What’s This Tango Team Thing?

So Walt, just what IS this Tango team thing, anyway?

At one point in the early 90’s (remember those?), I had at times three dance teams going at the same time. Lucky me! One, my Western partner team, Country Motion, I had for almost 10 years. Another, my solo style team, the Rockin’ Country Ladies, I coached for a few years. And sprinkled in with those was an award winning Swing team, AND…a one shot CANCAN dance team! My partner team and ladies solo team both won world championship titles in their respective categories, and my swing team won me a few bucks, and went on to dance the routine at the Dallas Dance, one of the biggest swing events in the country!

Now it’s been more than 10 years, and I got an itch. I don’t do the C&W circuit anymore. I don’t get to spend nearly enough time on my Swing as I would like. So there’s just one thing left, why not a Tango team. Hey, it could happen, and…I’m up for the challenge.

So, here’s a short Q&A that I hope will give you a better picture of what I have in mind:

Q: How good a dancer do I have to be to dance on the team?

A: OK, this is VERY important! Dancers of ANY level, even non dancers, are invited to apply for a team position. Again, ANY level. What I am looking for are people who really want to learn to dance, and want to learn Tango. Of course experienced dancers will help train the new dancers, and, be some of the first to perform new material as it becomes available.

Q: Perform?

A: You bet! Why even bother if we’re not going to get out there and show off a bit. But, this will not be a competition team, like my other teams, as they generally don’t have Tango contest. There are some events that have cabaret divisions, where dancers and groups can compete, but I’m not looking to do that type of thing at this time. So, dancing at things like milongas, parties, local events like Mayfest or Oktoberfest, and ideas that team members bring in for consideration, will be our main goal.

Q: Why would I want to do something like this?

A: In short – A ton of dance training for a small amount of money, and a medium amount of time! Well, and hopefully a few other reasons that mean something to you.

Q: Money? Time?

A: There will be a small monthly dues required to be a team member. At this time it will be less than $40 a month. This is basically a coaching, or class fee. Since this team will be much more casual than a competition team, we will start out with a single two to three hour practice session once a week. This breaks down to about $5 a hour. Why would I do all this work for around five bucks an hour? One of the main reasons for me to have a team is to help me promote my classes and dance events in the future. So while I am totally committed to your dancing, I hope that the quality and value of this training is something you will want tell others about, and that will help me do the things I want to do.

Q: Will there be other expenses?

A: Yes, but they will be kept to a minimum. The main expense will be team outfits. But we are going to keep things simple to start. Just casual cloths like dresses, slacks, shirt, vest, and…a fedora, maybe for everyone Of course shoes tend to get a little tricky but that will be handled if, and when, a team actually comes together.

Q: I’m in, how do I sign up?

A: Just come to the introductory meetings, if possible, on 2/16 and/or 2/23 for all the details. Once the team starts officially on 3/2, just come to a practice and we can check each other out, fill out an application for team consideration, and we will let you know.

So, a quick Q&A. I hope these questions will entice you to at least come to one or both introductory meetings. Please check out the dance team page on this blog for up to date info and team news.

Oh, there’s just one more thing. Did I forget to mention FUN? Yes, being on a dedicated dance team can be a hell of a lot of work. But we’re gonna have a whole lot fun along the way! It’s one of my requirements. Casual outings, parties, new friends, dance partners, things to see, and places to go. And of course, it’s TANGO!

The pictures below were taken around eighteen years ago. It’s Country Motion, my first team that I coached. I think you can see in their faces the fun and excitement we were having at the time, (why, yes, it is a pajama party) Just for those that still aren’t convinced

Until next time my friends

Walt

2010 – A Dance Odyssey

Greetings and salutations one and all!

Yes yes I know, it’s been forever since my last post. Well I guess the last thing my readers need (all three of you, lol) is more emails and another thing to read during the holidays. So, I put this update off for just a bit, just to let the snow settle. But with that point made, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

So where exactly were you at midnight 2000? First let me say I’m not much good at remembering those kinds of moments in my life (insert psychoanalysis here). I remember many things that I’ve done, but not exactly when I did them. But 2000 was different. I know precisely where I was and what I was doing just after 12:00 AM that night. I was standing with my old Army buddy right in the middle of 11th street, about 100 yards east of Lewis. Cold, clear, calm, quite, and not a car within a half mile. Nope, not drunk, not lost, or broke down, or trying to set off some fireworks. Just standing there, because we could. At that location used to be a place we called Kicks. You know, get your kicks on route 66. It was a small dance studio, wood floor, a living area, and enough space to hold 40 – 50 people on a good night. And this was a good night. It was the turn of the millennium, century, and year. It was also the coming of a new year celebrated with dance. So you see, not to weird, right? As it turns out, just a touch after midnight was the perfect time to cool off, right in the middle of 11th street, just 100 yards east of Lewis, with no cars to get in the way, just because we could.

