We were thrilled to be able to welcome Nina Beliavsky and her mother, Leonora tonight.  It was their first visit to Firehouse, but we sincerely hope that it won't be their last.

No celebrations next Thursday - Just great dancing, eating, and socializing with wonderful friends

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. "It takes two to Tango." Most of us are well aware of this tried and true adage. It's often used to share the blame between two people for doing something they shouldn't. When something bad happens, it's not my fault: it's not your fault: it's our fault.

If we apply the sentiment of this wise old maxim to actual Tango dancing, we could say that it takes two people who share a very specific skill set to form and maintain the collaboration needed to lead and follow this complex, intricate dance. I'm talking, of course, about the ability to lead and to follow. If one person in the partnership doesn't know what s/he is doing, the thing just doesn't work.

In past Tango Tips, we've discussed at length what Pat and I believe constitute good lead/follow skills. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, search back in our Firehouse Tango archives, and find the Tips that tell you what we mean by "lead/follow." If you have no time to read, and you want to take a shortcut, just ask us.) Today, I'm going to describe to good followers what I think happens, when you dance with a good leader. (During a future Tip, Pat will discuss what a good follower feels like to good leaders.)

During my classes, I'll often pick out a female student to help me demonstrate a figure or movement that I'm currently teaching. Almost invariably, these women are initially very tense in my arms. No doubt, they're feeling "on the spot" in front of their peers; they're uncomfortable about the fact that they're dancing "with the teacher;" and they're scared that they'll make a terrible mistake. Before we begin our demonstration, I always try to assure these followers in a quiet way that I'm not going rush them into anything, that my lead will be very clear and easy for them to read, and that they're going to have all the time in the world to complete each individual movement I invite. Sometimes (not always, of course), my assurances help these followers to get through our demonstration without too much trauma. But they're always very glad, when we're done, that they can slip back into greatly relieved anonymity as just another member of the class.

This interaction offers us a very good example of what happens, when a follower begins to dance with a leader, particularly one she hasn't danced with before. Let's make the assumption for the moment that she has had some experience with what it's like to collaborate with a skilled leader. (I know, I know; that might be a very optimistic assumption.)

The first thing she notices is that his embrace is solid and confident, but at the same time gentle and "roomy," and that he enables her to easily maintain her own balance. There's no suggestion that he's going to attempt to "control" her movements.

When he invites a step, his lead is clear -- very specific to one of the six basic elements of Tango. He asks for her to execute a back step, a forward step, a side step, a weight change in place, a pivot, or (by not leading anything)) a pause. He may have a particular sequence in mind, but the follower experiences only a single, direct, crystal-clear lead in which she's being invited to execute one movement.

After she has completed each individual step, which her leader has invited -- or as she is finishing a step by bringing herself into balance -- she feels her leader inviting the next element on his agenda. What may be obvious to the follower here is that her leader is waiting for her to be ready before he offers his next lead. If she's somewhat experienced, she may find herself at this point contrasting how this leader makes her feel as opposed to someone who rushes her from one movement to another with no apparent regard for where she is at any given moment. I sometimes talk about this as letting her dance determine the continuity of your dance -- rather than being driven by an abstract agenda (such as a memorized pattern), which completely isolates you (the leader) from what's she doing. In last week's Tango Tip, I referred to this as "step static."

The follower notices that this leader never -- ever -- gives her instruction or advice. If his lead doesn't do the job, he tries it again. If it continues not to work, he moves on to something else. Period, end of story. She may also be aware that although the music to which she and her partner are dancing may be fast or slow, his leads are always focused on her readiness to take the next step, rather than to an unrelenting adherence to the tempo of the song.

Throughout the dance, the follower feels that everything is easy, and that she can trust this leader to take good care of her from moment to moment. I don't mean this in a pejorative or condescending way; this is just appropriate dance practice.

What I've tried to describe above is a general overview of how a follower should be feeling, when she dances. Not tense, not afraid of making a mistake, not under the constant scrutiny of a critical leader. She should feel relaxed and comfortable, cared for, and optimistically ready for anything he leads, knowing that it's all going to be handed to her as if on a silver platter.

Do you feel this way as a follower, when you dance Tango? If so, it probably means that you know something about being a good follower, and that you've managed to find a good leader or two in your dance life. If not, it might be a good idea to find out why.

with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman

Sunday, August 17

12:30 -- 3:30 P.M.

One of the most satisfying -- and challenging -- moves you can make in Tango is molinete, when the follower glides around the leader in an effortless "grapevine" as he turns in place with perfect balance.

