Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. During last week’s Tip I talked about the dangers of substituting YouTube Tango fantasies for real learning. In my opinion, no one can learn the intricacies of complex body movement and technique simply by watching a video, no matter how well presented it may be. At the same time, however, YouTube can prove to be an extremely valuable tool in your overall learning process — especially when it comes to getting information.

Recently, I discovered a series of interviews by a woman named Pepa Palazon. In this series, Ms. Palazon conducts in-depth discussions with important Tango luminaries, which I believe anyone serious about learning Tango should see. I was particularly interested in an interview with Eduardo Arquimbau and his wife Gloria. This couple performed around the world as “Gloria y Eduardo” in the seminal show “Tango Argentino” during the mid 1980s.

I had the good fortune to meet and study with Eduardo, when he taught a series of workshops at Dance Manhattan during the 1990s. Not only is Eduardo an exemplary performer of “Tango fantasia,” he is a fine, generous teacher, and his knowledge of the social dance is nothing short of vast.

Be sure to check out the Pepa Palazon interview with this fascinating Tango couple on YouTube. Among other subjects of great interest to Tango students, you’ll learn how the two performers met and began to dance together (under the watchful eye of Gloria’s mother). You’ll get a detailed overview of the history of Tango, along with Eduardo’s illuminating description of how the Tango embrace evolved over the years. If you’ve ever been confused about the different ways of dancing social Tango — orillero, canyengue, Tango salon, fantasia, and others — Eduardo spells these unique styles out during this interview as clearly and accurately as you’ll ever hear them described.

Here’s the link for the Gloria and Eduardo interview on YouTube:

Https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ObhSicfVng

While you’re at it, don’t miss Pepa Palazon’s interviews with Juan Carlos Copes, Maria Nieves, Rodolfo and Gloria Dinzel, Nito and Elba, Miguel Zotto, Milena Plebs, los hermanos Macana, and Guillermina Quiroga, among others. And don’t forget to access Monica Paz’ interviews with many of the living legends of social Tango in Argentina today. Thanks to our own Sue Dallon, you’ll find links to these in the pages of our past newsletters.

Once you start reading and viewing the information found in these documents, I’m sure you’ll agree that they are without doubt an invaluable supplement to your knowledge and appreciation of social Tango.

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 Tuesday evening at 8:30 p.m. for a fun-filled 2-hour social dance fix.

Class One

Concentrating on authentic American Foxtrot, Triple Swing and Salsa

Class Two

West Coast Swing, Waltz and Rumba

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Studios 353

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 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!