floorcraft - the last pre-requisite for advanced dancers

Let's start with an analogy. When you're driving a car you make sure that you're not going to bang it against the car in front of you right? Indeed, you try and drive in a way that your hot date, just sitting on your side, feels safe, right? You watch over when you change lanes, you stop on the red light. You may drive fast or slow but in the end of the day, you want to get wherever you're going without crashing your car against whatever comes across your way. Tango requires the same skill.
A few examples for the leader:
- You should make sure that you don't stick your partner's stilletos down someone's heel because you weren't looking who was in front of you. It doesn't look good on you and definitely it doesn't feel good to the person that was stabbed. Accidents happen, but with care, they happen rarely.
- Do not lead a voleo when there is someone in front of you. That is not only bad tango, is stupidity as well. I remember when I saw Kikka Tomasi being wipped by a stilleto in an Edinburgh milonga. Her leg had a 5 cm wide cut and she was in danger of not being able to perform for the Edinburgh Festival show.
- Ever wondered why the best tango teachers ALWAYS dance in the outside of the line of dance? If you're a bit clever you probably figured out that that is the best way to circumvent the fact that you can't be Superman and look through your partner's skull (hence, look if there is someone at your right).
- Be unpredictable to your partner, not to the other dancers! The art of good dancing requires the art of being sensible and avoid the impulse of "There is an empty space, I'll go there!". Sorry, tango demands that you look at who's around and to see if a couple has already committed to go to that empty space before you did. It should be clear that you shouldn't go there. If that is not clear, stay at home.
- And please, for whoever-you-love's sake, if you're going to step back, make sure that there is nobody there! It isn't rocket science, is just common sense!
For the followers (yes, because contrarily to what popular belief is, followers also have a role in floorcraft):
- Two neurons together (and working) should be enough for you to realise that in a crowded milonga, a short and soft voleo by your leader should be corresponded with a low voleo by you. Your partner will be happy, you'll be happy, if anybody is watching they will be happy and the next couple will be eternally greatful.
- Again, when you're dancing tango in a crowded danceflor remember, you are a tango dancer not a lawn mower. Your movements should be neat and controlled, reflecting the energy that the leader puts into it. Your interpretation of the music is priceless but unless you have an eye on the back of your head, stick to what the leader tells you and build your moves on top of that.
There are more examples to quote but the aim of this post is not to list them. I hope you got the idea - the true advanced tanguero is the one who knows how to behave on a dancefloor.