Have you already planned what you are going to do this weekend at Valentango and are excited, rather than nervous? Great, you don’t need my help! Here are tips for beginning and intermediate dancers, especially those of you who don’t do the festival circuit and so do not have a large body of potential (already known to you) dance partners.
We will work on some other tips for a successful festival at my Thursday night class if you can come this week. Expect dancing in small spaces, adjusting for difficult embraces, getting YOUR dance whether or not your partner is skilled, and a few other tips.
Try the mixer milongas!
The mixers (6-8 PM) have a setup that allows EVERYONE to get into the game. The advantage is that you don’t have to cabeceo if you are unskilled or uncomfortable with the traditional way of inviting someone to dance. You will still get partners!
In addition, the tandas (sets) are usually shorter, with only two to three songs at a time. That gives you more opportunities in a brief time to dance with a variety of partners and find people you enjoy dancing with for future milongas.
There is a mixer each day. Careful: make sure that you look for the “mixer” rather than a milonga that “mixes” traditional and alternative music. Both are fun, but the mixer offers you more chances to dance if you are at a lower level of expertise.
Remember your manners
Festivals can bring out the worst in dancer behavior. Many people feel more anxious at a big social event like a festival, and social ability wavers. Unfortunately, that means that some people act more abruptly and may not remember to be gracious and polite. Try to model good behavior and most people will follow your lead.
Get enough sleep
You will dance better, have an enjoyable time, and be able to be kind to strangers if you get sleep during the weekend. You might miss an hour of dancing, but you will dance better and thus attract better partners. Plan a nap before dancing if you do not usually stay up until the wee hours of the morning, or you will enjoy the dancing less.
Get enough water and food
If festivals make you feel excited and/or tense, you may forget to eat and drink enough water. I remember a dance festival in my early twenties where I forgot to eat or drink anything all day. My good friends dragged me off the dance floor and made me eat and drink water. If that is also how you tend to be, pack a snack and a thermos!
Do one kind deed
Smile at someone EVEN IF you don’t want to dance! Not accepting a cabeceo is an entirely different part of the evening from passing someone in the hallway and being nice! A smile can make someone feel that they belong and that they are seen. Chat with someone and find out where they live, what they like about tango — anything positive. It will cheer you up too if you are having a hard evening.