Sue out June 11th - A team takes over Firehouse - Felix Pacheco DJ's |
Sue out next Thursday, June 11th
Regretfully, unless I can find a way to transport
myself 5000 miles for the evening, I will have to miss next Thursday's Firehouse Milonga.
The logistics - The A Team
Terri Lopez (Wonder(ful) Woman) and Steve Turi (aka Superman) will 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 these fabulous friends willing to step in whenever needed. Without Terri and Steve, there would be no Firehousetango.
The music - Felix Pacheco "El Tordo"
While I am out, our dear friend Felix Pacheco will play the music.
El Tordo, incorporates composers from the "Golden Age of Tango" to replicate the best of the Milongas of Buenos Aires. Felix hosts the wonderful monthly Milonga Los Pitucos every
third Saturday of the month, where he takes pride in creating a
new dish for every event. He has been bringing the finest Tango events and music to New
Jersey since
2009.
The newsletter
This Firehouse Tango newsletter has been published nearly every week since March, 2002 and thanks to Fran and Pat, this week 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 then send out their handiwork.
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.
Firehouse Tango Twelfth Anniversary Celebration Thursday, June 18th |
Firehouse Tango started in 2003 and has been going strong ever since. Amazingly, we are still here, celebrating our twelfth anniversary.
We are planning to add lots of extra-special delights on Thursday, June 18th. More about that next week. As always, admission of $15 includes dinner, lesson, dancing and socializing with some of the nicest folks around. The event is at the Knights of
Columbus Hall, 105 Grove Avenue, Maywood, NJ 07607. For additional information call Sue at 201-826-6602.
The schedule for the evening is: 7:00 - 8:00 All-level Argentine Tango lesson with Fran Chesleigh & Pat Altman 8:00 - 10:00 Buffet opens and recorded music for dancing by DJ Sue 10:00 - Performances
and drawings 10:30 - 12:00 Dancing to recorded music by DJ Sue Admission of $15 includes dinner, lesson, dancing, and socializing with some of the nicest folks around
Monica Paz visits New Jersey - Private lessons available - Firehouse Tango visit on Thursday, June 18th |
Great news! Monica in New Jersey
Monica Paz, our wonderful teacher and friend from Buenos Aires, will be available for limited private lessons in New Jersey from Thursday, June 18th through Monday, June 22nd. Sign up now while the opportunity still exists. Happily she will also join us for Firehouse Tango's twelfth anniversary celebration on Thursday, June 18th. Additionally, she will be at Los
Pitucos Milonga in Franklin Lakes on Saturday, June 20th.
Please call me at 201-826-6602 or e mail firehousetango@gmail.com to reserve time for lessons. I will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
Here is her schedule for private lessons in New Jersey:
Thursday June 18 until 6:00 Friday June 19 whole day, starting 11:00 AM Saturday June 20 11am - 4 pm until Los Pitucos. Sunday June 21 Lessons in the afternoon, after 4. Monday 22 whole day, starting 11:00 AM
and New York City. Workshops: June 26 and 27 Private Lessons from June 12 to 17 and 23 to 28 Guest Instructor at La Tangueria, Esmeralda and La Nacional Navigation and Etiquette lesson and Practilonga Saturday 27 Register online at www.mptango.com
She will be at Esmeralda's June 17th and 24th. The lesson is at 7:30. Mini privates will be offered from 5:30 - 7:30.
Also in New York City, she will give a lesson and practilonga on Navigation and Etiquette on Friday June 26, 7:30 - 8:50
pm.
For 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.
Three years ago, Monica realized her dream of opening her own studio in Buenos Aires (at 30 Riobamba near the Congresso.) One of the best
milongueros in the city, Osvaldo Natucci, teaches group lessons on Tuesday and Thursday nights with Monica translating when necessary. Monica and Natucci also teach private lessons. If you are in Buenos Aires, I highly recommend checking out these lessons.
Monica has taught extensively all over the United States and Europe, as well as in Australia and much of South America.
She was invited to Los Angeles to teach and perform in June.
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.
