Address: 532 N Farview Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652

Phone:(201) 265-5600

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Last week, we talked about how the notion of Tango being primarily "gestural" in nature rather than "functional" makes the challenge of maintaining the line of dance quite complex -- even for experienced dancers. (Read about it in last week's Tango Tip.) Today, I'd like to address an additional challenge we face, which is also inherent in the dance itself. It's the fact that Tango is at the same time both a "progressive" dance, and a "spot" dance.

What am I talking about here?

When we're able to effectively maintain the line of dance in Tango, many dance professionals call what we're doing  "progressing" around the floor. Therefore Argentine Tango is thought of (not necessarily by people in Argentina) as a member of a global family of dances defined as "progressive." Also included in this family would be other social dances such as Foxtrot, Waltz, American Tango, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, Polka, Mazurka, and Peabody -- as well as the entire aggregate of International competitive "modern" dances.

In contrast to progressive dancing, there is another category, which we call "spot" dancing. Basically, this refers to dances which by and large remain in one place on the floor -- rather than continuously progressing around the line of dance. This includes all Swing/International Jive dancing, Hustle, all Latin/Caribbean dancing -- and, yes, Argentine Tango.

What? I thought you said that Argentine Tango was a progressive dance.

That's true, I did. And at times it can also be danced in a very small space, sometimes referred to as a "spot." So we can also think of Tango as a spot dance.

American/European-trained dance teachers (again, not necessarily teachers in Argentina) generally agree that Argentine Tango is a hybrid -- meaning that it is a combination of progressive and spot dancing. Sometimes Tango travels around the room; sometimes it stays in one place. Which, of course, greatly amplifies the challenge of maintaining the line of dance -- particularly for beginning dancers, I think, but ultimately for all of us.

Is there a way to combine this dual progressive/spot nature of Tango with keeping a consistent line of direction? What I see among the best social dancers in Buenos Aires is they put line of dance first, and personal creativity second. If something they might like to do in place would cause a disruption of the flow around the floor, they simply don't do it -- or perhaps they save it for another time. With dancers who are less discerning or less conscious of what is going on around their own immediate sphere, such is often not the case. These dancers tend to do whatever comes to mind in any given moment -- without any consideration of the general flow. And what we end up with is chaos on the dance floor.

Have you noticed this in the dancers around you? Maybe in your own dancing?

The obvious answer to the progressive/spot challenge, is to do whatever you want, if no one else is on the floor -- but when you're in a crowd, put the needs of the group first by paying attention to and maintaining the line of dance. You can save your special showcase moves for when they ask you to get up and do a solo.

Wouldn't that be just wonderful?

 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 May 10th and a link to the Facebook page, where you can hear the music:

May 10, 1884: Birth of ROBERTO FIRPO, pianist, composer and director. He was a substantial figure of the Old Guard. He introduced the piano in the tango orchestra. Together with Francisco Canaro they were the only directors that exceeded 3000 recordings. His style was not very danceable, but he was a precursor of Romanticism in his prolific compositions. Here an example:

 10 maggio 1884: Nasce ROBERTO FIRPO. Pianista, compositore e direttore. Figura di spessore della Guardia Vieja. Fu colui che introdusse il piano nella orquesta típica. Firpo e Francisco Canaro sono gli unici due direttori che superarono le 3000 registrazioni. Il suo stile non fu molto ballabile, però fu precursore del romanticismo nelle sue prolifiche composizioni. Qui un esempio

 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 Jorge Garcia at PractiMilonguero

http://youtu.be/iBvxXlJp3FU

Dearest Sue,

I was sooo.... looking forward to celebrate with you and everyone tonight. But, my dentist had other ideas.
So, while oral surgery and tango may not go well together, I know that best wishes for a great party among so many dear friends will make for the greatest tango celebration in town! 
Happy Firehouse Tango 11th Anniversary!!!.... with hugs, kisses and cabeceos to all!!!
From Cris G.

A little bit of Buenos Aires in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Next Milonga - Saturday, May 17th, 2014

Special guest instructor - Grand Master Facundo Posadas

Facundo Posadas is an icon in the world of Argentine Tango and travels the world to share the roots of this dance  by teaching Milonga and Candombe and Tango.

Grandson of Don Carlos Posadas-author of more than 40 tangos-Facundo has participated in tango shows and festivals around the world since the age of 18

Facundo's lesson at 7:00pm

social dancing from 8:00pm
Couples, singles and beginners welcome!

Admission $15, including home cooked "delight"

VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
725 Franklin Ave.
(corner of Pulis Ave.)
Franklin Lakes NJ 07417

For directions click here

For more information contact us at:
info@lospitucos.com
and visit our website at
http://lospitucos.com

About us

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.

• Tony Mele (Terri's son)
  
• Terri Lopez
• Tsipoyra Sartan
• Steve Maisch
  
• Jesse Barton
• Debbie Glaser
  
• Bob Brillo
  
• steve turi

• Heidi Fedor - Soda
• Eva Roth - Meat Loaf
  
• Dianne Langmuir - Broccoli Salad

• Rifky Mackeen
• George Ngo
• Dan & Georgina
• Bob Brillo
• Edna Negron
• Marta Bautis
• Horatio Piccioni
• Jesse Barton
• Francis & Marie
  
• Eduardo Campos
• Terri Lopez