July 2,2006 

Miss you all and see you soon!               Norma

Dear Maleva,
I have a question that perhaps many of us face as we try to progress in the long, winding road of tango journey. I have been taking tango lessons from numerous instructors -- some good, some not so good -- and finally reached the point where I can handle the basic technique and steps at a typical milonga. At least my partners do not have that strange or 'Thank God it's over' look at the end of a tanda. I dance primarily close embrace. My question is where do I go from here without paying exorbitant (at least I think so compared to what I can get in Buenos Aires) private lesson fees, going to tango festivals -- expensive and time consuming, and traveling workshops which are far and few in between ? Of course, milongas are good places to hone in on one's tango skill. However, I can't stop in the middle of a dance and analyze what I did wrong or right. After all, I am there to enjoy, not to analyze my posture, axis or steps. My primary concern at milonga is to connect to my partner.Most group classes are designed for increasing the complexity of steps rather than refining what I already know. When I ask to refine my tango skills, the usual response I receive is 'take private lessons. Practicas are hit and miss situation as I have to dance with someone who is at the same level or better so that she can point out what makes her comfortable or not. Also, I do not wish to a regular partner as both of us get used to our own idiosyncrasies. I guess what I am asking is how can I get to the next level of tango proficiency without refinancing my home or emptying my 401K?
Thank you,
Not ready for the Poor House Tango Student

Dear Poor House, I know it's tough, but any hobby that really grabs you always winds up also costing you lots of dough. Yes, you can and should practice on your own, but frankly if you want to get really good you are also going to have to pay. The value of gaining a skill in your life far outweighs the cost, in my opinion. Going to festivals, taking classes with visiting instructors, making the pilgrimage to BsAs are things that all the top dancers have had to do. Even if you live in BsAs and have easy access to good milongas and teachers, it still can be expensive. (And let's not even think about how much you'll wind up shelling out for shoes and clothes, especially if your a woman! Even just entrance fees to milongas every week will add up to a huge sum over time.) A good tango teacher will stress technique in their classes. They will arrive at the step they are teaching through explanation of the technique. If that's not the case with the teachers you are learning from, then it's time to hit the road and go to the festivals. Mostly, I think you should rethink your stance on festivals. There are so many festivals now that are targeted toward social dancing rather than step-collecting, with top teachers and hours upon hours of milongas as well as practicas. Attending a festival and dancing non-stop for 3-4 days with lots of other good dancers is one of the fastest ways to grow as a dancer. Often, becoming good just boils down to the number of miles you've put in on the dance floor. The prices are actually quite reasonable and with so many of festivals now you can probably find one within driving distance. Finally, finding a partner to practice and take private lessons with is a great idea. It keeps the cost of your classes down because you can split them. This doesn't mean that you have to just dance with your partner at the milongas or practice every day -- it just means that you'll get together and practice different things when you have free time. The word 'partner' doesn't mean a huge commitment, a partner is just a friend who you like dancing with and wants to get better too. It doesn't have to be exclusive; you can practice with lots of people. Usually people help each other iron out their mistakes rather than get used to each other's idiosyncrasies. Good luck on your journey and don't bother adding up the cost, it will just make you cry!

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!

Buenos Aires is showing signs of "Championship" again, the rain and the very cold nights of this brand new winter are not enough to stop or postpone what we are very proud and very good for ..TANGO!. When you are used to seeing the same local dancers all the time at our milongas you are able to recognize their particular style of dancing, noticing at once when some new faces or foreign styles start coming in... and that my dear milongueros is beginning to happen now in Buenos Aires: The "IV Metropolitan Championship of Tango and Milonga" has started and even though these are "classifying rounds" or local competitions, they also are the first stage that will lead to us and tangueros from all over the world all the way up to the "World’s Tango Championship 2006" to take place in August of this year here in the Tango's Capital.
 In order to have a first hand insight and a closer opinion, I decided to assign myself to one of those classifying milongas. This was not too hard for me and it was not really a sacrifice to make it happen, so without even planning, I found myself on the way to one of the best and one of my favorites milongas in Buenos Aires. 
Just the fact of being in front of that small piece of art and beautiful building, one of the oldest and most well preserved of this city, makes you unable to believe or understand this actual world of ugly skyscrapers made only out of glass and iron, in which construction, the greatest and most sophisticated piece of art you are able to find is just that ... a plain piece of glass and a cold piece of iron!

