Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. For the past several weeks, we’ve been talking about the leader’s multiple responsibilities in social Tango. So far, we’ve looked at the need for the leader to build a repertoire of figures and sequences, which he can bring to bear in supplementing his improvisational skills. We’ve also discussed the essential importance of acquiring and maintaining a mastery of the complex lead/follow mechanism, which is designed to provide the follower with everything she needs to dance with comfort and confidence.

Today, we’re going to acknowledge another important responsibility on the leader’s list; i.e., expertise in navigation. Getting around a dance floor safely and efficiently presents virtually any leader with a major challenge. This is certainly true in Argentina, where the milongas are almost always extremely crowded — especially during the evening hours. And with the increased popularity of Tango in this country, we now see a great many of our own dance venues filling to capacity.

In social Tango, many couples occupy the dance floor at any given time, each attempting to navigate a very finite space. This situation can often result in uncomfortable — even potentially dangerous — conditions for dancers. Under such circumstances, a leader’s obligation is, first, to observe the general rule of moving counterclockwise around the “line of dance,” keeping himself and his partner on the outside of the room as much as possible. In fact, in most Argentine milongas, there are usually two and sometimes three concentric lines of direction on a given dance floor. A good leader will choose one of them for his partner and himself, maintaining this travel line throughout a given dance. Rarely, if ever, will he change to another line. This requires great skill, patience, and a healthy sense of humor.

The leader also has to master the skill of “floor craft.” This means dealing with unexpected crises, which may arise suddenly — such as another couple moving into the line of travel, or actually bumping into the leader or his partner. In dealing with such instances, the leader’s responsibility involves exercising great restraint and tact. For example, I always recommend that every leader actively acknowledge any accident which may occur by saying “Sorry” or (in Spanish) “Lo siento” — whether he is at fault or not for the mishap. Such behavior generally preempts the possibility of tempers flaring, or worse.

Finally, the leader has to be very careful not to “take over the floor” by executing elaborate or acrobatic sequences, which cause him and his partner to encroach on the space of other dancers. Unfortunately, we see this all too often in practicas and milongas here in this country, and all of us need to recognize that such hostile behavior is offensive and antisocial in the extreme.

Next week, we’ll address the leader’s final responsibility — that of maintaining an accurate and creative connection to the music. In the meantime, take a very deep breath, consult your checklist of multiple responsibilities to yourself, your partner, and your peers on the dance floor, and try to continue doing the right thing. It’s not easy, but I know you’re up to the task.

The longest-running and friendliest practica in NYC! Come join our happy group of social tango dancers, whose sole purpose is to enjoy dancing and to practice what they’re learning. Everyone dances! Essential Tango Therapy! Pat and I will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and help you with material you’re working on. Plus you get a new “must-have” move each week! No partner required, all levels. Dardo Galletto Studios, 151 West 46^th Street, 11^th floor, (bet. 6^th & 7^th Aves) www.franchesleigh.com

If you’d like a private lesson, you can visit our website at www.franchesleigh.com, call Fran directly at 212-662-7692, or email him at franchesleigh@mac.com Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/franchesleighllc

The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.

• Elena Titova
• Lynn Gross
• Steve Turi
• Steve Maisch
• Nina
• Pearl
• ​​​​​​​Herb Kahn