Tango Etiquette 101
Hello everyone,
As a Tango teacher and organizer I feel it is important to inform you not only about the dance itself but to also educate you about Tango Etiquette. This is both a message to new comers and a reminder to the veterans of the Buffalo Tango community. Those of you who are veterans can help reinforce better Tango Etiquette. It is very important for everyone in any tango community to understand tango etiquette.
There are more "TANGO ETIQUETTE" sites for you at the bottom you can research. Learning as much as you can will help you to become a more well rounded tango dancer and also build your knowledge and confidence as a dancer and as you travel to other communities to dance.
-Where and How of Tango Dancing Tango
There are three main places you will be dancing tango.
1. At a class, lesson or workshop.
2. At a Practica or Tango practice.
3. At a Milonga (formal social dance, place to dance tango)
Tango Etiquette
THE CLASS: While in class the rules are NOT very strict.
You can wear whatever you like. You can talk and communicate with
your partner or teacher in order to help you to grow. It is a time for learning
and asking questions.
THE PRACTICA: Also NOT very strict. Casual dress. A time to work on what you are
learning in class, to ask instructor for assistance or work with other students on new ideas and concepts.
-WHEN DANCING: Dance in the line of dance (counter clockwise)
-WHEN PRACTICING: If you would like to practice or work on a certain movement please move off the dance floor to practice/Instruct. You can either move off the floor completely or move to the middle and out of the traffic of dancers who are still dancing.
Once you are finished (carefully) move back onto the dance floor. This will help allow room for those who would like to dance. ---
-SWITCH PARTNERS. Resist the urge to dance with the same people all night.
***Leaders, make it your number one goal to dance with every single lady at the Practica/Milonga. It will make the ladies very happy and it will make you both better as dancers. Last RESPECT THE MUSIC! Listen to the music...it is beautiful : ) Try not to talk when dancing.
THE BIG SHOW "THE MILONGA"
The "RULES of the Milonga" The more you understand the rules, the more you will do them and the more that you do them the better the dancing environment will be in Buffalo.
The 3 Big Ones. (you can find more at the links below)
1. The Milonga is for dancing ONLY. There should never be instruction or teaching given by anyone at any time for any reason. Period. That's what classes and practicas are for. A Milonga is for dancing ONLY.
2. "NO TALKING WHILE DANCING at a MILONGA" There should not be any talking while dancing at a Milonga. The music is the inspiration for our movements in Tango. If you are talking, you are not listening to the music. It is also very rude to the other dancers on the floor who ARE trying to listen.
3. Follow the line of dance. The line if dance is like a road. Follow the rules of the road. DO NOT cut across the floor or in front of other dancers. ONLY Dance in the space you have. On more crowded dance floors you may not have as much room. These are the times when close embrace is best/safer. LEADERS!!! For your own safety and for the safety of your parter and the dancers around you...you MUST be aware of the space you have and only dance in that space. You should try to NEVER EVER bump into another dancer. If it happens, kindly apologize. If the floor is crowded resist from leading boleos, gachos, and other such movements. There is nothing worse that kicking someone or being kicked or stepped on (ask any women), Keep in mind in traditional Argentine tango the woman's feet rarely left the ground. See here: A Milonga in Buenos Aires http://www.tangoandchaos.org/chapt_5video/23giros.htm Notice how he dances, the embraces, the space he uses and his musicality with the music.
GENERAL RULE. For those on the side, sitting or not dancing. Do not stand in the "road" or line of dance and although it is ok to socialize when not dancing do so in a quiet fashion so your voices/laughter do not distract those dancing.
-NOT A RULE, but a suggestion: Dress to Impress and again leaders make it your goal each evening to dance with as many women as you can.
The Buffalo Tango Community is growing each day and I am amazed to see all the incredible tango dancers. I hope you will take this information (and any your read from the links below) and use it. Tango is not just a dance , but it is an attitude. Happy dancing everyone. Please feel free to ask me any question you have.
Here are some links to check out. Tango Terms you should know.
Cabeceo: (The invitation to dance)
Misic: (What are Tandas and Cortinas)
More Tango Etiquette: