The Firehouse Kitchen does it again!
Hello everyone, Pat here. It was the first day of Spring, but the weather forecast tried to scare us with the notion that snow could come our way! Thankfully, this did not happen and our second Cat's Away Milonga turned out to be just as awesome as the first! It was extremely gratifying to see so many folks turning up for the feast.
As the 7:00 p.m. lesson swung into gear, the kitchen began to fill with carefully prepared home-cooked dishes, once again providing distracting aromas for those in the class trying to concentrate on their tango technique. Each new arrival revealed not only that our cooks are very talented, but also familiar with the famous Firehouse appetite!
Once the food was set out, our outer room became like a gourmet restaurant--every single chair and stool was occupied as our hungry dancers worked their way through platefuls piled high with an impressive array of dishes. The sense of community and sharing was enjoyed and applauded by everyone in attendance.
Those of us on kitchen duty - "Superwoman" Terri Lopez, and once again Marlene providing indispensible help - proved that together we make one terrific team, pooling our resources preparing and presenting the food, washing the dishes, putting up with the oven heat and organizing the evening. Thanks also to Debbie Glaser, who again offered assistance in the lessons, and to everyone else for their support.
We offer a huge round of applause to our wonderful DJ, Richard Ariza, who once again took us to Tango Heaven with his outstanding music. Richard hosts the delightful Friday afternoon and Sunday evening milongas at Triangulo -- WWW.TANGONYC.COM. He has handled DJ duties at many New York and New Jersey milongas, and has often been guest DJ at Firehouse. 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 superb music at the Firehouse.
Joe and Sue will be back next week to tell us all about their fabulous trip to Buenos Aires. Also next week we will celebrate Passover with traditional Jewish food, etc.
And now on to the Acknowledgement Roll Call (in alpha order) for our banquet chefs and others who brought wine: (our sincere apologies if we have missed anyone--please let us know and we'll list you next week)
Barbara-Pizza!
Bob (Brillo) - large green salad
Eduardo (Campos)-Empanadas
Flo Salierno - large creamy chocolatey trifle
Glen Klu - Flourless Chocolate Cake
Jean and Enrique - Potato Pie
Judy (Assisi) & Herb (Goodfried) - Chili and Rice, with grated cheese and onions
Judy (Koski) - large bowl of fruit
Mary (Dinos) - homemade Irish Soda Bread and Lasagna
Mike and Debbie (Poro) - large green salad
Slava and Naum - homemade Kosher Cheesecakes
Walter Petuch - Wiener Schnitzel and Potato Pancakes, =====
The Turi clean-up report
Alert the Pentagon! Why? I suspect our team leader Terri may be nuclear powered! The energy she expended this evening was nothing short of cosmic.
The 'clean-up' is actually an ongoing process that takes place before, during and after the Firehouse festivities. Terri led the way and everyone present pitched in to help keep things organized, going smoothly and preventing the accumulating debris from reaching critical mass. Everyone clearing their table and putting plates and dishes in the receptacles contributes to the joy that is Firehouse.
The 'after guard' clean-up was deftly completed with the generous energies of Bob Brillo, who whisked away the tables and chairs. Jesse and Debbie, re-arranged and sanitized the front room; (I told Jesse he would spoil the Knights by doing too good a job!) Essential aid was donated by Maro, Elena S., Mary E and as always, Tsapora. Marlene was a clean-up mainstay all evening. Pat Altman's "Cat's Away" helmsmanship is a marvel to behold! Sincere thanks from all of us to all of you 'cleaner-uppers' AND to all you wonderful donors of scrumptious, yummy food!
'Twas yet another most memorable Firehouse evening! Muchas gracias.
--steve turi
Terri's takeaway
Oh what a night, as the song goes. I do not have to tell you what a great number of people we have; their generosity and loyalty go beyond words. I do not believe that any -- and I mean any -- Milonga has the kind of people and the energy generated that we have at Firehouse.
Tonight again was a great night. The generosity of food brought again by Walter as he paraded into the kitchen with white gloves bringing tray after tray of food. It was indescribable.
We are getting spoiled. I could only add the music by DJ Richard was bouncing off the walls and too much food to consume. Everyone worked hard to make this a success. I don' t know what we would do without our team member Prince Steve Turi. It was another great night for Firehouse and we did not let Sue and Joe down.
-- Terri Lopez
Tango tip of the week
Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. In this country we think of social dancing as an ongoing series of continuous movements. Foxtrot, Waltz, American Tango - these dances begin with movement and continue uninterrupted until the end of whatever song it being played. Once the leader and follower begin, they don't stop.
When it comes to Argentine tango, however, things are completely different!
If you've been to any of my Argentine Tango classes, you've often heard me say that Argentine Tango is a dance of movement and stillness. You may also remember me saying that Tango is danced in increments of one step, or that the leader invites his follower to move one single step at a time.
These are all ways of describing primarily what the follower does in dancing Tango. To put it as clearly as possible, the follower comes to a complete stop at the end of every step she is led to take. She doesn't pause or hover in anticipation of her next move. She doesn't lean on her partner. She simply finishes her movement, entering a state of neutrality in which she is completely balanced on one leg (the last leg which has just served as her working or moving leg) - and she waits.
In this state of neutrality anything is possible. This is the end of every single step in the dance. It is the invitation to every possible movement.
If, on the other hand, she leans on him at the end of a movement, most possibilities for subsequent movement are eliminated. If she fails to come to a stop, he is forced to follow her next movement. If she doesn't find her balance, his options are severely limited.
It is only when she finishes her movement - when she achieves neutral, quiet balance - that she becomes ready for her next step in Tango.
For a follower the end of the step is as important as the step itself. Think of endings with special concentration. Plan for every ending as you begin every step. Try saying to yourself, "At the end of this step I will come to a complete stop in balance." Try not to use your leader for support, if you find yourself out of balance at the end of a step. Regain your balance from within your central core. If your leader is moving too quickly for you to feel balanced and in control, ask him to please slow down. If he won't or can't, try dancing with someone else.
Tango is a dance of movement and of stillness. If you still don't know what this means, ask Pat or me about it. We'll be happy to help.
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan
Fran teaches at Dance Manhattan from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every Saturday. 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 material you're working on. If you want to take Fran's classes, call Dance Manhattan at 212-807-0802 to register. If you'd like a private lesson, call Fran directly at 212-662-7692 or email him at franchesleigh@mac.com
. 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!
