CABECEO TO THE RESCUE...
18th September 2011
So, Ladies
Not getting those dances at the Tango venue?
Well, try new improved "Argentine Cabeceo"
The Cabeceo is THE answer it seems and as you want to be carrying out Argentine Tango 'according to the rules' as you are an up-and-coming Tango dancer and don't want to be seen as a 'radical', or God forbid have the Tango Police after you, you had better know just how they do all this malarkey they do in Buenos Aires.
Here is the definitive article you may want to swot up on, I mean, you get this and hey! The getting-dances-with-blokes thing will be all behind you...
(Sourced from www.tangoandchaos.org with additional notes thrown in by Ken)
Tips for Success With the Cabeceo
- Have a plan and be disciplined. Know ahead of time who you want to dance with for each type of music.
(Right, better take a pen and paper for this) - Have a fall-back position. Pick a second and a third choice ahead of time, and keep them in mind.
(Best find out their names or I might have to write their names down as thingy one, The Ginger'eaded one as two and SpeccyBob as bloke number three) - Try to quickly identify the music of the Tanda, and then immediately begin to stare intently at your first choice for that type of music.
(Better swot up on my music and practice my 'intense but not scary stare' look...) - Do NOT take your eyes off that person, even for one second. (If you have a history, the rest is easy, because he or she will probably already be looking back when they hear the music).
(I'm really feeling stupid, better do it though...will I be known as the scary stary one I wonder?) - If no eye contact is returned, wait a bit. If you sense the person is aware of you, but is looking elsewhere, immediately switch your stare to choice number two, and repeat the process.
(I'm still feeling stupid and he probably thinks I'm sort of nut, ah enough of thingy, he's a prat, where's Ginger'ead...) - If eye contact is made, any sign of recognition will work. Among the milongueros and milongueras, this is usually nothing more than a glance of a second or two, or maybe a slight nod, or a cutting of the eyes toward the floor.
(He's looking at me! Shall I wave? Give a big smile?) - If you happen to make eye contact by mistake with someone you don't want to dance with, show no reaction at all, and look away quickly!
(I could just stick my two fingers up at him as well...) - Once the dance offer has been accepted, both partners should maintain eye contact while the woman remains seated, and the man crosses the floor and stands in front her.
(Here he comes! here he comes! Is it me he's coming to ask though? Best not smile too much just in case...) - Only when you are standing face to face, eye to eye, should the woman get up to dance. (This prevents crossed signals, where the intended partner may be sitting in the line of site, but one or two rows back).
(Oh crap, three dances at least with Mr Garlic breath...mind you, if he had passed me and got Miss slim-teen-blonde locks who can't dance for toffee and who was sitting two rows behind me I would have had to give him the 'accidental stiletto' later on on the floor for making me look stupid in front of the others) - When the dance is finished, the man always walks the woman back to her table, and then returns to his own.
(Only in Buenos Aires, not in England. Hey, if I'm following this bloody charade, he can damn bloody well walk me back to my table otherwise 'E ain't doin' it properly eh!)
So, there you go, no more whining about not getting dances now please, Ken has fixed it for you ladies....
~ Ken Royden, 18th September 2011