Flash forward, 2010. Really? It’s been ten years? Another decade of change, breakdowns, and breakthroughs, and my one constant, dance. You know, I don’t remember what I did before I started dancing. I think about that sometimes. What did I do for fun before dance? What if I had never learned to dance? ARRGGHH, perish the thought! Let’s see, what else uses a hard wood surface? Hmm..I’m too short for basketball. Bowling lanes are way too narrow for my skill level, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shuffleboard table in real life. So my life is divided into Walt BD (before dance) and Walt SD (since dance). And now, Walt ST (since Tango).

2010. The start of a new year. Nope, no resolutions, no halfhearted promises that I know I won’t keep, no THIS TIME IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT! lol. So what makes me want to dance the night away each new year. Why look forward to spending new year’s eve with friends, acquaintances, and strangers? What would make one million people fill Time’s Square to watch the big ball drop? Resolutions? Promises? More, better, and different? I don’t think so. If I had to use just one word, it would be, possibility.

That’s what I feel each new year, that there is the possibility of change, discovery, and excitement in the coming year. Possibility is the keystone of the dance odyssey. The dictionary defines odyssey something like this: a long series of wanderings or adventures, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc. I like it. Not all good, nor bad. Not a simple direct path to anywhere in particular. No need for a specific pace or place to arrive. My dance odyssey has been going on for many years. There have been wanderings, to be sure. Small detours that lead to a new dance, step, or partner. And I’ve had a satisfying share of adventures. Unexpected wins, and losses, in competition. Travels to strange lands (Portland, OR), jk. And one of my biggest adventures, being the producer and director of a national level dance event. And yes, lots of notable experiences, but fortunately, very few hardships.

So what about your dance odyssey. Wanderings and adventure? Notable experiences? A lifetime of dancing? I sincerely hope so. Simply put, possibility is, more than all other reasons combined, why I love to teach dancing. If I can bring someone even a small bit of the fun, excitement, and adventure that dance has given me, then maybe I’ve done a pretty good job as a teacher. By the way, if this is an adventure that sounds good to you, it’s really easy to join the dance odyssey. No prior experience, special equipment, clothing, or knowledge is needed to start. All the dance odyssey requires is just show up! Pick a class/dance: Country, Ballroom, Tap, Belly, Swing, Tango, and your dance teacher, friend, or family will help you with the rest.

So my job, our job, this year, is to stay open to possibility, and even more importantly, to create the possibility of the dance odyssey! Continue to learn. Ask someone new to dance every time you go out. Invite your friends to join in the odyssey. Travel to new places for no other reason than to dance. And take your time, there’s no rush, no place that we have to get to. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. Hmm..20 years. My dance odyssey passed that mark a long time ago. But I’m up for the possibility of many more years to come

So here’s a toast to creating a great 2010, together, on a dance floor in a far off exotic land, take care, and save me a dance.

Walt

Chas and Gaia Gale

Greetings All

Question: Where can you find high speed volcadas, magic step, partial crosses, cross in one, Tango, Vals, Milonga, and more?

Answer: In Tulsa, of course!

At least over the weekend of November 20 – 22 that is. That’s when Chas and Gaia Gale of Denver, soon to be New York, was in Tulsa to lead a three day Tango workshop.

Chas and Gaia Strike a Pose

Friday’s evening special three hour class on technique for all was attended by around 40 people, of all levels. This class focused on core control and how to use it in your dancing. While the concepts were specifically for the Tango dancer, the ideas could be applied in most any social dance form, with minor adjustments. Core, or what I like to call the center (expanding center, to be more precise) and connection, when properly learned and applied will take you a long way in your dancing. After a short lecture the class shifted to a guided practica where Chas and Gaia moved from student to student to answer questions and offer any help that might be needed.