Molinete Magic! is a fast-paced, 3-hour, intensive Tango workshop that will help you build your molinete right from its basic foundations all the way to a host of advanced accompaniments and adornments.

Here are some hot spots:

·      Learn the basic followers' techniques for perfect execution of molinete.

·      Discover how a skilled leader initiates, controls, and concludes the flow of molinete.

·      Enhance your molinete with an exciting vocabulary of followers' adornment.

·      Make some advanced leaders' moves such as aguja, enrosque, rulo, and lapis.

Molinete Magic! offers you a unique opportunity to transform your Tango, Vals and Milonga into the polished, seriously authentic dances you've been working so hard to achieve.

Don't miss it!

Prepaid by Friday, August 16: $35 per person

Standard price: $40 per person

No refunds. No exchanges.

Dance Manhattan

Ballroom,Swing and Latin Dance Studio

39-47 West 19th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

1-212-807-0802

dancemanhattan.com

 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:

 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

Ballroom Dance Resort Weekend: September 12-14, 2014

 Joe and I are planning to attend this weekend.  Let me know if you would like to sit with us (firehousetango@gmail.com .) 

This is our 99th dance weekend!  We are pleased to introduce you to the new HONOR'S HAVEN RESORT & SPA (formally known as the Fallsview Resort).  Located only 90 miles from New York City and Albany on a 250 acre private estate with spectacular surroundings and glorious views of the Shawangunk Mountains.  The new ownership has renovated all the public spaces and the hotel grounds.  Best of all, they have thousands of square feet of wooden dance floor. Honor's Haven Resort also has the finest chef in the Hudson Valley, making it the perfect dance venue!

• Overnight Accommodations at Full Service Resort
• 7 Meals
• Champagne & Wine Reception
• Open Bar Cocktail Party & Smorgasbord
• Over 50 Dance Workshops
• Night & Day Dancing to 4 Great DJ's 
• Swing Shift Orchestra
• Great Gatsby Theme Saturday Night
• Dancing During Lunch & Dinner
• Top Nite Club Entertainment Each Evening
• Friday Lunch is on us! (Served from 1 - 2 PM)
• Your choice - Separate Dance Facilities for Latin, Ballroom, Argentine Tango, & Hustle/West Coast Swing
• Special Thursday Night Package (Join us for our Stardust Mixer Thursday Night to meet old and new friends)
• Call for more information 800-537-2797 (Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm) Outside USA & Canada 845-794-4707
• DAY PACKAGES AVAILABLE (based on availability, limited space) - Click here for info!

 *For more information click here --> Dance Weekend FAQ Section

OVER 50 DANCE WORKSHOPS
Please note: Each class is designed for different levels of proficiency.
Most classes are repeated offering everyone a chance to learn these stylish new steps.
(A) Beginner     (B) Intermediate     (C) Advanced

*SPECIAL WORKSHOPS*
o2 Hour Salsa Workshop
o2 Hour West Coast Swing Workshop
o2 Hour Argentine Tango Workshop
*2 Hour Hustle Workshop

Click Here to Meet The Stardust Dance Faculty

Hola Sue,

It would be great if you can send the info below out to your list. 

Gracias y Abrazo,

Lexa

 Hola Tangueros,

I am a tango dancer & teacher, and dj in NYC. I am also a graduate candidate at New York Graduate School of Psychoanaysis (NYGSP) and exploring the relationship between Argentine Tango and Psychoanalysis for my thesis. I am looking for TANGO DANCERS to participate in a survey for research on my Master's thesis. I am looking for two different groups to answer a 20 question survey by email: 

A) Argentine Tango dancers who are or have been in any kind of talk therapy.
B Argentine Tango dancers who are Psychoanalysts.

If you are interested in participating, please email tigerstango@gmail.com and type 'SURVEY' in the subject.  Please do not hesitate to resend this message and tell your friends. I am looking for at least 100 participants from the International tango community if not more. Participants identities will be protected and findings will be published anonymously. Thank you in advance for your help in researching my thesis.
- Lexa Roséan

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
  
• Jesse Barton - We are so happy to welcome him back
  
• Tsipoyra Sartan
• Steve Maisch
  
• Steve turi
• Elena Titova
  
• Sydney St. James
  

• Sydney St James - Home made pickles
• Lou & Faye - Chocolate Cake
• Judy & Herb - Peanut Butter Pretzels
  

• Mary Pagano
• George Ngo
• Edna Negron
• Bob Brillo
• Al & Lilian
  
• Naum & Slava Khromov
• Tonia
• Horatio Piccioni
• Jesse Barton
• Eduardo Campos
• Terri Lopez