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QUESTION AND
ANSWER CORNER
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Dear readers,
As you and I love the pieces of history left and the
immortal lives of all those "Tango makers" that passed
though these memorable cafés. allow me to answer some
questions asked by others in regards
to the last two articles about the cafes of Buenos Aires and el Tango.
QUESTION: "Orlando, is Cafe "El Aeroplano" in
Boedo still in business and where exactly is located?"-
Michael A. Stromberg (Los Angeles, Ca)
ANSWER: "Michael, to my knowledge "El Aeroplano"
Cafe itself was closed some time ago to be opened back under the
name of "Cadillac" or something like that and now is
open and working with tango shows-dinners, as "Cafe Homero
Manzi". It is located at the very northwest corner of San
Juan and Boedo."
QUESTION: "Orlando, you did not mention Confiteria "La
Ideal" in your reports, was not this place one of those Cafes where tango was
born?" Nydia
Barrientos (New Mexico)
ANSWER: "Nydia "La Ideal" as its name, was a
confiteria, one of those place where society ladies used to
visit to have a cup of tea, they also had entertainment but at
that time was not tango. Later on "Confiteria La
Ideal" started to be a tango place as one of the few cafes
still open."
QUESTION: Orlando, are the ones mentioned in your reports the
only Cafes of Buenos Aires where tango was or is now danced?"
Frank Steimberg (Colorado)
ANSWER: "Buenos Aires, as I said in my first report is
"A City of Cafes" and I’m not talking about
Starbucks or some thing like that, I'm talking about real cafes
where people find friendship, entertainment, art and conversation besides the black beverage. It will not be
impossible to mention all of then here, we just try to mention
the ones that had an special meaning for our tango, It may give
you and idea if you think that there are almost 1.700 (seventeen
hundred) cafes registered in the city today."
Thanks in my name and in the name of my
editor for your
support. Please know that we have not forgotten about some of
these
cafes (like "La Ideal", "Esquina Homero Manzi",
"El Britanico", "Hipopotamo", etc) and we
will be reporting on them in particular in future editions.
"Hasta el proximo
Tango ! . . . Orlando
Email orlandobudini@yahoo.com
and visit his web site
http://www.metatango.com/
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Tango
Meditation
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By
Elena
Pankey
San Diego, CA |
| Some people call our lessons
"moving tango meditation." For some, Tango is
a relationship therapist. Through the harmony of
connected movements, we teach how to improve and enjoy
relationships, maintain marriages, and increase the
power of passion and love. Our lessons designed for all
levels where students try to learn the unique universe
of two different parts of Tango, two traditional
attitudes, where a man is a leader, and a woman is a
follower. We teach that tango is a result of one man’s
personality plus HIS interpretation of the music,
according to his character. Every leader creates his
special Tango. But some people are afraid to learn the
Argentine style of tango. Others would just quit after
several lessons. It happens mostly because of their fear
that they cannot hide anything from a partner while
dancing. They cannot hide their attitude, intentions, or
inner problems. Tango will reveal; take off all masks,
and will open a real face. Tango lessons require
silence, focus and strong concentration. We teach how to
improve energy level, intuition, connections and leading
strength; how to listen, be tuned, and read each others
minds without words or anticipation of the steps. Our
students learn how to become confident, strong leaders,
how to make a new dance with different combinations and
elements, how to increase the power of improvisation,
and how to match their steps with the changing Tango
music. Some steps have similar techniques for men and
women, but energy of the steps is different. It depends
on the historical background of the steps and leader's
personality. In our lessons we give some historical
knowledge of tango, and the sociological and
psychological roots of some steps. Without such
knowledge all dancers are just robots, their tango does
not have its authentic meaning or feel. It is always
good to learn both parts in order to be aware what a
partner is doing at every moment of Tango. The unique
design of our lessons gives people better ability to
communicate with each other. We teach how to read and
exchange the energy inside the Tango frame and how to
use such energy in order to become a very sensitive
dancer. We teach how to listen to each other, emphasize
the importance of developing a strong frame, good
balance and positive energy.
