2253  An Invitation to Dance

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 13:45:11 +0000
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: An Invitation to Dance

Luda, this is indeed very beautiful. Where did you find it? Do you know the
author?

J in Portland


----Original Message Follows----

Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 15:57:05 +0000
From: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Invitation to dance

We have discussed this subject many times before.

The important element to keep in mind is that certain codes or rituals of
Buenos Aires cannot or should not be applied in other communities that are
at a different level of development with respect to tango dancing.
Obviously if you wish your tango community to grow you should attract new
comers and make sure everybody has a great time at the dances. Dancing with
beginners makes you a better dancer as you have to discover how to lead
under extraneous conditions.

Buenos Aires has multiple daily milongas with thousands of dancers.
The custom here is that beginners do not go to the milongas, they take
lessons and attend practicas.

Carnival was the time for many beginners to do their "debut" at the milongas
because then they wore masks and nobody knew who they were. :))

The rest of the dancers, intermediate and advanced, go to the milongas of
their preference and generally speaking they dance within their own level.

The milonga is like a private club where sooner or later people know each
other and establish their dancing preference.

There is a tango : Segui mi consejo - Lyrics by Eduardo Tronge, sang by
Carlos Gardel and others that says:

Si vas a los bailes, parate en la puerta,
campanea las minas que sepan bailar,
no saques paquete que dan pisotones...
!Que sufran y aprendan a fuerza'e planchar!

If you go to the milonga, stand by the door,
scope the chicks that know how to dance,
do not invite packages(embarrassments) that step on you...
Let them suffer so that they may learn ironing their dresses by sitting on
them.:))

The person speaking is a street wise no good guy who among other things
says : follow my advise ...Live like a swell. Avoid overwork. Get by on
champagne. Always live your life at night. Ogle the girls who are already
fixed up and it won't cost you any bucks. Avoid milk, its bad for the heart.
Make whisky your friend instead. Take my advice!

There is a solution for every problem, so to assure that everyone can dance
the "taxi dancer" was created. Now almost anyone can have a skilled partner.

Chivalry appears in many ways at the milongas but not as dancing as a
charitable work, after all there is only one Mother Teresa of Calcuta. :))