On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 12:43 AM, Jack Dylan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 > > > ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Dubravko Kakarigi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> For example, I very much dislike the 20-30 second standing around on the >> floor >> and talking as the music starts as it is common in many milongas in Buenos >> Aires. >
Many of the couples dancing don't know their partner. Men and women sit in separate sections and invite to dance with a cabeceo. This brief conversation allows them to get to know each other a little because walking up to a table to start a conversation with a stranger would be going against the codes of behavior in a milonga. This is also a time to arrange outside the milonga meetings. It also serves a purpose of allowing additional couples to enter the dance floor after the start of the tanda. It is also true that this 'chit-chat' does not generally occur during 'tandas' of the non-tango music played in the milongas of Buenos Aires (jazz, Rock 'n Roll, cumbia, salsa, chacarera et al.) Ron _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
