In honor of Joe's birthday, I used his final playlist for Thursday's Firehouse milonga. It was fabulous and brought back many wonderful memories. Everyone loved the music and the delightful cortinas.
Celebrations - August at Firehouse
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August at Firehouse Tango
No celebrations - Just great dancing, socializing, eating and learning. In all,
it will be a great month.
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 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. This week, we heard Joe's cortinas (mostly 50's music,) which were embedded in his
playlist.
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.
Tibor out - Thank you to Elena (and Tsipoyra) for taking over |
Tibor will be away for a few weeks, and Elena Titova, with some help from Tsipoyra, is seamlessly taking over the door. To make it easier for her, please try to bring exact change for the next few weeks. 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
Article posted on Facebook by Carlos Sampelayo, Suggested by Fred Rueck
I recently posted a comment regarding the different styles of Tango. There were many reactions: some positive and some very harsh.
Stage Tango belongs on
Stage
Performance Tango belongs when the floor is all for you.
Milonguero Tango belongs in a Milonga
There are many other styles of tango and, below, you can find the link for a great article describing, with some detail, the different styles.
When you go to a social milonga and see a couple doing complex steps, including ganchos, sacadas, high boleos and many a times even lifts, don’t blame the
dancer, he does not know better. The person to blame is the teacher who has convinced the student that Stage Tango is the “Real Tango” and that Salon Tango is boring, uninteresting or “easy tango’ for beginners. I used to believe that.
It is true that Tango is a dance with a degree of freedom but you are not alone, you are dancing in a social environment with many other dancers also on the floor. If you go to a milonga where the prevalent style is Salon Tango then dance
Salon Tango. If you go to a milonga where the prevalent tango is of a more complex form, then dance with the complexity you see. You should go to the milonga where dancers dance the style you like. Above all you have to have respect and consideration for the other dancers.
This is my story. My wife and I saw the first Show Tango Argentino in the mid 80’s. The music touched me and made me remember what I had listened to as a child. I began taking some sporadic lessons but
by 1999 I had already taken 6 years of tango classes with two teachers in my area: Both claimed to be certified teachers with the recognition from World Organizations as being the “Real and Authentic Teachers” of the Argentine Tango. They would name all the famous teachers who taught them, sponsored them and mentored them. Who knew any better? There were no videos, no easily available music, and so 6 years went by.
At that time my wife, Lynn, and I
had performed successfully in several events and showcases to the amazement public who saw us. Then…… we went to Miami, to a Tango Congress which lasted a full week. A real eye opener for us. I was only able to recognize one teacher, Rodolfo Dinzel, may he rest in peace, it was the only VHS video I had, where he and his wife Gloria performed a routine which I study for months until I had copied every move they showed, (see the link below), thinking we looked great but surely my wife and I looked
clumsy.
The first Milonga on Friday night, broke my heart and woke me from the fantasy I had lived for almost a decade since I had seen the Tango Argentino show. In the middle of the first tanda we got out of the floor confused and not understanding why we did not feel in sync with the rest of the dancers. By serendipity, Rodolfo Dinzel was standing at the border of the floor and he said-“ You look very good!” and I said “Perhaps, but we are not doing what everyone else
is doing on the floor”.
The Tango Congress Event, sponsored by Jorge Nel, great promoter of tango, lasted the whole week and after meeting the different teachers - who I did not know then - now I know they were the best of the best, what an idiot I was! I zeroed in and took classes with Osvaldo Zotto and Lorena, Carlos Copello and Alicia, Armando and Daniella, and of course Rodolfo and Gloria. I also took a couple of privates with Osvaldo.
I came
back to New York and had the firm idea to dance salon style like Osvaldo Zotto and Milonguero style like Carlos Copello. It’s been 16 years since the Miami experience and I still try to move and dance in the style I saw that week. I dropped my previous teachers and had the luck of meeting Diego Di Falco and Carolina Zokalski with whom I studied three wonderful years. I put in a lot of work to “get it”. No one handed me anything on a silver platter. I don’t ride on the coattails of the
professionals I have met in my life. No one taught me the “Passion” of the dance as if it were some kind of a new Viagra. You either feel the dance or you just don’t. “Passion” can’t be taught. The rest is history.
I have to thank Daniel Trenner, the “Johnny Appleseed of Tango” who created teaching videos and distributed music for all of us. Today I teach, with Karen Schneider, in Hawthorne, NY, Salon and milonguero Tango. I also teach more complex steps which
can be done socially not bothering anyone. Stage and Performance we only teach in private classes. Some people refer to my teaching as “easy beginner tango”. Nothing could be further from the truth but those students will someday have an awakening too.