Saturday and Sunday the workshops concentrated on Tango, Vals, and Milonga. We spent some time in each of the six workshops working with the basic rhythms of each dance. This was followed by an examination of how to alter the rhythm to create different effects and ways to express yourself with these different dances. Finally, the rhythms were added to some subtle but dynamic content that was fun and different enough to be challenging.

Saturday night a Milonga was held at Studio Z (4516 S Peoria) which opened their doors after hours as our host for a second time. Some great home made hummus was discovered in the back room, and was quickly dispatched along with bread sticks and a party tray supplied by our friends at More Than Noodles (9635 Riverside Pkwy).

Of course Gaia brought a nice selection of Comme il Faut, Gretaflora and Delie woman’s (and some men’s) dance shoes to sell.

Teaching, learning, sharing, practicing, dancing, and shopping. Well, all that adds up to a great weekend.

Take Care

W

Celebrate Freedom Hangar Dance

You just never know where dancing will take you. I’ve danced on AstroTurf (ack!), in churches, clubs, studios and houses. On dirt, concrete, wood, grass, and steel (the best floor I’ve ever danced on in my life was stainless steel, in Tallahassee, Fl). So one might think that dancing in a airplane hanger might be a first, but, au contraire! When I was coaching one of my many dance teams years ago we used to sometimes practice in a hanger at the Tulsa airport. But, that did not, in any way, diminish my enjoyment of the 8th annual Celebrate Freedom Hanger Dance.

So picture this: It’s Saturday, Nov. 7th, 2009, as you pull into the parking lot of the Tulsa Technology Center, Hanger 2, near Jone’s airport. You cross the parking lot to enter the outer hall of the hanger, get your armband, and take the short walk to the hanger entrance. Then, as you pass through the door, it’s as if Mr. Peabody and Sherman set the WABAC controls to the 1940’s, and away you go.

Back to the 40's

On this Saturday night some 400 – 500 people arrived to take part in this fund raiser for the Commemorative Air Force. The CAF is, in their own words:

The purposes of the CAF are patriotic, educational, and civic. Our primary mission is preserving history and teaching the lessons from the past to protect the future and inspire young people of today. We accomplish that by restoring, flying, and maintaining the military aircraft that flew and fought in World War II and beyond. We are devoted to honoring our heritage and the veterans that made it possible.

P 51 Mustang

The hanger dance helps raise funds to support their mission, and consist of the event pass, an optional dinner, silent auction, and vendors.

The Silent Auction

Dog tags for Sale

But of course there must be something else. I mean, why have an 18 piece big band available. Well, that’s easy, SWING TIME!

Warming Up the Deck

Lindy in the House

Wow, Those Navy Guys and Gals Sure Can Dance!

But what if you don’t know the first thing about Swing? Well the mission of teaching the new recruits some fancy footwork fell to Lindy dancers Greg and Rita Robbins (not bad at Tango either). They were assisted by a group of fun and enthusiastic Lindy dancers that mixed in with the class and helped all the guest have a great time.

Greg and Rita Teaching the New Recruits Swing

The music was provided by the Sounds of Music Orchestra. They played three great sets of 40’s classics, with a little slow dance, Latin, and even a conga line thrown in for a good time.

The Sounds of Music

Greg and Rita Lead the Conga Line

Along with the band there were vocal performances and a special solo by Tulsa’s own Carl McGuire, dancer and owner of McGuire Music.

Kinda Like a USO Show, Eh?

Carl McGuire

The evening was filled with Swing dancing, picture taking, casual talk between veterans of the military, and a short remembrance to honor those we’ve lost.

The Honor Guard for Those No Longer With Us

It was great to see everyone dressed up in their 40’s outfits, uniforms, and hair styles. This touch really made the transformation from 2009 to the 1940’s perfect.

Hmm..2009 or 1945? You Make the Call

Is There a Nurse in the Hanger? Yep!

The night was perfect for this event. Cool, dry, with a slight breeze. Shortly after the activities started, the hanger doors were opened to let in the night air.

Too Much Swing? I Know the Feeling

Women in the Military

You know that credit card commercial that ends with the word priceless? Here’s the fomula: Dance, drink, food, music, friends. BTW, the hanger was a nice touch

Be Seeing You

W

PS: Be sure to check out the community page for info about a new Swing club in the Tulsa area.

Transformers

Happy Halloween!