We put our hearts into our
teaching. Our classes are for those who feel the music;
who appreciate each moment of life. We take a personal
approach and deep individual attention to each student,
to his ability and his speed of learning. For some we
can open a beautiful world of music and movements in
harmony with each other, inner peace of mind, and a real
flight of love in the melting eternity.
Contact: EPankery@Juno.com
and visit www.TangoCaminito.com
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Ask
Maleva |
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The Tango Advice
Column |
| Dear Maleva,
Occasionally I find myself with a partner who likes to
move her shoulders or arm in time with the music. I am
not sure what to do about that. It feels odd not to
respond with similar movement, but it's not natural for
me. On the one hand, I am not sure if I should let a
follower lead me like that and on the other not
following the follower
inhibits making a nice connection.
Signed, What to do?
Dear What to Do,
Sometimes when a person is dancing
(either leader or follower) and is really
into the music, they let the rhythm vibrate throughout
their whole body and you can feel it no mater where you
are touching them. When you dance, you should dance with
your whole body, not just your feet and legs; tango
doesn't have to be and shouldn't be stiff. These
movements should be done in a way that adds to the
musicality of the dance, but not overdone so they become
distracting. Hopefully this is what you feel in the
followers. They should not be moving so much that they are jerking you
around, or making the dance uncomfortable, or interfering with connection. You
don't need to respond or try to do the same thing that
they are doing. That would be like 2 people talking at
once and nobody listening to the other. The follower is not leading you; you are still leading. She is just
expressing what she feels in the music.
There is a common arm movement that I've felt a lot of
men do, especially the older dancers. The guy will lightly pulse his left
arm to the rhythm as he leads something Quick-Quick-Slow. Ladies can do this
too. It should be subtle and not really visible. Although I've seen Julio
Balmaceda perfor-
mances on video where he does this arm
bounce and you can see it. Probably there are other
examples as well. So, you could let the follower's movement inspire you to
try a similar movement when you hear something in the music you want
to express.
Experiment with it! It can be very subtle...or if it's
not natural for you,
don't worry about it, just let the follower do her
thing.
Ask Maleva is
published courtesy of
www.close-embrace.com
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Have you shopped for
Tango Items online yet?
Try typing tango shoes in the search box, you just might be surprised at
what you can find.
 
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New Blog
from
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A
metroblog for the city:
Let'sTanGO!
launched BUEblog, where those who love, critize, visit or remember Buenos Aires can write about the capital of
Argentina See more.
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Visit
Let'sTanGO! for more information about porteños’
culture, including tours, sites of interest, restaurants,
museums, milongas and tango shows in Buenos Aires. Enjoy
it ! click here!
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Editors
Note
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If you have a story, poem, report,
joke or picture you would like to share, please email
me. |
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Tango
Shoes: Getting The Right  Fit
By
Teo and Marsha Bartek
Women
Today Demand Both Style & Comfort in a Shoe
Women
in tango world today are demanding comfort as well as style. No
more “limo to lounge” shoes with an abundance of style and
zero comfort. In the words of Robin Tara of Tara Designs,
“Gone are the days that women are willing to suffer in silence
for beauty and appeal. Today’s woman wants both in a shoe.”
Tango shoemakers are responding with more and more features that
add up to the perfect fit...and many long hours of dancing
pleasure.
There is a belief in a lot of women
that it is impossible to wear high heels. It is only because
they are used to the high heels made for sale here, which are
extremely uncomfortable. However, good quality tango shoes from
master craftsman are much different, and much more comfortable!
Yolanda Rossi of "Tango Splash and
Nude Tango" says, “It is easier to walk in tango high
heels as compared to shoes sold in American shoe stores because
of the extra support under the arch and the heavy-duty materials
and construction, designed specifically for a dancer’s
foot.”
Marsha was amazed at the difference,
“I was never comfortable wearing high heels before. But after
my first experience with South American high-heeled shoes, I was
surprised I could wear them dancing all night. Now I realize you
don’t have to dread wearing high heels, if you buy a pair of
well-constructed shoes made in South America or Italy.”
