2587  Tango Mixers ?

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 15:27:30 +1200
From: Mel Roddie <melroyr@SLINGSHOT.CO.NZ>
Subject: Re: Tango Mixers ?

Phil brought up the subject of mixers at milongas:

At one of our monthly Milongas, Maida, the hostess, has a 'Birthday dance'.
Whoever has a birthday that month is called out and a little cake,or two, presented, they blow the candles and a photo is taken.
They then dance a solo tango, or maybe vals, and as they dance others step up and 'cut in'.
This is a bit like the snowball waltz in ballroom, however it is only those having a birthday that remain on the floor, others get up to =
dance with them and then sit down when 'cut out'.
It is only for one Tango/Vals.

When it is my birthday I get all these women cutting in to dance with me, boy am I special !!
I even turned around to see one of my male friends cutting in to dance with me !
That was pretty funny, and must have been even funnier to watch !

It is lighthearted and fun, and we all get a piece of cake !!
Our milongas are usually not large, maybe 30 - 40 average.
The rest of the milonga has the usual tandas and cortinas with maybe little rock and roll or salsa.
I remember dancing in BsAs a couple of years ago and thinking how funny it was to hear Creedence Clearwater Revival playing between the =
tandas.

There are other types mixers, but I'm not sure how well they would work in the Tango context.
'Progressive Tango', where you all change partners when somebody calls out .... no thanks !

This little 'Birthday dance' seems to work nicely, its not too long and you still dance tango.
It's probably not even a true mixer as everone does not get mixed with everyone else.
But it's nice so I thought I'd share it
Thanks,
Mel.