Help Needed at Firehouse! |
We're looking for people to help set up tables and equipment at the Knights' Hall on Thursday nights. We get there at 5 o'clock, and it takes about 1/2 hour for setup. We will be eternally grateful, even if you can only do it on occassion. If you think you might be able to help, please call me at 201-826-6602
or e mail to firehousetango@gmail.com.
Next Thursday, July 23 - Birthday of Tonia Shahsovar
Tonia has been a Firehouse friend for many years, and she has been celebrating her birthday with us sine 2012. Everyone loves dancing with Tonia, so I encourage all of the Firehouse Tangueros to come and join the festivities.
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 This week's cortinas were all easy listening.
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.
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.
Cleaning up - Note from Tsipoyra |
Dear tango dancers,
Please do not leave your wine and water glasses under the chairs, as the liquid often spills, and we have to clean it up. We would appreciate it if you would throw your garbage out before you leave.
Sinceraly Tsipoyra 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
From Fred Rueck
Argentine
Tango: An Overview
Argentine tango in NYC is a world in itself. It combines music, dance, singing, and poetry. Tango’s origins go back to
the 19th century, somewhere around the 1870’s. It was developed in working class areas outside of Buenos Aires. Between 1860 and 1925, 70% of the immigration population were men who came to Argentina for a better life.Tango was originally played by one musician on a guitar or accordion. Later trios formed adding guitar, flute, violin,or clarinet. these instruments were chosen because they were easy to transport since musicians would travel to different locations throughout the evening.
At first, tango was prohibited in public places due to its voluptuous nature and working class origins. A
long time passed before it was accepted in proper people’s homes of high society. According to Tomas Alberto Garcia, at the beginning of the 20th century, during the era known as "La Belle Epoque," Paris was the center of the world, and Argentine aristocracy looked to Paris as a model for itself. Once tango was accepted in France, the high and middle classes in Argentina accepted it; in fact, they took great pride in this uniquely Argentine art form. From France, tango spread through Europe and
the rest of the world. More orchestras were formed, and the tango developed, eventually to reach its splendor in the 1940's.
This decade, known as the "Golden Age" of tango, was the most impressive, and families from all levels of Argentine society started to dance, packing the dance halls and making it possible for even the largest orchestras to survive and prosper. Tango finally reached its maturity and was widely accepted so we can still enjoy it today.
Señor Oucho Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. In last week's Tip I described how I believe a couple should go about the process of forming el abrazo del tango -- the Tango embrace. Let me stress that this is based on my own perception of how I feel Tango should be danced in the most comfortable and efficient possible way. During the next several
weeks, we're going to talk about how to take this static embrace, and actually use it dynamically in order to produce movement. Before continuing, it might be a good idea for you to take another look at what I had to say last week about forming the embrace. Just go to the Firehouse archives, read last week's Tango Tip, and come on back.
Okay, are you ready? Two things I hope were clearly established last week: 1. Lead/follow has
little or nothing to do with intrusive or brutish physical contact between the partners -- such as leaning on one another. 2. The arms do not clutch, grab, push, pull, or in any way control one's partner. They simply complete the embrace by creating a gentle connection. (As we will see in describing the lead/follow for each of our fundamental movements, the arms actually play little or no role in basic lead/follow.) What is lead/follow, and
why is it necessary in social dancing? If we were dancing choreographically i.e., if we memorized our parts, and then executed them together -- there would be no need for lead/follow. You'd require a good memory, of course; but once you got the hang of a given sequence, the interaction between partners would go pretty smoothly from the beginning until the end. And the more you repeated the sequence, the easier it would get. If you're thinking, "This is how I learn things in my dance school,"
you're absolutely right. A very common teaching method within dance schools is that the instructor demonstrates both parts, then puts you together, and within minutes, you're dancing!
Or are you? Once you leave the class, and try your newly acquired sequence with someone who wasn't in the room with you at the time, you gradually find out that it just doesn't seem to work. You might blame yourself for not learning the material properly. Or maybe you blame your partner for
not knowing what to do. But the real problem here is that there was a key ingredient missing in the lesson: Lead/follow. Lead/follow is a collaborative relationship, which gives two partners the ability to move together as if they were one person. There are two very distinct roles in this relationship. One person, traditionally (but not necessarily) the man, acts as the partner who suggests or invites movement of some kind through what we will discover is very specific physical
communication. The other person, traditionally (but not necessarily) the woman, is the partner who receives and processes this invitation, then executes the suggested movement from beginning to end -- and, finally, waits for a new invitation before doing anything else. In stage, in performance, or in competitive dancing, lead/follow isn't necessary, because both partners have memorized and repeatedly practiced their individual parts in advance. But in the social dance situation --
where improvisation rather than choreography is called for -- lead/follow is not only necessary, it is absolutely crucial. Teaching and learning lead/follow is a difficult, and often frustrating process. It demands lots of individual one-on-one attention -- rather than simple demonstration (as is possible with steps and sequences) -- and it can take months, even years, before it begins to work appropriately for the student. This may be why the subject is so routinely neglected in the
group-learning context. If and when students are forced to confront the fact that learning to dance socially is much more complex than simply accumulating steps and sequences, they may quite naturally choose to question what they've let themselves in for in attempting to acquire the ability to dance socially with real skill. So this problem tends to be conveniently swept under the carpet -- maybe for the time being, maybe forever.
