Learning Tango

[Little Monkey]

Originally Posted by JonD

Oh, and everyone nag John who runs Southport. I emailed him and it looks like we might have the "4th room" for a milonga one night at Southport in June. We need to remind him that there is significant demand. Anyone want to DJ?

Wo-hoooooooooooooo!

I can really show off how rubbish I am!

[foxylady]

Originally Posted by Tiggerbabe

OOoh, Lory, I need that dress!- Where did you get it?

Which dress ? the black one saying drama queen ?? In which case, try Karen Millen... I have the red version but they do black too... almost impossible to MJ in , or walk up stairs, or get in or out of a taxi, but absobleedin'lutely gorgeous....



(Sparkles helped (talked me into) buying it !)

[Lynn]

Went to the Lindy group tonight (this is relevant to Tango, bear with me) - arrived too late to join in the class ('cos I got sidetracked watching 'Life on Mars' ) and perhaps because I haven't been at the classes for a while no-one asked me to dance afterwards (though to be fair there were only ever about 3 couples dancing at any one time - and I did get a few MJ dances with a fellow cerocer.)

I was feeling rather down and thinking I shouldn't have bothered when I got chatting to the teacher about AT, I know he does it, but didn't realise how much (all outside of NI). We spent a bit of time going over some basics (mostly just walking and how the man gets the woman's weight on the correct foot etc) which was helpful. I can see a long journey ahead...

[under par]

Originally Posted by foxylady

Which dress ? the black one saying drama queen ?? In which case, try Karen Millen... I have the red version but they do black too... almost impossible to MJ in , or walk up stairs, or get in or out of a taxi, but absobleedin'lutely gorgeous....

Attachment 4084

(Sparkles helped (talked me into) buying it !)

Please don't show Mrs Par We are in dire need of more wardrobe space already!

[Tiggerbabe]

Originally Posted by foxylady

In which case, try Karen Millen...

WOW! That's just gorgeous

[Zebra Woman]

Originally Posted by Zebra Woman

More moves please Kev
ZW

Kev please could Barbie and Ken demostrate some moves from the the BBC tango dancing clip?

You know, the one that they use to link programmes with Ricardo and Jenni dancing in the rain.

I think they do an exit from a sandwiche where Barbie does a really high kick.. .but what happens next? I'd like to see that.

Perhaps you could dress Tango Barbie and Ken in red and black and then photograph them outdoors in the rain (or low budget option - in the shower) for extra authenticity?

ZW

[philsmove]

Back on Thread


Tonight we had a visiting teacher LUCIANA VALLE from ARGENTINA

If any of you get a chance of a lesson from this remarkable lady

Go to it. I promise you, you will not be disappointed

She is on a mission to teach the word to Tango

For long time we simply had to,embrace our partner, close our eyes, and “feel the heat”

And then …….

. as I said - if you get the chance go to one her classes

[JonD]

HELP! I'm terrified.

Ruth, our AT teacher, has asked Julie and I to do an AT demo at an event in Totnes on 3rd March. Evidently it's some kind of "celebrate the diversity of our community, including dance" thing and Ruth is teaching abroad on that day so she asked us. Apart from being flattered I'm also scared to death as performing in public really isn't my thing. Julie loves it, I hate it! We've agreed because we think it'll kick our dancing to a new level and Ruth has offered to give us two private lessons to help polish up our act.

So, where do we start? Julie will have her own ideas but I haven't got a clue about how you put this sort of demonstration together and I'd like to have some input. On the few times when I've been dragged, screaming and kicking, into a demonstration we've just freestyled it but I think we're going to need a routine for this one. What's the best way of designing one? Tell a story - the old "boy meets girl ...." thing and then chose some music and work out what movement will fit the story? Decide on the music then invent a story to fit that? We won't get a chance to rehearse until we get back from holiday on 11th Feb so we can't do anything that takes weeks.

All advice will be gratefully received including the kind of shapes that we should use. I'm going to watch that AT demo from SCD again - although we'll look nothing like those dancers except in my dreams!

[LMC]

Sympathy

And if you'll forgive me being bleedin' obvious - it sounds to me like you're doing Ruth a favour here - perhaps she can lend you some videos for ideas or give you some pointers of what works well?

Good luck

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by JonD

So, where do we start? Julie will have her own ideas but I haven't got a clue about how you put this sort of demonstration together and I'd like to have some input. On the few times when I've been dragged, screaming and kicking, into a demonstration we've just freestyled it but I think we're going to need a routine for this one. What's the best way of designing one? Tell a story - the old "boy meets girl ...." thing and then chose some music and work out what movement will fit the story? Decide on the music then invent a story to fit that?

First of all, - demonstrator, wow

Bearing in mind you'll be performing for the general public, I'd focus on the fact that it's a show, not an exhibition.

So you need to make it entertaining and interesting. Alas, that could mean you'll need to choose some popular-ish music first (well, relatively popular), then work it out from there.