When is a dance studio not a dance studio? Why, when it’s a hair studio, of course! And you thought only trucks transformed into other things, lol.

On Saturday night, October 24th, Suzanne Bloomfield and the stylists at Z Studio (4516 S Peoria) opened their doors after hours to host a benefit milonga for our friend April.

So how does one transform a hair salon into a dance hall? First, it helps to have a nice floor to dance on, and Z Studio has such a floor. Music? Yep, traditional, neo, and alternative styles were on tap for our enjoyment. Next you need a little more space. Lucky for us, the styling chairs were not bolted down and could be easily moved. This not only gave the 50 plus attendees room to dance, but also allowed for extra chairs to be added for the occasional break. And speaking of space, a small back room provided a place  for more chairs, and counter tops for the cheese, wine, cupcakes, fruit, and other goodies to get everyone through the complimentary class and four hours of dancing. But the best transformer trick was filling the multiple sinks with ice and stocking them with beer and other drinks. That’s one even Michael Bay missed!

Through the course of the evening we were treated to two nice Tango demos. First up Nonino and Calladita, performed a Tango waltz to an alternative style song, the Moody Blues Nights in White Satin. This was followed by a Tango demo by Mark and Jenny.

Adding to the festivities were free door prizes generously donated by Z Studio and others, and of course, the silent auction. With all of the donations and auctions, around $1000 was raised! As Mr T would say “I love it when a plan comes together”

According to Jenny, these are the folks that made this event happen: Suzanne Bloomfield and the stylists at Z Studio , Karenna and Mark of Casa Tango, Nonino and Calladita, Justin Williams and finally Fedora Dance. Thanks!

Optimus Prime: “Before time began, there was the Cube”.

And on that note, may the Tangopowers be with you!

W

Godzilla Fest

As some of you know, I’m a huge cult/bad/underground/scifi/exploitation/horror, etc, etc, etc,  film buff. At last count, and who’s counting, I have well over 1000 strange and wonderful samples of cinematic potpourri that makes most of my friends fidget in their seats just hearing the titles!

But that’s not important now. What is important is that yours truly was able to, with great effort and shear power of will, miss Godzilla Fest held Saturday, Oct. 3rd at the OU Schusterman Center!

And what, you may ask, could cause me to give up a seat to watch the Japanese version staring Big G? One word, Tango. But you already knew that.

Yes, that same Saturday, Tulsa had a visit from Brooke Burdett, long time citizen, or porteña, of Buenos Aires and Tango teacher. She is in Oklahoma, where she was born, to visit family. While she was here we managed to sneak her away from the family for a couple of two hour workshops, thanks to the efforts of Allan and Cathy Ambler.

Brooke Burdett

Brooke took us through a number of exercises and drills while working on the finer points of the walk, ochos, ocho cotado’s, and various ways to connect those movements into new combination. Brooke also spent some time adding adornos, also called an adornment, decoration, or  an embellishment, using the leg or foot, during a pattern.

Class is in Session

The classes were well attended, and it was fun to try new techniques with new partners.

And since this was the first Saturday of the month, it was also time for the monthly milonga at the VFW. This proved to be handy, because for folks like me who suffer from the occasional dose of CRS, it was an opportunity to try out the material learned in the workshops.

But the weekend didn’t stop there. On Sunday night, at the OU Schusterman Center, was Argentine Culture Nite. The event was sponsored by the OU Center for Studies in Democracy and Culture, and the OU-Tulsa Student Assoc. About 70 attendees were treated to a free Tango dance lesson, (by our very own Fred and Jessica Stowell), refreshments, dancing, and the highlight of the evening, live music by visiting musicians from Argentina, Hugo Rotela and Adolfo Fleishman, on guitar and piano. They played two sets, the first being Tangos, then later, contemporary pop tunes. I have to say though that the Learning Center Founders’ Hall was also a major highlight. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

What a Floor!

What a Roof, lol!

Fred and Jessica Hard at Work

A Room Within a Room

So That's Argentina's Flag...

Impressive Entrance

Our Visiting Musicians Hugo and Adolfo

Refreshment Time

Tango Time

BTW, this is also the location (4502 E 41st, across from McDonald’s south of Yale) for the Sunday OU Salsa practice usually held from 3:30 – 6 PM. Visitors are always welcome.

