About last week's cancellation |
Cancelling Firehouse Tango is always a huge decision, but it's even harder when I'm not at home. Apparently, there were major differences in the amount of snow received by some very close neighbors.
Wednesday morning, Fran told of clear skies in New York. Steve came in from shoveling a foot of snow on Wednesday night and Tom ( Knights of Columbus) said the same and recommended closing. When CNN reported two feet in Franklin Lakes, it was all over.
Elena, though, wanted to go on and Weina went to Maywood on Thursday and found all the snow gone and everything clear. Lots of folks wrote to ask why we were cancelled. On the other hand, June, who drives an ambulance, wrote about trees and power lines blocking Mahwah's roads and concurred with my decision. Mother Nature was surely trying to confuse us, but I did my best to keep everyone safe and happy.
I apologize to anyone who came anticipating a great night of tango and went home disappointed. We will make it up to you next Thursday. Sue and Terri back - Thanks to All for running Firehouse in our absence
After a wonderful time on our fantastic Central American cruise with a bunch of Firehouse friends, Terri and I are very happy to be back to the world's friendliest (and I think the best)
milonga.
As always, I loved my vacation, but I'm very happy to return to my dear friends at home (Though I will be out for one week again next month - c'est la vie)
Thanks, thanks, and more thanks to the Firehouse Tangueros
Huge helpings of gratitude go to all of you who brought food and drinks, set up, and cleaned up. I am very aware that my trip would be impossible without an enormous amount of help from the folks back home.
The logistics - The Superhero Team
Special thanks
to Steve Turi, Fran Chesleigh, and Pat Altman for making the whole shebang such a great success. Steve, with help from Tsipoyra, Nina, Pearl,and the folks at the front table planned; ran operations; and coordinated setup and cleanup (and that's not all.) Fran and Pat executed the lessons to perfection.These folks fielded the problems and glitches that seem to arise every week. The tasks involved in running Firehouse are monumental, and
we are incredibly fortunate to have so many fabulous friends willing to step in whenever needed. The newsletter
The newsletter
This Firehouse Tango newsletter has been published nearly every week since March, 2002 and thanks to Fran and Pat, the week we were out was no exception.
Among his countless talents, our remarkable
instructor, Fran Chesleigh, is a professional writer. As always when I am out, he and his equally extraordinary assistant, Pat Altman, flawlessly and with a style of their own, take over the task of writing the Firehouse Tango newsletter. I easily sent it out when I returned.
The awesome duo (Fran and Pat) is usually found at "Fran's Table" in the alcove closest to the DJ table. They are always happy to answer your Tango questions or show you how to do
something you might have missed, so make sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn from the best.
Superman Steve Turi was Clean-up Editor.
The Music
While we were away, your tangos, milongas and valses were spun by fabulous guest DJ, Rich Ariza. As I promised,
you were not disappointed.
DJ Richard Ariza March 1st
Richard ran the immensely successful Friday afternoon milonga at Triangulo for many years. He has guest DJ'd at many New York and New Jersey milongas, and has done those honors at Firehouse often. He is now free-lancing and DJ's in many different
locations.
Richard is always adding to his excellent tango collection, and we are very excited about hearing his selections at Firehouse.
I also want to make a shout-out to Felix Pacheco, who was all set to DJ last Thursday but was disappointed when we cancelled. You will have another chance to hear Felix at Firehouse on April 12, when I will be in Buenos
Aires.
DJ Felix Pacheco April 12, 2018
I'm pretty sure that everyone knows Felix, who runs the amazing Los Pitucos Milonga. When he has time from his very busy practice, Dr. Pacheco guest DJ's in the New York/New Jersey area. We are very fortunate that he will be able to play the music for us at Firehouse Just in the
unlikely case anyone doesn't know about Felix's milonga, here is the information:
. Milonga Los Pitucos (This Saturday, March 17)
Tango every Third Saturday @ Milonga Los Pitucos THE AMERICAN LEGION 65 Oak Street
Oakland, NJ 07436 For directions click here
Ticket Taker
As if it weren't enough, our front man, Tibor, was out on the 8th. Fortunately, Elena Titove can slip easily into the position. Unfortunately, we cancelled that evening. However, we thank Elena for her willingness to help. |
March 1 - Sue and Terri and a bunch of Firehouse friends will be on a cruise. Thanks to all of our Firehouse friends for taking over and keeping the Firehouse home fires burning.
March 8 - Cancelled
March 15 - Birthday of Vely Delaus
and bon voyage to Megumi Garfin
March 22 - No celebrations. Just great dancing, eating, and socializing at Firehouse.
March 29 - No celebrations. Just great dancing, eating, and socializing at Firehouse.
Last week, Thursday, March 15 -
The celebration dance was wonderful with two other birthday folks (Carlos and Jose) joining in. Then we had a free-for-all
cut-in fest.
Bon Voyage to Megumi Garfin
We will miss Megumi, who has been a wonderful and faithful Firehouse supporter. We wish her great luck on her return home. Camille brought a delicious napoleon cake.
