New look blog

Due to some some annoying limitations I have decide to move content onto my absolutely new Tango Blog which you can get to by clicking on this link

Have you ever danced with somebody …

Have you ever known that feeling, ooh that special feeling, when that somebody dances with you?

Well my friends, I can say that I have danced with some good, some great and even some very special people this year. At the beginning of the year I was still fairly Tango shy, not really knowing about the use of ‘cabeceo’ and some of the other Tango etiquette, but gradually started absorbing more and more Tango elements until it all simply became part of the regular routine. Now I relish that unmistakable look of someone, that someone who waits for an invitation, and even though the two of you may not as yet have had the pleasure of the dance, you already behold each other in admiration, knowing all too well that you are part of the Tango scene and that you will most likely embrace each other like you have known each other for an eternity … chances are, you will have the most wonderful dance. That my friends, that is what this year has brought me and I can truly say that I could not have wished for anything better. In actual fact, this year has brought me much more than I could ever have hoped for and I thank the heavens above, for I have been blessed.

Indeed, what a wonderful year it has been! I have lots of great memories that will stay with me forever … discovering Tango has been a revelation and I, like so many others, praise the dance, for it has enriched my life and made me a far happier person. It is true that 2011 has had its ups and downs, but it most certainly was a year to remember, making some really special friends along the way and most importantly discovering that life is beautiful!!

My friends, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and many more to come! Live life and prosper!!

How many Tango Xmas parties?

Way too many if you ask me … for some reason every Tango Milonga in London seemed to have their Xmas bash on a different date this year and I have been to a fair share of them. Some making quite an effort to get us into the spirit of things, but for me the highlight of the season was earlier in the month at Corrientes. This year they joint forces with one of London’s most favourite Tango couple, who gave a class beforehand and a memorable performance during the evening. Soon to be mum Kim and David were as always ever so graceful and a real pleasure to watch. This performance has got to rate amongst their best ever and is one I will remember for a years to come.

If you didn’t know already, Corrientes is one of London’s most popular Tango social clubs happening fortnightly in Chalk Farm. It goes without saying that it is always busy there, so with all the extra travelling supporters from Kim and David’s fan club turning up as well, the place felt slightly over crowded, but the main thing was that everyone had an absolute fabulous time and it was definitely a night to remember. Well done to everyone who made the night so special and congratulations to Kim, David and their little one.

Think you have good Tango floorcraft?

… well take a look at this, enjoy and perhaps think again ; )

Tango equality

I recently read a Facebook posting advertising for Tango workshops with a popular Argentinian Tango couple and it said “Take 2 workshops and the third is for free (for men only)”. It goes without saying that it wasn’t very long before someone  with sense asked why only men get a discount on the workshops, which was followed by comments trying to justify their reasoning, “ For men it’s more difficult to take lessons. This promotion is for their motivation” and “Men need more lessons and actually take many more of them. During a weekend of workshops, you’ll see the same men doing the workshops with different women. Tango is very expensive for men.” Well excuse me for caring to disagree,  but I think I need to set the record straight here.

To be a good follower is just as difficult, if not more so, than being a good leader and requires as much Tango practise over the years. To say that men need more lessons/workshops simply is not true and anyone claiming so is mislead.

One of the reasons we men probably find it more difficult to learn Tango is due to the lack of good followers taking part in lessons/workshops and perhaps because we do not really understand what Tango is really all about in the early stages. Without a good follower the leader is not able to express himself in the way he would like and the two will undoubtably struggle to capture the spirit of Tango. As the saying goes “it takes two to Tango”, and the emphasis if you have not noticed is on equality.

Making Tango workshops less appealing for women to attend is completely the wrong approach, full stop! Charging them more than the men is criminal!! For heavens sake, I wish people would sort out these ridiculous policies once and for all.

I for one refuse to accept these types of discounts and challenge any gentleman to do the same. Shame on all you others!

November, November, what a month to remember!