So, in conclusion, just let me say:

Oh no, they say he’s got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah

Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla”

Ja, mata ne

Walt

Meet in the Middle

Two words: Choco Taco…

Actually I’m not sure choco is a word, at least in English, but that didn’t stop about one hundred tangueros and tangueras from attending the 6th annual Meet in the Middle Tango festival!

This event was my first major dance outing in a few years and my first tango event, so this will not be a compare and contrast, but my observations and thoughts on this maravilloso event.

My friend and I were on the road Friday morning for the two hour plus drive to Mt Vernon, MO, about 25 miles east of Joplin, just off I-44. Mt Vernon is one of those small Missouri towns of about 4000 folks, or as event director Karen Whitesell says “Mt Vernon is a sleepy little town on the edge of the Ozark Mountains and the Western Prairie”.

In 1999 Karen purchased a two story brick building built about 1893 and has been restoring and upgrading the building for her personal needs and her stained glass business. She calls it Murray’s Vintage Venue, and a lovely old building it is.

Future Murray's, 1893

Murray's Vintage Venue circa 2003

Interestingly, at the time this building was being built, Tango was a new and evolving dance in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. It only took 110 years for the building and the dance to find each other for Karen’s first milonga, in 2000. My how time files.

Our host for the weekend was Karen Whitesell. Karen is a Tango dancer, stained glass artist, teacher, retailer, and of course, experienced in old building restoration.

Karen Whitesell

So we have a great venue, a wonderful host, and a weekend full of Tango. Sweet!

First, the workshops. There were 10 workshops spread-out from Friday through Sunday. The first class each day was a basics class lead by teachers James Smith and Mariallan Shadle from Memphis, TN. James has a nice quite way of presenting the Tango with good descriptions and lots of exercises that kept everyone moving. Additional tips and ideas came from Mariallan, who added important points for the lead and follow to enhance the students Tango experience. Mariallan was very gracious when I danced with her, putting up with my bad interpretation of open embrace with a smile.

Class in Session

James and Mariallan

As a dance teacher myself I’m always looking out for new and innovative techniques that I can steel, er, I mean borrow, and James is my latest victim. I’ll let the picture below do the talking. Let’s just say this is a great way to end a class!

A Little More to the Left, Please

The second workshop each day was taught by Charles Roques. Charles presented material that was just challenging enough so that a basic level dancer could learn something new and a more experienced dancer would be able to add a variation or two to their dancing. Charles also presented a nice exhibition Saturday night assisted by Shauna Smith, who was filling in on on Karen’s request.

Charles and Shauna

The third workshop each day was handled by MITM’s pros from Buenos Aires, Gustavo Benzecry Saba and Maria Olivera. This dynamic couple from BsAs had energy to burn! Within the first few minutes of each class we were walking out the rhythm’s that would be used for the combination’s to be taught in that workshop. This was followed by a breakdown of the material for the lead and follow, and then partnering up for practice.

Gustavo, Maria, and the MITM Gang

On Sunday they did an great class on Milonga Traspie. Traspie can be thought of as a triple step, usually done to medium to quick tempos. There was only one problem with this class: It followed dinner…a pizza dinner…a pizza dinner where I ate mucho pizza, and garlic bread, and salad. If attending this Milonga workshop didn’t prove my commitment to Tango, I don’t know what would!

Waiting for the Pizza!

Sunday night was also movie night, with a special showing of a Tango history documentary produced by Gustavo. It was great to see clips and interviews of some of Tango’s greats from the past, and by past I mean the 40’s and 50’s. Of course Gustavo and Maria did some beautiful exhibitions throughout the weekend, and proved to be very approachable, answering questions and dancing with as many as time would allow, they are what I would call, a class act.

Choco Taco…

So what to do with all these new moves and ideas? Two things, milongas, and practicas. A practica is a dance where people can practice their Tango, asking questions, stopping on the floor to work something out, and sharing ideas. A milonga is a formal Tango dance and excludes the kinds of things you do at a practica. MITM provided plenty of time for both, with the nightly milonga’s going as late as there were dancers, myself dragging back to the hotel by 2 AM each night.

Practica

Milonga

Saturday afternoon and evening we were treated to one of the great joys of Tango, dancing to a live band. The Tulsa Tango Quartet made it’s second appearance (after OKTango) and put on a top notch show. They played the old favorites and added some new material.

Tulsa Tango Quartet

Workshop, practicas, milongas all lead to…sore feet!! Needless to say if you could find time to rest the dogs, you’d better take advantage of it. Baby needs a new pair of shoes.

