I hope every one of my Firehouse friends will join me for my birthday next Thursday. April 10.  I can't imagine anything i would like more than to celebrate the occasion than dancing, socializing, and sharing the best years of my life with the folks nearest and dearest to my heart.  Please don't disappoint me.

Last Thursday April 3 - Birthday of Mona Phillips - a great success

We miss Mona and she misses us.  She has said that she can't think of a better way of getting older than with tango at Firehouse.  I couldn't agree more.    Kevin started the dance and then all the tangueros cut in. Chris brought a luscious Polish chocolate cake with rum and nuts.  It disappeared in a flash.

Here is Monica's schedule during her upcoming visit to NYC.
After one more year of experience teaching, interviewing and making the Milonguero Calendar, I feel full of information that I want to share with you all.

I will teach and perform at some of the popular milongas and I will hold a weekend of workshops.

Here is the schedule of my visit:
- GUEST INSTRUCTOR at: All Night Milonga April 12th
Triangulo 21th
La Nacional 17th (to confirme)

-PERFORMANCE at Triangulo 15th

-WEEKEND WORSHOPS, Saturday and Sunday April 26/27 at Champion's Studios

Saturday 26
4:00 to 5:15 PM Tango: Giving and getting: What, how, when?
Part 1: Part 1: Tips to adjust my dance according with my occasional partner.

5:30 a 6:45 PM Tango: Giving and getting: What, how, when?
Part 2: Tips to adapt my dance according with the different orchestras.

Sunday 27
5:00 to 6:45 PM Milonga: Lisa and with traspié.

Workshops at Champion's studios. 257 West 39th Street, 14th floor.
Pre-registration required, first come, first served.

SATURDAY:
One workshop: $40
Two workshops $70

SUNDAY:
Milonga workshop: $50

For registration, please contact Monica at: tangopaz@yahoo.com.ar

-PRIVATE LESSONS at Champions Studio - 257W 39th Street, 14th floor
To book private classes, please contact Monica at tangopaz@yahoo.com.ar


Un abrazo milonguero,
Monica
www.mptango.com

My resolutions for 2014

1.      Keep improving my español and study Spanish every day

2.     Keep visiting Buenos Aires

3.     Shorten this newsletter (HaHa)

4.    Exercise every day when I'm at home and try to continue when I'm on the road

How did I do?

 Buenos Aires

We spent five weeks in Buenos Aires last year.  Our group trip in November is on, so we'll go at least once in 2014.  Joe and I would like to try to squeeze in one more time before that. 

Spanish

I've really been working on my Spanish, which has improved greatly, but it's never enough for me.  I'm still taking two group classes every week.  February's classes were snowed out, but March was much better.

My meetings with Hilda for an "habla" session will resume now that she is back from Buenos Aires. I continue to meet with Horacio every few weeks for the same. 

To my Spanish speaking amigos: Please keep "hablando espanol conmigo", no matter how much I might resist.

Newsletter

As for shortening the newsletter, it's always been a lost cause, but think how long it would be if I didn't try.  Besides, there's always so much to say. 

Exercise

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. In our last Tango Tip we discussed the role of the leader's torso in providing the follower with the precise information she needs to execute each step she takes in the dance. We also talked about what the leader's arms do not do, which is to push or pull the follower through any given movement. The question then becomes: What positive role do the arms actually play in leading and following the dance?

Initially, the arms form the primary dance connection -- the embrace. The leader places his right arm around the follower's torso, gently caressing the center of her back. He takes her right hand in his left, applying virtually no forward, backward, upward, or downward pressure -- just holding her hand lightly. At the same time, the follower lays her left arm on the leader's shoulder, on his upper arm, or around his back or neck -- depending in part on the body conformation of each of the partners, and on the follower's own personal preference. Her arm remains in a neutral position. At no time does she lean on the leader or use this connection for her own balance. The follower's right hand lays gently -- notice my ongoing use of the word "gently" -- in her partner's left, applying virtually no forward, backward, upward, or downward pressure against his arm.

If then there is no pressure coming from the arms of either the leader or the follower, what is the role of the arms in the dance? Simply put, the arms serve as a conduit between the leader and the follower in communicating the leader's torso movement -- the actual center of the lead. If both the leader and follower are skilled in their specific roles (as was carefully spelled out in our last Tango Tip), it is very easy for the follower to understand and execute exactly what her leader wants her to do through this apparently neutral -- but in fact extremely powerful -- connection.

