October/November at Firehouse Tango |
October 4 -
- Pearl Chan's Birthday (See below)
- The intermediate lesson will be about milonga (See below)
- Special Performance (See below)
October 11 -
The intermediate lesson will be about milonga (See below)
October 18 -
No birthdays, just great dancing, eating, and socializing.
October 25 -
No birthdays, just great dancing, eating, and socializing. Sue out. Terri, Steve, and the A Team take over. (See below)
November 1 -
Halloween Milonga (See below) October 4 - Pearl Chan's Birthday |
In the short time that Pearl has been with us, she has become an integral part of our team and also a great dancer. She was a bit shy about being the center of attention, but let's make her want to celebrate for years to come. October 4 - Special Performance |
Next Thursday, we
are pleased to introduce Luis Ramirez and Analia Careno, who will perform for us at Firehouse Tango.
With 14 years dancing together, this multiple-styled couple has achieved identity and personality in their dance, exquisite and perfect blend of high technique, dynamism, musicality and authentic
feeling of the intrinsic roots of Tango Argentino.
After having worked at the most important tango houses and shows in Buenos Aires, such as "Señor Tango", "Esquina Carlos Gardel" and in tango Musicals such as "Tanguera" and "Tango Emotion", they choreographed, produced and directed their own tango company, "ConjuroTango", with a cast of 26
artists. This great show was successfully performed at major theatres and operas in China.
They have also performed at major theaters in Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Munich, Moscow and Sao Paulo. Currently, Luis is in the process of producing his new masterpiece, “Back to Tango", which will premier in 2019.
As masters in their lessons and workshops, they teach how to dance and share the essence of traditional tango using natural movements applied to the dance. They have achieved great results in students of all ages around of the world., and they are currently teaching tango at Hudson Dance Studio in Edgewater, New Jersey.
Thursdays, October 4th and 11th, special lessons in milonga |
Join Pat and Fran for a two-week-long exploration of milonga. On October 4th and 11th, we’ll be devoting our intermediate class to the fundamentals of this exciting, up-tempo dance. As in the past, these lessons will be cumulative with each session building on the one before. So plan
to be with us for both weeks. Get to the Firehouse early, and don’t miss a moment of this outstanding, celebration of one of Argentina’s great dance traditions. The normal beginner lesson will take place from 7 to 7:30. As many of our regulars know, Argentine social dancing includes not only tango, but two other dance forms as well - vals and milonga. Since tango is what we focus on primarily in our weekly classes here at the Firehouse, people are often a bit timid about getting up to dance
when a vals or milonga are played. Come to these classes and this will change.
Sue out Thursday, October 25. A Team takes over
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I'm off to visit my favorite city, Buenos Aires, Argentina My dear friend Diane and I will be visiting Buenos Aires for ten wonderful days. 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 our wonderful back-up team.
The logistics - The A Team
Terri Lopez (Wonder(ful) Woman) and Steve Turi (aka Superman) have generously offered to head up our milonga logistics team in addition to their normal invaluable weekly help. 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? Al Ko
Not to worry. While we are away, your tangos, milongas and valses will be spun by fabulous guest DJ, Al Ko. Al is well known to our Firehouse friends. He and Lily come to Firehouse almost every Thursday when they are not traveling, though this is the first time he's DJ'ing for us.
Lily and Al, together with Mike Porro and Debbie Kim, host the amazing New Years Eve Milonga at Grand Ballroom in Midland Park.
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.
Special Halloween Milonga on Thursday, November 1st |
Don't put your costume away. Our Halloween (always one of the highlights of our year) party will take place on
November 1st. It features:
- Door prizes
- Parade of the Firehouse Tan-ghost and Tan-goblins
- Awards for best couple, most creative, funniest and sexiest costumes
- Extra time to dance and celebrate. We'll go till 11:45.
- Tango/Milonga lessons by Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman
- Buffet dinner
- Milonga
Join us on Thursday, November 1st for our sixteenth annual Firehouse Halloween Milonga (Basic tango lessons from 7:00 to 7:30, and intermediate tango lessons from 7:30 - 8:30.)
If you don't have a costume, don't let it keep you away, but come, dance and cheer for your friends. Costumed or not, expect a great evening. In addition to awards for the most creative, best couple, funniest
and sexiest costumes, we've got some great door prizes (costume not required to be eligible.)
Of course, also included in the low price of
only $15 are lessons taught by Fran Chesleigh; a buffet dinner; and dancing and socializing with the fabulous Firehouse tangueros.
Last Thursday, September 27, Birthday of Terri Lopez |
Terri, who has
become so indispensable that I say in all seriousness that Firehouse Tango could not exist without her, celebrated her birthday on Thursday, September 27th.
We invited
the Firehouse Tangueros to show our most loyal Firehouse friend EVER just how much we all appreciate her . Rudy started the birthday tango. Then, a stream of Firehouse Tangueros cut in, dancing to three great tangos.