Facebook page and
Calendar
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. I enjoy these posts so much that I
share them with my readers every week in my newsletter (See below.) Next Thursday, June 11 - Birthday of Elena Syrett Elena has been a
Firehouse fan for many years, and we are delighted to be able to celebrate her birthday. Elena will select someone to start the birthday dance, and then all of the fortunate tangueros will cut in. Last Thursday, June 4 - Birthday of Marie
Gregoire We are always lucky to be able to host any Gregoire celebration This time, we were doubly lucky, since Marie and Francis treated us to a special showcase. After this, I played two tangoes, Francis started the dance, and then everyone cut in. We
celebrated Marie's birthday with even more delicious goodies than usual. In addition to the luscious chocolate cake, Francis brought ribs, chicken and shrimp. Of course, we wouldn't disappoint them, so we finished it all.
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
June 11 - Sue out - Firehouse Ace Backup Team and birthday of Elena Syrett- See above -
June 18 - Monica Paz visits Firehouse Tango and Firehouse Tango celebrates twelfth anniversary - See above
June 24 - No celebrations, just wonderful dancing, eating, learning and socializing.
My resolutions through May |
Here were my resolutions for 2015. This month was mixed - better in some, worse in others.
My Resolutions for 2015
- Improve my español and continue my Duolingo streak
- Take a group to Buenos Aires (I will try very hard to make it as wonderful as last year's, but that's a tall order.)
- Exercise six days a week - I'm afraid to let this one go. It's like Weight Watchers. If I don't share it, I will stop doing
it.
Wish me luck!
I'm sticking with Duolingo, and my daily streak is now up to an amazing 95 days in a row. It's usually the first thing I do every morning, and it's definitely a display of obsessive-compulsive
behavior.
We're well under way with this year's trip to Buenos Aires at the beginning of November. It should be great fun.
I've been back to exercizing in May, but I don't have great hopes for June, since I'll be away from home. I'm planning to do better in
July.
Buenos Aires with Firehouse Tango November, 2015 - More information |
Latest information on Buenos Aires
Our trip to Buenos Aires from October 30 to November 9th, 2015 (with a possible optional extension to either Mendoza or Iguazu Falls) is on.
Last year, we took a group and exceeded all expectations (references are happily available.) If you think you want to come, please send me an e mail at firehousetango@gmail.com or call me at 201-826-6602.
Trip details and payment information are below. What's
included?
- 8 nights/ 9 days in Buenos Aires with the friendliest group around
- Stay at the excellent, centrally located Bauen Suites Hotel
- Full breakfast every day
- Welcome luncheon at the hotel
- Transfers to and from
hotel (included if traveling with group on American # 953 and #954)
- Private group lessons with excellent local teachers and local partners (male and female) for each person
- Milongas with local hosts (male and female) who are there just to dance with us
- City Tour
- Full day at gaucho ranch with barbeque and
show
- Popular Tango show with dinner
- Day at San Telmo Flea Market & enough free time for shopping, exploring the city, visiting museums, taking private lessons, visiting milongas on your own or resting (heaven forbid)
- You most certainly will want to visit a shoe store (shoes cost about 1/3 of price here) Prices in Buenos Aires are amazingly low &
additional costs are minimal
- Excellent & inexpensive local teachers highly recommended
How Much: The cost of the trip including everything listed below (excluding air) is $2100 (double occupancy). Single supplement is available for an additional fee
of $400. Airfare should be about $1,400. Payment Schedule: $400 at signup - Non refundable (Single Supplement $400) due about May 7th $400 June 4th- Refundable if canceled before September 3 $400 July 2 - Refundable if
canceled before September 3 $400 August 6 -Refundable if canceled before September 3 $500 Balance September 3 - Non refundable
We advise you to purchase trip cancellation & medical insurance (for example www.accessamerica.com ) You should make your air reservations as soon as possible, since the fare may go up. There is also an Argentina Reciprocity Fee of $160. This is a
one-time payment that is good for ten years.
How to Register: Give check made out to Firehouse Tango for $400 together with your name, address and phone numbers to Sue or send to Sue Dallon, 16 Fox Hollow Rd. Ramsey, NJ 07446. For more information or references ask Sue or call 201-825-1570 or 201-826-6602.
