Last Sunday (9/15), we (Jose, Cora and I) went to Dallas to give some gifts from the Oklahoma Tango Festival attendants to the instructor/performer couple Hugo and Celina, who were leaving to Argentina to get married. We also attended the Sunday daytime milonga, "Milonga Del Sol," which is held monthly on the third (or second) Sundays at Studio 22, and hosted by Jairelbhi and George Furlong.
We met Hugo and Celina at the Furlong residence, where they were staying. Jairelbhi and George turned out to be very nice people. I'm glad we met them. After they set off to set up the milonga, we waited until Hugo and Celina finished a private lesson, then went to Studio 22.
The milonga was packed with about 75 people. George said usually it's around 50 people, and this time they got more dancers. Argentine Tango is somewhat of a specialty dance, and popularity-wise Salsa dancers would outnumber Argentine Tango dancers by 5-1 or maybe more. Despite the odds, the Dallas Tango community has grown to this size successfully, and I am very happy to see that.
Speaking of popularity, on the way (a 3.5 hour boring drive from OKC to Dallas) we had a discussion about the topic. Jose thought Argentine Tango is less popular than Salsa because it's more difficult and/or intimidating than Salsa. Sure, it could be one of the reasons. The entry barrier is higher for Tango.
In addition, there are many funny antics in the current Tango culture in the US that might be serving as a part of the reason for keeping Tango as a specialty, cult-ish dance. In YouTube, the Tangocynic guys are making hilarious videos about these antics.
Many professionals are aware of these reasons. If you see the Tango as a business of sorts, addressing each of the reasons, like making efforts to correct the imbalance of the number of the leaders and the followers, would be the equivalent of listening to the customers, and should be necessary. The question is, should it be done? Or leave it as it is?
When writing this blog entry, I was asking myself whether I want Argentine Tango to be more popular. To my surprise, I found myself somewhat split (so much for a how-to book writer). I want to write about this split feeling some time later.
Last but not least, Congratulations, Hugo and Celina! See you later, Hasta luego, Mata Aimashou!
