Firehouse Tango Live Music Next Thursday, January 17, 2013

Published: Fri, 01/11/13

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January 10, 2013 Newsletter
Live Music with Raul Jaurena and Mauricio Najt
next Thursday January 17
Don't miss this awesome evening of live music by bandoneon maestro, Raul Jaurena http://www.rauljaurena.com/biography.html with Mauricio Najt on piano. The schedule for the evening is:

7:00 - 8:00 Basic lesson with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman
8:00 - 9:00 Intermediate lesson with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman
9:00 - 9:30 Buffet open and recorded music by DJ Joe
9:30 - 11:30 Dancing to live music with Raul Jaurena and Maurizio Najt. Recorded music by DJ Joe during breaks
11:30-12:00 Recorded music by DJ Joe

The cost is $20. As always, admission includes dinner, lessons, dancing and socializing with some of the nicest folks around.
Estelle's birthday
What a wonderful time we had celebrating our dear friend, Estelle's, birthday!  Surely, Bert was looking down at us and enjoying every single minute. 

Because we want Estelle at Firehouse often and because she doesn't drive, some of us got together and gave her five taxi rides.  We did that as a gift to ourselves, since we treasure her company.

Thanks so much to Estelle's friend (and now our friend as well) Sharon, who drove her this week.

Judy and John Koski brought the incredibly delicious napoleon cake.
Celebrations
Thursday, January 27 - Rose Whitehill

Rose is a great dancer and lovely lady who has been a Firehouse fan since our Firehouse # 4 days.  She has also been to Buenos Aires with us seven times.  We are thrilled to be able to celebrate her birthday.  As for the birthday dance, I'm sure that the Firehouse Tangueros will keep cutting in as long as we would let them.


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
Terri Lopez - Our Resident Author is Interviewed
Pick up a flyer at our front desk to order Terri Lopez' new book about coming of age in Spanish Harlem in the 40's and 50's. It's also available on Amazon. com. Here's the link:

The Dark Side of Sunshine (9781434987747): H. Terri Lopez: Books

***Note from Sue - I was the first one to order it, read it, and enjoy it. It's a great read!

Author's Interview

Readers' Corner
We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.com



From Rose Whitehill
Dear Sue,
just want to let you know that the Puffin Cultural Center, Teaneck, is having a tango music concert this Sunday at 4 pm.  Dancers are encouraged to come.


Congratulations on the start of our tenth anniversary

From Monica Paz (our friend and tango teacher from Buenos Aires)
Dear Sue,
 CONGRATULATIONS!!!! To you and all Firehouse Tango's people who have made possible this 10 years!!!!
And CONGRATULATIONS to Terri for her book!
All the best for the coming achievements!
Huge and warm hug,
Monica

From Jeanette Winton (Sue's daughter)
You are too cute!
Congratulations on your 10th year!
xoxo JW


Tango Tip of the week
Fran Chesleigh has been writing weekly Tango Tips for Firehouse since 2006. You'll find them all archived on our website at www.firehousetango.com under Tango Tips.


Hi everybody, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Over the past several weeks, we've discussed specific problems with both lead and follow in the three basic linear movements; i.e., forward steps, backward steps, and steps to the side. Today, I'm going to address difficulties which often arise in the weight change in place.

 

We could state the problem from either side of the partnership. We could call it:

 

Leader's Problem #4:

 

Every time he leads me in a sideward movement, I don't know whether he's asking for a weight change in place or a side step - I have to guess which one it is.

 

On the other hand, we could call it:

 

Follower's Problem #3:

 

Every time I invite a weight change in place she takes a step to the side, and often when I ask for a side step she makes a weight change in place.

 

These are really both manifestations of the same problem. On the one hand, the leader may be indicating what he wants with a confusing lead, forcing the follower to either stand still or to guess what she thinks he may want. On the other hand, the leader may be providing the right lead, but the follower is not reading it appropriately, and therefore is trying to read his mind instead.

 

Let's think back and remember what the actual lead is for a weight change in place:

 

The leader shifts his weight from one balance axis to the other (without taking a step to the side). In making this shift of weight, his upper body moves laterally. This lateral movement invites the follower to shift her own weight in place in order to stay with the leader. Because the leader does not lower his body in advance of the lateral movement of his upper body, he gives no indication of travel - therefore the follower knows that he has asked for a weight change in place rather than a step to the side.

 

Notice that there is a pronounced difference between the lead for a weight change in place and a step to the side. A skilled leader knows that there is no lowering in the lead for a weight change in place, but a definite lowering in the lead for a side step. A skilled follower also know this, too, and is very sensitive to the difference in reading the lead.

 

When communication problems with these two steps arise, it is almost always because one or both partners are not skilled in the lead/follow collaboration. Either they haven't had the right instruction, haven't been dancing long enough, or haven't recognized the importance of precise lead/follow concentration in their dancing.

 

The bottom line here is that if you learn correctly and practice your lead/follow skills, both you and your partner will get very good at it over time. If you don't, you won't. Which do you choose?
Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan
For Firehouse dancers who might enjoy a day in the Big Apple on Saturdays, Fran teaches from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every week. He offers a beginner class in Milonga & Argentine Waltz at 11:00 a.m. as well as an intermediate class in Tango at noon. From 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Fran and Pat host a special beginner/intermediate practice for bringing your skills up to speed. The cost for the practice is $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) Fran and Pat are always on hand to answer any questions you may have about your dancing, and to help you with figures you're working on. If you want to take Fran's classes, call Dance Manhattan at 212-807-0802 to register. For the practice, all you have to do is arrive with $10 and your dance shoes in hand.

See you every Saturday for a full day of Tango!
Firehouse Tango hot line - We 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 phone 201-825-1570. You can also reach us on our cell phone 201-826-6602 (Sue) and 201-913-8504 (Joe). Feel free to leave a message on any of these lines. We cancel only when absolutely necessary (only about six seven 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.
Lost and Found
This week, we have a pair of men's shoes and a lady's black sweater.  If you lost something, we probably have it. We have a black ladies' scarf. There are also various items of clothing and jewelry in the closet. Ask Tibor at the front desk.
A final thank you
The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.

  • Terri Lopez 
  • Susan Berardini
  • Tsipoyra Sartan 
  • Stephen Maisch 
  • steve turi 
  • Jesse Barton 
  • Mary Epiphan 
  • Norma Arias
  • Eva Roth
  • Maro D.
A reminder that Firehouse Tango does not supply wine - Your fellow tangueros bring it. Therefore, if you drink it, please make sure to bring a bottle every so often.

The folks below brought food and wine this week -

  • Judy and John Koski - Napoleon birthday cake
  • Eva Roth - Fish with Yellow Rice
  • Mary Pagano - Pretzels & Pretzel Bits
  • Bonny - Guacamole & Chips
  • Maro Dimitrakopovlos - Pizza
  • Diane Langmuir - Banana, Pineapple Muffins
And these people brought wine
  • Michael Yinglings
  • George Ngo
  • Bill Krukovsky
  • Edna Negron
  • Dan & Georgina
  • Bob Brillo
  • Jack Messing
  • Susan Berardini
  • Marta Bautis
  • Tonia Shahsovar
  • Francis & Marie
  • Terri Lopez 
  • Norma Arias
  • Walter Monteblanco
Tango in New Jersey - Milongas