[TANGO-L] Man's Greatest Fear - The Dance Floor

[Randy Pittman <tango22 @BELLSOUTH.NET>]

Hola Tangueros & Tanguears,

Man has climbed the highest mountains
Explored the deepest oceans
We've even sent man to the moon
But my god don't ask us to get on DANCE FLOOR

This new subject line is in response to the discussion on marketing of Tango.  Next to public speaking the dance floor and dancing is man's greatest fear.  

I've been in the dance industry for 30 years.  The majority of people that I have witnessed joining the dance world are looking for a change in their life.  Some just broke up with their girlfriend or boyfriend, some just got divorced or are widowed.  The second largest group that joins dancing were enticed by a local show or performance. When Hollywood produces a dance movie, dance studios have a hugh surge of new students.  Depending on the dance 60% to 90% drop out and give up.  Learning any form of dance is hard and most people give up before they get to the fun part.  I have noticed that those who saw a show and joined because of the beauty of dance, that they have stayed the longest and many are still with us.

Yesterday one of our adult students stopped by with his son.  When someone asked the boy if he wanted to learn to dance he yelled no and ran.  Later that afternoon the father stopped by again,this time I had 12 other children learning swing.  After fifteen minutes the same boy that yelled no I don't want to dance was asking to join the group.  

If the kids of Argentina are not flocking to Tango what makes us think that children of other cultures will be interested in our sacred dance of Tango.  All of my kids are learning Tango and they like it.  If you want the youth of our world to join in the dance you need to interest them by showing them that other children do it also.  The problem is very few are participating.  

Dancing is visual, flyers help, ads in the newspaper help but TV marketing is the best way to get to the couch potatoes.  Yes, I know that everyone thinks TV is cost prohibitive and in most cases it is.  Most my dancing life people have been telling me I need to be a non-profit organization, I always replied we already are.  Most instructors don't make alot of money in dance.  That is why so many have a real job and have fun with dancing at night.  One of the benefits of being a not for profit is the public broadcasting stations.  I have 3 30 min. dance programs on the air for the last month and will be continuing for 2 more months.  The phones are ringing and the people are coming to the studio.  In Miami we are using all the old ways of marketing that work and developing cost effective new ways or promoting the art of dance.  If you only Tango, your missing out on lot of fun, plus limiting your studio business.

Yes it is a lot of work and I hope to report on the results in the near future.

Dance Forever

Randy