Sooner or later,
however, if you want to be any good at social dancing, you have to bite the bullet, and take the plunge into the world of lead/follow. At first, developing this skill set will feel quite alien and difficult. But as you persevere, I guarantee that it will get easier, and you'll grow to love it over time. Shall we begin? Come back next week, and learn how to lead/follow you first movement: El cambio de peso en su lugar --The weight change in
place.
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), 11th floor; 2-4pm, $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) We think it’s just like being in Buenos Aires! Pat and
I will 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 Web site 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:
Calendario Milonguero
July 11th, 2014 - 100 Years of Anibal Troilo - Presentation by Osvaldo Natuccihttp://mptango.com/SocialTangoSchool/?p=580
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 and othes like it that Monica has preserved.
Un bello recuerdo
Juan Carlos Pontorielo Q.E. P.D.
https://youtu.be/CiEib0rZ92Q
Los Pitucos Milonga in Franklin Lakes this Saturday, July 18 |
A little bit of Buenos Aires in Franklin Lakes, NJ
Next Milonga - Saturday, July 18th,
2015 Back to basics - Beginner Tango class by Felix "El Tordo". A great opportunity to introduce your friends to the Tango!
Lesson at 7:00pm Social starting at 8:00pm Couples, singles and beginners welcome!Admission $15, including home cooked "delight" Location: VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) 725 Franklin Avenue (corner of Pulis Avenue) Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 For directions click here 
Los Pitucos Milonga brings the best of
Argentine Tango to Northern New Jersey.
Experience the finest of Buenos Aires at our Saturday night Milonga at VFW. Los Pitucos is a Monthly event which is held on the Third Saturday of the month...
Find yourself engulfed in the spirit of Buenos Aires, circa 1940. Mingle with other delightful Tango dancers.
Allow the romance of the period music to move you.
Your evening's hosts "El Tordo" and "El Zurdo" are dedicated to an authentic and enjoyable Tango
experience. Our DJ (and instructor) El Tordo, incorporates composers from the
"Golden Age of Tango" to replicate the best of the Milongas of Buenos Aires.
Milonga Los Pitucos is the first and only Milonga to offer gourmet food, prepared fresh,
by our chef "El Tordo". Chef Tordo takes pride in creating a new dish for every event.
We have been bringing the finest Tango events and music to New Jersey since 2009. ● Beginners Welcome... no partner necessary.
● Cocktail Bar area - BYOB
● Munchies & Finger food (Feel free to bring a dish to share...)
● The evenings "delight" is made fresh before the Milonga by chef "El Tordo" Facebook Members: Please join Los Pitucos Milonga group by clicking here
LATIN NIGHT AT LA HAVANA 59 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie NJ Tuesday, July 28th
(last Tuesday of each month) Time 7:00 - 10:00 pm Mostly Argentine Tango and Salsa…. some Bachata, Merengue, Rumba, & Cha Cha
Beginner Tango Lesson at 7:00 pm $20.00 includes 2 house drinks, or 1 house drink and a Latin Night appetizer Please call for reservations: 201-964-9515 __________________________________________________
BIAGIO'S RESTAURANT 299 Paramus Rd, Paramus NJ Sunday, July 19thTime 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm A mix of music for all partner dances (Foxtrot, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Argentine Tango etc). Beginner Swing Lesson at 6:00 pm Cost $35.00 for Buffet and Dancing / Cash bar Please call Biagio's for reservations. 201 652 0201
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.
Hi Sue.
Can you please put this in the news later.
Dear tango dancers please don't leave the wine and water glacis under the chairs.
Straw them
out before you going home.Because wine and water get spealed and we have to clean it up. It will be really apriciated.
Sinceraly Tsipoyra 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
- Tango Albert
- Sydney St. James
- Tsipoyra
Sartan
- Steve Maisch
- 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 -
And these people brought wine- Mary Pagano
- George Ngo
- Fred Meyer
- Marta Bautis
- Bill Krukovsky
- Joe Weintraub
- Joel Pupps
- Marlene
Hill
- Naum & Slava Khromov
- Jack Messing
- Edna Negron
- Francis & Marie
- Bob Brillo
- Eduardo Campus
Tango in New Jersey and New York
|
|
|
