Tango Dance ("Milonga") Etiquette & Helpful Hints To the experienced dancers, the following guidelines of Tango dance etiquette are usually well known but not often discussed. For new dancers, it's good to know what's what to help avoid embarrassing, awkward, or unsafe situations. In any case, following these guidelines can help to maximize your Tango dance experience not only at Java Milonga, but in any milonga.
1. At a milonga (tango dance gathering), couples dance counter-clockwise around the dance floor called a "ronda". The faster "lanes" are those toward the outside of the counter-clockwise line of dance. The slower "lanes" are toward the center. As you dance, refrain from cutting across these lanes, cutting through the center, and dancing backward to the line-of dance, especially on a crowded dance floor.
2. If you are not dancing, show respect to those who are by not walking through the busy dance floor and by staying clear of the dance space. For example, while others are dancing, do not stand in the dance lanes and talk (this is only okay if it is the first 20 seconds of the song.)
3. Unlike a "practica", milonga is not the place to stop the dance to "show" your partner a new step. If you must, move to a distant comer or non-dance area for your demonstration and discussion.
4. The safety of your partner and surrounding dancers is your first concern. Both leader and follower should always be alert to the presence of other dancers in front, to the sides and behind to help avoid collisions. If a collision occurs, try to soften it by bringing your arms in and stopping movement. Then look at the other couple and try to catch their eye for a friendly acknowledgment of the crash. Afterward be polite and friendly, even if it was not your fault. To a large extent, dancing on a crowded Tango dance floor is an exercise in avoiding collisions in a safe, creative, and fun fashion.
5. No one likes being kicked, run into, or stepped on, so on a crowded dance floor avoid aggressive movements, high boleos, hard-hitting ganchos, and leg extensions. Also, leaders keep your left arm down and about shoulder height with your left elbow down and fairly close to your side. It's no fun having to duck on a crowded dance floor when another dancer swings around with their partner and the lead's left hand is three feet out in the air and three inches from your nose.
6. On a crowded dance floor, "showing off" with large or elaborate performance steps in the outer fast lane is frowned upon, since it usually stops dancers coming from behind from making forward progress and it usually involves steps that are not safe to the surrounding dancers. Remember it's not the Olympics or "show time"; it's a social dance, so relax and have fun. If you have to, move to the center of the floor where you can stop and do multiple ochos or molinetes, for example, and not stop forward line-of-dance movement.
7. Leaders, if you absolutely must take a step backwards to the line-of dance, first look back. For the followers, as any dance pattern unfolds, be alert to dancers potentially in the way and let the leader know of a possible collision verbally, by a hand squeeze, or by pulling your partner closer, or all of the above, especially on a crowded dance floor. (This is preferable to turning to stone in terror.)
8. If a dance couple in front of you stops, it does not mean you need to stop too. You can continue dancing on the spot: practice your tight turns; rock step, or slow down, etc.until they move.
9. Followers, do not back-lead. Not only does it make leading more difficult but it also makes it more difficult for the leader to avoid collisions. (Advance dancer followers may bring playfulness into the partnership breaking this rule at times deliberately, mostly interrupting the lead for possible adornments)
10. It is okay to smile and have fun. Depending on the circumstances, brief quiet conversing while dancing may be acceptable.
11. For the more experienced dancers, set a good example for beginners: be patient, polite, and sensitive. It is acceptable to give advice, provided that it is requested or ask permission to make an "observation" or a "comment". Remember that you were once a beginner. A harsh or insensitive, but well intended, "comment" can ruin someone's evening.
12. Argentine Tango is an intimate and elegant dance. For a pleasant experience good hygiene is essential; bathe before lessons or dancing. Use breath fresheners if necessary. Hold off on the aftershave or perfume keeping in mind that some people may be allergic or sensitive to strong smells. If you perspire, use a towel or handkerchief often in between dances. As a rule most people don't like to dance with partners that are walking wet towels (in the literal sense); if you tend to perspire heavily, use a towel or take a break to cool down - men, bring an extra shirt if necessary and change at half-time.
13. If you wear glasses, consider contact lenses or removing your glasses while dancing unless you can't see where you're dancing. Getting whacked in the head with someone's glasses as they turn their head is no fun for either person.
14. When asked to dance there are 2 possible responses: 1. 'Yes, thank you.' In this case, you should complete the tanda unless a good reason not do so: partner being rude for example. 2. 'No, thanks anyway but I'm sitting this one out.' If you elect 2, then you should sit it out the entire tanda.
15. Most milongas have very well adapted to the "cabeceo" tradition of Buenos Aires milongas. This is the invitation by eye contact and nodding. To avoid possible embarrassments, it is best for a follower to sit and wait for the leader to come near as cabeceo may have been from a distant and relate to the follower sitting next to you.
Tango is a means by which love can spread throughout the world. You can treat the dance as such by dancing with both grace and humility. In your journey towards being a good tango dancer, resist becoming too critical or callous. In Zen Buddhism one is encouraged to have a "beginner's mind" that is open and receptive and to avoid or actively work against developing the "expert mind" which is closed and narrow in its points of view, opinionated, and ultimately uninterested in other opinions or experiences. In ballet, also, one is taught from the start that the best dancers always remain humble, open-minded and are, in fact, the best students. This mentality can be applied to tango as well.
