Guidelines and Code of Conduct 

The Princeton Tango Club aims to create meaningful community by promoting Argentine tango on Princeton’s campus. Tango requires partnership connection, and this connection can only be built through mutual trust, safety, and respect.   

General Codes of Conduct

1. Keep good hygiene. Remember that we are asking other people to dance close to us. The best steps you can take in tango are the steps of showering, wearing clean clothes, and using deodorant. Try to avoid overpowering cologne or perfume.

2. Be welcoming! We are all trying to learn together, and we were all a beginner at one point. A positive, empathetic, and caring attitude goes a long way to creating a positive experience for everyone.

3. Be open to listening and learning. We are all coming to class to learn. Feedback and advice are critical to progress. 

4. Collaboration, not criticism. When giving feedback, try to do so in a supportive manner. Focus on actions the person can do to succeed. Avoid being overly critical or criticizing the person.  

5. No harassment of any kind is tolerated.

6. Non-consensual touching outside of the tango embrace is not permitted. In tango, our partner gives you permission to dance with them. Please do not confuse this with them giving permission for anything else. 

7. SAFETY is our first priority. It is impossible to have fun or enjoy dancing if you don’t feel safe. If you at any point feel uncomfortable, you have several options for support.  

   1. You can reach out to any of the teachers. 

   2. You can reach out to any of the club leadership

   3. You can use the following links to send an anonymous message. 

LINKS WILL BE ADDED SHORTLY 

Tango Etiquette

There are a few pieces of tango etiquette that are good for every dancer to be aware of. 

1. Mirada & Cabeceo: The most accepted way to ask someone to dance is to catch their eye and smile. If they accept your invitation, they will nod or smile back. This is a tradition, but it also helps avoid awkward rejections. 

2. Declining a Cabeceo: If you don’t want to dance but you notice someone is trying to catch your eye, you can  avoid making eye contact or can simply shake your head no. 

3. If you are unsure if someone accepted your cabeceo, you may want to verbally clarify if they’d like to dance or not. 

4. Asking someone to dance verbally: It is not necessarily rude to ask someone verbally to dance, especially if they’re out of your eyeline or you know them well. Especially among us club members, it can be normal. Remember if you ask someone verbally, they can always say no. Likewise, if someone approaches you, you can always decline. Please do not try to get someone’s attention by touching them (i.e. tapping them on the shoulder, touching their waist, grabbing their hand, etc.)

   1. However, it is rude to stand in front of someone until they dance with you or stare at them after they’ve already declined with a cabeceo. 

   2. Typically, the leader invites the follower to dance. However, in our community, anyone (leader/follower) can invite another person to dance. You may want to verbally confirm what rolls you will be dancing (or if you’ll be switching). 

   3. Traditionally, the leader (or the person doing the inviting) approaches the follower, leads them to the floor, and then brings them back to their seat at the end of the set. In our community, we are typically more casual about this but you may encounter it in other spaces. 

5. Tandas: When you agree to dance, you are typically agreeing to dance until the end of a tanda (a set of tango songs). 

   1. Tandas are typically 4 songs of tango or 3 songs of vals or milonga. You know a tanda is over when a song that is clearly not tango plays (often pop or modern music). This is called the cortina.

   2. Saying no is always okay, even in the middle of a tanda.

   3. Traditionally, “thank you” / “gracias” is only said at the end of a tanda or to politely end the tanda early. So be aware that saying “thank you” may signal more than you intend.  

6. Navigation: Remember, we’re dancing with the whole floor, not just our partners. Navigation on the dancefloor is important. 

   1. Dancers move around the dancefloor in a counterclockwise circulation. 

   2. Partners typically enter the dancefloor in the corners where there is space, and the leader makes eye contact with the leader behind them so that the previous leader does not collide with the entering pair. 

   3. Dancing pairs move forward in the line of dance, maintaining the same position (i.e., between the pairs they entered behind and in front of). 

   4. If collisions occur, simply apologize and continue. Make sure both the leader and follower are safe before continuing. 

7. Choice of steps: On a crowded floor, avoid large movements that may hurt other dancers. Only perform large movements if space is available. 

8. As dancers, we are always learning. Respect this process and remember that the milonga is not the space to give feedback on your partner’s dancing unless requested.