14-06-26 - New Firehouse Tango Schedule

Published: Fri, 06/27/14

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June 26 2014 Newsletter

New Schedule an overwhelming favorite - It's a go


No question about it: the new schedule is on.  I am amazed at how many people stay until the very last minute.  I love it!


From now on, the beginner lesson will go from 7:00 to 7:30 and the intermediate lesson from 7:30 to 8:30, Dinner and dancing begin at 8:30.  We'll also add fifteen minutes at the end of the evening, playing until 11:15. That gives us forty-five minutes more of tango, milonga, and vals.

 


Celebrations

Next Thursday, July 3 - Special birthday of John Wynne

John and Judy have been coming to Firehouse since as far back as I can remember.  Speaking of far, they drive more than an hour to get to Maywood, but they come almost every week.  We are thrilled to be able to celebrate John's 70th with him.  Ladies, don't miss the celebratory dance - he is great fun to dance with. 

 


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



July at Firehouse Tango

 

Thursday, July 3 - Special birthday of John Wynne

See above for information

 



Tango Tip of the week

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. "How do I learn to dance Tango?" For the past two weeks, we've been exploring multiple answers to this question. On June 12, we suggested one possible answer -- to imitate our favorite dancers. Last week, June 19, we examined the importance of becoming a good student. (If you'd like to read the full text of these Tips, you'll find them in our Tango Tip of the Week archives on the Firehouse Tango Web site.)

 

Today, we're going to talk about how getting the right information can play a crucial role in the process of learning to dance. We'll begin with the observation that social dance of any kind is often portrayed -- particularly by dance schools in this country -- as a sort of rudimentary pastime that is quite easy to pick up within a short time. Just put a few bucks in our pockets, say the schools, and we'll have you dancing within just a few easy lessons.

 

Sounds great. But does this process work? Well, let's see. Have you ever taken a Ballroom/Latin/Swing dance class? What's the first thing that happened? You were taught a dance step by rote. Ladies on one side of the room; gentlemen on the other side. Here is the ladies' part; here is the men's part. Everybody got it?  Okay, now let's try it together.

 

Hmm.

 

The result of this widespread teaching approach is that most men who decide they want to learn how to dance believe, or are told, that it's little more than a question of memorizing a bunch of predigested movement sequences (steps), and pushing their partner through them. At the same time, most women who want to learn how to dance believe, or are told, that if they have a good leader, it's either a question of executing memorized steps, or hanging on, and being carried passively -- sometimes brutally -- around the dance floor.

 

Even with the teaching of Argentine Tango, after a class or two in basic movement -- which, let's face it, most impatient, overachieving beginners find really boring -- the thrust of subsequent classroom activity shifts inevitably to memorizing figures as leader and follower, and then attempting to do them together. This may make students feel as if they're getting somewhere fast -- and it may keep the money flowing into the school's coffers -- but, in fact, the students are really going nowhere at all in terms of actually learning how to dance.

 

Okay, then, what's the antidote to this misguided process? What is the right information that will put me, the student, onto the right path in learning how to dance?

 

In my experience, there are two fundamental directions one can take. You can decide you want to be a performer, or you can decide you want to be a social dancer. Yeah, yeah, I know. The first thing you say back to me is "why can't I be both?" Okay, okay, let's discuss.

 

To be a Tango performer, it's best to start while you're still young -- maybe 12 or 14 years old, let's say. Does this apply to you? You have to be really skinny (how much weight would you have to lose to become really skinny?) You have to study some form of concentrated dance movement -- maybe ballet, jazz or modern, something like that -- for about twenty years or so. You have to spend time in the gym (okay, let's be optimistic and say three hours a day, six days a week) to keep the right muscles in (superhuman) shape, so that you'll be ready to handle any physical challenge that comes along. You have to work with the right teacher (here's a subject we'll be talking more about next week), who will infuse you with the appropriate technique for moving like a Tango dancer. (Poof! There goes another three to ten years.) You have to find exactly the right partner, and try your best not to become romantically involved -- which, of course, you'll do anyway. (This means your relationship is doomed to disaster right from the get-go.) And, oh yes, I almost forgot:  It's a good idea to be born in Argentina -- okay, maybe Uruguay. Promoters just aren't keen on hiring Tango performers from Brooklyn these days.

 

If you're comfortable with all of the above, and you want to be a performer, go for it. On the other hand, let's say you don't quite fit that job description. Your best alternative -- and the one which I think is actually a greater challenge -- is to choose social Tango instead.

 

To be a social dancer, you can start at any age as long as your mental acuity is still kicking on all cylinders. You don't have to be really skinny. In fact, a great many fine social dancers haven't missed lunch in years. It's not necessary that you've studied dance of any kind before (although it does help to some extent). Spending all your free time in the gym is optional, but not crucial. You still have to find the right teacher, of course. You need to dance with knowledgeable partners, but it's not mandatory to form potentially disastrous personal liaisons with them.

 

And being born in Argentina is entirely optional.

 

So, what information do you absolutely need in order to carve out a successful career as a social Tango dancer? You certainly do not need a bunch of memorized dance figures -- although it's fun to incorporate the ones you like into your repertoire down the road. What you definitely do need is to learn how to lead and how to follow. Lead/follow can take years to learn. And because it looks quite simple, most students, schools, and teachers routinely assume that these crucial, complex skills will somehow just take care of themselves, that there's hardly any need at all to even discuss them. Let's concentrate on steps and adornments!

 

Nope. Sorry, it just won't work. You'll end up traveling a very hard, very frustrating road that will ultimately take you right back to where you started. But if you bite the bullet, and learn lead/follow right from the beginning -- maintaining and developing this essential skill set persistently as your dance career advances -- everything that you learn subsequently will be -- and I guarantee this -- EASY!!!

 

Do I have you champing at the bit? Do you want to find out precisely where you can get your hands (well, I guess I should say your feet) on this information? Here is the answer you've been waiting for: Find yourself a good teacher.

 

And that's exactly what we'll be talking about next week.

 

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

 June 23, 1951: Death of ANTONIO SUREDA, bandoneon player and composer. In his time it was said that there was not a single microphone that Sureda had not performed with. Such was his ability to work. However, his popular recognition was due to composing. With lyrics by his brother Gerónimo and music by the honoree, we listen here to a famous milonga (Note from Sue - I love this milonga - Cacareando.)
 

Here is a link to her Facebook account

Note from Sue - Listen to this Pugliese recording of EL RODEO.  I think it is beautiful, and I promise to play it on the 19th, when I return.
  Last week, I incorrectly included this message for the wrong date on Monica's calendar entry.  This lovely Pugliese recording can actually be heard by finding her post for June 8, entitled Nace ENRIQUE CAMERANO.  You can listen to it on Monica's web site, and by the way, I did play it on the 19th, and I will do so again next Thursday. 

 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."

http://youtu.be/iBvxXlJp3FU


 

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


Our cancellation policy - We STILL rarely cancel
    
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.


 

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.



  • Terri Lopez
  • Tony Mele
  • Tsipoyra Sartan
  • Steve Turi
  • Mike Porro
  • Walter Milani


    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


    • Eva Roth - Brownies
    • Geo Morteni - Soda
    • Herb & Judy - Milk & Pretzels


    And these people brought wine
    • Bill Krukovsky
    • Eunice Charles
    • Rifky Mackeen
    • Bob Brillo
    • Francis & Marie
    • Eduardo Campos
    • Terri Lopez
    Tango in New Jersey and New York