I hope that you all enjoyed the fruits of my freezer, which I must empty before my move to Paramus.  I made beef stew with string beans and carrots.  I also made sausages (hot chorizo and sweet Italian) with onions and peppers and pasta.  

 Our dear friend Felix was the DJ at Firehouse last Thursday.  The energy was sky high all night and finished with an ovation for the music.  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.

• Door prizes
• Parade of the Firehouse Tan-ghost and Tan-goblins
• Awards for best couple, most creative, funniest and sexiest costumes
• Tango/Milonga lessons by Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman
• Buffet dinner
• Milonga

Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. During the past several weeks, we've been defining the fundamental vocabulary of "linear" Tango; i.e., Tango which moves around the line of dance or la ronda. The five individual elements, which comprise this vocabulary include the following:

·      Weight changes in place

·      Pauses

·      Side Steps

·      Forward steps

·      Backward steps

Once a couple learns to comfortably and confidently execute these movements by effectively using their lead/follow skills, they are able to enjoy what we might call a basic-level "parallel-system" dance that is both improvisational (no memorized sequences) and virtually effortless. This, of course, takes a great deal of time and effort to develop; but with patience, perseverance, humility, and a good sense of humor, it can eventually be accomplished. (To review the individual lead/follow skills we've discussed so far, you might want to reread our Tango Tips from the past 10 weeks in the Firehouse Tango Newsletter archive.)

If you've been dancing Tango for a while, you know by now, of course, that there is much more to this dance than simple, linear movement. El sistema cruzado, ochos, molinetes, cambios de frente, calicitas, boleos ... all these highly complex movements and sequences -- plus many others -- await the dancer who is prepared enough to step up to the next level. And a key transitional element, which opens the door to this entire spectrum of more advanced Tango movement is called el pivoteo or the pivot.

I sometimes refer to the pivot as the "sixth" fundamental element in the basic vocabulary of the dance. In stage/performance/fantasia Tango, pivots are utilized frequently by both leaders and followers. However, in social Tango, which is our present concern, the pivot is most often used more or less exclusively by the follower. It is employed for such actions as ocho, molinete, and (to stretch the definition of the social dance a bit) calicita and boleo.

Nota bene:

Many inexperienced (or inept) leaders don't know that they're supposed to begin an ocho or molinete by leading a pivot, and simply push their follower to one side or the other. My hope is that this discussion will result in a better understanding of appropriate leads for these highly complex and sensitive movements in Tango.

Generally speaking, a pivot consists of a rotation of one's entire body, using the ball of one foot as a fulcrum or point of support, while the other foot remains inactive, carrying no weight. Usually, this pivoting action also involves a significant twisting of the body, which adds considerably to its degree of difficulty -- but for purposes of our discussion, we'll focus on the rotational action itself.

Next week, we'll talk about exactly how the pivot is led and followed. Meanwhile, please feel free to ask any questions you might have about this complex subject. You can reach us at franchesleigh@mac.com.

Hi everyone, we have decided to postpone our Cat's Away Milonga until sometime in the future, when we have more time to prepare properly. Thanks very much to all who offered to participate. We'll be calling on you again soon, when the timing is right.

Fran & Pat

Starting October 5, 2015, there's a brand new way to fire up your Tango skills, and get serious about learning this fabulous dance. It's Fran's Fundamentals Class, every Monday at 6:30pm at Dardo Galletto Studios. Now, you can finally approach Tango the way it's supposed to be taught. You'll move step by step, progressing from basic building blocks to more complex techniques, sequences, and improvisational skills -- all at a pace that's perfect for your needs. What about individual attention? Both leaders and followers will enjoy plenty of intense, hands-on work to ensure that they really do learn the primary elements of Tango.

Are you ready to get started?

When? Mondays, 6:30pm, starting October 5

Where? Dardo Galletto Studios, 151 W. 46th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues), 11^th Floor

How much? Only $20 per class, when you sign up for a 5-pac of classes online to use as your schedule permits; $25 at the door. (Checks or cash are also fine.)

Want to learn more? Visit our Web site today:franchesleigh.com

A Special Workshop with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman

Sunday, October 18, 2015

12:00 -- 3:00 P.M.

Pearl Studios, 519 Eighth Avenue (between 35^th & 36^th) 12^th floor, Room C

All levels welcome

Top Ten Turns to transform your Tango! is a fast-paced,

3-hour, intensive Argentine Tango workshop that will beef up your classic Tango repertoire, enhance your overall balance, movement, and adornment skills, and bring you closer to your goal of becoming a more complete social Tango dancer.

A few hot spots:

·      Add the "best of the best" turns to your personal step list

·      Learn how to "keep it together" during even the most complex turn

·      Beef up your crucial balance skills as a leader or follower

·      Enhance your adornment profile

·      Show the world that aguja, enrosque, rulo, and lapis are more than just fancy words

With Fran and Pat's Top Ten Turns To Transform Your Tango! you have a unique opportunity to fine-tune your social Tango into the polished, seriously authentic dance you've been working so hard to achieve.

Don't miss it!

REGISTER ONLINE: $35 per person at franchesleigh.com by Saturday October 17^th

$40 per person at the door on Sunday October 18th

Checks and cash also accepted. No refunds. No exchanges.

The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.

• ​Jesse Barton
• Bob Brillo
• Elena Titova - She had to work, but still she came to help set up.
  
• Steve Maisch
• ​​Steve Turi​