1. At a milonga (tango dance gathering), couples dance counter-clockwise around the dance floor called a "ronda". The faster "lanes" are those toward the outside of the counter-clockwise line of dance. The slower "lanes" are toward the center. As you dance, refrain from cutting across these lanes, cutting through the center, and dancing backward to the line-of dance, especially on a crowded dance floor.
2. If you are not dancing, show respect to those who are by not walking through the busy dance floor and by staying clear of the dance space. For example, while others are dancing, do not stand in the dance lanes and talk (this is only okay if it is the first 20 seconds of the song.)
3. Unlike a "practica", milonga is not the place to stop the dance to "show" your partner a new step. If you must, move to a distant comer or non-dance area for your demonstration and discussion.
4. The safety of your partner and surrounding dancers is your first concern. Both leader and follower should always be alert to the presence of other dancers in front, to the sides and behind to help avoid collisions. If a collision occurs, try to soften it by bringing your arms in and stopping movement. Then look at the other couple and try to catch their eye for a friendly acknowledgment of the crash. Afterward be polite and friendly, even if it was not your fault. To a large extent, dancing on a crowded Tango dance floor is an exercise in avoiding collisions in a safe, creative, and fun fashion.
5. No one likes being kicked, run into, or stepped on, so on a crowded dance floor avoid aggressive movements, high boleos, hard-hitting ganchos, and leg extensions. Also, leaders keep your left arm down and about shoulder height with your left elbow down and fairly close to your side. It's no fun having to duck on a crowded dance floor when another dancer swings around with their partner and the lead's left hand is three feet out in the air and three inches from your nose.
6. On a crowded dance floor, "showing off" with large or elaborate performance steps in the outer fast lane is frowned upon, since it usually stops dancers coming from behind from making forward progress and it usually involves steps that are not safe to the surrounding dancers. Remember it's not the Olympics or "show time"; it's a social dance, so relax and have fun. If you have to, move to the center of the floor where you can stop and do multiple ochos or molinetes, for example, and not stop forward line-of-dance movement.
7. Leaders, if you absolutely must take a step backwards to the line-of dance, first look back. For the followers, as any dance pattern unfolds, be alert to dancers potentially in the way and let the leader know of a possible collision verbally, by a hand squeeze, or by pulling your partner closer, or all of the above, especially on a crowded dance floor. (This is preferable to turning to stone in terror.)
8. If a dance couple in front of you stops, it does not mean you need to stop too. You can continue dancing on the spot: practice your tight turns; rock step, or slow down, etc.until they move.
9. Followers, do not back-lead. Not only does it make leading more difficult but it also makes it more difficult for the leader to avoid collisions. (Advance dancer followers may bring playfulness into the partnership breaking this rule at times deliberately, mostly interrupting the lead for possible adornments)
10. It is okay to smile and have fun. Depending on the circumstances, brief quiet conversing while dancing may be acceptable.
11. For the more experienced dancers, set a good example for beginners: be patient, polite, and sensitive. It is acceptable to give advice, provided that it is requested or ask permission to make an "observation" or a "comment". Remember that you were once a beginner. A harsh or insensitive, but well intended, "comment" can ruin someone's evening.
12. Argentine Tango is an intimate and elegant dance. For a pleasant experience good hygiene is essential; bathe before lessons or dancing. Use breath fresheners if necessary. Hold off on the aftershave or perfume keeping in mind that some people may be allergic or sensitive to strong smells. If you perspire, use a towel or handkerchief often in between dances. As a rule most people don't like to dance with partners that are walking wet towels (in the literal sense); if you tend to perspire heavily, use a towel or take a break to cool down - men, bring an extra shirt if necessary and change at half-time.
13. If you wear glasses, consider contact lenses or removing your glasses while dancing unless you can't see where you're dancing. Getting whacked in the head with someone's glasses as they turn their head is no fun for either person.
14. When asked to dance there are 2 possible responses: 1. 'Yes, thank you.' In this case, you should complete the tanda unless a good reason not do so: partner being rude for example. 2. 'No, thanks anyway but I'm sitting this one out.' If you elect 2, then you should sit it out the entire tanda.
15. Most milongas have very well adapted to the "cabeceo" tradition of Buenos Aires milongas. This is the invitation by eye contact and nodding. To avoid possible embarrassments, it is best for a follower to sit and wait for the leader to come near as cabeceo may have been from a distant and relate to the follower sitting next to you.
Tango is a means by which love can spread throughout the world. You can treat the dance as such by dancing with both grace and humility. In your journey towards being a good tango dancer, resist becoming too critical or callous. In Zen Buddhism one is encouraged to have a "beginner's mind" that is open and receptive and to avoid or actively work against developing the "expert mind" which is closed and narrow in its points of view, opinionated, and ultimately uninterested in other opinions or experiences. In ballet, also, one is taught from the start that the best dancers always remain humble, open-minded and are, in fact, the best students. This mentality can be applied to tango as well.
