Comments on: Junto?

By: TP

TP — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:05:22 +0000

When I go to milonga, I would tell the host “solo” to have a seat at the men’ side. When Carlitos asked me “sola?” when I showed up at the practica alone, he was surprised that I came in without my friend. As I noticed, that in traditional milongas, people seemed to pay more attention to with whom one comes to a milonga and sit together. In the newer milongas, young people seem to care less.

In terms of me sitting with a well known professional, anyone who has seen me dancing on the floor, in traditional milonga or new milonga, would not assume that I need to pay anyone to dance with me. And I have been very selective about with whom I invited to dance. A lot of times, I had to look away in order to avoid cabeceo. I would be modest if I say that I am a good tanguero.

By: jantango

jantango — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:11:43 +0000

People want to know your status. The young ones and those who haven’t been going to the milongas for years have no qualms about asking the question and hoping to get a straight answer. Women want to know if you will be available for tandas. If you are with your sweetheart or dance partner, it is less likely they will get to dance with you. It seems obvious that is you enter the milonga with someone, you are there together and intend to dance only with each other. Those who know the professional you are accompanying will assume you have paid for a private class with her; that’ the reason she is with you. Actions speak louder than words.

You should have realized on previous visits that there are usually three sections in a milonga: one for “solos” (single men), one for “solas” (single women), and one for couples. They want to know this information in order to seat you in the salon. If you are “solo” you will be seated at a table with another man. If you arrive with a woman, you will be seated in the couples’ seating which is usually out of range for the cabeceo since neither will be dancing with others.

I am interested in those 40 codigos of the milonga that Cherie mentions.

By: TP

TP — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:46:02 +0000

Well, while in the more younger crowd milongas/practica, like villa malcom, milonga 10, it seems nobody cares whom you come in or sit with.

By: Captain Jep

Captain Jep — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:13:01 +0000

You may as well ask “Why is the world round?” Things are just the way they are.

Factor in also that BsAs milongas can be somewhat conservative and old fashioned. And that strangers will want to know whether you are “taken” or not.

Often I find these questions rather flattering. If I go to a milonga with someone who is a professional , my usual reaction is : “If only… “

By: Cherie

Cherie — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:54:14 +0000

Oh, no, I don’t agree: it’s just the codigos in Buenos Aires. If a man and a woman are only friends and not a couple, they don’t go to the milonga together and sit together. Of course this isn’t true in other countries and it doesn’t have anything to do with the tango per se. It’s just another unwritten rule of the milongas here. (The “solo?” question at the door usually has to do with where you wish to be seated, not your romantic status.)

That’s just one of the about 40 codigos of the traditional milonga!!

Will miss you; come back sooooonnnn!!!!