The Meaning of Tango (based loosely on the idea behind the book The Meaning of Liff) Here's one of those long and rambling 'conversations' that took place on Facebook in the Spring of 2013... take a place name and define it for tango... enjoy Ian Cox The name for a 3rd line of dance at a milonga: a Truro Ian Cox Rising to a cabaceo that wasn't aimed at you: Beccles... usage... I've been Beccled' Ian Cox Someone who does inappropriate boleos: an Axbridge Siani Williams And what is a Limpley Stoke? Siani Williams A half hearted embrace? Ian Cox Someone who joins the line of dance too quickly and without catching the eye of the leader he's stepping in front of (phew!): a Chipping Norton Aaron Davies A lane changer? Ermmm..Clegglomaniac!!!! Ian Cox Aaron - good - but you're supposed to use town/village names... Aaron Davies Rebel without a cause Ian Cox Someone who dances open embrace for the sole purpose a getting a better view of his followers chest: a Clevedon Siani Williams A leader who hasn't cleaned his teeth for a week- a Fontmell Magna Aaron Davies Ok, I'll cooperate, Ian: Lord Hereford's Knob (your last reference) - it's in Wales!! Ian Cox Anyone called David who keeps making an effort: a Daventry Ian Cox Someone who dances close embrace with a cold: a Dewsbury Ian Cox Someone who thinks they know everything about axis and balance: a Dunstable Ian Cox Someone who used to talk a lot on the dancefloor: an Exmouth Siani Williams And a Toller Porcorum-a very tall leader with the sort of enormous belly that gives the intention a 5 minute delayed action..... Ian Cox A men-only milonga: Mansfield Siani Williams If that is an Exmouth Ian, what is a Weymouth? Ian Cox A German tango dancer who is prone to headaches: a Minehead Ian Cox Siani, a Weymouth is someone at a milonga who talks about diets all the time Siani Williams Haha! X Ian Cox A Mormon who has just taken up tango: a New Romney Ian Cox Someone at a Tea Dance who doesn't stop dancing for the food: a Nuneaton Ian Cox A tango dancer who is past his or her sell-by date: an Oldbury Ian Cox An over-excited Irish tango dancer: a Paddock Wood Siani Williams Grimsby...a leader who embraces you so tight that the rib cage crackles for a week after... Ian Cox Someone who critizises the slightest wrong in his follower: a Pickering Aaron Davies A shy follower: a Shrewsbury Ian Cox An overweight tango dancer: a Prescot Aaron Davies Re-your chest: a Manchester Aaron Davies Dances in the middle: A Puddleton Aaron Davies Walks into the line of dance: An Asscot Ian Cox One 's' there Aaron m'lad Aaron Davies Oh really Ian Cox Someone who always dances too quickly: a Rushden Ian Cox ya ya Aaron Davies Someone who takes forever to move: A Luton Siani Williams A leader who continually stamps on the followers feet: An Okeford Fitzpaine Ian Cox Someone who keeps getting kicked on the dancefloor: Scarborough Ian Cox The feeling that comes over you when a nice vals starts up: Skipton Cliff Kneale Someone who takes the initiative Leeds Siani Williams HUISH Episcopi then, is the pre milonga excitement!! Aaron Davies Ballroom dancer at a Milonga: a Canterbury Ian Cox A beginner who tries too hard: a Sturminster Newton Siani Williams A Westonzoyland is a leader who can't follow the ronda the right way. Cliff Kneale A Baleo to the lower leg Hackney Aaron Davies Wide boy chasing skirt: a Sydney Ian Cox To sit out a tanda in order to wind up the dancers with inappropriate hand gestures: to Taunton Ian Cox Someone who fails to dance 'into the floor': a Tipton Ian Cox When a follower leans to heavily on you: Tonbridge Aaron Davies Lane changer: A Turnpike Lane Aaron Davies One who dances up your backside: A Camden Passage! Ian Cox Someone who wears inappropriate footwear: a Wellington Ian Cox Lots of words for lane changers Aaron... Cliff Kneale a followers response to Kens bad musicality Kilkenny Aaron Davies Mmmm...too many recent experiences! Siani Williams An Evercreech: a leader who refuses to cabeceo and follows you around the room before pouncing.... Ian Cox Someone who takes up both lanes in the ronda: a Widnes Cliff Kneale leader hand wondering below the waist Romany Ian Cox The act of dancing without straightening your leg: Witney Siani Williams Runcorn:state of overused feet Ian Cox The meet-up just before the milonga starts: Yeovil Aaron Davies One who drones on endlessly about what constitutes proper tango music: A Windsor Ian Cox To dancing using nothing but the walk: Woking Siani Williams Ramsbottom: getting a whack from another couple mid tango Ian Cox To keep on turning and turning and turning: Wiveliscombe Ian Cox Someone new to tango who gets a little too excited in close embrace: Wood Green Ian Cox How you feel after a particularly moving tanda: Wembley Siani Williams A Cockerham...a leader who gets over excited! Cliff Kneale A a description of a large man that wont let you into a well liked local milonga Burley Ian Cox A milonga where there's no-one worth dancing with: Uckfield Aaron Davies An Ambridge: always does the same thing Ian Cox Let's not be tempted to define Cockermouth Siani! Cliff Kneale telling someone enthuiastically that you like this music in the hope that they will invite a dance Hinton Siani Williams Beddgelert: a leader who only does tango to meet bedfellows Aaron Davies A Middleton: definition of a dull milonga Cliff Kneale someone that doesnt follow the line a dance at all Rome Ian Cox Someone who falls over on the dancefloor: a Spilsby