Things
To Look For When Buying Tango Shoes
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Leather Inside and
Out: Some manufacturers
make shoes with leather on the outside and composition material
inside. These shoes are less expensive, but will not give you
the comfort of an all leather shoe. That is because leather
inside the shoe will expand and mold itself to your foot, giving
you a comfortable fit. |
Handmade Rather Than Machine Made:
You can buy shoes
from China for a quarter of the price of handmade Italian or
South American shoes. These Chinese imports will look exactly
like the handmade varieties including all leather inside and
out. But here is one big difference. The shoes from China are
mass-produced and stamped out on an assembly line by machines,
without human intervention. Craftsmen who have made shoes their
entire lives make handmade shoes from South America and Italy.
They understand shoes and the grain of the leather. They know
how to stretch the leather over the mold in the best possible
way to insure that the shoe will fit well and feel comfortable
to a woman or man. No machine can do that.
Avoid Ballroom Tango Shoes:
Robin points out
that “Ballroom shoes are all designed more or less like
slippers.” They are very soft and flexible with little in the
way of structure and durability. They are not made to last long.
Robin said, “You are lucky if a pair of ballroom shoes last a
year.” They don’t work well for tango dancers who want to
dance comfortably for long hours at milongas. Tango dancers need
a shoe that will give them more support.
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Marsha said, " Ballroom shoes are
designed for ballroom dancing. They are structured to put the
woman’s weight back on the heel for ballroom dancing. Tango
shoes put the weight forward on the ball of the foot for tango.
This is a very important distinction." |
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Heel Height: Heel height is a matter of personal preference. But Robin
offered a rule of thumb when deciding on heel height. Get on
your tiptoes, as high as you can go, yet still staying in
balance. Then add ¼ to ½ inch to that measurement. This is the
maximum height of heel that you can wear comfortably. Be sure
not to hyper-extend your arches when raising your heels.
Youthfulness, foot flexibility, and
conditioning play a part. So
every woman will be different. A ballerina who is conditioned to
dance on her toes will obviously be able to wear much higher
heels than the average person. |
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Also, some women have found more
comfort in dancing close-embrace tango with a higher heel, since
they can rest on their heels, while still keeping their weight
forward. Marsha said, “Now that I have experienced dancing in
four inch heels, when I wear my old thee inch heels, I feel very
uncomfortable.”
Yolanda said, “High heels actually
keep you closer to the floor, resulting in better balance and
less effort for your legs, which not only leads to healthier
legs and back, but the greatest unique tango look. And, let’s
face it, the way you look is what it’s all about!” |
| Open- Toe Versus Closed-Toe:
Does this affect
comfort, fit, or functionality? Robin believes, “ It really
doesn’t make a difference if the shoe is open-toed or
closed-toed.” When tango first began its revival in the
80’s, shoe styles were based on the shoes worn during the
50’s. In that era, women in Buenos Aires danced tango in
closed-toe street shoes. |
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This style became associated with tango
shoes. But now, all that has changed. Women north and south of
the Equator are tangoing in the most stylish shoes possible, and
most are open-toed. |
Type of Sole: The type of sole
depends on the surface you intend to dance on. Suede works well
on ballroom floors. Rubber helps on slippery surfaces. Leather
is great for concrete, carpets and ballet stages. If you
are going to a new place to dance, it is wise to bring a pair of
each, just in case.
Padded Shoes: Many women today are opting for padded shoes. Robin said. “The
cork platform softens the impact.” These shoes are as
functional as they are beautiful.
How
To Find The Right Shoe For You
Robin said, “Find
a shoe that is all leather, looks smashing, really feels good
and doesn’t pinch anywhere.” She offers these tips for
trying on shoes:
Try
Both Shoes On: Many women make the mistake of only
trying on one shoe.
Walk
In Them: Walk forward and walk backward. See how
it feels. You should feel good walking backward. It will take
more effort to walk forward.
Stand
Still: Can you balance easily on the heels without
wobbling?
