For four Thursdays in October (2, 9, 16, 23) Fran Chesleigh, our incredible Firehouse Tango resident instructor, will be teaching one all-level milonga class (from 7 to 8:30 PM) in place of his usual beginner and intermediate classes.  For the best results, please try to come at 7. 

As many of our regulars know, Argentine social dancing includes not only tango, but two other dance forms as well - vals and milonga. Since tango is what we focus on primarily in our weekly classes here at the Firehouse, people are often a bit timid about getting up to dance when a vals or milonga are played.

In October, however, all that changes. Because starting Thursday, October 2nd, and running for four solid weeks, Pat and Fran will be teaching a month-long series of special classes in milonga. Their goal is to bring everyone from beginners to advanced dancers up to speed on this exciting Argentine dance. They will begin with the absolute basics of the dance, and move quickly through as much material as time and your progress will allow. By the end of October, you'll know what milonga is, how it's danced, and how much great fun it is to dance.

We extend our sympathy to Tibor on the death of his father.  For those who would like to send cards, his address is:

Tibor and Regina Csokasi
316 Richard Ct
Pomona, NY 10970

Many thanks to Elena Titova for filling in at the door while Tibor was out. 

Our Halloween party features:

• Belly dance performance by Belly-Tangueras Marion Miller and Brenda Gaines
• Extra half hour of dancing till 11:45
  
• Door prizes
• Parade of the Firehouse Tan-ghost and Tan-goblins
• Awards for best couple, most creative, funniest and sexiest costumes
• Tango lessons by Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman
• Buffet dinner
• Milonga

Join us  Thursday, October 30th for our twelfth annual Firehouse Halloween Milonga (regular lessons from 7:00 to 8:30.) If you don't have a costume, don't let it keep you away, but come, dance and cheer for your friends. Costumed or not, expect a great evening. In addition to awards for the most creative, best couple, funniest and sexiest costumes, we've got some great door prizes (costume not required to be eligible.) 

Of course, also included in the low price of only $15 are basic and intermediate tango lessons taught by Fran Chesleigh; a buffet dinner; and dancing and socializing with the fabulous Firehouse tangueros. 

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. During our last Tango Tip, we discussed the confusion a follower can feel, when her leader is trying to invite something that really isn't leadable -- usually a figure he picked up on YouTube, or in a workshop of some kind.

To clarify the issue a bit, there's no doubt in my mind that the leader is almost always an innocent party in all this. He assumes that the step being "taught" is something he'll be able to lead. After all, the person teaching the figure makes it seem easy, right? The problem, of course, is that the majority of students find it very hard to differentiate between what we'll call "performance" material and leadable, social repertoire. They trust that the teacher will help them here, but sometimes the teacher really doesn't know, or doesn't care to recognize, the difference -- especially if he/she is a performer who has executed the figure in question many times choreographically, and who may be attempting to offer the students something that will favorably impress them, perhaps promoting a return visit.

Yes, I know, it's shocking, isn't it?

So, leaders, how can you tell the difference between a figure you can actually lead, and one, which may look great, but only works choreographically? What I do personally is put it to the Pat test! 

What is the Pat test, you may ask? Let's say I've grabbed a special nugget from YouTube, which I'm just positive will knock everyone's socks off. First, I try to formulate a detailed idea of how I think it should be led. Next, I try to sneak it into a dance I'm having with Pat. If everything goes smoothly -- meaning if she can follow what I'm trying to lead -- I add the figure to my "can-do" list. If Pat says, "What the hell is that?" (in her refined British way, of course), the alarm bell goes off. I will probably ask her if we can try the figure again under more controlled circumstances -- making the assumption that my lead may have been faulty. But if it doesn't work this time, I start to believe the figure may be one of those glittering baubles that promise the moon, but (sigh) blow up in your face.

What I don't do is let Pat see a video of the figure, while I'm trying to get her to follow it. That would be cheating. And under no circumstances do I ever say "You were supposed to ...." An explanation of the figure would corrupt the process beyond repair.

If you have a dance partner whom you feel follows comfortably and reliably, you can impose on her generosity and patience to try out new material from time to time -- just as I do with Pat. If she seems able to follow one of your new steps without too much trouble, you can bet that it will probably be fine with other partners who are at more or less the same level of skill. On the other hand, if your partner gives you the "what the hell is that" look, you should probably keep that figure off your dance card until you've learned whether it really can be led or not. 

There is so much great material in Tango that can be led and followed, there's no reason to waste your time and effort on things, which just don't work is the social context. A good way to come to a final decision about the viability of a given figure is to discuss it with your teacher. (I make the bold assumption here that, of course, you do have a teacher, right? Doesn't everyone?) A teacher who understands social Tango will be able to tell you whether a step is appropriate for the social dance floor or not. He/she will also be able to guide you in learning the right way to lead a given figure, too, if you need a little help with that.

Ultimately, try to keep in mind that it's not the number of steps you know that makes you a desirable dance partner. It's the quality of your lead/follow skill. This is what your teacher will tell you to work on. This is what Pat or I would tell you to work on. And this is what all your partners are hoping you bring to the dance.

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.

 Tango Angeles Presents....

Monica Paz of MPTango, inspired  by childhood memories and an LP of Julio Sosa left in her care by her late father when she was only eight years old, set out to discover the world of tango and milongas her father used to inhabit.  Her teaching of codigos, traditional style of dancing, and interviews with milongueros have been informing and enriching the world of tango ever since.

LIVE:                      Oct. 1 6PM PDT                ubnradio.com  channel 2

DOWNLOAD:          iTunes Podcast                  http://ht.ly/C5c3y

      Stitcher                             http://ht.ly/C5c8x

 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 a link to the Facebook page, where you can hear the music:

October 10th, 1902

PEDRO LAURENZ (Pedro Blanco Acosta) is born. A pivotal figure in tango. Excellent bandoneonist by the clear and intense sound. Although he composed little, he is a notable composer. As a conductor he started to record with his own orchestra in 1937. The commercial success did not reward him, even if with his music he has achieved a beautiful mix of rhythm and melody. He is co-author of the music of the theme we are listening to here.

♫ ORGULLO CRIOLLO. Pedro Laurenz (1937)

⊙ CD Nº9 Colección Natucci (40 CD) +info

 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 Eduardo "El Nene" Masci at PractiMilonguero

Click on cc underneath the screen for English subtitles.

Next Milonga - Saturday, October 18th, 2014

Special guest instructor - Alicia Cruzado

Alicia Cruzado is an authentic master of salon tango, experienced as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and artistic director. More information on her site - http://www.aliciatango.com/

Alicia's lesson at 7:00pm

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

Admission $15, including home cooked "delight"

[strong style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"]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

The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.