Feet Up, Bottoms Down...

OKC in da House

You Talkin' ta Me?

Choco Taco…

Gee Walt, all this fun is sure makin’ me hungry, what do you think, McDonald’s? Hmm…NOT! You see dear readers, Karen not only supplies the venue, workshops, dances, and other activities, but also all of the food! Brown bag lunch on Friday followed by a great catered dinner. Then brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a catered dinner Saturday night and a pizza buffet on Sunday. As if this was not enough, each night Karen was caught sneaking into the milonga’s with sheet cakes, or lemonade, or watermelon, or, well you get the idea.

Oh, did I mention the free ice-cream truck that stopped by Saturday and Sunday? Guess what I had…

Meet in the Middle, dollar for dollar, this event may be the best Tango deal in the country. I’ll look for you next year, save me a dance.

Walt

On My Way

Greetings Programs!

(Why yes, I am looking forward to the new TRON movie)

So, on my way to where? Meet in the Middle, of course! MITM is a small and intimate tango affair held in Mt Vernon, MO. over the weekend of September 18 – 20th. This will be my first trip to dance tango outside of the Tulsa area, actually outside of Oklahoma for that matter, and I’m ready to step on some toes, lol!

I spent many years judging, dancing, teaching, and competing at swing and western dance festivals, as well as a few ballroom events. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to any dance festival, as I used to have two bad hips, and I would sure like to capture at least a little of the old magic from those times.

So just what is the deal about dance festivals? Like most any activity, a dance festival is what you make it. Festivals can be moderate to very expensive to attend. You have to buy a one to three (or more) day pass. Then you have the travel expense. Add in food and any extras, and, well you can see how it all adds up.

So why, why go through all this trouble? In a word, people. I love the fun of classes and workshops, the dances, demos, exhibitions, vendors, and more. But what I really love is meeting all of the crazy, fun, obsessed, devoted, and, well by the end of the weekend, very tired like minded folks as consumed by dancing as I am.

I have meet people that hate going to these kinds of events, and that’s cool. For some it’s just not fun or helpful for their dancing. But as a fan of big parties, I keep trying to reel them in, it’s the ex event director in me

But I am biased, because for many years I was the event director of the Mid-America Western Dance Festival. I had one major directive for my staff: Give our dancers as good a time as we could. This included a dancers hospitality suite, A Friday cookout, lots of workshops, impromptu games and activities, a great competition, great exhibitions, room parties, and more.

But none of this would matter if the people attending didn’t get behind all this crazy stuff, and make the party happen.

Which brings me back full circle. A festival is what you make it. I have found that the dance community is a very open, resourceful, and a fun loving bunch. This means that you might want to take the initiative and create a fun time for yourself and others. I love having a room party during the event. Invite as many people as your room will hold, toss in some snacks, bring your own beverage, and just see what develops. I have heard the worst jokes, told some tall tales, and meet friends that I kept in touch with for years afterward.

Don’t hesitate to invite total strangers attending the event to go out to dinner with you. Put together a group and do a workshop or two so that you can share the experience, and try to remember what was taught! BTW I am a charter member of the CRS club. (I’ll let you figure that one out) And of course dance, dance, and dance some more. Along with the room parties, the most fun I’ve had at dance festivals is the late night dancing. Let the lightweights go to bed before midnight, I’m here for the long haul, trying to keep up with the kids by dancing till two, three, or four in the morning. Never seen that? Go to a swing event, nuff said.

So don’t be shy, reach out to those around you and make the party happen. Shake a few hands, flash a smile, help me carry my bags up to the room (jk) There’s a story about a sad fellow who sits in front of a fireplace and says “If you give me heat, I’ll give you wood”. Well I say bring the wood with you and toss it all in right from the start! Your festival experience will never be the same.

Look for a full report on MITM next week, until then may the tangopowers be with you!

W

Meet in the Middle link:

http://thelearningdepot.com/murrays-1/meet%20in%20the%20middle.htm

How Hard Can It Be

So there I was, at the club, having a friendly chat with a dance teacher, when it was mentioned that they had a couple that was interested in an hour of Argentine Tango instruction. I knew that Tango was not a dance that they had any interest in, nor ever did. As a friendly gesture, I offered my services. Now faithful reader, try to put yourself in my shoes, a man obsessed with the art of the Tango, as these words filled the air “I’ll just get a DVD, how hard can it be?” That’s a moment I’ll never forget, and it puts a smile on my face every time I think about it.