Do
They Fit? Find out by tracing the line of the outside
arch of the shoe against the outside arch of your foot. Do they
match? Robin warns, “The outside of the shoe should not be
poking into your foot.” The inside arch is irrelevant because
it will change shape anyway when you move.
Are
They Secure? The shoe should stay securely on your foot,
and not slip when you walk. Women with high arches sometimes
have a problem with shoes slipping. Robin said that a criss-cross
strap gives women with high arches a more secure fit.
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"Let's
face it. The way you look is what it's all
about."
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Custom
Made Shoes
To
find the perfect fit, some women have turned to custom-made
shoes. Delie in Buenos Aires makes shoes that fit the needs of
individual customers. According to Robin, “A good way to tell
if a shoemaker is truly making custom shoes for you is by the
number of measurements he makes of your foot. Just tracing
around the outline of your foot is not enough.
| He should take
many measurements of your foot, including 2-3 points on your
arch.
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Orthopedics
Some shoemakers, including Delie and Guarantee To Fit Shoes
offer orthopedic inserts to cushion your foot and fill all the
spaces where your foot needs support. This is particularly
important to women with narrow feet and high arches.
Robin points out that some of the best
places to buy orthopedics for shoes is in Buenos Aires. Some
very good orthopedic shops are located underneath the Obelisk on
Ninth of July Boulevard.
Fashion
Robin
said, “Tango is a social dance and the style and appearance of
the shoe reflects the current customs and fashions prevalent in
society.” One of the hottest new trends in women’s shoes is
vintage. Vintage styles in shoes are becoming very popular and
fashionable. They sell shoes in Neiman Marcus and Saks that look
a lot like some of the most sought after shoes sold by the
retailers of tango shoes. But in Robin’s estimation, “In
general, tango shoes are better fitting and better made at
almost half the price!”
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What are the hottest-selling styles
this year? “La Luna and Abrazo are in great demand” said
Robin. La Luna is a scarlet sandal made of rich red suede, and
Abrazo is a leather platform shoe in bright red, with black
suede polka dots.
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Yolanda said, “The most popular shoes
of 2005 are shoes with bright colors, open fronts and ankles,
beautiful new fabrics and 3 ½ and 4 inch heels made by
Argentine factories, such as Comme Il Faut, Neo Tango and
Artesanal. They are manufactured with an innovative engineering
technique used in the arch support, which provides extreme
comfort and durability as well as great looks.”
What is the biggest mistake women make
when buying shoes? Robin reported, “They buy them too
large.” She advises, “They should feel snug when you first
put them on. If they pinch a little, have them stretched rather
than buying a half size larger.” Leather stretches easily. A
tight shoe can easily be stretched to fit your foot perfectly.
Yolanda agrees, “I recommend
selecting a snug-fitting shoe…if a shoe is loose to begin
with, it will quickly lose its ability to provide proper
support” She adds, “Be sure to try on shoes when your feet
are not tired.” If your feet are tired you won’t get an
accurate fit.
One last word of advice from Robin, “
Buy the best shoe you can afford, that has style, comfort and
functionality.”
Visit or Contact Teo and Marsha
at Tango From The Heart: http://www.gainesvilletango.org
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Tango
Addict behind bars . . .
by
Lajos Janos
Pongracz...
the Tanguero truck driver |
One weekend, my trucking job took me on a long trip
through Washington D.C. Being a tango addict, my trip
plans always include an internet search for dance
opportunities. I found an all-night milonga in Chevy
Chase. My schedule allowed me a seven-hour stopover.
After dancing I would have to get back to my tractor
trailer and head towards my destination. Everything
looked okay. I parked my big rig, quickly got on the
metro, and headed to Chevy Chase.
I got out of the metro, went to a bar for a glass of
wine and then walked
to the ballroom. I reminded myself that I had to leave
by 1:45 a.m. to catch the last train back to my truck.
Soon I was happy with my decision to come to this
milonga. They were short of men so I was very busy
happily dancing with all the women, one after the other.
I enjoyed dancing with the good followers and encouraged
the newcomers. I almost achieved my goal, which was to
dance with every tanguera in the room.