In cases where either or both partners are unskilled in lead/follow technique -- and unfortunately in my observation this represents the majority of people dancing Tango today -- both leaders and followers tend to use their arms inappropriately, pushing, pulling, leaning, and otherwise making balance before and after individual movements, which, of course, is crucial to good Tango practice, virtually impossible to maintain. In fact, it has become commonplace among ill-informed, unqualified Tango teachers to actually teach their students to engage in misguided, idiosyncratic, and ultimately destructive behavior on the dance floor.

What is to be done about this situation? Will people ever do what it takes to learn good lead/follow techniques -- rather than simply making a career of amassing figures and adornments?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Sunday, April 6, 12:30 -- 3:30 p.m., All levels welcome

Last November, Pat and I teased your appetite with our "10 must-have Tango moves" workshop. Now, we're going to absolutely knock your socks off with our follow-up intensive, "10 More Must-Have Tango Moves You Should Know." Please join us for this one-of-a-kind, 3-hour intensive Tango workshop, and get ready for more figures, more techniques, and much more non-stop excitement. If you liked what you learned in November, you're going to absolutely love what we'll be bringing you this time!

Here are a few hot spots:

·      Create a surprise with one of Gustavo Naveira's unique alterations

·      Channel the magic footwork of Orlando Paiva

·      Add more great adornos to your repertoire

·      Master the traspie wizardry of Julio Balmaceda

·      Define the moment with a classic combo from Osvaldo Zotto

Fran Chesleigh's "10 More Must-Have Tango Moves You Should Know" offers you a unique opportunity to transform your Tango, Vals and Milonga into the polished, seriously authentic dances you've been working so hard to achieve.

Don't miss it!

Prepaid by Friday, April 4: $30 per person

Standard price: $35 per person

No refunds. No exchanges.

Dance Manhattan

Ballroom,Swing and Latin Dance Studio

39-47 West 19th Street

5th Floor

New York, NY

1-212-807-0802

dancemanhattan.com

Some items featured on our previous holiday menus were:

Sue - brisket with potatoes and carrots, salad, pastries, dried fruits and nuts,  macaroons, desserts, matzah

Judy Saul - holiday soup

Georgina Blitzer - Potato Kugel

Tsipoyra Sartan - egg salad

Judy Assisi- Sephardic fruit compote

Herb Goodfried- red cabbage

Jack B. - Tsimmes

Bonny Y - Chopped liver and pickled herring

Jack M. - Lamb stew

Janice G - Passover cake

Faye and Lou - pineapple

Norma Arias - roasted carrots and fennel and chocolate covered matzah

 Every day, our dear friend and teacher in Buenos Aires posts a historical tango fact of the day. These interesting and informative tidbits always include English, Spanish and Italian  information and a relevant recording. You can see all of them and listen to the recording by simply joining Monica Paz PractiMilonguero Facebook page. Below is the post for March 31th and a link to the Facebook page, where you can hear the music:

March 31, 1992: Death of ALFREDO DE ANGELIS, orchestra conductor. He builds up his band in 1941. The recording period is very long: from 1943 to 1977. He chooses well the singers of his first period: Carlos Dante, Julio Martel and Oscar Larroca. At the end he did not shine, but continued selling records. Now we are ´playing one of his biggest hits, a well deserved one.

Muere ALFREDO DE ANGELIS. Director de orquesta. Arma su formación en 1941. Su período de grabación es muy prolongado: desde 1943 hasta 1977. Elige bien los cantores de su primera etapa: Carlos Dante, Julio Martel y Oscar Larroca. Al final no tuvo brillo aunque siguió vendiendo discos. Ahora suena uno de sus mayores éxitos bien merecido

31 marzo 1992: Muore ALFREDO DE ANGELIS. Direttore d'orchestra. Forma la sua orchestra nel 1941. Il suo periodo di registrazioni fu lungo: dal 1943 al 1977. Sceglie bene i cantanti nella sua prima fase: Carlos Dante, Julio Martel e Oscar Larroca. Nella parte finale della carriera non brillò sebbene continuò a vendere dischi. Qui ascoltate uno dei suoi maggiori successi.

 https://www.facebook.com/MPTango

And the following one for her latest interview (She regularly posts interviews that she does with surviving old milongueros) : 

MP Tango Interview

MPTango Presents Jose Santoro at PractiMilonguero

http://youtu.be/9CWJ2gAELnU

Hi Pat 

A short note to thank you for the time and trouble you have taken to put these two Thursdays together.