So what do you think, can you learn to dance from a DVD? Well, yes, and no. That’s it, see ya next week! Ok, hang on a minute, and I’ll try to explain myself.

Let’s go from the good, to the bad, to the ugly. The good is a DVD can be a very good  source of information, but not necessarily knowledge, with one major caveat; you must have your dance fundamentals down cold. If you understand and can execute solid basic dance technique, then a DVD can be a fun way to sample ideas from teachers that you may never be able to meet, or take a group or private lesson from. If the DVD is well made and the teachers can adapt their live teaching skills to the video format (not easy) then discovering new ways to combine movements, learning a more polished technique, or just seeing a high level dancer’s performance might be the thing that gets you a breakthrough you were looking for.

The bad can come from many directions. First, there’s a lot of BAD instruction out there. I’ve watched DVD’s produced by people that you’ve never heard of that also happen to have won every major dance contest that’s never been held. And by never heard of I mean like Google-whack never heard of (find a two-word search query with exactly 1 result). Ouch, lol. Another bad is the student that looks at the offerings of a DVD company and decides that, hey, I’ve only been dancing for six weeks, so I guess I’m ready for this gold level DVD. I’ll just skip over the basic and intermediate level stuff. I feel your pain ladies, I’ll get you the number to my chiropractor, or maybe a good podiatrist.

And now the UGLY! I mentioned earlier that a DVD is best used when you have your dance fundamentals covered. But I have, and  maybe we all have, watched the dancer that has learned only from a DVD. They are usually stiff, robotic, predictable, and have a lack of musicality that has you wondering if they hear the same song in their head over and over. You see, this is the major pitfall of video learning for most physical skill based activity. NO FEEL! You can learn where to put the feet, where to place your body, what beat to step on, and more, but not the feeling, that tactile sensation, that really creates the dance and the emotional expression of dance. The video teacher can’t really help you generate the force needed for body flight. Or just how much pressure is needed to lead our partner. Or the feel of that subtle lift to take my partner to the cross in a Tango.

While video can be a great additional tool for learning, it is no substitute for the real thing; a well trained teacher that cares about your progress as a dancer.  So try a group class, try a private lesson, then try a DVD.

And if you don’t have access to any of the above, grab a partner and dance from your own spirit. Something as important as dancing must not be left only to the professionals!

Walt

“Without music, life would be a mistake…. I would only believe in a God who knew how to dance.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Why Tango?

Greetings Faithful Readers

It’s been three weeks since my hip replacement and I’m happy to report that things are going very well. I’ve started walking without a cane around the house, and the thought of being able to start dancing two or three weeks sooner than expected is exciting. Again, many, many thanks for the cards, emails, and homemade goodies. It’s those little things that really help make the down time more tolerable, and makes me impatient to get on the dance floor.

Which brings me to the point of this post. It’s the question that everyone ask. It’s the question that seems so simple, until I try to answer it. It’s the question where the answer begs more questions. Basically it’s the question that has my friends looking for an escape when they see me coming, kinda like dodging those bald headed folks in orange robes banging a tambourine at the airport.

Walt, why Tango?

I thought it was time for me to man up, and attempt to explain my, dare I say, obsession with Tango. My answer has two purposes; one, to help my readers gain a bit more understanding of my love of this dance. And two, maybe, hopefully, inspire others to try the dance for themselves.

First, the music.

Dance is music made visible, and Tango music is a rare treat. I started dancing about 25 years ago, and teaching a touch less than that. During that time I’ve worked on more than 15 different dances. That’s a lot of dancing, and a lot of different kinds of music. I love all kinds of music, more of some, less of others, from Mozart to Marilyn Manson, from a folk guitar to a stack of synthesizers, and many strange things in between. And while there’s great music to go with every dance, and we love to dance to our favorite songs, there tends to be a kind of predictability with most social dance music. Most of the time a Fox Trot needs to be, should be, a certain style, have an accepted tempo window, and be identifiable as a Fox Trot. This goes for most social dances, and I like that, even look forward to it, until it’s time for Tango.

