Controlled Tango Into Terrain

Table of contents of a letter Ann wrote in 1993.

Maciej is learning to tango.

The host seats guests around the dance floor based on his guess at their dancing skill and other intangible factors (such as how great they look). Men ask women to dance by trying to make eye contact and nodding towards the dance floor in a gesture called the cabeceo. In theory this is a discreet way for men to save face in the event of a refusal; in practice it means men cross the darkened room, stand three steps in front of their intended partner, and wag their head gravely until she either gets up to dance or tells them to go away.

And

A Partial List of Tango Mistakes I Have Made

• Weird panther-like shuffle that kept head unnaturally level
• Knees not bent
• Knees bent too far
• Moved without waiting for partner
• Wrong-footed partner
• Instead of taking smooth steps with the sole of foot gliding along the floor, staggered like Frankenstein monster
• Somehow ended up with partner many meters from dance floor, in construction area in the back of the studio

Posted by jjwiseman at April 01, 2008 10:05 AM