Dear Community, The challenge before me – start writing a tango blog. I have no experience with this particular challenge. But my understanding about blogs are they’re an on-line version of a conversation. What subjects are of interest to you, my readers and fellow tango community members? We are a community of students, friends, competitors, […]
Read More(Note: As mentioned in last week’s update, most of my earlier posts from the newsletter are vanished in the digital void – but I did find one of them stashed away. I hope you enjoy it; your comments are welcome!) When I started tango in 1997, I once remarked casually to my teacher-of-the-moment that tango […]
Read MoreMichael Ealem wrote to the list recently about several problems he encountered from dancers at milongas he hosted: >>> There seems to be a tremendous amount of resistance to basic milonga etiquette, specifically: 1. Not dancing against LOD (not just an occasional backstep, but extended sojourns) 2. Not camping out in the outer lane or […]
Read MoreWhen I started tango, I once remarked casually to my teacher-of-the-moment that tango seemed to be a wonderfully safe way of meeting people – you keep your clothes on, it’s hard to catch diseases, and it’s over in four minutes or so. She fixed me with a stare and said slowly, “Tango…is NOT safe. If […]
Read MoreIn the late 1800’s, millions of European immigrants arrived on the shores of the Rio de la Plata in South America, in the two port cities of Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most of them were Italian and Spanish, and the vast majority were single young men looking to make their fortunes in America. […]
Read MoreTango – the Art History of Love by Robert Faris Thompson This fascinating collection of obsessive scholarship turns upon a single thesis – that the multifaceted cultural treasure that is Argentine Tango bears the strong influence of musicians and dancers of African descent, far out of proportion to their numbers during the period of tango’s […]
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