Firehouse Tango back to Knights of Columbus Hall next Thursday, September 17th |
Thanks to the Twin Door Tavern for their wonderful space last week. Next Thursday, we will be back home at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
Jewish New Year feast at Firehouse Tango - next Thursday, September 17 - Contributions wanted |
As is our tradition during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, some of our tangueros judeos will bring traditional holiday food for our Firehouse friends Thursday, September 17th.. You don't have to be Jewish to contribute and it's not too late, so let me know if you'd like to make
something. Just send an e mail to firehousetango@gmail.com
Here is what we have so far for this ethnic feast (You will note that there are some honorary Jews among the contributors):
Sue Dallon brisket, carrots, potatoes string beans kasha varnishkes
(buckwheat groats with bowtie noodles)
Terri Lopez - Stewed chicken
Joe Dallon Apples and honey from Joe's bees
Judy Assisi and Herb Goodfried Drunken fruit
Tsipoyra Sartan ?
Jack
Block Tsimmes
Bonny Yankauer Chopped liver and pickled herring
Sydney St. James something
Eva Roth Rum cake
Georgina Blitzer Apple cake
Mike Porro -
Salad
Hilda Genni - Kale salad
Janice Garfinkle - ?
Eduardo Campos - flan
Marian Levine - noodle kugel
George Ngo - ?
Last Thursday, September 10th Birthday
of Tsipoyra Sartan and milonga at Twin Door Tavern/Maywood Inn
Mike Porro started the fabulous birthday dance with Tsipoyra, who is one of the mainstays of Firehouse Tango. Then the Firehouse Tangueros cut in. Tsypora's sister made a cake that was a delicious as it looked for the occassion. It was a marvelous celebration.
Thursday, September 3rd, Anniversary of Walter and Gay Monteblanco
I was so tired last week that I forgot to say what a wonderful anniversary celebration we had for our dear friends, Walter and Gay Monteblanco. The anniversary dance was awesome. We all
loved dancing with these two. The whipped cream cake was luscious and the champagn for the toast was over the top.
Walter has been a close friend and supporter since the very beginning at Paramus Firehouse # 4, and Gay came soon after. When they aren't traveling, they come to Firehouse often. Walter also teaches private lessons by
appointment.
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 Nat King Cole cortinas.
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 Tango Tip of the Week
Hello everyone, Pat here. This week, I want to discuss one of the single most important movements for a follower in dancing Tango. Can you guess? Yes, it’s her back step. Not only is it this step
that she does most often during the dance, but almost every part of the movement itself is dependent on specific technique, styling and balance. All this takes time to develop, of course. However, a follower should decide early on in her Tango life that she is going to learn everything there is to know about taking the back step, and practice making it good every chance she gets.
In the beginning, likely as not, a follower will just kind of fall backwards onto her foot.
She will bend her knee forward first, lean her body back, and then literally “save” herself from falling with a very small step. Note: many new Tango dancers complain that they are “banging” knees with the leader. This is because the follower is not moving her leg out of the way sufficiently.
In the ideal, when a follower has practiced her back step for at least a couple of years, she should be moving in the following way:
Her upper
body stays in place in front of her leader, and only her leg moves backwards from the hip, using the muscles in her buttocks and lower back. Her whole leg is straight and engaged to move, and her foot is pointed and resting on the floor. Only now does she transfer her weight onto the foot behind her. She must not clutch her leader, or pull him with her. Her leg moves back, she transfers her body weight onto the foot behind, and ultimately she comes to rest in balance, with her free foot ready to
take the next step.
YES, this is very hard!! In the beginning, just taking a single back step – with all its attendant technique – could take several minutes. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be able to execute all this technique in one smooth movement. But please remember that practicing each piece of the movement is essential!
When you reach a point where you feel reasonably confident of your technique and your balance, then you can
consider adding some styling – for instance, as your free foot moves backwards, you can try turning it out slightly and brushing the floor with the inside ball of the foot. Now, your back steps will really be looking like something!
I know…. who said this dance was easy?
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dardo Galletto Studios
Please
join us for our Saturday Practica at Dardo Galletto Studios, 151 West 46 th Street (between 6 th and 7 th Avenues), 11 th 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
October 1st Cat’s Away Milonga and Gourmet Feast is fast approaching! |
Hello everyone, Pat here. As you will have seen on Thursday, our Cat's Away poster is back, and it’s time to play CHEF!! We will bring the poster each week and will look forward to people signing up. So start reviewing your best recipes and plan to join the banquet brigade!
We'll need 5
appetizers, 5 entrees, 5 desserts, We will also need two large salads. Not everything has to be home-cooked. We happily accept a store-bought item in addition to the culinary masterpieces.
