Jack, I typically chat with old friends in-between the songs, because we usually only meet at Festivals, and neither of us is going to be sitting down to chat. So, in order to catch up and to be interested in each others lives and developments, that occurs in-between the songs. Typically this chat gets put on hold and dancing begins at that 2nd measure mark, much like in BsAs.
What I've read about the chit chat in BsAs and it's origins, was that was the only chance for a young suitor to talk to the girl with whom he was dancing with, because it would not have been proper to sit next to her after the dancing; she was there with a chaperone. Remember the strong Catholic roots of South America and how difficult it is/was for a young man to get to know a young, proper, woman, and to impress her. JK ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 22:43:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Jack Dylan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Labor Day Festival: a complaint To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I also dislike this 30 seconds of chit-chat?on the dance floor. Just what is its purpose? Someone told me it was so that the dancers could hear the music before starting to dance but, IMO,?that just doesn't ring true.. Firstly, they're chatting, not listening and, secondly,?the 5 seconds to make the embrace is surely enough to 'hear' the music. Of course, I might be missing something and I'd appreciate any enlightenment on the reason for this tradition in Buenos Aires. I don't think it happens in other partner dances. Jack _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