Ach, what a month it’s been! From being broken in to and having my Laptop taken and having a tough time at work to some interesting Tango workshops & Milongas and the visit by my dearest friend over the recent weekend (thank you for the wonderful time : ) … November certainly brought its fair share of exciting things, some of which I will now try to share with you from the comfort of my home and with the use of my all new singing and dancing Laptop : )

Right at the end of October and during November London as usual had its fair share of visiting guest teachers who held lessons and workshops at the usual and not so usual places. Most notably, we had the wonderful Barbara Wainnright & Mario De Camillis (2011 Metropolitan Champions) and the ever so graceful Amanda and Adrian Costa and even a passing visit by Pablo Veron, each bringing different elements of Tango for us to drool over. I do admire Amanda and Adrian for their elegant Tango and Pablo Veron for his centrifugal and contra Tango movements, but I simply loved watching Barbara and Mario who struck the right balance of elegance and technique in their dancing and even managed a theatrical performance in one of their demonstrations. If you haven’t managed to catch them this time around do try to come see them the next time they are in town, I highly recommend them!

November also featured the London Tango Marathon and 6th International Tango Festival, neither of which I attended, although I did go to the Tango Marathon after party Milonga de la Luna at the Glasshouse on Camden Lock. I completely ignored the 6th International Tango Festival because of the agenda which was crammed with demonstrations and breaks and hardly any dancing, not to mention the astronomic prices! Why? Judging by the attendance in the usual  Milongas over the same weekend I really wonder who actually went to the festival. Hmm, I don’t know of anyone, but perhaps someone will fill us in about what took place, if anyone cares to listen.

Anyway, at the Milonga de la Luna after party the atmosphere wasn’t quite right either, but I suppose this was probably due to the fact that most people were quite worn out by a weekend crammed full of non stop dancing : ) Pablo Veron also turned up and most people were watching what he got up to. However, I simply couldn’t take my eyes of a local lad (I say local because I am used to seeing him at different Milongas for the past year or so),  who for some reason altered his usual distinctive dancing style  ever so slightly to be more accommodating. His dancing on the night was simply mesmerizing and obviously left all his partners in a trance throughout. I don’t know exactly if the change away from his previous embrace, which was more awkward due to the high hand, was the main reason for this stunning performance (I say performance, because it might as well have been) or if there are other factors unknown to me at play here, but all I can say is that this is the first time I truly noticed the finer details of  his dancing and it was astounding. There was Pablo Veron dancing with other teachers grabbing all the attention, while all along in another corner of the Milonga something amazing was taking place, real Tango in all its splendour. The connection, embrace, feeling, passion, musicality, it was all there and I was truly inspired by it! I saw the smiles on all the ladies that had the pleasure to dance with the lad on the night and I am sure they went home truly happy and fulfilled.

I now know what I want to get from Tango and the image of the local lad dancing on the floor alongside the great Pablo Veron, hardly noticed by the crowd, will stay with me forever. Dancing great Tango is not about being noticed and showing everyone what you can do, it’s about two people dancing together in harmony, something I aspire to achieve. There is a lesson here for all and it gives me great confidence and comfort to know that we all have the potential to dance great Tango in our lifetime, even though we may not be quite as gifted as some of these amazing dancers from BsAs : )

What a nice end to another Tango week!

Ach, this week was another busy Tango week for me and it feels as though I danced sooo much this week that I am simply amazed that my feet have managed to put up with it all. Yes, as always there were some nice highs and even some lows, but I’ve got to say it finished on a real high note for me.

I probably mentioned in several other posts that I tend to look for dance partners who are a good match for me, meaning more or less the same level as me, since  dancing with someone far more experienced doesn’t usually work that well, at least not for me. So when a teacher who I know fairly well, and who I  happen to admire a great deal, asks me for a dance, what was I to say?

We danced two pleasant Milongas and at the end the teacher turned towards me, gave me a pleasant look and thanked me for the dances, saying how enjoyable it was. Now this may seem like the standard comment coming from a teacher, but knowing full well how great the teacher is at dancing Milonga, having spent countless times watching from the sidelines, and the unmistakable sincerity in the manner in which the complement was presented, simply made my day.

How do you know all the hard work you are putting in is finally paying off? Well, its special moments like these that make it all worth while and remind us of why we fell in love with Tango in the first place.