The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 3 May 2000
to 4 May 2000
Reply-To: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 03:00:36 -0400
Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 3 May 2000 to 4 May 2000 (#2000-121)
There are 2 messages totalling 166 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Reducing the "rejection rate"
2. Laught Out louD (LOD)
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 12:49:40 +0200
From: DW <dwajn @IMAGE.DK>
Subject: Reducing the "rejection rate"
In response to Eva;
>I always have problem with men.
Women are so much nicer, I swear!
> The funiest thing, once I went to amilonga by myself, I was invited to
dance
> by few tangueros, but when I go with him I am not invited to dance by
other
> tangueros, just a few exceptions happened. Usually I invite them, they do
> not.
Unless your parner is a 7 foot black belt there should be some hope.
When at a milonga with him, try to mingle, go around and speak to people.
This will establish that you are treating it as a social occasion. When the
men discover that you are friendly and relaxed, many more will ask you, I
think. Also encourage your partner to ask other women to dance.
I prefer friendly and worm attitude over dancing skills and I know that some
other men do too.
> And I believe there is a group of people who always invite people among
> themselves to dance and not others.
> I feel really bothered about this subject. When I was in USA, I never felt
> things like this. I could dance with anyone. Neither I feel ashamed nor I
> felt they were ashamed.
Some of this is understandable and rather nice, once you made friends you
dance with them, pleasure and social obligation combined. It is easier to
join these groups than beat them. By the way, where in the world are you
now?
> Once I asked a teacher to dance with me, and he rejected. What is more he
> invited another women just after a few seconds, how would u feel?
I would feel awful and punish the bastard by never asking him again, his
loss entirely. A similar thing happened to me just yesterday, when I asked
a lady teacher. She will now wait a long, long time before I ask her again.
But keep asking other men, what's the hell! I wrote quite a lot (in the
recent discussion on the List) about the necessity of women asking men to
dance, I am sticking to it. You shall find men who really appreciate it and
respond properly.
Courage!
Dan
Dan Wajnman dwajn @image.dk
Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 15:13:05 -0600
From: Chas Gale <Chuck.Gale @IHSENERGY.COM>
Subject: Laught Out louD (LOD)
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In a resent post, Naomi Bennett abbreviated Buenos Aries with "BA". I usually
see it abbreviated "BsAs". When I see BsAs I read it, Bass Ass, or Fish Butt. We
abbreviate Los Angeles with LA and District of Columbia DC. Why can't we
abbreviate Buenos Aries with BA? Thank you Naomi for not conjuring images of
aquatic anuses in my admittedly over active imagination...
...but that's not why I asked you here today...
I was in Fish Butt for most of the "line of dance" thread. But I caught the last
few entries and wanted to respond. This is an issue that is a regular pain in my
followers Bass Ass. And various other parts of her body as she typically
receives the brunt of the impact delivered by some moron who believes he is the
only "dancer" on the floor.
One leader wrote that collisions were sometimes the cause of a follower pressing
her head against his. Making it impossible to see around her. Sounds reasonable
but it occurred to me that in a close embrace I can never see around my
followers head. With my 5 foot 10 inch frame and the ladies in 3 or 4 inch heels
I can see over her head only when I go to the Munchkin City milongas. They serve
great cookies and lollipops! For the insensitive followers who insist on dancing
with their cranium intact I offer this: Please be barefoot and bald. This will
make it a lot easier to see around you. I don't think barefoot and bald is to
much to ask for my comfort. Come on ladies. Don't be selfish. Get rid of all
those tango shoes and shave your head. Thank you.
Another person sighted the head pressure thing as an opportunity for a "head
lead". Yeah, good idea. It reminds me of the "knee lead" discussion we had a
number of months ago. Yes, a well placed knee or head butt can be very
effective. Why just the other night I got a perfect back ocho from my follower
as she struggled to remain upright and maintain consciousness after a
strategically timed head butt. It was a beautiful thing to watch. A knee to the
stomach or thigh can result in a pretty good boleo. Then there is the "knee to
the head" lead. You can't always tell what that will produce but learn these and
many other such leads at The WWF School of Tango opening soon near you.
Still another leader wrote that when he move against the LOD "a good follower"
will warn him with her left hand that he is about to run into someone. Great
idea! Thanks for the tip. Now I can walk backwards, against the line of dance
and make my follower responsible for avoiding collisions. Cool!
It occurred to me that with just a little imagination and some low tech
apparatus we poor leaders can be relieved of virtually all responsibility for
leading but still be called leaders. Like;
Shoulder mount side view mirrors: When we are moving backward, and the
follower is not paying attention the side view mirror may save a nasty crash.
The left shoulder mount is the most critical but for style and balance issues, a
dual shoulder mount is preferable. A U shaped bracket can be sown in a jacket or
dress under the shoulder padding. For sleeveless garments, mounting can be
achieved with a temporary adhesive directly to the followers shoulder. Spackling
compound is good for this. Or, in a pinch, Polygrip. Another option would be a
metal collar with extension bars on either side.
Forehead mount rear view mirror: In an open embrace the side view mirror may
not cover the area directly behind the leader. A forehead mount rearview mirror
would cover that area and allow the leader to check for errant spinach between
his teeth. The mirror could be worn on a head band similar to a miners light.
Backup beeper: Like a truck, a sensor could beep when the leader is moving
backward. However, this would defeat the goal of relieving the leader of
responsibility. Better to attach a sensor to the follower that will sound when
she is moving forward.
And for the unforeseeable, freak accidents, a plastic Jesus tucked in her
cleavage should do the trick.
I am developing the "Followers Utility Belt"
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=A9. It will include the features
listed above as well as The Ben Hur feature: Tri-directional cattle pr=
ods to
keep other couples at bay. Also a drink holder and internet connection =
for sport
score updates. Orders will be taken soon. In the mean time
another option would be a motorized personal transportation device and =
a
bullhorn. the leader then simply drives around the dance floor in front=
of his
partner calling out his lead. BACK OCHOS, WALK TO THE CROSS, PUGLIESE T=
URN TO
THE LEFT, SACADA, SACADA, SACADA, DRAMATIC PAUSE....... NO!!!, NOT LIKE=
THAT!...
You may as well laugh at yourself. Everybody else is.
Chas Gale, Denver, Colorado, USA
=
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End of TANGO-L Digest - 3 May 2000 to 4 May 2000 (#2000-121)
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