Birthday of Vely Delaus
This was Vely's first time celebrating at Firehouse Tango. Adeline started the birthday dance. The tangueras then all cut in on his birthday dance to make sure it's not the last time he wants to do this. Adeline brought two coconut
cakes. 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. I played Irish cortinas in honor of Saint Patrick's
Day last week. Let me know if you have some favorite non tango music, and I will try to play it.
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
From John Wynne
I am now home after the operation. Surgeon says it went well. No muscles were cut and the nerve was freed up from compression. But, I am in a lot of pain and i need my walker in the house. Need judy to put me in chairs and to get me out. I cant put on my socks. It will be a while before i do any
dancing.
John Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Over the last several weeks, we’ve been discussing the many ways people attempt to learn Tango. These include classes, milongas, practicas, private lessons, and workshops. Today, I want to talk about what is perceived to be a major source of useful information — but
definitely one which needs to be utilized with discretion — YouTube.
As I mentioned in my Tango Tip of March 1, most people who are interested in learning Tango today seem to be ever on the lookout for what they think of as the fastest possible way to gain expertise. (In theory, I’m sure they would say, this is because they want to spend their time dancing rather than learning. In fact, I think it’s
really because they find the learning process too slow, too difficult, and too uncomfortable. Furthermore, they almost invariably equate the idea of skill development with the assimilation of figures rather than the somewhat arduous and often frustrating journey of actually learning how to dance.)
In this context, YouTube looms large as a primary source for the kind of information such
instant success achievers are after. YouTube is without question the most readily available, most widely used source of visually presented information in existence today. If you access YouTube and type in “Argentine Tango,” you gain instant access to a whole world of material about the dance — material that would otherwise take you years and years of expensive classes, private lessons, and workshops to be exposed to. And, of course, YouTube is absolutely FREE.
What a potential goldmine!
The problem with YouTube (in my opinion, at least) is that students simply cannot learn how to dance by watching. Yes, one can be exposed to lots and lots of figures, concepts, and techniques. And for students who already know how to dance — I estimate this to be maybe one or two out of
every ten — such information may prove to be useful. However, for the vast majority of students, focusing on the assimilation of figures as a perceived shortcut to actual command of Tango is utterly beside the point.
In saying this, I know full well that most of you don’t agree. I know that you’ll continue to see YouTube as the fast track to Tango heaven. But I also know that one or two of you (out of
every ten?) will bite the bullet, and set out on a course of actually accepting the real Tango challenge. You are the students who will ultimately learn how to dance.
Fran and Pat now offer a new class in American Social Dance
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 this us every Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. for a fun-filled social dance fix.
Class One Concentrating on authentic American Foxtrot, Triple Swing and
Salsa Mondays, 8:30 p.m. Studios 353 New York City
Saturdays
with Fran and Pat at Dardo Galletto Studios
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 46th Street, 11th floor, (bet. 6th & 7th 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
Events in March and April |
Milonga Los Pitucos
A little bit of Buenos Aires in Oakland, NJ
Please join us for another great Milonga on
this Saturday, March 17th, 2017 Pre Milonga
workshop with Carolina Jaurena and Daniel Martinez
Workshop starts At 7:00pm Milonga at 8:00pm Plus performance, raffle,
Chacarera and more 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. Couples, singles and beginners welcome! No partner necessary.
Bring a friend and enjoy great music, floor, "delight"(dish) and of course friends!
Admission $15, including the workshop and home cooked "delight"
Location: THE AMERICAN LEGION 65 Oak St, Oakland, NJ 07436 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 the American Legion. 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. ● 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
Simply Social
Dancing
Latin
Night at La Havana
59110
Moonachie Ave, Moonachie NJ
Tuesday,
March
27th Tuesday,
April
24th 7:00
to 10:00
pm
Mostly
Salsa and Argentine Tango... some Bachata, Merengue, Rumba, & Cha
Cha. A
Latin evening for those who enjoy Latin music, food, and
dancing! An
Argentine Tango lesson to start (for all level
dancers).
$20.00
cover includes 2 house drinks or 1 drink & 1 Latin Night
appetizer
For
reservations and
directions: 201
964
9515
Our cancelation policy - We STILL rarely cancel
|
Even though we had to cancel twice this year because of blizzards, 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 my cell phone
201-826-6602. Feel free to leave a message.
We cancel only when absolutely necessary (still only about ten times in all these years, 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 Firehou
se Tango.
- The Knights Hall's wonderful neighbor, Angelito, will now be doing most of the heavy lifting (liiterally and figuratively) both before and after our milonga. Three cheers for Angelito!
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 - - Henry Kim - Rolled Cookies
- Nina Grynyk
- Enpanadas
- Camille - Cake
- Ingrid Jacob - Apple Cake
- Flo Salierno - Cheesecake
- Irene Nachem - Pie
- Adeline Daleus - Cake
And these people brought wine
- Mary Pagano
- Camille
- Carl Schaefer
- George Ngo
- John
Sullivan
- Eduard Simpson
- Francis & Marie
- Bob Brillo
- Adeline & Vely
Tango in New Jersey and New York |
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