. The front of this building with its elaborated and artistic balconies and mansards has been constructed out of pure imported marble and its beautiful red carpet entrance and stairs flanked by 2 wonderful belle époque statues, also in marble, take you to the first floor. The dancing space is a very spacious wooden floor and its artistic ceilings made with the splendor, art and luxury of earlier times that invite you to look up over and over like a fool !

Milonga competition at "El Club Espanol"

This is la milonga of  "El Club Espanol" o la milonga "Chique" like its father organizer, my respected and recognized tanguero friend Julio called to tell me one of the main classifying rounds of the "Metropolitan Tango Championship" of the City of Buenos Aires will take place there tonight. The music of the event, according to the rules, will be chosen by the organizers to encourage improvisation and the 15 participating couples will be competing to represent this milonga, the milonga "Chique" of Club Espanol at the semifinals in "La Viruta" another famous milonga. Should they win, this will qualify them for the finals in "La Rural" of Palermo in August when the "World's Tango Championship" start officially. "Julio, I asked the organizer, what does this represent for you, after so many years of work "at the milongas of "Buenos Aires. Being chosen by the City to be one of "the 40 places where the classifying rounds of the "Metropolitano de Tango" will be "taking place?.  "Well, Orlando, he said,  of course, for me and for my staff here in Club Espanol, it is a privilege and a real opportunity to be able to select a couple that will represent us at the "semifinals. I'm sure that who ever is selected will hold our "colors" with their best dancing".
To explain this a little bit better to all of you dear readers let me tell you, with the sounds of Anibal Troilo playing "Danzarin" as my very emblematic background and while the 15 dance couples start this important competition, the "World's Tango Championship" is divided in three instances: 1) Classification rounds,  2) Semifinals and 3) Finals. The first instance or classification rounds are held for a full month from May 4 to June 4 in forty different milongas of the City of Buenos Aires (I know, in Buenos Aires there are "a couple" of more milongas than in Dallas, Houston, Austin or San Antonio to choose from when you want to dance): El Arranque, Gricel, Lo de Celia, A puro Tango, El Abrazo (Confiteria La Ideal), La Baldosa, El Cachafaz, La Argentina, El Pial, Chique (Club Espanol), El Zaguan, El Esquinazo, etc, etc. This Classifying rounds are also held in some provinces like Mendoza or Santa Fe. The prizes awarded by the City are really attractive, pay attention: In category "Tango Salon" the winning couple will be awarded $ 3.000 (Argentinean pesos) plus garments and they will be representing the City of Buenos Aires at the "!V Tango Dance World Championship" finals to be held between August 18 to 27, 2006. The second and third places will also be awarded garments. In the "Milonga" new category (this is the first year of this category) the winners will receive $ 2.000 (Argentinean pesos) and garments. Not bad, not bad at all if you think that this is an International event and will also involve contracts, representation, festivals, advertising, etc. 
At this very moment Osvaldo Pugliese is playing "Gallo Ciego", classifying rounds are over, the Jury composed by Jorge Firpo, El Pirata, Gachi Ferrari and Jorge Borques just finished their hard work of selection and the milonga "Chique" has a brand new couple of real tangueros to represent them at the next stage of this competition. At my side, smiling like 2 tangueros in their first milonga with their first pair of tango shoes, here are .... the winners! 
Faustin Artaza and Angelica Largheri !