For the grand finale, a tiny cricket caused the birthday girl to shreek in horror. Steve saved the damsel in distress by scooping the offending creature up in his bare hands and unceremoniously dumping him out the door.
The cortinas, of course, were Terri's favorite, Tony Bennett.
I (Sue) brought a delicious cake with Terri's beautiful picture.
Terri has been a part of the Firehouse family since our first days at Paramus Firehouse # 4, and we look forward to many more birthday
celebrations with her.
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.
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 Last week, I played cortinas for
Terri's favorite singer, Tony Bennett. Next week, it will be Fats Domino.
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 Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about the special qualities I believe every Tango student needs in order to become a skilled social Tango dancer. Just as a reminder, here’s our list:
1. Commitment
2. Patience
3. Perseverance
4. Humility 5. A good sense of humor 6. A good
teacher 7. Money 8. Natural ability To date, we’ve discussed commitment and patience. Today, we’re going to focus on a very important quality, which I think is critical to success: i.e., perseverance.
Generally
speaking, the process of learning a highly complex series of interconnected skills which comprise Tango, can at first be quite daunting. Right from the beginning of the process — developing conscious individual balance, moving from one place to another by oneself, attempting to move and come into balance in concert with a partner by assuming two distinct interdependent roles; i.e., leading and following — these can be major challenges even for dancers with extensive professional training
and experience, not to mention people who are more or less starting from scratch.
As teachers, most of us try our best to avoid overwhelming our students — by serving up the fundamentals of Tango in very small, somewhat easier to digest elements. Sooner or later, however, our students come to realize that they’re in for a seriously difficult journey, when they elect to continue down the path to success
in learning Tango.
For this reason, lots of people — particularly leaders — eventually decide to quit.
In my own case, I absolutely threw in the towel on many different occasions. “I’m just too old to ever really become any good at Tango. I should have started, when I was much, much younger.” “How can I
understand Tango, when I wasn’t born in Buenos Aires.” “Tango is completely alien to everything else I’ve ever learned about social dance.” “Life is too short for this.”
Those have been a few of my personal reasons for walking out the door on Tango, and heading for hills. Why I kept on going, why I’m continuing to discover Tango today, why I’m dancing Tango today, why I’m teaching Tango today —
sometimes I really don’t know. But something inside me kept saying, “persevere.” And so I did.
I feel truly happy that I didn’t give up on my own Tango learning process. Even now, I sometimes become frustrated with Tango, depressed, disillusioned, hopeless — you name it. But at the same time I find myself feeling exhilarated, euphoric, delighted, and optimistic.
All because I kept on going. Because I persevered.
Do you remember John Mitchell’s famous quote: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going?” Do you recall Nike’s advertising slogan: “Just do it?” By now, you know that learning Tango is definitely tough.
So? Anything worth having is worth fighting for. And, believe me, when you finally look at yourself in the mirror, and say, “Now, I can dance Tango,” you’re going to be very, very pleased with yourself, and your signature accomplishment.
Make it happen. Persevere.
Downloads, downloads, downloads!
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Now, you can download Fran and Pat’s exclusive Tango Workshop Video Collection to your computer or handheld device.
If you’ve ever attended one of our Tango Workshops, you know just how much fun they are,
how much solid information they offer, and how important each one can be to your progress as a social Tango dancer!
· Starting now, you can access any technique, any figure from any or all of these great Workshops anytime, anywhere – all at a single click.
· You can call up your favorite Tango moves whenever and wherever you want to see them.
· All you have to do is to download Fran and Pat’s Workshop Videos to you PC or handheld device, and you’re good to go.
Check out our Web site to
find out more about our exclusive Tango Workshop Video Collection. It’s quick; it’s easy; it’s priceless!
Download Now: www.franchesleigh.com/videos QUESTIONS? Send Fran an email https://www.franchesleigh.com/contact/
Save the Date!
Our next Tango Workshop is on October 21st!
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You’re going to want set aside this date! That's when Fran and Pat invite you to join us for our next information-packed, fun-filled Workshop:
Mastering the Crossed System
12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Pearl Studios, New York City
We'll be sending out more information very soon. I know, I know, you I wish it were today; but just be a little patient. Before you know it, October 21st will be here.
Our cancelation policy - We STILL rarely cancel
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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.
Once a year, the Knights have a Thursday night fundraiser at the hall, and we move our milonga to the Maywood Inn. Thanks to everyone who supported us by coming to the restauraht and
purchasing food and drinks. Firehouse folks are truly the best.
The folks below brought food and wine this week -
- Barbara Lombardi - Popcorn
- Eva Roth - Stuffed Meatloaf with Saffron Rice
- Ingrid Jacob - Poppy-seed Cake
And these people brought wine
- Barbara Lombardi
- George
Ngo
- Fred Meyer
- Mary Pagano
- Bill Auer
- Rifky Mackeen
- Rudy
- Francis & Marie
- Eduardo Campos
Simply Social Dancing September and October |
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