June 28th Sue in the Hamptons

Twice this month, I will have played hooky.  June14th I passed up Firehouse for my grandson Luke's middle school graduation, and on the 28th, I'll be in the Hamptons at Herb's family reunion.  Fortunately, I can leave my baby (That would be Firehouse Tango) worry free because I have incredible friends who are more than willing and able to keep the Firehouse fires burning brightly. Please support Terri and our wonderful back-up team. 

The logistics - The A Team

Terri Lopez (Wonder(ful) Woman) and Steve Turi (aka Superman) will head up our milonga logistics team in addition to their normal invaluable weekly responsibilities.  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. 

But What about the Music?  Rich Ariza DJ

Rich Ariza June 28th

This is a great opportunity to dance to the tangos, milongas, and valses of Rich Ariza.  Rich ran his wonderful Friday afternoon milonga until Triangulo closed this year.  He has been our guest DJ at Firehouse and is very much in demand all over the NY metropolitan area.  

​​​​​​​Rich has guest-DJ'd at many New York and New Jersey milongas, and we've had the pleasure of his company - not to mention DJ expertise - quite often at Firehouse.  

How about the newsletter?

This Firehouse Tango newsletter has been published nearly every week since March, 2002 and thanks to Fran and Pat, the next two weeks will be 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 will send his handiwork out when I return.

This awesome duo 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.  

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Thursday, June 28 - Sue out once again

This time, I'll be going to the Hamptons for a family reunion (not mine.)  Richard Ariza will DJ and the wonderful A Team will take over.  Please support them. See above for details.

Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. During our last Tango Tip, we talked about the question of how large or small an individual social Tango step should be. As I said in that Tip, this is really a very difficult question to answer. In fact, it turns out to be more a process between two individual dancers of getting to know one another on the dance floor, and eventually reaching a consensus together on the size of their collective steps.

The implication of this, of course, is that this consensus will be different for each set of partners. What works with one partner will not necessarily work with the next. Tango, as I mentioned, involves building an individual relationship with one person. When you change partners, the process begins again.

This said, there is a way of moving with a partner, which can make reaching a consensus on the size of individual steps somewhat more consistent — although certainly not easier. Let’s call it using the “step and slide method.”

Basically, this method involves extending your leg as you move your upper body in the process of initiating an individual step. At the end of this extension, you slide along the floor a few inches more in order to complete the step. With practice and concentration, you’ll be able to apply this method to each of four movements in the dance:

1.     Side steps

2.     Forward steps

3.     Backward steps

4.     Forward and backward ochos

Today, I’m going to describe the way this method works in the context of side steps. (In future Tango Tips, we’ll talk about how it works in the other listed movements).

To become familiar with the movement, you’ll first try it alone. Let’s start by discussing the way most people execute a side step to the left. When asked to take this step, they pick the left foot up off the ground, fall through space to one side, then plop that foot back down with a thud. Voila! The side step. From now on, this will be precisely what you will not be doing when taking your side step.

Here’s what I’d like you to try. First, picture in your mind an easy, gentle extension of your leg to one side. This extension shouldn’t be any longer than what feels very comfortable to you right now. Bear in mind that many people take steps that are far too big — often by way of emulating their dance teachers. Please don’t do this.

Now, you’re going to move through space to the left. Begin by initiating the movement with your upper body and your leg at the same time. As you begin to move, don’t pick your foot up off the floor. Instead, gently slide the inside of the ball of your left foot along the floor until you reach the end of what we’ll call your “natural” extension. At this point, continue your upper body moving to the left, and slide another two to three inches with your left foot before ultimately allowing yourself to commit the weight of your left foot to the floor. As you do commit your weight, bring your right foot together with your left very slowly, bringing yourself into quiet balance. This will be the conclusion of the step.

Now, reread the above paragraph, and practice the movement 500 times by yourself.

No, I’m not kidding. If you’re not certain of how it works, ask your regular teacher for guidance.

Once you’re confident that you're executing with the right mechanics, try the side step with a partner — who has been doing the same thing by him/herself. That’s right, none of this stuff works unless both partners understand and can execute the movement alone.

When moving with a partner, the leader initiates the lead/follow as we’ve described many times in these pages by flexing the knees in order to slightly lower the torso (thereby indicating that a traveling movement is about to be invited); then continuing with movement of the upper body — in this case to the leader’s left side. The object, of course, is to monitor each other’s movement in order to act together as much as possible.

It is particularly important not to commit your weight to the end of the step too soon. Make sure that once you reach full natural extension, you continue sliding to the leader’s left a few inches.  In the beginning, you may experience a great deal of difficulty doing this. But with practice — yes, that’s right — 500 times with this partner, please — you’ll eventually be able to move together in a surprising precise way.

And at least with the side step, you’ll never again need to ask the question: “How big a step do I take?

Next week, we’ll take a look at now this special technique applies to a leader’s forward step, as he accompanies a follower’s backward step.

Recognizing that people have lots of things they want to do during the summer, we’ve responded to your needs with our special Summer Schedule! We’ve now combined our two Tango classes into one for Mondays, and the same for our American Social Dance classes, which will now move to Monday as well.

• Still The Best Music!
  
• Still The Friendliest!
• Still The Longest-Running!
• Still The BEST Practica!
  

Fran and Pat are on hand to answer any questions you have, and help you with material you’re working on. 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

Would you like a private lesson? Visit our website at www.franchesleigh.com, call us directly at 212-662-7692, or email us at franchesleigh@mac.com Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/franchesleighllc

 I want to point out that Terri Lopez is more than a helper who I call Wonder Woman and who takes my place when I am out.  Terri is our CEO and has as much, if not more, responsibility and authority than I do. 

Let me make it clear: Firehouse Tango would not exist without her.

• ​​​​​​Henry Kim - Choco Pies
  
• Barbara Lombardi - Popcorn
  
• Eva Roth - Meat Loaf with Boiled Eggs & Yellow Rice
  
• Ingrid Jacob - Cheese Cake