I was very tempted last evening, to say a few words thanking you ( and by now you know that I am not a shy person or an introvert) but given that I am brand new to Firehouse going on in my 10th week, I was waiting for more senior people to do the honors. 

I was sorry that no one did. We should have toasted you with virtual glasses of Dom Perignon.

However, I think we all do understand the amount of work that went into organizing all the elements that made these two days a stupendous success. 

Most of the work, I am sure, was done behind the scenes and no one really knows what it took. And it must have been especially hard as Fran would have been offering you suggestions and advice which you, diplomatic as you are, would have chosen to hear but not follow. All spouses are like this. My wife, when she was alive, did the same. She said I always supervised but never executed. True.

In any case, thank YOU for all of this.

I hope you will consider a repeat in November when the Cats are really away. 

The bonding and camaraderie were excellent and the feeding frenzy, especially around the dessert table, worth videotaping. 

Our primal wolf pack instincts came to the fore - I guess.

Regards

Rifky Mackeen

Hi Rifky,

Thank you so much for your email. You are right, the Cat's Away evenings are always a lot of work - we start about a month out with the poster, encouraging people to sign up, and as the two special evenings get nearer there is additional work to be done at home behind the scenes. However, Fran and I continue to do it because we feel it really does create a wonderful sense of excitement and special support among our group. And it 's great to have all that terrific food for 2 weeks!! Of course, the feeding frenzy is all part of it as well - our stalwart Firehouse friends never disappoint!

Your recognition of the work involved is very much appreciated.

Thanks again,

Pat

Our group leaves New York on Friday, October 31, 2014 at 10:15 PM and returns Monday, November 10 at 6:15 AM. As I write, the round trip fare for non-stop American flights #953/956 is $1285. Let me know now if you are interested in joining us. You can contact me (Sue) at 201-825-1570 or  firehousetango@gmail.com.

How Much:

Cost of the trip including everything listed below (excluding air) is $2000 (double occupancy). Single supplement is available for an additional fee of $300. Airfare should be about 1,285.

Give check made out to Firehouse Tango for $400 together with your name, address and phone numbers to Sue or send to Sue Dallon, 16 Fox Hollow Rd. Ramsey, NJ 07446. For more information or references ask Sue or call 201-825-1570 or 201-826-6602.

What's included?

·         8 nights / 9 days in Buenos Aires with the friendliest group around

·         Stay at the excellent, centrally located Bauen Suites Hotel

·         Full breakfast every day

·         Transfers to and from hotel (included only if traveling with group on American # 953 Fri Oct 31 and # 956 Sunday November 9 (arriving Mon  10))

·         Welcome luncheon where you will meet the instructors

·         Private group lessons with excellent local teachers and local hosts as partners

·         Milongas with local hosts (male and female) who are there just to dance with us

·         City Tour

·         Full day at gaucho ranch with barbeque and show

·         Popular Tango show with dinner

·         Day at San Telmo Flea Market & enough free time for shopping, exploring the city, visiting museums, taking private lessons, visiting milongas on your own or resting (heaven forbid).

·         You most certainly will want to visit a shoe store (shoes cost about 1/3 of price here).  Prices in Buenos Aires are amazingly low & additional costs are minimal.

·         Excellent & inexpensive local teachers highly recommended by us for privately scheduled lessons.

Optional add-on - Four days in Mendoza - Argentine wine country

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
• Tsipoyra Sartan
  
• Bob Brillo
  
• steve turi
• Elena Titova

• Heidi Fedor - Cake
• Eva Roth - Meat with Saffron Rice
• Herb & Judy - Peanut Brittle
• Cris Grapa - Cake

• Rifky Mackeen
• George Ngo
• Bob Brillo
• Bill Krukovsky
• Hilda & Rafael
• Marta Bautis
• June Stahl
• Tonia
• Charles Moorman
• Eduardo Campos
• Terri Lopez