Sue and Joe to Buenos Aires in March - What are the mice to do?
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The logistics - The A Team
Terri Lopez (Wonder(ful) Woman) and Steve Turi (aka Superman) have generously offered to head up our milonga logistics team in addition to their normal invaluable weekly help. The tasks involved in running Firehouse are monumental, and we are incredibly fortunate to have so many fabulous friends willing to step in whenever needed.
But What about the Music?
Not to worry. While we are away, your tangos, milongas and valses will be spun by fabulous guest DJ, Rich Ariza. I promise you will not be disappointed.
DJ Richard Ariza March 14 and 21
Richard hosts the delightful Friday afternoon and Sunday evening milongas at Triangulo WWW.TANGONYC.COM. He has guest DJ'd at many New York and New Jersey milongas, and has done those honors at Firehouse often. If you haven't been to Triangulo, you don't know what you're missing. You'll find information below in this newsletter about Rich's Sunday Domingo Club.
Richard is always adding to his excellent tango collection, and as always, we are very excited about hearing his selections at Firehouse.
How about the newsletter?
This Firehouse Tango newsletter has been published nearly every week since March, 2002 and thanks to Fran and Pat, the next two weeks will be no exception.
Among his countless talents, our remarkable instructor, Fran Chesleigh, is a professional writer. As always when I am out, he and his equally extraordinary assistant, Pat Altman, flawlessly and with a style of their own, take over the task of writing the Firehouse Tango newsletter. I, with the help of modern technology, then send out their handiwork directly from our apartment in Buenos Aires.
This awesome duo is usually found at "Fran's Table" in the alcove closest to the DJ table. They are always happy to answer your Tango questions or show you how to do something you might have missed, so make sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn from the best.
While the Cat's away, it's time to play CHEF! |
Hello everyone, Pat here, and the Cat's Away poster is back once again in preparation for our two amazing evenings at Firehouse when we feast on some of the most sumptuous dishes you have ever tasted, while our fearless leaders are kicking up their heels in Buenos Aires! This year these two special evenings will be held on March 14 and March 21!! Please make sure to mark your calendars, and ready to start cooking! We will bring the poster each week from now on so there's plenty of time to consider what you will bring. We'll need appetizers, entrees, salads and desserts--and the usual beverages, so get out your best recipes and plan to join the banquet brigade! If you'd like to sign up via email, contact Fran at franchesleigh@mac.com, or Pat at paltman21@gmail.com.
Last Thursday, February 21 - Birthday of Judy Saul and repeat performance of Debbie Glaser's special birthday
For five years in a row, Debbie Glaser and Judy Saul celebrated together at Firehouse for their joint birthday. This year, Judy was out of town, so we celebrated Debbie and moved Judy.
Because bad weather kept lots of tangueros away, we gave Debbie and those who missed dancing with her another chance. Both Debbie and Judy were thrilled to preserve the tradition of sharing the birthday dance. And what a hit they made!
Joe started with Judy, and Eduardo started with Debbie. They then joined the rest of the Firehouse Tangueros waiting in line to tango with both ladies. Poema played twice, but we could have kept going. It was a wonderful treat for all.
We're so happy that Debbie and Judy are members of our Firehouse family.
Judy brought a delicious raspberry chocolate birthday cake.
If heaven is anything like celebrating one's birthday at Firehouse Tango, it has a lot to recommend it. Frankly, I'd rather be at Firehouse. Thank you lovely tangueras, for a birthday memory I shall cherish. Con mucho amore,
Steve Turi
I keep saying I do not want to celebrate any more birthdays, but how many men will line up to dance with me, if not for the traditional tributes on birthdays.....oh well, you know that is not really true because our tanqueros dance with all of the ladies...
Terri Lopez
Great message about floorcraft
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Here is a terrific YouTube link with some great tips about floor craft. I found it on Monica Paz' Facebook page, and it was made by Murat and Michelle Erdemsel at Yola Tango in Austin, Texas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDJs-71f5dk We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.comFrom Mary EpiphanDear Sue,
I want to express a very special thank you to you and others who organize milongas at the Firehouse (with its warm and friendly atmosphere), Fran and his lessons, and most importantly, MY MAGNIFICENT BIRTHDAY DANCE TANGUEROS. Because of you (and so many other well-wishers) I had a wonderful and truly unforgettable time celebrating my birthday this past Valentine's Day! My expectations were exceeded beyond words! And despite being a newcomer and very nervous to dance the birthday dance, I am happy I did it and found it to be so thoroughly enjoyable! With love and best regards, Mary Hi Everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. A great many women tell me in passing that Argentine Tango is the hardest dance they have ever tried to learn. If they're not taking private lessons with me, I usually sympathize with their perception, and tell them that it just takes time to get - but that if they persevere, they'll eventually feel better about the whole thing. If, on the other hand, they're having their first private lesson, I tell them that, in fact, Tango is the easiest dance they'll ever learn.
