We love our yearly visits with Monica Paz, and we will miss her very much. Fortunately,
those of us who are going to Buenos Aires in November will have an opportunity to experience her in her own city. We also look forward to next year's visit.
Message from Judy Assisi
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Our friend Herb Goodfried is in Dell Ridge Rehab, Paramus. He can have visitors after 2:30, please.
Address: 532 N Farview Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652 Phone:(201) 265-5600
No celebrations next Thursday, Just great lessons, great tango, great food, and great fun.
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
40 CD package from Buenos Aires |
Osvaldo Natucci, one of the finest and most well known DJ's in Buenos Aires, has compiled a magnificent 40 CD package
of tango selections. The set contains 1000 of the best tangos, milongas and valses of the Golden Age: the ones played in the milongas of Buenos Aires. Monica left two sets with me, and they are available for sale.
If you are interested in purchasing these CD's, send an e mail to firehousetango@gmail.com or call me at 201-826-6602.
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?
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan |
Every Saturday, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Dance Manhattan, Fran and Pat host a special beginner/intermediate practice, geared toward helping you bring 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'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.
View Monica Paz' terrific tango Facebook posts - my pick
from this week is below |
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:
Nace ROBERTO FIRPO. Pianista, compositor y director. Figura sustancial de la Guardia Vieja. Fue el introductor del piano en la orquesta típica. Francisco Canaro y él son los únicos directores que superaron las 3000 grabaciones. Su estilo fue poco bailable, pero resultó un precursor del romanticismo en sus prolíficas composiciones. Aquí un ejemplo. 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 Here is a link to her Facebook account 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 Jorge García: "the things I learned from Pugliese are humility and equality, manifesting them in the form of cooperative that formed the Orchestra." "What I learned from him is humility, equality, and he showed that by forming a cooperative with his
orchestra".http://youtu.be/iBvxXlJp3FU
We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.com We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.com
From Cris Grappa
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.
Events at Starlight in Nutley
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Los Pitucos Milonga this Saturday, May 17
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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 Los Pitucos is a Monthly event which is held on the Third Saturday of the month...We have been bringing the finest Tango events and music to New Jersey since 2009
Firehouse Tango trip to Buenos Aires in November - Still time to sign
up
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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. How to Register: 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
Our cancellation policy - We STILL rarely cancel
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In spite of the fact that we have cancelled twice this year, we STILL 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 seven or eight times in all these years - including, unfortunately, the first scheduled milonga of 2014), 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. - Tony Mele (Terri's son)
- Terri Lopez
- Tsipoyra Sartan
- Steve Maisch
- Jesse Barton
- Debbie Glaser
- Bob Brillo
- steve turi
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
- Heidi Fedor -
Soda
- Eva Roth - Meat Loaf
- Dianne Langmuir - Broccoli
Salad
And these people brought wine
- Rifky
Mackeen
- George
Ngo
- Dan &
Georgina
- Bob
Brillo
- Edna
Negron
- Marta
Bautis
- Horatio
Piccioni
- Jesse
Barton
- Francis &
Marie
- Eduardo
Campos
-
Terri
Lopez
Tango in New Jersey and New York
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