My final post for the participants of my tango workshops in Singapore.
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What is a Milonga?
After the numerous classes, workshops and practicas, what is the ultimate aim of learning argentine tango? To dance in the milongas! Of course!
A milonga is a dance party where all tango lovers come to socialize, listen to nice tango music, check out the scene and most importantly dance!
Why go milongas?
Now we have group classes, private classes, practicas and numerous classes. Long time ago when tango first started, no one took the dance seriously in this academic way, nor did they have the money to pay for classes.
What they did have, is a sense of pride; not to be a worse dancer than the guy standing beside him; a great sense of old school chivalry, an unspoken promise to the women in their arms that they will enjoy the best of times while dancing with him.
So how did they learn then? The milongas were their school. The senior milongueros and milongueras were their teachers. Lessons were given out of passion for the dance.
These days, even with classes and practicas, a milonga is still the best learning environment. No matter how much you practise in front of the mirror or with your partner, that ocho cortado move, that little boleo embellishment; you will never be sure you got that move correctly until you try it with different partners on a social dance floor.
Roles of Men and Women
I really love what Cacho said in one of his interviews, "(On the milongueros) The pleasure he feels, he transfers with elegance to the woman's body. She, in turns, follows him, generally with eyes closed. She follows like a perfume he is wearing, she sticks together in this joyful journey..."
"... There are also many milongueras(women tango dancers), many, and very good. They are ageless. Their posture, the charm of their footstep, and the subtleties of their movements make for the man's inspirations, and it's them who make the man shine. They are simply chiche bombon!!!"
In this dance, it is really a gentlemanly invitation by the men for the ladies to join them in a good time. Women are queens and men are their knights. The things men do, are really inspired by the desire to make women happy. Women also allow themselves to be treated like a real lady; rare in this sexless modern society of ours. In turn, in their own lady like ways, inspire the men during the dance to greater heights.
Tango is really a 50 – 50 conversational dance. Not a chauvinistic lead and follow dance as commonly misunderstood.
Etiquette
In a dance so close and sensual, there are some general common sense etiquettes to be observed.
- Smell nice. Wear perfume or deodorant.
- Be polite.
- Don't be afraid to say no to a dance; likewise don't be offended or afraid to ask again after being turned down. This is after all a social dance; you get to choose who you want to dance with, no obligations nor pressure.
There are many more tips, you can refer to my blog post 'Practical Tips for the Social Dance Floor'.
