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" :-) _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l