Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. To me, one of the really beautiful aspects of social Tango — at least at the highest level —  is that it is totally improvised by the individual dancer. For leaders, there is no thought of memorized patterns. One element seems to flow into another in a completely creative manner. At the same time, followers allow themselves to be moved from one balance to the next without any consciousness of having to remember specific dance sequences. When the moment seems right, they may offer tastefully selected embellishments (adornos) to enhance their carefully led movements. All this occurs as absolutely transcendent music continuously drives a harmonious community of dancers to move along la ronda without a single mishap to mar the beauty of the experience.

What I’m trying to describe here is what I think of as “Tango heaven” — wonderful to contemplate, very difficult to achieve.

What would it take for us to find this enviable state of bliss described above? In the first place, we would have to recognize that it only exists, if we ourselves create it.

·      As dancers, we would have to make certain that we really understand how to interact with one another as social dancers. This means learning, practicing, and nurturing the art of lead/follow, perhaps the most difficult — and at the same time the most neglected — aspect of Tango.

·      As leaders, we would have to largely abstain from ego-driven forays into anti-social, often outright dangerous performance repertoire, opting instead for improvisational expertise, which promotes maximum flexibility within a large group of dancers.

·      As followers, we would have to insist on balance at the end of every movement we make — rather than constantly putting up with being continuously thrown around the dance floor like rag dolls by leaders whose focus is on YouTube fantasies rather than on solid lead/follow improvisation.

·      As participants at the milonga or practica, we would have to consider the line of dance as a primary concern. No one would have the option to travel against la ronda, or to “change lanes” haphazardly, thereby completely disrupting the ideal flow of movement.

·      As DJs, we would have to stop trying to be the most knowledgeable exponents of musical arcana in the room, choosing instead to become expert in offering the most “danceable” music possible.

There are many other things we could do to make Tango heaven even more, well, heavenly. But the elements I’ve itemized above would be a great start. Let’s all make an effort to incorporate these goals into our next milonga or practica.  Please.

Starting this coming Monday, April 2, 8:30 p.m., Fran and Pat will be teaching a one-hour class entirely devoted to the study of adornment for both leaders and followers. We will focus on the precise way in which dancers should use their legs in order to move in the appropriate style of Tango. We’ll also help you build a powerful vocabulary of exciting adornments, which you can incorporate into your dance.

People have been asking us to teach this class for years – and now, at last, we’re delighted to offer it. Be sure not to miss this opportunity to learn the art of adornos right from the ground up! And while you’re at it, why not enroll yourself in our 7:30 p.m. Intermediate Tango Class. This will give you a full Monday evening of Tango.

See you then.

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 7:30 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, 2^nd floor

353 W. 48^th Street (betw. 8^th & 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 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!