UCSB Argentine Tango Club

"World of Floorcraft"

2009-05-21T01:58:00.000-07:00

As many of you know the Cafe has been having a wonderful turnout these past few weeks, it's great to see so many people coming to dance. However, this also means that the floor can get a bit crowded. some people I have spoken with describe the floorcraft at the cafe using the term Cluster %@*&. Navigating a crowded floor can be challenging, and yet, sometimes we get on a floor even more crowded than the cafe has been from what people have told me the floors in Buenos Aries are even more crowded, and floorcraft is not a challenge at all. What is the difference? What makes a floor move well, and what makes it hard to move at all.

My observation is that two things can make the difference between a walk on the beach, and LA during rush hour. One is our individualistic nature, and the other is our insistence on doing "stuff". We (I am certainly guilty of this) can get so caught up in trying to do some figure, or fancy step, that we sacrifice everything else (balance, posture, embrace, and floorcraft) in order to make the figure work. If we sacrifice a little of the "stuff" in favor of floorcraft, instead of vice versa, it makes a big difference in the dynamics of the floor. Along with this, being aware of the couples around us as we dance, not only to find the gaps we can squeeze through, but also to allow them the space to move freely. Open the door for the people around you, instead of slamming it in their face, so to speak.

We all know how to dance smaller. Most of us have been a class with Brian when he confines us to the corner, and makes us dance in a space about the size of a kiddy pool. We managed not to get any stiletto wounds then, why can't we continue that on a larger floor when we actuality have more room? We get spoiled at the Carillo ballroom and UCSB, and forget how to make our dance fit the space we have.

Some common comments/suggestions I have heard often:
Keep the line of dance moving.
Give the person in front of you some room, don't tailgate.
Make two lanes, if needed, and don't weave between the two.
Don't pass unless it's really necessary.
Watch when you back up, take small back steps.
Use the corners.

Although a lot of this is directed at leaders, I took a class with a teacher who pointed out some things that a follower can do to help, even with a leader who is not aware of the floor around them. A follower can limit the size of a step they are taking, even if the leader leads a large step; hold it back a bit if you feel someone behind you. Another teacher, "keep your feet on the floor, or along a leg (you're own or your partners)". And of course help us out if we are about to back into something, (then later give us a hard time for not looking).

I was at a milonga where the host would "ppull over" dancers who were disrupting the flow of the floor, and give them a talking too. I must say that was one of the best floors to dance on that I have experienced.

Maybe I'm preaching to the choir, or just pissing in the wind, I don't want to come off as elitist, my floorcraft was very sloppy tonight, so if I cut you off...sorry!

I am also linking a video for your enjoyment

All the best, and happy dancing!

Milonga Sunday May 24th

2009-05-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

social dancing from 8:30 until 12:30
admission is $5.

Hope to see you there
Please email me at tangoucsb@gmail.com with any questions

map and directions are below.

2009-04-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

Catching up...

2009-01-29T01:25:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

As you may have noticed there has not been much activity on this site for some time. I inherited the UCSB tango club last quarter, and it has taken some time to get caught up. I hope to get this site up to date soon. In the mean time please bear with me.

Any questions can be directed to

John-Michael

tangoucsb@gmail.com

And I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Spring Milonga in the SRB

2009-01-29T01:09:00.000-08:00

Saturday Feb 21st

Beginning class from 7:30 until 8:30

social dancing from 8:30 until 12:30
admission is $5 and includes the class.

Hope to see you there
Please email me at tangoucsb@gmail.com with any questions

map and directions are below.

Map to SRB

2009-01-29T01:06:00.000-08:00

click here for larger image.
map-714118%20copy.jpg

Argentine Tango at UCSB: Guidelines and Etiquette

2006-11-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:

Never teach, since you're not the teacher
Don't offer suggestions during a milonga since milongas are… that's right, they're for dancing socially
Do ask questions, exchange ideas, heck, offer suggestions even…but only at the right time and place and in the right way.

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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.

Contact Us

2006-10-10T03:30:00.000-07:00

Need to contact us? Come talk to us, please! Here are some ways you can do that:

Come to the practica (we prefer this)
Cafe Buenos Aires, Santa Barbara, CA on Wednesday nights 7:30pm to 11pm
Join our email list!
email tangoucsb@gmail.com

Subscribe to UCSBtangoclub

Visit this group

We're glad you're interested.

About Argentine Tango

2006-10-10T03:08:00.000-07:00

What is Argentine Tango?
Argentine Tango refers to the urban Argentine folk dance that developed around the turn of the 19th century and has continued to evolve through today. It is an improvised social dance with particular emphasis on good leading and following technique. As such, a mildly experienced tango dancer can dance with any partner regardless of whether or not they've dance before.

What's the difference between this and the tango I see on TV?
The difference is huge. The tango you see on TV, in those "Dancing with whomever" shows, is ballroom tango, which involves prechoreographed sequences of steps that are then pieced together into one dance. Here's what some of our members have to say about it:

Kara says, "Ballroom tango sucks."

Andrew says, "Ballroom tango is a caricature of Argentine tango. The soul and form of the dance is ripped out and replaced with flamboyant gestures that is then commercialized and exported."

As you can see, it can be a touchy subject. Since most of us have done both, we love to talk about it. But please, these are only opinions. We suggest that you come see the difference for yourself.

Please, tell me more!
If you want to find out more, then come and ask some of our more expierenced members. If you're looking for more reading on Argentine Tango on the internet, then Google it or Wiki it. I will post links to some articles that I've found to be very informative when it's not 3:17 in the morning.

About Us

2006-10-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

We are the Argentine Tango Club at the University of California in sunny, picturesque Santa Barbara.

We are here to spread the happiness that is the improvisational social dance of Argentine Tango by providing instruction, practicas, and milongas. The club holds a weekly practica at Rob Gym on Saturdays and many of the members meet downtown on Wednesday nights for dancing at the Cafe Buenos Aires. Student members are offered free or sharply discounted instruction and dirt cheap oppurtunities to get in a magical night of dancing.

Quarterly club dues are only five dollars. Anyone can join, special discounts and events are offered to UCSB affiliates only. For five measly bucks, you get a lot. Last year, we took everyone out for dinner and dancing, on us! Become a member now, food and dancing is great.

Interested in tango? Want to join us? Meet us at the weekly practica on Saturdays in Rob Gym 2120 from 4:30-6:00pm. We hold milongas approximately every 3 weeks, usually coinciding with visits from great guest teachers from Argentina. Check our calender for upcoming events.

Undecided? Find out more about tango.