Dancing Tango in Buenos Aires
The milongas in Buenos Aires are like no where else in the world. Here, tradition reigns supreme and proper etiquette
is expected. It is a good idea to be aware of the unspoken rules and
help maintain the magic chemistry present in the dance halls.
When and Where to Tango
Milongas are found in almost every neighborhood in Buenos Aires. There is always a lively place to dance
every night of the week. The
Buenos Aires Milongas page has recommended clubs for each day of the week.
Argentineans eat dinner late and most milongas don't start until 11 or 12 at night.
Come out dressed up and be prepared to dance and socialize.
A lady should put on a good pair of dancing shoes to show
that she takes her dancing seriously.
Tango Etiquette
In the milongas in Buenos Aires the men take the roles of gentlemen that are in charge
and the women wait for the man's cue.
It is up to the man to invite a woman to dance and for a woman to initiate a dance is unheard of,
especially in the more traditional milongas.
The standard scenario is a man catches a woman's eye, the hold a glance for a split second and
then he makes a welcoming jest with his left eyebrow,
inviting the woman the dance, and the woman nods almost imperceptibly.
If the man looks at a woman and then looks away, he is most likely not interested.
Likewise the woman can look away after the man signals her with his skilled left eyebrow.
If all goes well and the couple agree to dance(as it usually does), at the dance floor there is an
unwritten rule to stop for a few seconds before taking the first steps of the dance.
The dancing is conducted in sets, with a few different types of tangos(tangos, milongas, valses)
in each set. Usually, a couple dances a complete set and for one of the partners to stop early is often tantamount to an insult.
Apologize and make an excuse if you have to, but otherwise dance and make the best of it.
Once the couple starts dancing, there are a number of signals that they use to communicate their desires.
Both partners lean in closer when they feel more comfortable together, and the woman often puts her hand further around a man's neck.
Applying pressure with your hand is a signal for the man to slow down, and pulling away slightly from a close embrace is a signal
of the other person being too close for comfort.
After all of these basic and not so basic rules of conduct, it all comes down to two bodies dancing away the beautiful night.
The atmosphere is friendly and you are free to savour your Buenos Aires tango experience.