In Tango all conventions are off. I can dance to a song written before the turn of the last century. Around the mid 1920’s the concept of the sexteto tipico formed, usually two violins, a piano, a counterbass, and two bandoneons, (the instrument of Tango) created music that we dance to today. But Tango music never stopped evolving. As the 50’s arrived Tango musicians began to break away from convention giving us a kind of Nuevo Tango music. New styles, new music, and new masters such as Pugliese and Piazzolla. And even today there are new faces as younger musicians make their mark, fusing traditional styles with a pop sensibility.

Tango music gives us the freedom to experience and experiment with a wide range of movement using only one dance. I might dance a very quick Tango to a song like Libertango, or dance a very driven and sharp Tango to La Yumba. I have been challenged many times by the incredible beauty and stillness found in a piece like Oblivion, suggesting a very slow, contemplative,  and gentle approach to a Tango. And then we can push the boundaries when dancing Tango to non Tango music, such as Andrew Bird’s I.

So, if your someone who has more than a passing interest in music and music history as it pertains to social dance, then Tango will open a door to a world of music that is rich in history, with an impact that has been felt worldwide. Not ready to take the plunge? Jump on Amazon.com and go to the mp3 download section. There do a search for names like Di Sarli, D’Arienzo, Pugliese, Piazzolla, Troilo and Gardel. And for a more modern take, search for groups like Gotan, Tanghetto, Bajofondo, and Otros Aires. Listen to the samples, and if you find something you like, add a few to your collection. Tango just might be the antidote to the corporate produced, forced feed pop schmaltz that you’ve been looking for.

And then there’s the dance.

For me there’s one word that sums up the essence of Tango – improvisation. From a practical standpoint there’s no other dance that lets us choose to shift our dancing  seamlessly from the beat to the melody or to a rhythm, and back again, during the same song. Tango allows us to do this because of a fundamental change in approach, basically, the size of the building blocks. Most social dance is approached from a standardized syllabus. For social dance a syllabus is simply a very detailed description of a combination of steps. The combination’s are used to form patterns, that are then used to form amalgamations, the linking of patterns. It would be a mistake to assume that this would eliminate the need for improvisation. A well trained Ballroom dancer can, and does, create new and exciting combination’s, in real time,  based on the syllabus approach, and with a sense of musicality that is a joy to watch.

Tango has no syllabus, and I don’t think it will for a very long time, if ever. As I said before, it’s the size of the building blocks that gives us the key to Tango. People always say “show me the basic”, and while there is a loosely defined, so called basic, you would have no trouble with the dance if you never learned it. In a very real sense Tango can be thought of as having only three steps; forward, back or side. I always have some fun when someone ask about the Tango basic by asking them to step forward, side, and back, which they usually do with little problem, at which point I tell them they now know the Tango, and just need to work on technique! The simplicity of the step is at the same time freeing and confusing. I’m free to use those steps in any manner I wish, as long as it dose not interfere with other dancers, or cause my partner any discomfort. And yes, this same freedom has an inherent level of confusion. The new dancer faced with so many possibilities is often paralyzed by trying to make these choices in real time on a busy dance floor. But like any social dance, a good class or teacher will present material to ease the transition from pattern based dancing to this world of totally improvised dance.

So from three small steps comes a dance of infinite variety and challenge. No syllabus, patterns, combination’s, or amalgamations.  It’s this freedom to create in the moment that for me makes Tango so addictive. Tango is an ongoing act of spontaneous creation with every step, with your partner.

It may sound like Tango is a one sided dance, that the lead has all the fun. If that is the case, then that’s not a Tango. Tango is the intimate conversation between the lead and follow. (note: I use lead and follow simply as a convention, a way to make the roles distinct, and not as a suggestion of a particular technique, or way of dancing). The famous Tango teacher Carlos Gavito says “I lead and follow”. A good lead can and will, and I say must, create openings and opportunities for the follow to express themselves. This in turn gives the lead new and unexpected chances to react and modify the relationship of the dancers to the dance. Again freedom of expression through improvisation.

For those who are ready to give this dance a try, let me say this. Give the dance some time. This dance tends to sneak up on you slowly, then all at once. It requires most of the techniques of any social dance, and then layers on a few unexpected twist and turns, no pun intended

Well, that’s it for now. Check back often for schedule and event updates. I’ll have new classes starting as soon as I’m mobile, and I’ll be finishing the Salsa and Tango classes that had to be put on hold, so a quick shout out to my students, see ya soon

W