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
Los Pitucos Milonga next Saturday, Sept. 19 in Franklin Lakes, NJ |
A little bit of Buenos Aires in Franklin Lakes, NJ
Next Milonga - Saturday, September 19th, 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
Stardust Dance Weekend Sunday Milonga |
SAVE THE DATE:Sunday, SEPTEMBER 20!THE STARDUST SUNDAY TANGO PROGRAM IS BACK !11am through 4:30pm / More than five hours of dancing for just $50 per person.at Honor's Haven Resort, Ellenville, NYThe 103rd Stardust Dance Weekend is coming up Sept. 18-20, and it brings the return of one of the loveliest, fun Sunday Tango events in the Tri-State area:featuring....- Morning Classes with JUNIOR CERVILA & GUADALUPE GARCIA- Elegant DANCE LUNCH (Latin,
Swing,Tango, & Ballroom with DJ team Bob & Michelle Friedman)- SUNDAY MILONGUITA with host and DJ I LENE MARDER ~ La Rubia Del Norte ~- No Partner
Necessary! - *11am-12pm/ 12pm-1pm: Intermediate & Advanced Workshops w/Junior and Guadalupe
- 1pm-2pm: Elegant, white table cloth lunch with all styles of dancing
- 2pm-4:30pm: Argentine Tango
Milonquita with DJ Ilene- the Best of the Classics (with funNuevo breaks)All for just $50 (including lunch)!!!(- *10-11am Beginners Class with Junior & Guadalupe also included in the $50 price- a great way to introduce or include less experienced friends!)--- Please contact Ilene Marder to make a reservation (helps to
gender balance the classes, and get onto the hotel grounds!) at imhmedia@gmail.com,
or (845)
399-9034.The beautiful Honor's Haven Resort is just off Route 209 in Ellenville, NY More than 50 dance classes and dance
parties through the weekend!Ilene will also be DJing Stardust's Friday and Saturday Night Milongas.Looking forward to seeing our Firehouse Friends!!!JUNIOR CERVILA & GUADALUPE GARCIA – Junior
Cervila, often called "the Gene Kelly of Latin Dance", was born and raised in Brazil, and for many years based in Buenos Aires, where the tango got into his blood. He has an extensive professional history that includes performances on Broadway (starred in the original "Tango Argentino" at GershwinTheatre, NYC); he has also performed at Lincoln Center and Town Hall NYC, held a key rolein the dance film "Tango" by
Carlos Saura (nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Film), and travelled the world with the show of Julio Iglesias. An in-demand performer world-wide, Junior has appeared with Deborah Bull - the prima ballerina of the Royal
Ballet of London, in an acclaimed BBC film, and he developed one of the leading roles in the successful musicals "Tanguera", "Piazzolla Tango" and "Tangorama". He is currently a choreographer of "Piazzolla Tango" and "Tango Porteño", two of the most
prominent tango shows in Buenos Aires.
Guadalupe Garcia started dancing Argentine Folklore when she was 5
years old, and began learning tango when she was 12! At the age of 18, she received a degree as a teacher ofArgentine Folklore, and from 2004-2010, received wide acclaim with the UBALLET (Ballet de la Universidad de Buenos Aires). She's been a featured performer in Buenos
Aires with outstanding dance troupes including Mora Godoy's Tango Company, Juan Corvalán's Tangomalambo's Company, and Roberto Herrera's Company, and has toured worldwide including representing Argentine Tango at the 2012 World Yeosu Expo in Korea. Since 2007, she's been featured in the top tango shows of Buenos Aires, such Complejo Tango, Michelangelo,
Taconeando, Piazzolla Tango, Gala Tango and Tango Porteño, including the 2014 Glorias Porteñas show as Principal Dancer partnering iconic tango maestro Juan Carlos Copes. In 2015, besides touring, teaching and performing around the world with Junior Cervila, she was featured in the Tango e Paixão's
Show in Brazil .
Tuesday Sept. 29 at La Havana 59 with 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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Latin Night at La Havana 59 110 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie NJ
Tuesday, Sept 29th 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:
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Biagio's Restaurant for Dinner & Dance 299 Paramus Rd,
Paramus NJ
Biagio's will return in October & November.
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:
Lisa SkatesSimply Social Dancing |
Find milongas anywhere in the world |
Hola tanguero/a, We would like to inform you about our website with milongas in any city worldwide to dance tango. Check out the milongas nearby. New season, new milongas. Our website may be useful for you to find milongas in your destinations. Our website is: http://milongas-in.comIf you organize a milonga please add it in our website, so anyone who is travelling can find your milonga. If you have a website, please add our website in your links section. In case you do, we would prefer our link to be named: “Milongas in any city worldwide” and the corresponding link has to be http://milongas-in.comThank you very much. Un abrazo, Milongas-in.com Team
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
ENRIQUE RODRÍGUEZ dies. He played equally well the violin, the piano and the bandoneon. When he was young he played in Donato’s orchestra. He formed his own group in 1936. His was a rhythmic and simple style, with little attention to the melody: he recorded more than 350 themes. In addition, he recorded polkas, pasodoble, rancheras and foxtrots. He composed the
music of the tango we are listening to here. ♫ LLORAR POR UNA MUJER Enrique Rodríguez y Armando Moreno (1942)
⊙ CD Nº18 Colección Natucci (40 CD) +info
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
- Elena Syrett
- Hilda and Rafael - Welcome back - we missed you so much
- Bob Brillo
- 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 - - Barbara - Grapes
- Bonny Yankauer - Guacamole & Chips
- Jack Block - Cheese
And these people brought wine
- Camille
- George Ngo
- Bill Krukovsky
- Marta
- Rafael & Hilda
- Bob Brillo
- Jorge Sturam
- Francis &
Marie
- Eduardo
Tango in New Jersey and New York |
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If you have any questions or you'd prefer to sign up via email, please contact Fran at