Cliff Kneale never seen that Ian Cox Ian Cox A particularly exclusive milonga: Snodland Siani Williams Skewen- leader who only turns in one direction. Cliff Kneale thats me then a Skewton Aaron Davies Trenchtown: the experience of getting stuck in the corner, surrounded by people doing boleos and ganchos Ian Cox Reigate: to walk ironically Siani Williams Chipping Sodbury- a leader noone wants to dance with. Siani Williams No its not Cliff Cliff Kneale time to leave Moscow Ian Cox Newport - someone who has just taken up tango and can only turn to the left Cliff Kneale that feeling in your heart after a great Tanda when you know you wont see that partner for a while Helsinki Siani Williams Frogland Cross- a leader who zigzags all over the floor Aaron Davies A Siberia: a follower who ends up sitting out all night.. Aaron Davies Georgeous follower who gives you the hard shoulder: an Iceland Ian Cox To dance patterns at a milonga that you've haven't even practiced at a practica: masham Cliff Kneale what your partner needs to do if they smeel Washington Aaron Davies but who actually isn't any good on the dance floor!!!!! Bitter? Noooooooo Ian Cox When the followers are allowed(!) to ask leaders to dance: Maidstown Cliff Kneale a move involving a knee sit Lapland (I am rather pleased with that one Ian Cox Tall people who always dance together: Loftus Ian Cox knew sit? Siani Williams where is loftus? Cliff Kneale knee sit Ian Cox Anyone called kenneth who arrives at a milonga after eating a vegetable curry... wait for it...:Kendal Aaron Davies Taunton: a follower who wears very short skirts but refuses to dance Cliff Kneale Ian thats food but I like it Ian Cox Sorry Cliff, that's what I meant to type... knee sit? Cliff Kneale yeah knee sit I dont know the spanish word for it Siani Williams There wa one done at the Feast!!! Siani Williams A Lapland in fact!! Cliff Kneale not by me Ian Cox When the hem of a followers dress gets caught in here knickers: Hitchin Cliff Kneale when you are so angry with the floor craft that you are actually letting off steam Madasacar Aaron Davies You call that a dress Siani Williams No....Mr Shiny suit! Ian Cox What you think after being stilletoed: Godalming Rob Maskell Someone at a Milonga who should be shot - Stoke Canon Ian Cox When it feels like everyone at the milonga has smoked too much dope: Folkestone Cliff Kneale When there is nobody serving at the bar Barcelona Rob Maskell I shit you not there is a place in Brazil called Neópolis, does exactly what it says on the tin Ian Cox Ealing: the period of recovery time after being stilletoed Aaron Davies Mornington Crescent: the Milonga that takes 3 hours to find, in the pouring rain, and has been cancelled. Ian Cox Someone who starts dancing without taking off their coat: Didcot Cliff Kneale when you get your one back on Mr Smith Hammerstmith Ian Cox A pretty follower: Chickerell Cliff Kneale when the ligth are too high at the milonga Brighton Ian Cox A dull playlist: Blandford Forum Cliff Kneale a tanda that really you arent enjoying Badlands Ian Cox When everyone cabaceos at exactly the same time: Beaconsfield Cliff Kneale a frosty follower Iceland Ian Cox Looking annoyed at someone who just overtook you: Askern Siani Williams Bolton:the urge to escape a terrible Milonga... Aaron Davies Shaftsbury: an over-priced milonga Ian Cox Someone who repeats the same moves all the time: Andover Cliff Kneale that stage where you have to really concentrate to lead Minehead (thanks god that over) Siani Williams Bangor: a leader who contunually whacks his follower into furniture and other couples Cliff Kneale someone that sings badly in your ear Singapore Siani Williams haha Cliff Kneale time to get the atlas out Siani Williams uhoh Ian Cox Well, that's cheered everybody up! Hope to see you all at Tango West or Bramshaw over the weekend! Cliff Kneale someone that leads the basic 8 over and over Cuba Siani Williams It did Ian! Cliff Kneale wait I have the Atlas now Cliff Kneale just waming up lol Ian Cox Good grief Cliff! Cliff Kneale I am Bramshaw I will be at the Tea Dance Aaron Davies Most enjoyable. Night all Cliff Kneale the door from the Kitchen where you can escape from a unwanted dance Salvador Siani Williams nos da! Siani Williams like that Cliff! Cliff Kneale yep that was fun Siani Williams Actually it reminds me of a time when Sioni was very little, sitting on the toilet reading the Book of Liff and laughing so much she fell in and got stuck! Cliff Kneale keeping count of how many dances you've had I-taly Cliff Kneale a really really bad dance Congo Siani Williams Dumpton:being abandoned mid-tanda Siani Williams Right...off to bed with a book..... Siani Williams Sleep well all.... Paul Strudwick Belly lead - Middle Wallop Dawn Porter Removing the loonies - Madrid Paul Strudwick Manchester - when a man leads another man Dawn Porter Preston - a follower who gives you all her weight..... Border Tangoman A large couple making an out of line manouvre, eg overtaking: Elephant & Castle Siani Williams 'amster-dam ...warning comment from one follower to another about previous leader, who only takes very small steps, ALL the time! Siani Williams oo Paul...what does that make Nether Wallop!! Border Tangoman That's the Gardel Bum Kick... Editor and contributor: Ian Cox - email: [email protected] Copyright: Tango Central 2011 - www.tangocentral.co.uk Please request permission before publication (a little Facebook sharing is ok though!)