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Hello everyone, Pat here. This week, in keeping with our ongoing series of Tango Tips on fundamental movement, I will address el cambio de peso en su lugar (the weight change in place) from the follower’s point of view. First of all, we will assume that the leader and follower are already in the dance position and have formed the embrace. At this point, they should be standing at rest, straight up, frente a frente (in front of each other), shoulders down, elbows down (no elevated platforms here,) no vice-like gripping with the hands, and they should both feel a clear, but gentle connection that runs through their arms and upper
bodies. The weight change in place can take place at any point in the dance, but the first time it occurs is right in the beginning. In Tango, the leader can start on either foot, and therefore must begin the dance by putting the follower’s weight on one foot or the other, so that they are in a position to make their first traveling move in unison. When the leader makes the
decision as to which foot he wants to begin with, he will move his torso, let’s say, to the follower’s right. She will feel his upper body movement and her weight will shift onto to her right foot. (The leader, of course, will have shifted his weight to his left foot.) This initial weight change in place, or any that occur during the dance, can be fraught with issues.
Some of these are the following: 1) The follower may not feel any movement from the leader, who may actually have shifted his weight -- but done so without any discernible or conscious movement of his upper body.
2) The leader may not be sure that the follower has received his weight shift lead. So instead of walking out into the dance, he may lead another weight change in place. This is what a good leader would do. On the other hand, a new leader, or one who is in a big hurry, might
just move forward regardless of being satisfied that his follower has received the weight change, thus creating the possibility of creating a disaster by stepping on her foot. 3) Another common issue occurs when a follower executes a weight change that was not led. 4) A leader may take a side step, and then another sidestep without leading his follower to make the necessary weight change in place!! This is a very common mistake for beginner leaders, and many followers will quickly stutter into a side step in order to stay with him. One can
understand this effort to help, but followers must try not to make their own weight change without being clearly led to do so. As a follower, your most important job is to move based only on what you feel, not what you are thinking you should do! This should be your mantra: if you don’t feel it, don’t do it. If you’re not sure of a lead, don’t do it. This
discipline can take time to develop, and some courage in the beginning – it’s so much easier to just help him out – but if you want to be a good follower and a good tango dancer, it’s well worth the time and effort to focus on waiting for the lead at all times.
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dardo Galletto Studios
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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
Los Pitucos Milonga this Saturday, August 15 |
Next Milonga - Saturday, August 15th, 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.
August at Simply Social Dancing |
Lisa Skates Simply Social
Dancing |
____________________________________________________ Please call the restaurants to make a reservation, even on the event day.We are given more
space and more food and more servers base on our Reservations!!
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Biagios Restaurant for Dinner & Dance 299 Paramus Rd, Paramus NJ
Sunday, August
16th 6:00 to 9:00 pm
A mix of music for all types of partner dancing A beginner Swing dance lesson to start off the night. $35.00 for dinner and dancing / Cash
bar
For reservations and directions:
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Latin Night at La Havana
59 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie NJ
Tuesday, August 25th 7:00 to 10:00 pm
Mostly Salsa and Argentine Tango... some Bachata,
Merengue, Rumba, & Cha Cha A beginner lesson to start. $20.00 cover includes 2 house drinks or i drink & 1 Latin Night appetizer
For reservations and directions:
View Monica Paz' terrific tango Facebook posts - my pick from
this week is below
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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
OSVALDO PUGLIESE dies. At the end of his performances in the local clubs his many admirers used to scream out loud “To the Colón! To the Colón!” Such desire, repeated again and again over the years, became reality on December 26th, 1985 when
his orchestra was invited to perform alone in the famous Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Let’s listen to the last tango they performed that night. ♫ LA YUMBA. Osvaldo Pugliese (1946)
⊙ CD Nº07 Colección Natucci (40 CDs) +info
Note from Sue - I am amazed to see that Osvaldo Pugliese died so recently. If I had known in December, 1985 what I know now, I would have boarded a plane and attended the Master's last performance at Teatro Colon. 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
Our cancelation policy - We STILL rarely cancel
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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 - and thanks for handling the door
- Tsipoyra Sartan - and thanks for helping Elena with the door
- Steve Maisch
- Steve Turi
- Jesse Barton
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 - Grapes
- Bonny and Jack Watermelon
- John Anillo - wonderful pastries
- Judy and Herb Goodfred Pretzels
And these people brought wine
- Eduardo
- Bill Krukovsky
- Flo
- Edna Negron
Tango in New Jersey and New York |
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