14-11-13 - Back from Buenos Aires. Muchas Gracias to our Ace Firehouse Tango Backup Team

Published: Mon, 11/17/14

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November 13, 2014 Newsletter
We're home - Celebrate Joe and Sue's anniversary at Firehouse next Thursday, November 20th

              
 From beginning to end, our trip to Buenos Aires and Mendoza was magical.  Everyone who went wants to know when we plan to do it again.  We will see.  

Please don't ask me which city was better.  We ate, drank, danced, laughed, shopped, and bonded in both until we couldn't fit in even a teeny bit more. 

Once again, I want to thank each one of my companions, now my lifelong friends, for making this one of the best experiences of my life. 

Of course, we couldn't just close up shop at Firehouse for the two weeks, so I need to say an even bigger thank you to our home team.  More about Terri, Steve, Fran, Pat and the gang next week.

PS - Don't forget to ask Roberto about his alter ego, Antonio Ruiz.

Please make sure to join us for Joe and Sue's anniversary celebration next Thursday, November 20.  




News from Fran Chesleigh

A big thank you to Richard Ariza!

It was just another night – just another great night – at Firehouse Tango, thanks in no small measure to the absolutely sensational music of our dear friend and DJ, Richard Ariza. Firehouse regulars look forward to Richard’s visits, because we know his music is going to keep us out of our seats with those feet on the dance floor – all night long! Thanks, Richard, we want to welcome you back the first chance we get!

Sue Dallon and our traveling Firehouse Buenos Aires group will be back this coming Thursday to tell tales of fun and frolic in the milongas of B.A. Come join us for an evening of great music, great friends, and non-stop dancing excitement.


The Turi report

The Firehouse Clean-up team struck again last week. Terri led the charge and the battle against disarray was over in no time. Her faithful troops were:


·      Barbara

·      Georgina

·      Elena S

·      Elena T

·      Mike Porro

·      Steve M

·      Steve T

·      Tsipoyra

·      Raphael

·      Hilda


"Well Done!" and thanks to all.



Tango tip of the week

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. One of the things that makes social Tango a very simple dance -- I mean, a very difficult dance -- No, I mean a simple -- difficult -- oh, forget it. What I'm trying to say here is that in social Tango, individual elements are led and followed one at a time from beginning to end. A step, a weight change, a pivot -- any of these elements, to mention only a few, is carefully isolated and lovingly implemented through the precise lead/follow mechanism -- before any other element is attempted. In other words, we get to the end of one thing before we even think about trying another.


Right? This is the way you dance, right?


You don't just start running around the room like a house on fire, when the music starts -- without thinking about what you're doing. As a leader, you don't pay attention exclusively to that complicated YouTube. or other performance-oriented figure you're trying to get yourself through,


Keeping your follower constantly off balance

Convincing her that she just might not manage to finish this dance without falling down.


As a follower, you don't take two, three or four steps, when his lead is telling you that he's just asked for one.


And neither of you ever leans on or clings to the other for any reason.


Right?


Of course not. Both of you are accomplished social tango dancers. You take Tango very seriously, and treat it with the utmost approbation. You're working diligently in your classes, your crucial private lessons (with that knowledgeable teacher), and your focused practice sessions to make even the most discerning milonguero/a in Buenos Aires proud of your efforts. And perhaps more importantly, you bring all your developing skills -- not to mention, your ongoing respect -- to your partner in every dance, your partner who -- you can be completely confident -- is, without question, working on the same things you are, and with whom you can therefore share the mutual realization of this wonderful social art form.


Right?


It may come as a shock to you ... take a deep breath ... but I happen to know that there are people out there, people in our "community," who do not treat their involvement in Tango in this way. (Yes, I know: One is so very reluctant to believe, to accept, even to contemplate such an unpleasant possibility. And yet we must face the inevitable fact that, ultimately, it is true.) With my own eyes, I have borne witness to leaders who have never bothered to learn the fundamental principles of leading. I have been exposed to followers who apparently feel that following is an attempt to out-think their leaders rather than responding skillfully to a precisely-honed lead. I have seen that there are in our midst leaders who -- perish the very thought -- do not invite their hapless followers to limit themselves to one movement at a time!!


