Milonga codes
With the Tango calendar in Singapore getting rather packed recently with various “baile”, “milonga” and “milonguitas”, it is quite timely when a friend forwarded to me some information on “milonga codes” which exist in Buenos Aires. Because of the slightly broken English, I have taken the liberty to summarise and transcribe some of the key points; my comments on the relevance of the particular codes to our community in Singapore are in italics. As always, it is very worthwhile to read the original (link http://www.zapatodetango.com/files/espaniol/maindir/setiemb/news-set.htm seems no longer valid) milonga chronics when you get the chance.
Note: another meaning for “chronic” is “having a habit of long standing”, i.e. customs.
Popularity: 22%
Choice quotes
Just returned from the Taipei Tango festival a few days ago. Body is still aching, courtesy of taking too many classes… 
This year, I was very happy with the workshops conducted by all 3 Argentine couples. I was especially and quite pleasantly surprised by the quality of teaching from Javier Rodriguez and his new partner Andrea Misse. In fact the classes, while at times physically challenging, were quite entertaining. Some examples:
On that category of movements in Tango where the woman’s leg wraps around the man sharply in a whip-like action:
“The secret of the gancho is not in how you put it in, but in how you take it out…”
On dancing with rhythm:
“Need to have an uplifting feel, make the woman feel so happy that she will move her
ass(Javier’s words) butt (Andrea’s translation)…”
Popularity: 26%
4th Taipei Tango Festival
Come September, Tango Taiwan will be holding its 4th annual Tango Festival. This is definitely something to look forward to after having attended only the first festival in 2003. It’s also very encouraging to know that with dedication and passion, it is possible to build such a community from scratch as it were.
Since many of the classes seemed to have very interesting topics, ended up signing up for 8 classes! I hope that I won’t live to regret it and still have some energy left for the three milongas that I will be attending…
Popularity: 5%
Vortex of hell
A couple of years ago, Esteban and Evelyn (visiting teachers from Uruguay whom I personally feel the Tango dancers in Singapore have been very fortunate to have returning to Singapore annually since 2002) taught a series of classes concerning the proper embrace techniques, dancing in crowded spaces as well as various aspects of social etiquettes suitable for milongas. For example, as an exercise, we were made to dance in a (for us at that time) constricted space, using chairs to form artificial boundaries. During these classes, Esteban also highlighted the importance and in fact the necessity of striving, wherever possible, to dance along the outer edge of the dance floor.
Popularity: 30%