If You Build it...

Sister blogger Tina had a great question awhile back: "Why aren't there morning milongas?" And so, being people who like to make things happen, we made a morning milonga. Thinking that of course we ought to over-invite, because, as Tina said, "they won't all come" ...we just invited everyone. They all came....

There is a perception that Seattle tangoists are an exclusive, clique-ish, snotty bunch. There have been instances when this seemed to be true. But often those persons we perceive to be exclusive are actually shy, or self-protective. In any case, we invited without prejudice, and ended up with a warm and fun group. Maybe there is one pre-requisite: to love tango. My studio ended up being the favored dance floor. We played all our favorite music. We drank a bunch of champagne, the good stuff. Tina made cafecitos. I have a new list of ideas for making a milonga work:

Have a lot of champagne. Hostess may start early.

Invite some couples and a pretty even list of single followers and leaders.

Invite dancers who are newbies, intermediates, and stars. Serve them all some champagne.

Have Tina on your side. Have her bring her cafecito maker.

Um, Try our your sound equipment with a lot of elephants in the room before the party. If the music skips or stops, figure it out before the party. Invite Tim to help you. Maybe have a designated DJ.

Even though you will say your party goes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. you will plan to keep dancing and visiting until 4:30. If it is winter, build a fire and bring out another bottle of champagne so that you may enjoy a twilight visit.

Don't be too OCD when you clean up. Finding Tina's silver shoes later, and champagne glasses in very interesting places, will make you smile for days after.

Seriously, what a treat the tango friends are. Several languages, many interesting professions, beautiful dancing, great manners, literate, artistic, fun. Diverse in age and race. What could be better?

There is an aspect to tango that I realized with a lightning bolt sort of experience during a practica awhile back. Tango is about building a bunch of good karma. Sitting on the sidelines is not good. We are all responsible to make sure that no one (who can actually walk, and who is not a jackass) is sitting when they wish to be dancing. If we all expect to continue dancing and experiencing the pleasures of community, then WE need to build it. Us.

If the new dancers become discouraged and quit, the community will eventually dwindle. This is a naturally occuring cycle in dance communities. Tango will be relegated to a trend which dies out, if there is no real support for all levels of dancers. End of today's thought.