March 14 - Saint Patricks Milonga - corned beef and cabbage, decorations, cortinas for the holiday.
I'm making corned beef with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes for the holiday. If anyone would like to add to the festive meal, we really appreciate your contributions.
March 21 Sue out - A team takes over - Rich Ariza DJ's
Details below
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
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Thanks for Running Firehouse in my absence
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After a wonderful time in beautiful Buenos Aires, I'm back to the world's friendliest (and I think the best) milonga (and what would I do without the fabulous Terri, Steve, Fran, and Pat?).
As always, I loved my vacation, but I'm very happy to return to my dear friends at home (Though I will be out again a few times in the next few months - c'est la vie).
Thanks, thanks, and more thanks to the Firehouse Tangueros
Huge helpings of gratitude go to all of you who brought food and drinks, set up, and cleaned up. I am very aware that my trip would be impossible without an enormous amount of help from the folks back home.
The logistics - The Superhero Team Especially Terri, who does a better job than I do of running the Firehouse Milonga, and without whom, I would shut the doors.
Special thanks to Terri Lopez, Steve Turi, and Fran Chesleigh for making the whole shebang such a great success. Terri, with Steve's help (and a shout-out to Tsipoyra), planned; ran operations; and coordinated setup and cleanup (and that's not all.) Fran and Pat executed the lessons to perfection.
These folks fielded the problems and glitches that seem to arise every week. The tasks involved in running Firehouse are monumental, and we are incredibly fortunate to have so many fabulous friends willing to step in whenever needed.
The newsletter
This Firehouse Tango newsletter has been published nearly every week since March, 2002 and thanks to Fran and Pat, the past two weeks were no exception.
Among his countless talents, our remarkable instructor, Fran Chesleigh, is a professional writer. As always when I am out, he and his equally extraordinary assistant, Pat Altman, flawlessly and with a style of their own, take over the task of writing the Firehouse Tango newsletter. I easily sent it out when I returned.
The awesome duo (Fran and Pat) is usually found at "Fran's Table" in the alcove closest to the DJ table. They are always happy to answer your Tango questions or show you how to do something you might have missed, so make sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn from the best.
Superman Steve Turi was Clean-up Editor.
The music - DJ Richard Ariza
While I was away, your tangos, milongas and valses were spun by fabulous guest DJ, Richard Ariza. By all indications, the music was fantastic. In addition to playing at Firehouse, Richard ran his milonga at Triangulo until urban sprawl took over New York City and Google took over the building. Richard has also DJ'd all over the metropolitan
area. He's been a Firehouse friend since the beginning, and we are delighted to have him in our Firehouse Family.
Last week, I played Mardi Gras cortinas, and next week, it will be Mardi Gras music. On
the 21st,you'll once again be treated to the incredible music of Richard Ariza. I'm waiting for more suggestions for cortinas. Let me know if you have some favorite non tango music, and I will try to play it.
A cortina (curtain) is a short piece (20–60 seconds) of non-dance music that is played between tandas at a milonga (tango dance event). The cortina lets the dancers know that the tanda has ended. The partners can then
without insult thank each other and return to their own tables, to find a new dance partner at the next tanda. Cortinas are used at many of the milongas in Argentina and Uruguay but are increasingly common elsewhere. - Wikipedia
Let us know if you are celebrating an occasion and would like to request special music for that night’s cortinas. We will try very hard to accommodate you.
Save These Dates - Monica Paz April 18-24 and Firehouse Tango on the Hudson August 25
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April 18 - 24, 2019
Lessons with Monica Paz in New Jersey Sign up now
Monica Paz, our amazing teacher and friend from Buenos Aires, will be available for limited private lessons in New Jersey from Thursday, April 18th through Wednesday, April 24th. Sign up now while the opportunity still exists. She will visit us at our Firehouse Milonga on Thursday, April
18 and perform her wonderful milonguero style tango. Additionally, she will teach at Los Pitucos Milonga in Oakland on Saturday, April 21st.
Please call me at 201-826-6602 or e mail firehousetango@gmail.com to reserve time for lessons in New Jersey. Her schedule is filling up, so make your reservation soon. I will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
She will also be giving private and group lessons in New York City.
For New York registration, please contact Monica at: tangopaz@yahoo.com.ar
www.mptango.com
About Monica
Monica Paz was born and raised in Buenos Aires, and tango has been her full time profession for almost 20 years. She specializes in Tango Milonguero style (with its strong chest-to-chest connection) which she loves to dance with the best old milongueros in the best milongas of Buenos Aires.
Seven years ago, Monica realized her dream of opening her own studio in Buenos Aires (at 30 Riobamba near the Congresso.) If you are in Buenos Aires, I highly recommend checking it out.
Monica has taught extensively all over the United States and Europe, as well as in Australia and much of South America. She is currently on a tango tour of the United States.
Monica's web site with interviews of old milongueros
Monica is passionate about preserving the traditions, codes, and history of tango. To this end, she continues pursuing her project of interviewing the precious few remaining old milongueros of Buenos Aires. Their stories and the videos accompanying them, as well as other wonderful
videos of Monica can be found on her web site at www.mptango.com Scroll down for English or Spanish selection.
August 25, 2019
Firehouse Tango and Los Pitucos present Tango on the Hudson - 2019.
From 2006 thru 2013, we hosted our annual Firehouse Tango on the Hudson picnic milonga at the Alpine Pavilion. So many folks have asked us to resume the event, that we're doing it again in 2019. Better yet, for the first time, Felix Pacheco will host with us.
Folks always loved dancing tango and sharing delicious picnic lunches with friends, If you've attended before, you know how great it is. If you haven't, we know you will love it. Don't miss it. Save the date - August 25, 2019.
