Milonga Etiquette

7/26/2019 Milonga Etiquette

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Milonga Etiquette

The following provides some tips on the appropriate etiquette at tango milongas. Mostof these (if not all) are more common sense than special rules, but still, some things

need to be said

Milonga Etiquette for both leads and followers

Never correct your partner whilst on the dance oor.

nsure personal hygiene (bathe, protect you breath, remove odors).

!o not tal" while dancing.

#t the end of a tanda, when you naturally $nish dancing, it is polite to say

%Than" you&. The answer to being than"ed after a dance is a return 'Than" you' not 'ou're welcome'.

!o not continuously apologi*e to your partner if you ma"e mista"es.

!o apologi*e if there is a collision with another couple even if it wasn't yourfault.

#lways ALWAYS! be "ind and supportive to beginners+ it does not ta"e muchto scare someone away for life.

Milongas are not for practicing nor teaching.

equesting a dance whether verbally or cabeceo is done in a subtle and polite

manner.

-al" around the dance oor, not through it.

n between songs, tal"ing is $ne (in fact some would say smalltal" is almost

obligatory) but do not "eep the embrace loc"ed.

f you did not particularly en/oy the dance, "eep it to yourself.

0enerally dance the entire tanda. f the tanda becomes intolerable, tough it out.

t is the e1treme height of rudeness to leave a tanda before it completes. oushould do it only if something highly inappropriate happens.

-hen you $nish dancing at the end of a tanda, leave the oor quic"ly so thatcabeceo can be used for the ne1t tanda.


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Milonga Etiquette for leads

Respect the space and safety of other dancers - particularly on acrowded oor

Eli"inate the bac#ward step fro" your repetoire$ particularly atcrowded "ilongas

0entlemanli"e behavior is e1pected at all times.

-hen inviting a follower to dance, be aware of social queues2 is she obviously

resting3 s she engrossed in conversation3 4r maybe is she avoiding yourglance3

-hen you enter the dance oor, either do so between songs or where is a gap

dancers on the oor must not be disturbed in any way. -e are huge fans of theleader cabeceo 5 before entering the ronda, please ma"e eye contact with an

approaching leader, wait for a signal from him that you can move in, and easeinto the ow as smoothly as conditions allow.

Move with the line of dance counter cloc"wise.

f you are a man who soa"s his shirt in sweat, ta"e brea"s to "eep fromoverheating+ or consider wearing a /ac"et or bringing a change of clothes.

The man must escort the woman on and o6 the oor.

#void collisions by managing your space carefully, including moving at the same

speed at other dancers.

!o not 'tailgate' other couples.

!o not overta"e other couples.

!on't *ig *ag or continually weave in and out of 'dance lanes'.

f the dance is declined, accept gracefully.

7nderstand the code for a dance invitation whether it is verbal or the cabeceo.

Never invite a follower by e1tending your hand she is not a dog8

nsure you touch your partner appropriately, and not too forcefully.

The lead should never engage the follower with steps that are beyond her+ this

will serve only to humiliate her.


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emember that whilst relationships certainly evolve on and o6 the dance oor,

tango is not a 'meat mar"et'.

9e highly attentive to the follower's body language regarding the type of

embrace she is comfortable with some women, particularly beginners, may notwelcome an intimate embrace that intimacy must be earned.

f the follower is not doing precisely what you thoughtyou as"ed her, reactappropriately to "eep the ow of dance do not force your follower to 'do itright'. :ommunication for the actionreaction dance steps is the lead'sresponsbility to get right, even with beginners. The leader should, parado1ically,follow the follower.

Milonga Etiquette for followers

# follower has the absolute right to decline a dance but remember that it willbe unpleasant to the lead. ou should try to soften the refusal by saying you aresitting this one out. f the lead is inviting you via cabeceo, loo" away8

!on't decline a dance as feeling too tired, then immediately dance with someone

else.

n a crowded oor, avoid high embellishments that may end up in "ic"ing other

dancers.

f a lead is ma"ing the follower feel uncomfortable, she has the right to put a

stop to it, politely.

es a woman may request a dance from a man (though it is unusual, certainlyvery rare in 9uenos #ires). 9are in mind that if you do it too often, leaders mightconsider you to be pushy or even aggressive.

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Milonga Etiquette