Sue and Joe leave for Buenos Aires next Friday - What about Firehouse Milonga?
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Sue and Joe to Buenos Aires Joe and I had such a terrific time in Buenos Aires a few months ago that we decided to do it again -- and soon. We're leaving next Friday (we'll be here Thursday, March 7) and we'll be away the two Thursdays after that (14 and 21). It's an awesome place, and not only for dancing tango. I recommend it to every one of you.
The logistics
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. Music by Rich Ariza 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.
Newsletter by Fran Chesleigh 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.
First Cat's away milonga in TWO WEEKS! |
Hi everyone, Pat here. We are now only TWO WEEKS away from our first Cat's Away Milonga of 2013!! We are looking forward to another wonderful banquet - we have some great items already signed up, and invite more of you to add your names to the Poster! For March 14th, we need more volunteers in each category. And, there are plenty of slots open for March 21st.
We prefer that you bring your food in your own dishes (these can be disposable, if appropriate); we can also warm food in the large oven in the Firehouse Kitchen. For salad makers, there are two large bowls at the Firehouse, plus a couple of smaller bowls. Contact me at paltman21@gmail.com or Fran franchesleigh@mac.com with any questions. Please don't be shy--we want to hear from you!!
Annual More or Less Kosher for Passover feast at Firehouse Thursday, March 28
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On Thursday, March 28, we will celebrate Passover at Firehouse Tango (yes, that is the Thursday after the second Cat's Away Milonga - Three awesome dinners in one month.) As is our tradition, some of our tangueros judeos will provide a traditional meal for our Firehouse friends. It looks like many of the people who would normally bring a dish will be away, so we would appreciate any additional contributions. You don't have to be Jewish. Just let me know at firehousetango@gmail.com Here's what we have so far for this ethnic feast. -
Sue Dallon - Brisket with potatoes, carrots, string beans and matzah balls (The brisket is my mother's recipe, the best in the Bronx,)
- Tsipoyra Sartan Passover cake
- Daniel and Georgina Blitzer Vegetable kugel
- Judy Assissi and Herb Goodfried Dried fruits soaked in Grand Marnier
- Norma Arias Roasted carrots and fennel
There will be lots of goodies for all.
No special celebrations this week
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
Our sympathy to Carl Remmes
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Carl Remmes wanted his Firehouse Tango friends to be told of the passing of his mother, Elizabeth Remmes, last Thursday. He is very grateful for all the support, care and understanding we have shown him through these difficult years.
Donations may be made to
First Reformed Church 5 Ackerman Avenue Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
Cards and notes can be sent to:
Carl Remmes 292 S. Blvd Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.comFrom Ferd RitzHi Sue, I had a great time tonight.........thank you.
If you like Poema, I think you'll like this, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9QGq_YnNdQEnjoy, Ferd ****Note from Sue - This is called Invierno (Winter) by Francisco Canaro. I played it for everyone this Thursday. I think you all liked it. It is similar to Poema - one of my favorites.
Hi Everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Last week, I discussed at some length the woman's dilemma as she begins to study Argentine Tango. This week, I want to add a bit to what I said, and also talk about the beginning leader's challenge.
Part of the message I tried to convey last week was that attempting to learn Tango through classes alone probably won't work. If you're a woman who is dancing exclusively with unskilled leaders, there is really no practical way for you to develop the myriad skills you need to be able to follow properly. The obvious reason for this is that your leaders simply do not know how to give you the right signals yet. It's not that they won't learn eventually. They just don't know how right now. And now - in the first stages of your learning process -- is when you need it most.
The same thing is true, of course, for men. If your follower population consists of women who haven't yet learned how to follow appropriately, you simply will not be able to form the very specific lead/follow collaboration that is so necessary to make Tango work. You may have some fun, getting together with people and trying out the steps, but the bottom line is that you'll be creating habits that will eventually need to be broken, if you really want to become a skilled Tango dancer.
In my opinion, both leaders and followers need to consider embarking on a course of private instruction in order to form the right habits from the beginning. It is certainly predictable that I, as a dance teacher, would suggest such a thing. After all, it's the way I earn my living. I think, however, that if you consult with virtually any student who has included private instruction in his or her learning process, you will hear exactly how important it is in learning Tango.
Many of you have heard me talk time and again about the importance of the ongoing collaboration between leader and follow. This is what makes the entire dance work effectively. In the private lesson, your teacher offers one side of this collaboration without flaw (assuming he or she is appropriately skilled, of course). This puts the focus completely on your development as a leader or follower - a development that won't in any way be compromised by problems your partner may be having. Private instruction, of course, is expensive. For the cost of a single private lesson, you could pay for three or more group classes. Or you could limit yourself to the kinds of free classes we offer at venues such as Firehouse Tango. In that case, classes cost you nothing. The question is: What do you learn?
Perhaps a more important question is: What do you want to learn? If all you really want is superficial exposure to the dance, free classes and occasional group lessons are fine. But if you want to develop real skill, I suggest you bite the bullet, find the right teacher for you, and start learning the right way.
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan |
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!
Lost and Found - A record is set
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We set a record last week - three pair of shoes and a bottle of beer were left. The good news is that all were reunited with their owners. I guess folks are having such a great time dancing that they forget everything else.
If you lost something, we probably have it. Ask Tibor at the front desk.
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. The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango. - Elena (Russian)
- Elena Greek)
- Terri Lopez - Terri was out of town, and boy, did we miss her! I refuse to take her off this list
- Tony Mele - Ditto for her son, Tony.
- Tsipoyra Sartan
- Stephen Maisch
- steve turi
- Jesse Barton
- Mary Epiphan
- Maro D
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 -
- Mary Pagano - Cake
- Herb Goodfried - Tin of Candy
- Bonny - Chips & Guacamole
- Mary Epiphan - Apple Tarts
- Judy Koski - popcorn
And these people brought wine
- Fred Bilyk
- George Ngo
- Jack Messing
- Jesse Barton
- Florine Salierno
- Carl Remmes
- Marta Bautis
- Horatio Piccioni
- Bob Brillo
- Eduardo Campos
Tango in New Jersey - Milongas |
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