"You Are Not Alone on the Dance Floor!" - Code Crises and Reevaluations

 Following the article published in the previous issue, I received several comments that I consider constructive and that have inspired me to continue writing this piece. From Copenhagen, Denmark, Johnny writes:

"... I have noticed that your article mainly focuses on dancing as a couple, not on the couple's relationship with the other couples on the dance floor. How does this modern approach translate into the simple act of circulating smoothly on the dance floor without blocking movement or colliding with others? Is this also a shared responsibility between the partners?..."

I’ll start with the second question: The leader guides the movement of the couple, but the follower must be aware of the space they occupy and ensure they do not hit others. Both partners share responsibility in this regard.

Tango is, at its core, a social dance, which implies the existence of basic norms of mutual respect.

The changes in our society are reflected in the world of Tango, which is not just a shared environment for dancing but embodies a much broader concept—one that respects the collective.

The codes of conduct in our globalized society have fostered individualism, as described by Mike Featherstone(1) regarding the social phenomenon we are experiencing:

"... contemporary consumer culture uses images, signs, and symbolic goods evocative of dreams, desires, and fantasies that suggest romantic authenticity and emotional fulfillment by giving pleasure to oneself, narcissistically, rather than to others."

Translated into dance, it is understandable that those entering the world of Tango must not only learn to dance but also adjust certain individualistic behaviors prevalent today. It is essential to accept that enjoyment is not just for oneself but also involves sharing the dance floor with others.
Mutual respect is a somewhat forgotten principle in our society, but being part of the Tango Community teaches us to moderate our behavior.

"Violence breeds violence." On rare occasions, it is not just beginners who create chaos on the dance floor. The constant state of alert due to a lack of physical safety and the improper movement of certain couples causes stress among more experienced dancers. Sometimes, their eagerness to dance turns them into the very thing they despise.
If there is no space or it is unsafe, perhaps it is better to wait for a better moment to step onto the dance floor.

In general, the most painful aspect is not the collision itself; what is truly terrible is the lack of acknowledgment—the insensitivity of those who cause a collision and do not even realize it or simply do not care.

In my previous article, I discussed the shortcomings between what is taught and what is actually useful, as most of what is learned is impractical when dancing on a crowded floor.
The "ideal" movement from the torso, the lead through dissociation, and the practice of sequences that are impractical in social dancing often lead to dancers inadvertently touching or hitting neighboring couples or disrupting the flow of movement on the floor.

In such cases, I believe the fault does not lie solely with the student but also with the teacher.
Reversing the current situation will require deeper work, starting from the foundation. That is, teachers must consider the applicability of what they teach and, above all, dedicate time not only to explaining sequences and technical concepts but also to cultivating awareness of what social dancing entails. They must emphasize the importance of nurturing Tango as a socio-cultural gathering without diminishing its artistic value.

There is no need to repeat the codes of movement on the dance floor, but I do find it prudent to refresh the idea of dancing with everyone—moving with the rhythm of the dance floor and, even at the cost of losing a certain sense of protagonism (the well-known urge to "show off"), maintaining individuality and personality in interpreting each step in every tango.

Dancing Tango is not just about what happens within the couple but about how the couple, as a unit, interacts with others on the dance floor. Navigating a crowded floor requires sacrificing part of our individualism for the greater whole—the entire dance community. It is about dancing within a mass, in a limited physical space; it is dancing for the mass, making the mass dance.
This is why one must be respectful and mindful while dancing—every moment on the dance floor is unique and unrepeatable, and this magic must not be broken.

(1) Featherstone, Mike: Consumer Culture & Postmodernism, 1990, Sage Publications. London, Newbury Park, and New Delhi.