I'm not totally convinced that a routine would be necessary, unless you think you'd be more confident with one - again, it's dancing for the public, they're not likely to notice or appreciate finer points of style. Music first, then clothing, then routine, would be my advice.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

First of all, - demonstrator, wow

[JonD]

Thanks for the advice and support!

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Bearing in mind you'll be performing for the general public, I'd focus on the fact that it's a show, not an exhibition.

That's what I was thinking - hang the technique and put together a rehearsed routine that looks like the real thing!

We're really not good enough for a demo. I think we're OK at the simple stuff but we don't do anything "flashy" and that is what we'll have to work on before doing a performance. We're going to need a really dramatic section. I think we're going to need lots of boleos, ganchos, some fancy lapis stuff (I can do a giro with a reasonable lapis but there's a thing I've seen where the guy kicks between the ladies legs as she takes the side step - could be very nasty if you get the timing wrong and balance in the turn is key), fast sacadas, barridas, counter-balance pivots, deep volcadas and a big lunge to finish. So, all the stuff I can't do! Ho hum.

Julie's got some fantastic AT dresses so she'll look great - she always does. I've got a 1938 double-breasted dark blue pinstripe 3-piece suit that is pretty damn sharp. If I combine that with a 1940s tie (red background with large blobs that look like fried eggs with blue yokes - you really have to see it), my trilby and the most outrageous black and red Tango shoes (black leather toe & heel, red nubuck through the centre) do you think it will be OK?

I heard a great version of La Cumparsita in Nijmegen - everyone recognises that immediately as the definitive Tango. Mind you, I haven't really liked it since I read a translation of the lyrics "and that friendly puppy who because of your absence did not eat, when it saw me all alone, the other day it also left me". Pathetic!

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by JonD

So, all the stuff I can't do! Ho hum.

Can't do them? I can't even pronounce them.

You'll be great I'm sure - maybe post some pictures afterwards?

[philsmove]

I think if I had to do a public demo number one on the list would be a track we both really like; probably something from Pink Martine, Hang on little Tomato

[philsmove]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Can't do them? I can't even pronounce them.

?

My TA partner is torn between more Tango Classes and continuing her Spanish class

At the moment Tango is winning

[JonD]

Originally Posted by philsmove

....probably something from Pink Martine, Hang on little Tomato

Phil, can you bring the CD to Morzine? I'll buy you beer in return! We'll take loads of Tango stuff as well. We'll have to start putting the routine together when we're on holiday - I hope we can use the dance floor on the non-Jive nights.

I've got the details of the event now and am even more terrified than before. The event is something called a "Dance Platform" and will be held at the Aerial Centre in Totnes. We'll be doing a 5 minute performance on the main floor with tiered seating all round and 200+ people in the audience - a lot of them dancers. Eeek. It's going to have to be a pretty polished performance if we're going to give a good account of AT!

Originally Posted by DavidJames

....maybe post some pictures afterwards?

OK - then we can all laugh about it together!

[philsmove]

Originally Posted by JonD

Phil, can you bring the CD to Morzine? I'll buy you beer in return! We'll take loads of Tango stuff as well. We'll have to start putting the routine together when we're on holiday - I hope we can use the dance floor on the non-Jive nights.

they are already in my dance bag

[Lynn]

OK - report on my first lesson (well, strictly speaking my first AT lesson was actually back in Oct 04 - but there were only two classes then it stopped).

Class was 8:00-9:30 then 9:30 - 10pm was practice time. More women than men (of course!) but not as bad as salsa. Some women danced as lead so there was no standing out in the rotation.

In the class she mentioned musicality, technique, syncopation and talked a lot about lead and follow - a bit different to a first night at MJ (and there were a few people in the class who had no previous dance experience).

We did walking, then partnered up and more walking. Then 4 count basic (correct term? side, side, walk, walk) then 4 step basic (walk walk -men crossing feet, then side) then added a back step for the men to make it a 6 count move. She also talked a bit about lanes. Each time she added something on she went over all the moves and got us to practice them, encouraging the lead to keep changing between the different steps to make sure the woman was following. If she saw a lot of students doing something wrong she gave a 'don't do this, do this' illustration to us all as a class - if she saw a couple struggling she went over and helped them.

For the practice time - she told us it was part of the class so we should all stay and take part, told us the ettiquette of how to ask (men only doing the asking - though I guess the woman can look at a guy and indicate she would like to be asked!) - explained it should be at least 2 dances, preferably 4, and the man should walk the lady back to her seat (no-one actually did that bit!)

Highlights of the evening were when getting a bit tangled up with one guy - she came over to us and danced with us both to see where the problem was and said to me 'Perfect - very good!' - that was encouraging (though she did say it in a slightly surprised tone of voice! ). And in the practica, with a more experienced tango dancer who was a good lead - I just closed my eyes and followed - lovely!

I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to next week.