A common question overheard at milongas or practicas is, “ How long have you been dancing?” This is often asked in the middle of a tanda, when curious as to long it took that person to get good. Typically it takes about 1-2 years to become competent, about 5 years to feel confident and about 10 years plus to have Tango embedded in your body. Although, I have seen some people … [Read more...]
Milonga Spotlight: Milonga Malevaje
The Bay Area has a lot of Tango dancers. But we would not know it if we attend the same venues and see the same people all the time. Only upon venturing out of ones usual spots does it become obvious the abundance of tango dancers in the Bay Area. Someone mentioned to me the other day that there were three main groups in Bay Area Tango (maybe more based on geographic … [Read more...]
Milonga Spotlight: Sácale Punta
In Tango, when we think of Berkeley, most people think of the Beat. And for good reason of course. The Beat has maintained its status over the years as a great place for Tango primarily due to the Monday nights Practica and the monthly All-Nighter. That being said, there is now another reason to head to Berkeley for Tango. It’s Milonga Sácale Punta held every 2nd and 4th … [Read more...]
In Defense of Tango Competitions
Over the years I have heard people complain about the existence of Tango competitions. Yes, Argentine Tango is not a ballroom dance. There are no skill levels such as bronze, silver or gold. It's a social dance, meaning that people do it for its pure enjoyment. Social dancers prefer not to compare themselves to others nor be judged. I cant' help compare it to "soul … [Read more...]
Practicing Tango
Tanguera Escondida returns with more thoughtful and humorous observations on the benefits of practice and a salad with tuna: A couples months ago I said something truly ridiculous to my tango partner, Klondike. He had remarked that I'd danced beautifully at a recent milonga with good posture and elegance. I really took this compliment to heart, since he is not one to … [Read more...]