Argentine Tango at UCSB: Guidelines and Etiquette

Below are some guidelines and etiquette rules for UCSB Argentine Tango's practicas and milongas. By being polite and observing some basic etiquette rules, we can ensure a pleasant, fun, and safe experience for everyone.

1. We've undertaken an involved, rich and intricate pastime. We're all beginners. We don't feel superior because we have been dancing longer than x or just learned neat step y. We help everyone who's trying to do well by cutting them some slack, being patient with them, encouraging them and watching out for them. We're eager to help but we don't assume that they need our instruction.
2. You're not required to dance with everyone who asks you at the milonga or practica. We would hope that if you decline you do so kindly and politely. We would hope that if your invitation is declined you would take it gracefully like the adult tanguero you are and not like a three year old.
3. You're not required to ask everyone at the milonga or practica to dance with you. We would hope that you would make an effort to dance with people who are sitting around not dancing. We are a community and need to help and encourage each other.
4. Milongas are for dancing socially. Although we should feel free to use in milongas what we're in the process of learning , constant stopping to practice a step or figure we're simply not up to yet is inappropriate and distracting to everyone; you may not notice it, but it's creating problems for other dancers who haven't done anything to you; it's particularly tormenting to your partner; it's also usually dangerous.
5. Practicas are for practicing. Although we may break the monotony of the practice session with a relaxed dance, the idea is not to sit around waiting for a dance partner, and then to dance tanda after tanda. The idea is to practice. One neat thing about practicing is that you don't need a partner.
6. Practice the basics. It's great that you've always wanted to be an acrobat and join the circus, and heck, do your fancy steps if it's appropriate (see below). But first master the basics: walk without falling into the step, maintain your axis, don't lean onto your partner, lead well, and only if you're a leader, follow well if you're a follower.
7. Please don't teach us how to dance. We may politely look at you silently when you teach us, but we're usually very unimpressed and in danger of developing passive aggressive tendencies. Here's the hierarchy:
   
1. Never teach, since you're not the teacher
2. Don't offer suggestions during a milonga since milongas are… that's right, they're for dancing socially
3. Do ask questions, exchange ideas, heck, offer suggestions even…but only at the right time and place and in the right way.
8. The right time and place is the practica, since practicas are…that's right, they're for practicing. The class may also be another good place, although it's probably best to defer to the teacher. The right way is through questions and gentle suggestions that don't imply that you know everything and we're clueless. An even better policy is to wait until you're asked.
9. Milongas are social events. So, feel free to be sociable. Talk to people, get to know them, have a chat... when you're not dancing. Please. No, really, please. We don't chat when we're dancing tango. It messes up our dancing, it irritates our partners (at least the ones you should care about), it particularly irritates other dancers.
10. By the way, all this talking, getting to know, chatting that is absolutely fine to do if you're not dancing... please do it off the dance floor!
11. Leaders, respect the line of dance. Please. Passing happens only in very rare cases. We definitely don't dance in, or cut through, the middle. We really don't like it when you do that. Followers, help you partner respect the line of dance, the floor and the crowd. Respectfully decline to dance with leaders who are unsafe and disrespectful.
12. Be safe. Leaders, be aware of the dance floor, your fellow dancers, the traffic. Never take a back step without checking. Followers, provided your leader is safe, and your feet stay on the floor, you should be fine. Never lift your foot unless you're absolutely certain you have the room.
13. Adjust your dance to the occasion. If there's room you can take up room, whether you're leading or embellishing. If the floor is crowded your dance has to change; drastically. It's the sign of a good dancer. We're decidedly not impressed if you do "impressive" stuff on a crowded floor. Most "impressive" stuff is not impressive anyway. Really, take our word on this one!
14. Here's how we know you're a good dancer: you focus on your partner, you focus on the music, you're aware and respectful of the floor and other dancers, your movements are as clean and crisp as you can make them. Don't try to imitate your favorite instructors' shows; they are shows, on an empty dance floor, and for an audience. Try to imitate your favorite instructors' social dancing: chances are it's simple, crisp, focused, clean, and supremely careful and safe.
    
15. Most importantly: Have fun! You're not learning tango so you can stress out about being able to do a particular pattern or compete with the next dancer. As a general rule, your dancing improves for you and your partner when you relax and enjoy the music, the dancing, and the connection.