[TANGO-L] The "cabeceo"

[Bibi Wong <bibibwong @HOTMAIL.COM>]

Luda asked
> question I had about Argentine customs is
> about the way women dress. I see outfits at milongas
> in this country sometimes that make a woman look like
> a tart. ...Do women in BsAs dress this way?  I thought
> that tangueras and tangueros are supposed to dress
> simply, ...

When I was in Bs As recently, I began to realize that what we were educated
here (non Argentina) about tango is somewhat different than the reality down
there.  We have been told of it as an holier than holier art form for us to
worship, while to the Argentines of nowadays, it may merely suggest an
ordinary social event, no more different than our bar hopping.

I agree with Huck, milongas work on different levels.  Based on the ones I
attended, milongas were often treated as social vehicles for dating.  Even I
was shocked to see the amount of revealing and suggestive clothing worn by
milongeuras.  Some milongueros friends geneflected to me their first
selection criteria of deciding which lady to invite is how "cute", "young"
and "desirable" the lady is. I was told that once that lady is invited, she
is likely to become a "hot item" as other tangueros would follow suit to
compete among other men, in inviting her afterwards.

To meet the "desirable" qualification, many tangueras will use their outfits
as their trump cards.  It might not be fishnet stocking, but could be just
as revealing.

Many guys are no longer wearing suits either.  Guys and gals can wear jeans
too.  Some leaders wear gym shoes.  That is Buenos Aires, younger
generations, now.


BB



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