Social Dance (Milonga Loca) at Davis Restaurant- Buenos Aires style- in Downtown Eugene, Oregon
Some reminders of the importance of respecting others in the dance
floor.
By Marisela Rizik.
1. First of all, think of La Pista- as a highway, be alert to the way the
traffic is moving- slow or fast, don't move too close, avoid abrupt stops, do
not cause traffic jam.
2. Leads, you are in charge of direction, so it is your responsibility
to protect your follower- as the tradition goes, you take the hit if it may
happen!
3. In other words; Keep an eye on the couple in front of you. If they turn,
you turn, the ronda stops, you stop learn vocabulary that helps you dance in
your own space.
4. When stopped in traffic, use all corners around you. You do not need to
think of the ronda as a straight line, use all the space of your square, move
diagonally, move with your back to the center of the room, your back to the
table, turn in place. Get specific vocabulary in your dance class to help you in
this situation. There is not need to always move forward or get frustrated if
you feel you are not advancing.
6. Milonga are by definitions places where people who understand the rules
and know how to dance attend to dance, some to watch, some to chat and socialize
with their friends. That tradition is still alive, that is why when nobody knows
you in a milonga in Buenos Aires, it is tough to be asked to dance. The good
dancer don't want to take a risk if they don't know how you dance.
Our reality is a bit different here in the US, we don't have a whole bunch
of practicas to go to, and we want to encourage beginners to start dancing,
soooo by default, sharing the space with all kinds of levels will make the ronda
run sometimes on an unpredictable fashion and that is just part of the reality
here. (yes, people bump in Buenos Aires too, and many times guess who get blamed
for it...???) So, we must develop extra patience as it is the rule here not
the exception that the dance floor is shared with all kinds of levels..
Another issue is the matter of style.
Adjust your movements and style of dancing to the space available in the
dance floor, ok. to use long and energetic steps if you have the space- most
time in crowded milonga you do not. Keep in mind, that if your style of dancing
is taking more than the majority, you are infringing on the rights of others.
Choosing a milonga that dance closer to your style is quite acceptable and is
a nice choice to have, specially in our town where we have lots of diverse
venues.
The other choice will be to wait toward the end of the milonga, usually
there is less people in the dance floor, so dancing more dynamically might be
just fine-
Other matters:
Passing- yes, if you have someone who is holding the line of dancing and
everybody is stuck. Otherwise no.
Backing
You don't back up in the highway without looking, be sure you don't do it
in the ronda either small back steps (one or two) are useful and necessary,
specially in corner, just be sure you can see what you are doing.
And last, but not least if you are merging into the highway in the middle
of a tanda- the people who are already dancing in the highway have the right of
way, they are under no obligation to interrupt their concentration with the
music and their partner to make eye contact with you who is merging.
You, as the merger have to find a way to get in. And where do you enter?-
depends on the way the floor is shaped. Usually, the lead enters close to where
the follower was sitting. Why, ask me later.
And for the milongas that I organize, I sure like to see the floor empty
during the cortinas. I know it was a bit harder at Davis, but something about
emptying the floor after a tanda, it renews the energy.
ooh!
Between songs in a tanda, stop, drop your arms, chat about anything...it is
just a nice way to take a breather, to be ready for another jouney. Specially
true in hot days !
Rules and guidelines help us avoid chaos, injuries and all together have a
more pleasant time
Thanks for taking the time to read, email me if you have comments or
suggestions,
