Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Do you really want to learn how to dance Tango? Seriously, let’s think about it for a moment. In my experience, most casual students would like to know how to dance Tango, but learning? That’s another story. I remember when I first started trying to pick up different kinds of ballroom dancing during the 1950s. At that time, there were lots of places you could go to dance, to meet dancers, to practice dancing. Dancing was on people’s minds — dancing was the thing to do. We even had the Arthur Murray folks on TV every week, telling us what a lead-pipe cinch it all was. I can still hear the voice of Katherine Murray as she gazed with saccharine sincerity into the camera, and exclaimed: “Dancing is easy, anyone can do it.”

Oh yeah? Just in case you haven’t noticed by now, knowing might be nice; but with all due respect to Katherine and the Murray gang, learning social dance of any kind is really difficult. And learning Tango?

Right now, I hear dance teachers all over the country saying, “Don’t tell them this stuff.” Well, I think it’s time you started getting a little bit realistic about what you should expect, when you take on the Tango project. Nothing about it is easy. Building the initial foundation is a real bear … and then it starts to get seriously hard.

No kidding. A favorite phrase of many students is: “I’m never gonna get this thing.” And, of course, I’m talking about people who stick it out.

Are you still with me? Are you among the few, the proud, (maybe the masochistic), who are willing to stay the course, to keep the faith, to go where few have gone before?

Say “yes, Fran!” Okay, let’s get started. Here’s what it’s going to take:

·      Private lessons (crucial)

·      Classes (necessary)

·      Focused workshops (helpful)

·      Practicas (mandatory)

·      Milongas (don’t be a chicken — get out there)

·      Consciousness (I think about Tango all the time)

·      Natural ability (a major asset, but not a game changer)

During the coming weeks, I’m going to look at each one of these elements (and maybe others as they occur to me), to assess what I think is their importance in your overall learning process.

Are you ready? Are you psyched? Fasten your seat belts, people, take a deep breath, and get yourself ready for the ride of your life!

If you like the idea of keeping American social dance alive -- not competitive or performance dancing, but real social dance the way it was traditionally done -- we invite you to join us every Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. for a fun-filled social dance fix. We guarantee that you’ll have a ball!

This week, we’re going to reveal the “secret sauce” that will take your triple swing to a new level. Find out on Monday,1/22

Class One

Concentrating on authentic American Foxtrot, Triple Swing and Salsa

Mondays, 8:00 p.m.

Studios 353

353 West 48^th Street, Second floor (between 8^th and 9^th Avenues)

New York City

The longest-running and friendliest practica in NYC! Come join our happy group of social tango dancers, whose sole purpose is to enjoy dancing and to practice what they’re learning. Everyone dances! Essential Tango Therapy! Pat and I will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and help you with material you’re working on. Plus you get a new “must-have” move each week! No partner required, all levels. Dardo Galletto Studios, 151 West 46^th Street, 11^th floor, (bet. 6^th & 7^th Aves) www.franchesleigh.com

If you’d like a private lesson, you can visit our website at www.franchesleigh.com, call Fran directly at 212-662-7692, or email him at franchesleigh@mac.com Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/franchesleighllc

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

• The Knights Hall's wonderful neighbor, Angelito, will now be doing most of  the heavy lifting (literally and figuratively) both before and after our milonga.  Three cheers for Angelito.  ​