I will not dignify this gentle missive with further expurgation on the unsavory deportment I have personally beheld. (No doubt, you have as well.) Suffice it to say, there is in the final analysis but one word to describe such aberrant conduct. And that word, dear friends, is ...


Oy!


Yes, oy! How else can one respond?


Do you know someone who's Tango may tend to elicit such comment among the cognoscenti? Can you imagine the feeling of utter disgrace they must be experiencing? Make it your responsibility -- yes, your mission -- to tell them immediately -- after all, these people are your friends -- that they simply must take whatever measures may be necessary in order to alter their behavior right now before things get any worse.


Please muster the courage to take action without delay. We're all depending on you.


Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Pearl Studios


Since 2002, Fran and Pat have been holding a Tango practica at Dance Manhattan every Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This Saturday will be our last event at Dance Manhattan, because, as many of you know, Dance Manhattan is closing its doors. Starting November 29th, our Practica will be at Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue (between 35th and 36th Streets. It will still be from 2-4pm and the cost for will remain $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) Fran and Pat will be on hand as always 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.
 

        

Celebrations



Thursday, November 20
November 20 - Celebrate Sue and Joe's 26th anniversary with us

Joe and I have been married for twenty-six years, and I can't think of a better way to mark this event than to share a celebratory tango with our dear Firehouse friends - the more of them the better.  Please join us on Thursday,  November 20th for this joyful event.  What woman of my age - indeed any age - would not be excited about a long line of tangueros waiting just to dance with her?  Joe is equally excited to tango with the ladies. 


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



No Firehouse Tango Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving Day



Firehouse Tango will be closed on Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 27th.  We hope you'll enjoy the day with your family, as we all will - and, of course, we'll look forward to seeing you on the following Thursday evening, December 4th for Fran's one day vals lesson.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Reader's Corner
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



Tango Tip of the week

See news from Fran above.

Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan

See news from Fran above.

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

 

Calendario Milonguero


 

November 12th, 1918

Calendario Milonguero

CARLOS POSADAS dies. Musician educated at the conservatory. Afro-American. He is a clear example of the important role played by Afro-Americans in the beginnings of tango. It is unknown exactly how many themes he composed, perhaps around eighty, the majority of them is appropriate for dancing, like EL RETIRAO and CORDON DE ORO. And this other one that truly makes you get up from your chair.

♫ EL TAMANGO. Aníbal Troilo (1941)
⊙ CD Nº2 Colección Natucci (40 CDs) +info


Here is the Facebook link to see Monica's tango calendar:

 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBECqsZMnl0&feature=youtu.be 


New Years Eve Milonga with Mike Porro

 

Ring in 2015 with Argentine Tango

TANGO LOCO VI

New Years Milonga

To Simply Enjoy Dance & Friendship

at

Grand Ballroom

Authentic Argentine Tango Music provided by

DJ Al Ko

8:00 PM – 1:00 AM

December 31, 2014

Light Nibbles

BYOW

Champagne at Midnight

$30 before 12/15

$35 12/16 – 12/30

$40 at the door (if space is available)

Mail checks payable to “Tango Loco” to:

Michael Porro

180 Old Tappan Rd. Bldg 5, Old Tappan, NJ 07675

Grand Ballroom Dance Studio

Midland Park Shopping Center (around the back)

85 Godwin Ave, Midland Park, NJ 07432

For additional information call 201-768-0218 or email: porro@erols.com

TANGO LOCO MILONGA is a spontaneous event that arises when the spirit moves us and

we have the opportunity to host extraordinary teachers of dance for our tango community.

On this night, our extraordinary teachers are you!


Our cancellation policy - We STILL rarely cancel



We 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.



 

A final thank you

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


See Steve's list above


 



And of course, without Terri Lopez, we would have to close up shop.



    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
    • Bonny - Chips & Guacamole
    • Liz Contreras - Soup, Tortillas de Potatas
    • Maro - Pizza

    And these people brought wine
    • Marlene Streisinger
    • Rifky Mackeen
    • Dan & Georgina
    • Bob Brillo
    • Edna Negron
    • Liz Contreras
    Tango in New Jersey and New York