TWELVE

Music of The Week

"A pan y agua"

Orchestra: Angel D'Agostino
Singer: Angel Vargas
Year Recorded: 1945

Tango Video of The Week

This lovely young couple are a delight to watch. Here, Roxana Suarez and Sebastian Achaval dance in the famous milonga "Sunderland Club"

"Cafe Dominguez"
Orchestra: Angel D'Agostino
Singer/Narrator: Julian Centeya
Year Recorded: 1955

Blog Post of The Week

Tango Cherie speaks about foreigners who go to Buenos Aires for Tango but do not expose themselves to the culture that makes Tango what it is.

Quote of The Week

"Tango is in the imperfections."

- mytangodiaries.blogspot.com

Etiquette of The Week

A TANDA  Although the codes are not strict here in North America, there is still an etiquette involved when it comes to dancing a tanda. A tanda is a collection of either 4 Tangos, 3 Vals, or 3 Milongas. When you get up to dance for a tanda, you are committing yourself to your partner for the duration of the tanda. You should dance together until the end of the tanda unless some of the following were to occur: You or your partner get hurt, your partner is hurting you, or your partner is being rude/disrespectful. In the last two situations, you would then say, "Thank you", to signify you are finished dancing and return to your seat. Of course, if the situation is bad enough, you wouldn't even say thank you :)

ELEVEN

Music of The Week

"El jardin del amor"

Orchestra: Francisco Canaro
Singer: Ada Falcon
Year Recorded: 1932

Tango Video of The Week

In this video, the milongueros Beto Ayala and Amanda Lucero are dancing to a vals (i.e., waltz).

"Cortando camino"
Orchestra: Carlos Di Sarli
Singer: Roberto Rufino
Year Recorded: 1941

Blog Post of The Week

In TangoMalaysia.com there is a wonderful article written by the milonguero Cacho Dante. In it, he speaks about the Tango of the past and where it is heading today.

Quote of The Week

"The important aspect of tango is 'the connection'. It is as a metaphor for life: connecting with those friends, connecting you with yourself and connecting to life itself. Tango involves opportunities, surprises, challenges, disappointments, delights and hopes."

- stephentwist.blogspot.com

Etiquette of The Week

SHOW TANGO  Argentine tango is not similar, in any way, shape or form, to "Dancing with the Stars" or "So You Think You Can Dance". Both men and women should respect the dance, the culture, their partner, and other dancers on the floor by dancing Tango in a way that does not hurt yourself, your partner, or others. This means no high flying legs, dramatic dips, or spins.

TEN

Music of The Week

"Felicia"

Orchestra:Edgardo Donato
Instrumental
Year Recorded: 1929

Tango Video of The Week

El Pibe Avellaneda and Geraldine Rojas dance at the milonga “Porteno y Bailarin” in what was not even officially a performance – nor were they regular dance partners.  They are dancing to:

"El adios"
Orchestra: Edgardo Donato
Singer: Horacio Lagos
Year Recorded: 1938

Blog Post of The Week

In Twists & Tango: A Beginner's Journey Pantina talks about the aspects that make a tanguera a  mature dancer.

Quote of The Week

"When you're a beginner, you don't recognize good dancing. You're mesmerized by fancy and glitzy figures  and think 'I want to be able to do that' so you're drawn to that 'teacher'."

- Michael (Washington, DC)

Etiquette of The Week

COMPLIMENTS  Both men and women should take the time to compliment their partner when they are enjoying the dancing (at a minimum). There are many compliments that can be said and can include such things as having a comfortable embrace, dancing musically, leading/following well, looking good (done respectfully), wearing nice shoes, etc.  If all else fails, say, "Thank you" at the end of the tanda.

NINE

Music of The Week

"El abrojito"

Orchestra: Osvaldo Pugliese
Singer: Alberto Moran
Year Recorded: 1945

Tango Video of The Week

In this video, milongueros Pocho and Nelly are dancing to:

"N.N."
Orchestra: Osvaldo Pugliese
Instrumental
Year Recorded: 1947

Blog Post of The Week

Tango on My Mind talks about giving all you've got to your Tango - dance with confidence, without hesitation, and with gusto.

Quote of The Week

"To dance well, we must listen well, and if we're talking, then we're at most, only half listening. The music deserves more than that - or why dance?"

- mytangodiaries.blogspot.com

Etiquette of The Week

TALKING WHILE DANCING Men, you already have enough things to think about while dancing Tango such as leading, floor navigation, and taking care of the woman you are dancing with. This means you do not have the capacity to add talking to the list. Women, your role is to follow and give yourself to the man. Talking will make this task all but impossible. Aside from these points, the essence of Tango is found in the music. If you are talking over the music, you are ignoring the main component of the dance.

EIGHT

Music of The Week

"Gallo ciego"

Orchestra: Ricardo Tanturi
Instrumental
Year Recorded: 1938
Tango Video of The Week

Tango Video of The Week

In order to understand the importance of floorcraft and navigation, this video shows what a typical dancefloor can look like in the milongas of Buenos Aires. The full song that is played is: 

"Al compas del tango"
Orchestra: Ricardo Tanturi
Singer: Alberto Castillo
Year Recorded: 1942

Blog Post of The Week

You may or may not have heard the name Tim Ferriss. He has, in the past, made a mockery of Tango and you can read Mari's thoughts on him at My Tango Diaries.

Quote of The Week

"The tango can be debated, and we have debated over it, but it still encloses, as does all that which is truthful, a secret."

 

-Jorge Luis Borges

Etiquette of The Week

TEACHING ON THE DANCEFLOOR Do NOT do it! Men, when you are at a milonga, do not attempt to teach the follower a new move or how to do a step. If the follower does not follow your step, it is either too dificult for the woman or you are leading it incorrectly. The only carefully put feedback that may be appropriate at a milonga is when you are being hurt. Men can gently ask the follower to not lean or hang on them and women can ask men to not hold them so tightly or bare down/squeeze inwards with their left arm.