always, thoughtful and considered comments from Shahrukh.  A few comments:

2. Use of Tandas and Cortinas.
For those who are old enough to remember the '60's (ahem), live dance music, other than "pub rock", at least in Aus., was always played in brackets (tandas), usually of three songs, with a cortina at the end of each bracket.  The tanda tradition is quite natural for us, though I have found that studio ballroom parties seem to have foregone the tradition.  it was revived by Tango and Latin.

3. Table seating.
We much prefer table seating, for the sociability, though we tend to set tables of 6, rather than the smaller settings often seen in Buenos Aires.  Neither do we escort people to tables or separate singles and couples.  People tend to sit in groups, with friends.

4. Occasional tandas of other dances.
Agree that occasional other dance music can lighten the night.  we tend to select (rock, Latin, Brazilian) on the basis of the expected crowd, but if nobody is dancing, cut the alternative as a cortina.

5. Cabeceo.
Traditionally, we used, and still do, eye-contact as you approach the lady.  I find entering the dance floor an  interesting contrast.  From what I understand, in Buenos Aires, (maybe a bit generalised) the man would stand on the edge of the floor, waiting for the lady.  She will take the embrace with her back to the tables.  From here, the couple can enter the dance without disrupting the flow.  Perhaps this has been replaced by the awful habit of standing in the middle talking through half of each song.  Not sure how traditional this really is, or if the exaggerated version is a more modern phenomenon. (Never saw Tete do it).  Only dancers who want to show their "Argentine cred" tend to do it here.
In our culture, we tended to escort the lady to the floor, walking behind her to a free spot.  I feel this was a result of the tradition of live music variety, where the band leader would announce "Gentlemen, take your partners for a (foxtrot, jive etc).  Some of the dances (maybe 40%) were set pattern or progressive dances (now called New Vogue http://youtu.be/vMil_YSl8Ck) that required the dancers to assemble in a formal circle (ronda).  Once assembled, the band would play.

6. Table reservations.
Agree.  we do it on request, but it is limited.

7. Table service.
Our milongas are either in full service clubs, such as the Skypoint Milonga, (www.skypoint.com.au) or dance / community halls.  At the dance halls we provide complimentary light supper (often the regular dancers contribute.  This contribution maintains and old Aus. tradition that was called, "bring a plate").  Most of these venues are not licenced for alcohol, so the The BYO rule usually applies.  We do have a mild climate all year, so casual outdoor milongas are also popular, not unlike La Glorieta. (see www.paralosninos.net)

Enjoyed the walk down memory lane.
John

Re: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside Buenos Aires

David Leache — 2012-05-21T23:53:07

In BsAs one that dances to the cortina is called an "Idiot" the cortina is for clearing the floor not for dancing that's why it's not tango usually rock n roll.

Sent from my iPad

On May 21, 2012, at 6:21 AM, "zut< at >zutalors.fr" <zut< at >zutalors.fr> wrote:

Re: Buenos Aires Milonga traditions outside BuenosAires(WAS chacarera skirts)

Christian Lüthen — 2012-05-21T19:15:41


Sorry, but I witnessed the same regularly in Buenos Aires just a month ago! Argentinians, not tourists! 

"collisision" = violence *never* is a solution! Neither in tango, nor in politics, nor in general social behaviour! Period! 

Christian






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