Cortinas requested by Steve Turi |
Steve requested some different genres for cortinas, and who am I to refuse Superman? The cortinas this week were from Pete Seeger and were selected especially for Steve. I'm going to keep on finding new selections that will please my dear friend.
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. 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
Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Anybody who has studied Tango for more than, let's say, an hour knows that it's a very difficult dance to learn. There are lots of reasons for this, but today I'd like to concentrate on just one element: The walk. One of the first things I heard from my teachers, when I started to learn Tango was "Tango
is a way to walk." I remember Eduardo Arquimbao saying it; I remember Nito Garcia saying it; I remember Mingo and Esther Pugliesi saying it; I remember Carlos Gavito saying it: "Tango is a way to walk." For a long time, I have to confess, I really didn't understand what everyone was talking about, when they kept saying this to me and to the other students around me. Gradually, however, it began to sink in. The fundamental basis for Tango is the ability to move
through space in a very, very special way, first by yourself, and then -- eventually -- with a partner. I'm not talking about a bunch of flashy, memorized figures here. I literally mean fundamental point-A-to-point-B, single-step movement. The primary difficulty in learning Tango is right here -- right in the very beginning -- learning how to walk. This week, in my Monday Tango technique class, I was working with a group of students on the walk. These students aren't
beginners; all of them have been dancing Tango for several years; all are serious about learning; all have made a positive commitment to do what it takes to overcome the difficulties of dancing Tango at a high level of competence. In this class, we explored some (not all) of the elements, which comprise the Tango walk. We broke things down into two distinct areas: 1. Movement by oneself 2. Movement with a
partner Today, let's talk about moving by yourself as a leader. (In a future Tango Tip very soon, Pat will address the same subject from the follower's perspective.) My hope is that this brief discussion will provide you with some insight into why Tango is inherently so difficult, and maybe what you can do in your studies to deal progressively and effectively with this fact. (Next week, we'll talk about the lead/follow mechanism for leaders in order to complete the
picture.) Okay, here we go. Right now, we're going to talk about what I'm going to call the structure of your movement. Let's say, you're about to take a step forward. Wait one second, please. Is your posture appropriate? Chest up? Back of the neck stretched? Chin slightly down? Shoulders out and down? Feet together in that special way we create in modern Tango (heels together, toes slightly turned out, free foot slightly back of standing foot)? Don't know what I'm talking
about? You need to get yourself a teacher! If all those elements I just mentioned are checked off, you're ready to take that forward step. Now, bend the knee of your free leg and extend it slightly forward. Don't do anything else yet -- just project the knee in a forward direction. Why, you ask? Just do it, please. Next, flex the knee of your standing (weight-bearing) leg slightly, begin to extend the lower half of your free leg forward, and simultaneously project
your torso forward. All this is part of initiating your movement. Think of the travel line of your leg as a continuous line straight ahead -- and directly between your two feet. As you move from one step to another, you're going to be traveling along this line like a tightrope walker. While you're at it, keep your heel on the inside of the "tightrope" as you move, and your toes on the outside. Oh yes, and don't pick your toes up off the floor. Think about sliding them gently along the floor as
you go. Is all this too much information for you? Of course, it is. And we haven't even taken the first step yet. Let's keep going. Gently, project yourself through space, toe pointed out and along the floor, walking the tightrope, straightening the traveling leg momentarily as you come to the part where your free leg finds its place, and allow the knee of your forward leg to flex slightly as your weight changes from your back leg to your front. Make sure to make this weight change
very gently so that you don't "bruise" the floor (no kidding). If you've gotten through to this point, you've successfully negotiated part one of the traveling phase of your step. With your weight now comfortably on your forward leg, you're now going to complete the travel phase of your step by bringing your feet together, back to front. As your trailing foot comes forward, begin to straighten this leg, keeping you toe pointed out, and bringing the heel down toward the floor. When you
finally get your feet together, make certain you've recreated that very special feet-together look we discussed earlier, heel of the now free leg as close to the floor as possible, free leg absolutely straight. By doing all of this you should now be completely balanced and ready for your next movement. You've managed to combine functionality and structural technique in order to create a step. My Monday students and I actually discussed more than I've mentioned during
this Tango Tip. But enough is enough, right? My point has been to show you just how complex a process it is to fulfill the first axiom of our dance: Tango is a way to walk. If all this seems overwhelming, it did to me, too -- and to everybody who tries to learn Tango. Learning to walk is a very slow, deliberate process, which takes most of us many years to become proficient at. If you find the right teacher, and start now -- and if you're
willing to put in the time and effort -- you will eventually learn how to walk appropriately, thereby becoming a more skilled Tango dancer. If, however, you choose instead to focus your energies on the accumulation of figures, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll just end up going nowhere fast. Next week: Functional walking and lead/follow.