Sue out February 28 - A Team takes over - Rich Ariza DJ's
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I'm off to play in Florida
I will meet Herb, who is spending this cold winter in sunny Florida. I'll stay ten lovely days there. Fortunately, I can leave my baby (That would be Firehouse Tango) worry free because I have incredible friends who are more than willing and able to keep the Firehouse fires burning brightly. Please support our wonderful back-up
team.
The logistics - The A Team
Terri Lopez (Wonder(ful) Woman) and Steve Turi (aka Superman) have generously offered to head up our milonga logistics team in addition to their normal invaluable weekly help. The tasks involved in running Firehouse are monumental, and we are incredibly fortunate to have so many fabulous friends willing to step in whenever
needed.
But What about the Music? Rich Ariza
Not to worry. While we are away, your tangos, milongas and valses will be spun by fabulous guest DJ, Rich Ariza. Rich is well known to our Firehouse friends. He has DJ'd for us many times. For years, until they closed, he hosted Triangulo's Friday afternoon milonga. He has also played and continues to do so for many
metripolitan area milongas.
How about the newsletter?
This Firehouse Tango newsletter has been published nearly every week since March, 2002 and thanks to Fran and Pat, the next two weeks will be no exception.
Among his countless talents, our remarkable instructor, Fran Chesleigh, is a professional writer. As always when I am out, he and his equally extraordinary assistant, Pat Altman, flawlessly and with a style of their own, take over the task of writing the Firehouse Tango newsletter. I will send his handiwork out when I
return.
This awesome duo is usually found at “Fran’s Table” in the alcove closest to the DJ table. They are always happy to answer your Tango questions or show you how to do something you might have missed, so make sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn from the best.
We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.com
Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. In a post two weeks ago, I suggested that, in my opinion, the single most important skill needed for dancing Tango is balance. As I hope you’ll remember, I defined a series of very specific, graduated exercises designed to
make you more conscious, more confident — and eventually more competent —at incorporating good balance into your dance. In last week’s post, I introduced the general idea of extending these exercises, which I originally suggested that you attempt on your own — to trying them while working with a partner. This is where balance becomes absolutely critical in making social dance movement function as it should.
Today, we going to talk about the first of our exercises — the pause or stop, coupled with the change of weight in place. We’re going to examine just how this deceptively simple — but very important — exercise applies to the partnership.
Here we go …
La pausa y el cambio de peso en su lugar
1. Form the embrace with a partner. Try to be as close to your partner as possible, but don’t lean on each other.
2. Once the embrace has been formed, check your arms to make certain that you’re not pulling, pushing or squeezing. The idea is to make absolutely sure that neither of you is hanging on to the other or in any way hindering your partner’s ability to maintain balance on both feet. (By this time, of course, both of you should be very conscious of what balance in place feels like, because you’ve been working hard on developing this specific
skill on your own.)
3. Stand together quietly — keeping your weight on both feet.
4. Now, if you’re the leader, gradually shift your weight to one side. This action will automatically produce a lateral movement of your torso, which will signal to your partner that you want her to respond by making a corresponding change of weight. (I’m sure you’ll remember that I’ve often described this action, when discussing the “lead/follow mechanism” or “invitation/response cycle.”) If you’re the follower, make certain you can feel
this lateral movement of your leader’s upper body, so that you can appropriate receive and respond to the invitation.
5. As leader, be sure to monitor your partner’s behavior in order to make sure she receives your invitation (lead), and shifts her weight, too.
6. Hold your position as a couple with your full weight on one foot for fifteen seconds. (I know this seems as if it’s going to be easy, but — trust me — it’s not.) Are either of you in any way encroaching on your partner’s balance? Do either of you feel the need to bring your arms into play in order to maintain the position?
7. When you as a leader feel that both you and your partner have achieved balance on one side, gently shift your weight to the other foot. Once again, as follower, make absolutely sure you feel the lead.
8. As before, hold the position for fifteen seconds.
Is it working? Are both you and your partner feeling nicely balanced? If so, great! If not, try to
figure out what the problem is together, so that your can fix it. If that doesn’t work, consult your teacher for the solution. You say, you don’t have a teacher? Hmm …
Next week, we’re going to talk about achieving and maintaining balance during our first movement through space — el cambio de peso al lado (o el costado) — the side step.
Are you excited?
Our cancelation policy - We STILL rarely cancel
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Even though we canceled when the thermometer read 3 degrees, 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 my cell phone 201-826-6602. Feel free to leave a message.
We cancel only when absolutely necessary (only about ten times in all these years, 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.
And of course, without Terri Lopez (yes, I know I mentioned this before, but it bears repeating - and repeating) and Steve Turi 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 -
- Henry Kim - Rolled Cookies
- Barbara Lombardi - Popcorn
And these people brought wine
- Mary Pagano
- Barbara Lombardi
- George Ngo
- Rudy
- Bob Brillo
- Francis & Marie
- Carlos Coellar
- Eduardo Campos
This Week's Dancing - Simply Social Dancing in Paramus.
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Dinner & Dancing at Biagio's Restaurant
299 Paramus Rd, Paramus NJ
March 10th
Sunday Night from 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Buffet Dinner / Cash Bar
We will be in the Restaurant upstairs. Please come in the front entrance.
The evening will start with a dance lesson at 6:00 pm.
This way we can all meet, and newcomers can learn a little dancing.
This is our fifth year at Biagio's.
Cost $40.00 per person
Cash Bar
This is a social event for those of you who enjoy a variety of music & partner dances.
Singles and couples are welcome to attend.
*Reservations are requested in advance*
Please call Biagio's for reservations. 201 652 0201
This allows them to set up the room & prepare better food for us!
If you have a party of 8 to 10 people, let Biagio's know to reserve a table
for your group.
Tango in New Jersey and New York
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