[TANGO-L] Tango dressing in Buenos Aires

[Alberto Gesualdi <clambat2001 @YAHOO.COM.AR>]

Hi friends from Tango list
I read both postings from Janis Kenyon and A . Coleman , and I think there are some points to be discussed, with a point of view (mine) that obviously is not the ultimate truth

Generations . Yes, there are some dancing places where medium age people share the night with young people. I could not find a direct relationship on the quality of the dressing and the possibilities to dance, since there are many options. I was tempted to do a matrix with possibilities (old lady with young tramp, young lady with old tramp, old gentleman with young lady tramp, young gentleman with old lady tramp), but it is not fair . To say a person is elegant or not , or is properly dressed for a dancing place like a milonga ..... It is to introduce a fashion eye on the beholder, instead of the dance , the music played and the dancing communication of the couples.

What "fashion" is related to Tango local scene , is something subtle. Generally speaking, women are dressed more elegant than men .And although there are some places to dance, that could be considered "first class" , the general condition of local milongas is a humble one . Placed at neighbourhood clubs , or rented cafeteria , or open air places with cheap chairs .... Yes , there are exceptions , so maybe some people like to dress elegant to go to some elegant milongas. Please note the word "some" people related to "some" places.

A.Coleman, is right, generally speaking , there is no rejection of coming visitors to a milonga considering their attires. Some places, from time to time, when posting their advertising, include a foot note " Elegant sport required" . Once again note the word "some" .

The tango local scene is a social experience for many people, from all ages and conditions . To socialize means that you go to the milonga , sit at your table, sip your water or whatever you drink , maybe have some food, and talk with other friends or people you know fromother places. Milongas are not so much, so more or less,  the newly arrived local  milonguero /milonguera after some time , has people that know him/her from other milongas or tango lesson. Maybe he/she talked some late night with the DJ , and exchange CDs , or have some talk with the host of the milonga , who knows, this is part of the personal experience in this local tango  that is not as big  as it may seem.

I do not exclude foreign visitors , the only thing maybe is visits are short in time, so there is maybe not a lot of time to socialize, also the language barrier sometimes reduces the communication for non spanish fluent visitors. But for a regular visitor, the second time he/she comes to Buenos Aires, is almost sure he/she will find old faces to meet again . And judging for the postings to this tango list, there are not complains of ill-treatment or exclusion, fortunately local people still makes friendly contact with visitors.

Our tango teacher always say each friday " go to the milongas now, you dont know wether they will be the same forever, maybe this is a special time and it will change " . I think he is right, each night at a milonga is a personal experience , always rewarding, seeing all the people enjoying a peaceful night , without quarrels.

I went this sunday with my fiancei to a shopping that is doing now a Tango show , free, from 8 pm to 9pm (Galerias Pacifico at Florida pedestrian street). They have begun the performance at the food square , and there is already around 150/200 people each sunday. I waas thinking on the comments of the list about dressing, so I begun to look people dancing (because the wise woman that hosts the show, introduces between tango singers and professional dancers, a tanda of two musical tangos /milongas/ vals for people to dance).
The place is small, just a small area between the platform of the musicians and the tables of the food square . Twelve dancing couples it fill it up. But it was wonderful to look all this people dancing, with a combination of dressings , of all kinds. Mostly medium age people, sport clothes, some with shirt and tie , and a couple of young people also in sport , dancing altogether peacefully.

What I intend to say, is that it is possible to dress a suite with tie , or a sport clothing , or whatever the person thinks could make him/her confortable. The important thing is to give oneself when dancing, to the other partner , and not to "hacer facha"  which means to presume with elegant clothing , but with a hollow dancing. This is not a negative comment to the people Janis mentioned as elegantly dressed, they are long time milongueras and milongueros that even naked will dance elegant .

Warm regards
Alberto Gesualdi
Buenos Aires




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