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dardo Galletto Studios
|
Please join us for our Saturday Practica at Dardo Galletto Studios, 151 West 46th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues; 2-4pm, $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) We think it’s just like being in Buenos Aires! We’ll both be on hand to answer
any questions you may have about your dancing, and to help you with material you're working on. Plus you get a new “must-have” tango move each week! If you’d like a private lesson, call Fran directly at 212-662-7692, or email him at franchesleigh@mac.com. Don’t forget to visit our website at www.franchesleigh.com and join is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/franchesleighllc
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: Below is a link to Monica's interview with Juan Carlos Pontorielo from February 8, 2011. He passed away recently. How wonderful to have this video history.
Un bello recuerdo
Juan Carlos Pontorielo Q.E. P.D.
https://youtu.be/CiEib0rZ92Q
Calendario Milonguero
Birth of JUAN CARLOS COBIÁN, an exquisite
pianist who had a special dedication for tango. His early works were rejected by some publishers who said they were poorly composed. To his credit there are few, but beautiful tangos; two of them are also very famous: NOSTALGIAS and LOS MAREADOS. His talent was not fully expressed, perhaps because he was a fan of nightlife and died young. Let’s listen to this genius.
♫ MI REFUGIO. Carlos Di Sarli (1941)
⊙ CD Nº27 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) : New MP Tango Interview
MPTango Presents Ricardo Rezk at PractiMilonguero Click on cc underneath the screen for English subtitles.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/14d21c02e335a6a8
Simply Social Dancing - Salsa and Argentine Tango |
Dancing with Simply Social Dancing Havana 59 Restaurant
-New 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie NJ Tuesday, June 23rd 7:00 to 10:00 pm
The evening will start off with a 1/2 hour beginner lesson, followed by dancing. Mostly Salsa and Argentine Tango... some Rumba, Bachata, Merengue, and Cha Cha thrown
in.
$20.00 cover per person (pay when arrive) Includes 2 house drinks or 1 house drink and 1 appetizer from Latin night menu.
201-694-7087 http://www.simplysocialdancing.com/
Stardust Dance Weekend - June 18 - 22 |
Honors Haven Resort, Ellenville, New York .. includes a new Saturday Afternoon Milonguita Under the Lakeside Tent, and 'The Last Mambo King"- Orlando Marin Latin Orchestra!!!!
Hi Firehouse Tangueros! Here's a short note to remind you of the FABULOUS upcoming June 18-21, 2015 Stardust
Dance Weekend, featuring MORE TANGO, and a phenomenal live Latin Band on Saturday June 20th!
Thanks to the wonderful success of our Argentine Tango events, I'll be DJing and co-hosting a special
Saturday Afternoon Stardust Milonguita Under the Beautiful Lakeside Tent", directly after lunch from 2pm-4pm.
We'll be dancing to the classic tunes of Di Sarli, D'Arienzo, Pugliese, Canaro and all the great Golden Age
Orchestras, as well as some lovely Nuevo and Modern tango tunes. Plus we'll be joined by members of the Woodstock Tango and Hudson Valley Tango communities to help us rock the floor!
- You come for our June 20
Saturday Lunch and Milonguita Package - (includes lively social dancing at lunch), and stay for the Milonguita afterward, plus any other classes you wish to take until 6pm ($65). You can also come for the Milonguita Only ($20).