"Faustin, I asked,  How "did you feel about of being the winner, out of 15 very good "couples in this competition to represent "Club Espanol" at the semyfinals?   "Well Orlando, you know as a good tanguero the feeling of being selected in a competition like this, Myself and my partner are very happy and proud to be able to represent this loved milonga at this years Championship. We will do our best to deserve this selection". Faustin, a regular dancer every Thursday at Club Espanol and Angelica will compete among 34 more couples who will be representing the other main milongas of the city.

Faustin Artaza y Angelica Largheri the winners of classifying rounds at "Chique" of "Club Espanol"

 This year all portenos milongueros have the chance to compete not only in tango but also in the new category of milonga. To register they can go to the milonga of their choice one hour before the planned schedule, it does not matter if they are amateurs or professionals, both may register and compete. The only requirements are contestants must be 18 years old or over and that one of the pair must live or had been born in the city of Buenos Aires. Semifinals will take place in nuevo salon "La Argentina", 1750 Bartolome Miotre, in June 11, 14, 18 and 21 at 8pm. The finals will take place onAugust 17 at Predio Ferial of Buenos Aires "La Rural", 4201 Santa Fe Av., Buenos Aires, Argentina.   The last sounds of "Gallo Ciego" make my senses  remember the deep beauty of this music and how good is to be able to be here surrounded by the scent and the flavor of tangueras, tangueros and... TANGOS!.

So, if you happen to be in Buenos Aires like me, it does not matter if you are professional or amateur in tango and you are 18 or older, find an Argentinean partner, register at your favorite milonga to get the unforgettable experience of a real Tango competition at the Tango's World Capital !   You may also get some cash money for your trip!                                    Promotional display of the classifying rounds at "Confiteria La Ideal"

Hola Tanguero’s

Le Tango Argentine! Its sensuality and its rhythm are irresistible. In Paris, we gather to dance to the tango's scorching beat, on the banks of the Seine under the stars, in a setting resembling a Greek temple. The dance floor ends at the river's edge. There is no guardrail. But who cares! The Tango is a dance of love, conquest, jealousy, agony and ecstasy. Why should we who dance it fear a six-foot drop into the Seine?

As we dance, the final rays of the sun turn the river blood red. A yellow tango moon rises above the gargoyles perched high on the bell towers of Notre Dame. Across the river, bedroom lamps on the Rive Droite blink on. A Bateau Mouche, brightly lit, sounds its throaty note as it prowls the river.

Under the bridges of the Seine, the yellow lights of the tourist boat probe the dark passages of romantic hideaways, intruding upon the amorous adventures of lovers who feel the Tango's forbidden rhythm as it drifts along the riverbank. Like a beacon, it guides the boat of curious tourists up-river and under the bridges of l'Isle Saint Louis, leading them to where we dance on the banks of The Seine. Laughing gaily, passengers line the deck and applaud the dancers on the quay below.

On the quay, the women's black shoes, armed with stiletto heels, stealthily climb the legs of men, whose black hats ride low, over eyes lost in shadow. The dancers surrender to the forbidden beat and glide across the floor in close embrace. The women's eyes are closed, and their blood red lips are curved sweetly upwards in La Gioconda smiles, as the men, with slow hands on silken thighs, gaze with half-closed eyes into infinity. The world disappears and conscious thought fades as in a dream.

A soft breeze carrying a hidden kiss drifts by my neck. The hypnotic cords of a Tango Vals beat across the floor and against my blood, calling to me like an artful seductress. I'm helpless against her stiletto-heeled embrace. I have no defense, no idea where she leads me. I know only that when the music ends and I wake, a trace of her sweet kiss is on my lips and on my mind a fading memory of some distant place on the shores of infinity.

Midnight! Attic lights above the quays grow dark. I remove the rose from my lapel and place it in the gentle folds of my loved one's hair; she has given me an evening of exquisite tango pleasure. We dance one last tango, then wave au revoir to our tango friends. Their silhouettes merge with the yellow lights on the bridges of the Seine and behind us we hear the fading beat of the tango and the soft steps of Valentino ghosts as they waltz along the quays.

© LaVidaTango2004     Revised January 26, 2007