Birthday of Marta Bautis - Who started the celebratory dance?

So many mistakes in last week's newsletter (May 10)!  Here's another.  I forgot to say who the lucky guy was who Marta chose to start her birthday dance. It was our dear, dear friend, Rafael Olivares.  Thank you, Rafael.  You are the very best, and I'm sorry I left your name out last Thursday.   ​​​​​​​

Last Thursday, May 17 - Birthday of Gay Fallows Monteblanco

Gay returns to Firehouse occasionally in between extensive world travels with her husband and our dear friend, Walter.   I'm so glad that they changed their plans and were able to celebrate with us.

Gay has been a Firehouse friend for years, and we are always happy to celebrate with her. Walter started the birthday dance, and then all of the Firehouse milongueros joined in.  We had to play three selections to accommodate everyone. 

Walter, as usual,  brought a fabulously delicious cake and bottles of champagne that disappeared very quickly.  He also brought strawberries. 

We are planning to add lots of extra-special delights next Thursday including.

•           Extra hour of fun and dancing
•           Door prizes        
•          Let's dress up and have a ball.
  
•           Sue will make her famous brisket with carrots, string beans, and potatoes and Terri will make her equally famous arroz con pollo.  If anyone else would like to bring something for the occasion, please let me know.   

As always, admission of $15 includes dinner, lesson, dancing and socializing with some of the nicest folks around.  The event is at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 105 Grove Avenue, Maywood, NJ 07607.  For additional information call Sue at  201-826-6602. 

The schedule for the evening is:

7:00 - 7:30      Basic Argentine Tango lesson with Fran Chesleigh & Pat Altman 

7:30 - 8:30          Intermediate Argentine Tango lesson with Fran Chesleigh & Pat Altman   

8:30 - 10:00     Buffet opens and recorded music for dancing by DJ Sue

10:00 -            drawings

10:30 - 12:00    Dancing to recorded music by DJ Sue

Admission includes dinner, lesson, dancing, and socializing with some of the nicest folks around

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Pat and I are back from our trip to England. We had a terrific time, visiting family, eating lots of fish and chips, and not dancing a single step. We’re delighted to be home, of course; we missed you all, and we’re really happy to be putting on our Tango shoes again.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing with you the specific way in which I teach Tango. Two weeks ago, we talked about what I call “Part 1” of my approach. My hope is that this provides my students with a comprehensive introduction to the essentials of interactive linear movement in social Tango partnering. As you may recall, I conclude Part 1 by briefly introducing the idea of two unique systems of linear movement in Tango — parallel and crossed.

For those of us familiar with social partner dancing in the U.S.A, our way of dancing involves only employing the so-called “parallel” system. In fact, as I mentioned two weeks ago, we don’t even give this way of moving a name. In Argentina, however, the “crossed” system is integral to understanding and properly executing the dance. For this reason, Tango teachers and practitioners have invented special terms (“parallel” and “crossed”) in order to differentiate the two ways of moving.

In case you’re new to Tango, let me quickly describe each of these systems:

The Parallel System

Because the leader and follower face one another as they dance social Tango, the parallel system of movement — what we in America might think of as “the normal way of dancing” — involves the following:

•    As the leader moves forward, backward, or to the side with his left leg, the follower moves with her right leg.

•    As the leader moves forward, backward, or to the side with his right leg, the follower moves with her left leg.

Nota bene: All American/European dances and all tropical (“Latin”) dances adhere to this way of moving in partnership.

The Crossed System

In the crossed system, both leader and follower move together with the left leg or the right leg at the same time, depending on the leader’s invitation at any given moment in the dance. In general, no American/European dances and no tropical (“Latin”) dances adhere to this way of moving in partnership.

To my students (non-Argentines), the Crossed system introduces a completely new idea, and in my opinion needs to be treated with special care and concentration. For this reason, I devote the entirety of “Part 2” of my own teaching pedagogy to introducing and advancing this highly complex skill set.

Here is a brief outline of Part 2:

1.     General introduction to the crossed system

2.     Elements of the crossed system

3.     Special use of the “small” pivot within the crossed system

4.     Definition of single step movement within the crossed system

5.     “Sequencing” (limited continuous movement) within the crossed system

Next week, we’ll begin to examine each of these elements in greater detail. Meanwhile, Pat and I want to encourage all of you to start taking your Tango to the next level. That means making a serious commitment to getting yourself a good teacher, practicing consistently, dancing as much as you can, and ultimately discovering how really great it feels to dance well.

Every Monday at 8:30 p.m., Fran and Pat teach a one-hour class entirely devoted to the study of adornment for both leaders and followers. We focus on the precise way in which dancers should use their legs in order to move in the appropriate style of Tango. We 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 (between 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

Thanks to all who helped throughout the night.