- You can also come for the June 21 Sunday Tango Workshops and Lunch package---
this weekend features the amazing teachers/performers Orlando Reyes and Adriana Salgado - they are truly incredible teachers, and wonderful people, and they will be performing Saturday night! -( Highly recommended!!!!)- Just $50 (includes Beginners Class, TWO Intermediate Classes, and Dance Lunch (only $50)!!!!! There is no Milonguita this time around on Sunday- we will continue our Sunday
afternoon Milonguitas in September!
- You can also choose various great Day Packages which will include the Friday and Saturday Evening Milongas which I will be DJing in the Argentine Tango Ballroom, the Gala Cocktail Party with "The Last Mambo King"- Orlando Marin and his Orchestra, as well as outstanding classes in just about every genre of social dancing! Day Rates listed below.....
For more info on weekend passes and booking rooms,
please contact STARDUST directly at (845) 794-4707, or Email: INFO@STARDUSTDANCE.COM
Here's a general overview of the weekend: http://www.stardustdance.com/june-2015-ballroom-dance-weekend
Looking forward to seeing and dancing with you! We love love love getting together with our Firehouse
neighbors! Safe Travels, Happy Dancing! Ilene
STARDUST DANCE WEEKEND – OFF SITE PACKAGES HONOR’S HAVEN RESORT & SPA, ELLENVILLE NY June 18-21, 2015
-
THURSDAY DINNER, DANCING, CLASSES - $60 Includes 6 PM Happy Hour, 7 PM Dinner, Dancing, Dance Classes - FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DANCING, CLASSES - $50 BEGINS With 1 PM Lunch – Includes All Afternoon Classes And Sessions To 6
PM - FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER,CHAMPAGNE PARTY, SHOW - $75 BEGINS With Champagne/Wine Party And Includes Dinner, Dancing, And Show --- COMPLETE FRIDAY PACKAGE - $115 (Includes Friday AM Classes, Lunch, PM Classes, Champagne Party, Dinner, Show) FRIDAY NIGHT SHOW AND DANCING ONLY - $40
- SATURDAY LUNCH, DANCING & CLASSES- $65 (***INCLUDES
MILONGUITA) BEGINS With Lunch And Includes Milonguita & Afternoon Classes To 6 PM Only - SATURDAY COCKTAIL PARTY,DANCING, DINNER/SHOW - $99 BEGINS With Cocktail Party, Dancing, And Includes Dinner And
Show ---COMPLETE SATURDAY PACKAGE - $150 (Includes Saturday AM Classes, Lunch, PM Classes, Cocktail Party, Dinner, Show) - SATURDAY NIGHT SHOW AND DANCING ONLY - $45 - SUNDAY LUNCH, DANCING & CLASSES- $50 10 AM Through Lunch Including All Morning Classes And Dance Sessions
---- COMPLETE FRIDAY TO SATURDAY PACKAGE - $225 ---- COMPLETE FRIDAY TO SUNDAY PACKAGE $260
Mail Check payable to Stardust Dance Productions, Ltd PO Box 237 Monticello, NY 12701 or Call 845-794-4707 9 am-5 pm with Credit Card Information Space is Limited
Our cancellation policy - We STILL rarely cancel |
Even though we had to cancel once 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 my cell phone 201-826-6602. Feel free to leave a message on either of these lines.
We cancel only when absolutely necessary (only about eight or nine times in all these years - including, unfortunately, the first scheduled milonga of March, 2015), 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.
The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.
- Elena Titova
- Tsipoyra Sartan
- Steve Maisch
- Jesse Barton
- Lynn Gross
- steve turi
And of course, without Terri Lopez 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 - - Barbara Lombardi - Cheese & Bread Sticks
- Eva Roth - Mocha Cake
- Francis and Marie - Shrimp, chicken, ribs, chocolate cake
And these people brought
wine- Camille
- Adrienne Burton
- George Ngo
- Bill Krukovsky
- Edna Negron
- Marta Bautis
- John Barous
- Frank Reich
- Horatio
Piccioni
-
Bob Brillo
- Jesse &
Cathy
-
Francis &
Marie
-
Eduardo Campos
Tango in New Jersey and New York
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