Why do I say this? If you are a relatively new student of Tango - maybe you've taken a few classes here and there, or maybe some well-intentioned male student is trying to get you into the game - you probably find Tango to be extremely complex. You might even think by now that it's almost impossible to learn. But if we change the circumstances a bit, the process suddenly becomes truly simple.
Let's consider the following scenario: You and your partner are standing together in a comfortable dance embrace. He says to you: "Let's take a slow, easy side step to your right. You acknowledge the suggestion. Then you both move effortlessly to your right, and come to a stop. It's over. It was really easy. What a relief. Now he says, I can feel that you're ready for the next movement. Shall we try a forward step for me, accompanying a backward step for you? Again, you acknowledge the suggestion. As he moves into your space, you effortless move backward, bringing yourself into balance at the end of the movement - knowing that your partner is going to enable you to finish what your doing before inviting something else.
This is what it's like to learn and, in fact, to dance Tango in the right manner. As a follower, you receive all the information you need from your leader well in advance through what we'll call the lead/follow process. It's exactly as if he's whispering in your ear which step he wants you to take next. And at the end of every step you take he makes absolutely certain to wait for you to be balanced and ready before he attempts to lead something else. You don't have to do a thing on your own. Your responsibility is to read the lead, take the invited step, bring yourself into balance, and wait for the next thing that happens. That's all there is to it.
Of course, this is the ideal circumstance. This is the private lesson between you and your dance teacher. As you continue, and the dance becomes more and more complex, it never loses the basic idea of one step at a time. You always feel that your leader (the teacher) will provide you with exactly what you need to execute whatever it is he asks for. You never have to do it yourself. And in this ideal world, the people you will be dancing with in the social context are learning just how to be superb leaders - so that they can emulate your teacher and enable your dance to be effortless.
It is only when you venture forth into the not-so-pleasant world of unskilled leaders that you feel once again that Tango is the hardest dance you've ever attempted. Why? Because in this false context, you're suddenly being asked to do not only your own job, but his as well. In fact, you may actually have to fight him from throwing you completely off balance and tossing you around the room like a rag doll - and then telling you that you don't know what you're doing. This is the problem for the follower in attempting to learn Tango. It's not you at all. It is what is around you. I am not suggesting that as a beginning follower you will never make a mistake. But I am saying that a good many of the errors that occur are not caused by you, and becoming aware of this simple fact should become an important part of your learning process.
While the Cat's away, it's time to play CHEF! |
For Firehouse dancers who might enjoy a day in the Big Apple on Saturdays, Fran teaches from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every week. He offers a beginner class in Milonga & Argentine Waltz at 11:00 a.m. as well as an intermediate class in Tango at noon. From 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Fran and Pat host a special beginner/intermediate practice for bringing your skills up to speed. The cost for the practice is $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) Fran and Pat are always on hand to answer any questions you may have about your dancing, and to help you with figures you're working on. If you want to take Fran's classes, call Dance Manhattan at 212-807-0802 to register. For the practice, all you have to do is arrive with $10 and your dance shoes in hand.
See you every Saturday for a full day of Tango!
Firehouse Tango hot line - We rarely cancel |
We want to remind everyone that if the weather looks really bad, we will leave messages on our web site www.firehousetango.com and phone 201-825-1570. You can also reach us on our cell phone 201-826-6602 (Sue) and 201-913-8504 (Joe). Feel free to leave a message on any of these lines. We cancel only when absolutely necessary (only about six seven times in all these years), but please check whenever you're not sure. If there isn't any message, we're on.
During Hurricane Sandy, when we had only cell phone service, I was able to leave a message on my cell, so I guess that the best number to call is 201-826-6602. This week, we have three pair of shoes in shoebags and a black sweater. They are safely locked away in the closet, so ask Tibor for them next week.
The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango. - Terri Lopez
- Tony Mele
- Tsipoyra Sartan
- Stephen Maisch
- steve turi
- Debbie Glaser
- Jesse Barton
- Mary Epiphan
- Elena Syrett
- Maro
A reminder that Firehouse Tango does not supply wine - Your fellow tangueros bring it. Therefore, if you drink it, please make sure to bring a bottle every so often.
The folks below brought food and wine this week -
- Omission from last week - a shout out to Terri Lopez - Terri made the delicious rice with pigeon peas (arroz con gandules) to go with my chicken and pasta, Maro's Greek pizza, and our tamales. As always when we cook, Terri also made the world's best salad. Let's give her a hand!
- Herb Goodfried - Tin of Candy
- Bonny - Chips & Guacamole
- George Ngo - Bread-sticks, Snacks
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Maro D - Lentil Soup - a huge pot of delicious home-made lentil soup because Maro thought it would be nice on a cold night. What a great lady - and a great cook!
- Judy Koski - Soda
- Judy Saul - Birthday Cake
And these people brought wine - Jan Folmsbee
- Audrey Mammone
- Michael Yinglins
- Fred Bilyk
- George Ngo
- Edna Negron
- Bob Brillo
- Enrique Zuniga
- Ferd Ritz
- Horatio Piccioni
- Francis & Marie
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Terri Lopez
Tango in New Jersey - Milongas |
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