A Tango War of Insecurities: The lighting at the Milongas

Over the last few months I have witnessed a number Tango wars (both 0pen and hidden) derived from insecurities. The lighting at Milongas in the US probably being the silliest of them...

It may be too  strong to call it a "War" but I will, anyway. The endless discussion on the right level of "lighting" at Milongas. More often than not I hear the opinion of those who claim that a dim environment in the Milonga makes them feel cozier, more intimate. There are also so those who are braver in admitting that they don't like the cold bright light shining on them while they dance, because it makes them feel exposed. I realize that this is a feeling probably shared by many, though not everyone is frank enough to admit it out loud.

And then there are those who hate the darkness that some Milongas have started to reach as a result. You cannot see easily potential dance partners; even worse: for those who care about the Codigos of the Tango in Buenos Aires, the darkness is tantamount to the impossibility to Cabeceo. Of course, someone with a cynical spirit could just claim that Cabeceo only happens in BAs and that, ultimately, the need for it only arises from another insecurity--that of the men to be rejected publicly, so, who cares? Those so afraid to ask and be denied a dance should just: (a) get over it; and/or (b) just get to dance better and increase their popularity to the point that nobody will never ever deny them a dance, right?

So, what insecurities to please? Who should win this one? I will start by confessing that, actually, I have been bothered by both extremes (too much light, and too much darkness), but if forced to chose, I'd rather have the light. Some Milongas (including at Festivals) just get so dark that one may have real trouble recognizing people and facial expressions at a distance, particularly when they are crowded. I love the idea of Cabeceo in principle, but I don't hold my hopes very high outside Argentina--except, perhaps, in places that make a point out of respecting tradition, such as the Milongas of the Denver's Milonguero Tango Festival.

The point here is that, regardless of what I think, the score seems something like 90-10 in favor of the light dimmers, at least in the US Festival Circuit/Milongas. In my experience, most places in Europe where I've danced were also "dimmers", though with certain exceptions (at some Milongas in Germany and the Netherlands, for instance). In contrast--and not surprisingly--most Milongas in BAs tend to be reasonably well-lit with some exceptions (La Viruta, and to a lesser extent, El Beso come to mind; as well as a few other small nuevo-Milongas). 

And I'm not sure I agree with it. The argument against "exposure" and in favor of the cozy darkness seems a little overplayed--after all, if we go dancing, it is fair to expect that some others will watch us dance, no? It's part of the deal. At the same time, creating so much of a darkness environment that the opportunities for Cabeceo disappear completely is just not fair. Yes, we are not in Argentina; yes, we come from another cultural background; but yes--there is a point to respect the Codigos and promote them, to the extent possible. Making it impossible for people to follow them may seem a negligible loss to some... but it is not. It is a pity that those Festival and Milonga organizers who say to love, cherish and hope to promote the Tango culture, tend to forget to create the conditions for it to become alive.