It was 1:30, I was taking a break to cool down when I
noticed someone I had not danced with. I caught her
glance, and we walked onto the floor without words.
After we introduced ourselves (Sandra was her name), I
told her I could dance only
one song since I had to catch the last train, she
quietly agreed. Then we went into the euphoria of tango
passion. She was the best partner of that night. Two of
my favorite pieces were played: the Verano Portano and
the long version of Oblivion. I should have left, but I
didn’t. I kept dancing until Oblivion ended.
“Bye-bye. See ya next time.” I hastily left the
ballroom and ran down the
street to the metro. Whew! I thought I made it! When I
was in the
elevator
going down, I heard another elevator pass me, going up.
Then the doors
opened. The typical rumbling noise of a departing train
hit my ears. “Damn! I missed it.” I disappointedly
walked to the platform and looked down the tunnel. I saw
the pair of red, glowing taillights on the train. I had
a desire to be in front of those lights. For a few
moments, I was pondering on my dumb situation. Then I
thought about catching a taxicab. This was turning
out to be an expensive
milonga. No
big deal! It had been a nice dancing night. I looked
around and saw nobody in the station, I was the only
soul down there. It was dead silent, but I seemed to
hear Piazzolla, a nice tango, it still had not gone out
of my head. I tossed my shoe bag on the bench and made a few
spinning rulos on the shiny red marble floor. Then I
closed my eyes fantasized Sandra in my embrace as I kept
dancing.
"What a fool I am or what a tango
addict?” Well, I
had to go, I was on my
way out of the metro station and almost hit my head on
the heavy iron bars of the gate, which was closed and
secured with a two-pound padlock, panic struck, I turned
back to the elevator. I pushed the emergency button,
hoping for help, nothing happened. I went down again and
found an emergency phone. I frenetically dialed the
posted emergency number. The dial tone went off and a
busy signal came on. “ This cannot be true.” I
repeatedly dialed and got the same result. Hey, go up and ask
somebody on the street for help, I thought, taking my
third elevator ride.
The street was deserted, on one was walking for as far as I
could see.
Glanced at my watch, twenty minutes had gone from my
one-hour allowance. I waited five more minutes, hoping
to see some one on the street who can help me, no one
came along. All of a sudden a taxi appeared. From behind
the bars I waved my arms and tried to flag it down. The
driver was looking at the other side of the street, he
never saw me. No luck! “Oh, no! I am a prisoner in the
D.C. metro!”
I quickly went down again and searched for a path to my
freedom. I found a door marked EMERGENCY EXIT, then
another sign said NO RETURN. “What if the other end
has a locked door and I can’t get out? I’ll be
trapped like a gofer.” I thought about my nice white
shirt and tango pants? No, it could be worse there,” I
decided. “Oh, you abandoned Lamb of God. Que mala
suerte!” I took pity on myself.
Going back up to the street level again, I realized that I had
to use my cell-phone, but who to call? After some
hesitation, I dialed 911. Fortunately, I got a nice
woman on the line. I apologized for putting more burden
on her. She was probably already busy with real
emergencies. I described my situation to her. She was
too busy to help but promised to call the metro police
when she had time. This gave me new hope and waited for
better luck. I didn’t have to wait too long before a
Metro police car showed up. A young officer came with a
key ring, which must have held a hundred keys. My luck
seemed to have arrived; the third key set me free. The officer asked me what had happened. I
told him the whole story. We figured that the station
attendant probably had been too tired to notice that my
elevator was going down, locking me into the station. He
apologized to me, then offered a ride to my truck.
On the way, I talked about how my tango addiction had
won out over my
self-discipline and made me miss the train. He said he
could not blame me, then asked me how he could make
contact with tango teachers. I gave him a few hints.
Soon I was back in my truck and on the road. As I drove
along the dark highway reflecting back to how hopeless I
had been, I mused how I might see my metro rescuer on
the Chevy Chase tango floor the next time I danced
there.
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Buy Tango Art at AllPosters.com |
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