I was looking through the threads and I could see several which referred to people's pet peeves with partners and in general re dancing, but I wanted to get a more consistent sense of what people find as a pet peeve or downright annoyances.
In particular I am interested in leaders' pet peeves with respect to the followers.
However, it would be fair to talk also about followers' pet peeves with leaders.
I begin first: my follower pet peeves re leaders
1. Bad breath
I recently danced with a great leader who had terrible bad breath. I mean it was really awful. I thought that this will be survivable because he dances pretty darn well. And I had a plan how to deal with it--keep my distance from him while we chat during the cortinas. Unfortunately, he decided that he will also sing or talk during the dance. Since he was an out-of-towner, I asked him how he likes the tango scene where we were, and he said that it was strange: sometimes it's great, and sometimes women drop him halfway through the song. And I said, "I wonder why that happens." Then he began to sing and I told him that my feet are tired, and can do only one more song, and unfortunately we won't be able to finish the tanda...
2. Talking during dancing if he has bad breath
3. Beginner leader trying to do complicated moves with me thinking he's mastered them when it's obvious to everyone else but him that we look more like a charade when we do them. I've learned to keep my balance so that I am not thrown off if my leader loses his balance, but still, it's not fun to have to deal with this, nor am I a pro.
4. I am tall, esp. with heels. So a particular pet peeve of mine is a short leader who insists on a close embrace. Esp. those whose face stares in my chest!! Yuck! I feel so dirty after a tanda with such leaders, I am thinking of establishing a policy for myself--to check the leaders' height before I dance with them. I won't refuse to dance with short leaders if they are respectful, and I have had pleasant dances with them too.
5. A shorter than me follower, trying to do really low volcadas. Ok, I am not as light as a feather: I am 5'6" without heels @136 lb. Not exactly light for short even if portly types. So please do not torture people like me. I try to laugh it off, but if I get a dozen of such leaders per night, I am losing my patience and good will. Unfortunately, people who need to read this, won't....
6. A huge pet peeve is the teacher types. I have seen three subtypes:
a. during the cortina, he thinks he is polite to give me tips on how to dance and how to fix my posture or what not, when clearly he is not a better dancer than me. "May I suggest something....?" I politely listen, but he's on my blacklist from then on.
b. during the dance, he pulls my shoulders or my pelvis to fix my posture. I am pretty sure he thinks that this was a super subtle way to teach me proper dancing.
c. and the worst case: stopping during the dance! to explain how I need to pivot for an ocho!!!! Gee, I even liked this guy and invited him to dance, but I could manage to dance only twice with him because it felt like I was lectured. I got mostly lectured and led!
I've also noticed that this syndrome is seen in leaders who have 5 months to 5 years of tango experience. Most experienced dancers, even if asked, will refuse to give answers, and will simply say, "Let's just enjoy this." And that's when I've had a great time dancing, even if not necessarily a nirvana type of experience.
7. A leader who does not listen to the rhythm of the music.
I think I am done with my list. As I said, I'd really like to know what are leaders' pet peeves re followers. Thank
In particular I am interested in leaders' pet peeves with respect to the followers.
However, it would be fair to talk also about followers' pet peeves with leaders.
I begin first: my follower pet peeves re leaders
1. Bad breath
I recently danced with a great leader who had terrible bad breath. I mean it was really awful. I thought that this will be survivable because he dances pretty darn well. And I had a plan how to deal with it--keep my distance from him while we chat during the cortinas. Unfortunately, he decided that he will also sing or talk during the dance. Since he was an out-of-towner, I asked him how he likes the tango scene where we were, and he said that it was strange: sometimes it's great, and sometimes women drop him halfway through the song. And I said, "I wonder why that happens." Then he began to sing and I told him that my feet are tired, and can do only one more song, and unfortunately we won't be able to finish the tanda...
2. Talking during dancing if he has bad breath
3. Beginner leader trying to do complicated moves with me thinking he's mastered them when it's obvious to everyone else but him that we look more like a charade when we do them. I've learned to keep my balance so that I am not thrown off if my leader loses his balance, but still, it's not fun to have to deal with this, nor am I a pro.
4. I am tall, esp. with heels. So a particular pet peeve of mine is a short leader who insists on a close embrace. Esp. those whose face stares in my chest!! Yuck! I feel so dirty after a tanda with such leaders, I am thinking of establishing a policy for myself--to check the leaders' height before I dance with them. I won't refuse to dance with short leaders if they are respectful, and I have had pleasant dances with them too.
5. A shorter than me follower, trying to do really low volcadas. Ok, I am not as light as a feather: I am 5'6" without heels @136 lb. Not exactly light for short even if portly types. So please do not torture people like me. I try to laugh it off, but if I get a dozen of such leaders per night, I am losing my patience and good will. Unfortunately, people who need to read this, won't....
6. A huge pet peeve is the teacher types. I have seen three subtypes:
a. during the cortina, he thinks he is polite to give me tips on how to dance and how to fix my posture or what not, when clearly he is not a better dancer than me. "May I suggest something....?" I politely listen, but he's on my blacklist from then on.
b. during the dance, he pulls my shoulders or my pelvis to fix my posture. I am pretty sure he thinks that this was a super subtle way to teach me proper dancing.
c. and the worst case: stopping during the dance! to explain how I need to pivot for an ocho!!!! Gee, I even liked this guy and invited him to dance, but I could manage to dance only twice with him because it felt like I was lectured. I got mostly lectured and led!
I've also noticed that this syndrome is seen in leaders who have 5 months to 5 years of tango experience. Most experienced dancers, even if asked, will refuse to give answers, and will simply say, "Let's just enjoy this." And that's when I've had a great time dancing, even if not necessarily a nirvana type of experience.
7. A leader who does not listen to the rhythm of the music.
I think I am done with my list. As I said, I'd really like to know what are leaders' pet peeves re followers. Thank
