One of the worst sights to see in an evening's dancing? That expression on a woman's face when she realises she's committed herself to ten minutes of pain / drudgery / terror / despair. The expression, over the shoulder of someone who is doubtless oblivious to it, a cry for help that's unlikely to come.
I'm not talking about rolling of eyes or frowns or tutting. I'm talking about something uncontrollable -- a frozen tableau of concentration, as she tries to make sense of the lead / avoid getting kicked or trodden on / avoid kicking anyone else / avoid having her back broken or twisted.
I've seen it on a few men's faces too, but the asymmetric nature of tango means it's less likely. The ladies are often better dancers than the gentlemen. The boys usually have more choice of partner than the girls. The leaders have more control over where they're going than the followers. But it happens.
It's crying uncle. I surrender. A tanda never seems longer.
Women aren't committed to finish the tango if they're uncomfortable with their partner for any reason. I've seen a milonguera leave her partner a minute into the dance without giving it a second thought. She didn't want to suffer through it after years of dancing with the milongueros viejos.
ReplyDeleteThis is a code of the milongas that women need to keep in mind no matter where they dance tango.