Royal Tango

Hey all,

Spent the weekend at Valentango here in Portland, Oregon dancing my feet off. I love to see how much tango has grown in just the few short years I’ve been dancing. Looking at videos of festivals two years ago and the average level was almost laughable to what is regularly seen today. So many amazing dancers, so much quality. Expressive musicality is the norm it seems. Biagi like Biagi, Di Sarli like Di Sarli…they’re different and you can see it.

There are always a few people that ‘get away’ during festivals. People you’ve never danced with and want to, or friends you haven’t seen in a while. Its hard not to have some kind of list in your head for the weekend.

I remember at one of my earliest festivals, the tanda ended and I stood on the floor looking for someone specific, because you have the best overall view of the room from the middle of the floor. As my eyes scanned the perimeter, the biggest cabaceo I’d ever seen shot out at me…she looked like a sprung jack in the box with a huge smile. I couldn’t ignore it and be polite, so I accepted and we danced and…it was bad. It wasn’t bad for her dancing or mine, but, in retrospect it was clearly bad because I wanted to dance with someone else. That happened a few more times until I said to myself, “Self: Get the fuck off of the floor when the tanda’s over!” Rule #1

This weekend there was a few tandas where I was determined to find a particular person who inevitably was always sitting while I danced and became invisible during the cortina. I found myself standing on the floor looking in earnest and of course would make eye contact with someone I’d not intended on dancing with, politely said yes and not had fun. It took a few ‘bad’ tandas for me to remember: Ahhhhhh…stop looking.

There’s a great movie with Bill Pullman, “The Zero Effect“. In it the main character is the world’s most accomplished private investigator. It is narrated by the charater in a sort of journal form, describing his principles for his work. At one point he make a special note about finding things. “When you’re looking for something specific, of all the things in the world, you’re looking for only one thing. Your chances of finding it aren’t very good. But if you’re looking for anything, then of all the things in the world, it could be many things. And your changes of finding it are very good.” Rule #2

I love that. I remembered that, let go of finding that specific woman and just enjoyed myself and lo, I had a great night again!

+ in other news:
For those of you that don’t know, I’ll be moving back to Houston come April. I’ve loved my time in Oregon and will be visiting many times a year. Look out for workshops in tango + yoga!

Abrazos,
A

Hey!

Here’s a short idea that extends the idea of the last video’s timing/rhythm of the molinete. Its fun, so give it a try.

As the next in the series exploring the alternating steps we take the followers movement and place in the molinete and challenge the leader to distinguish between the pedestrian tempo and the doble tiempo. This is amazing in open or close to both directions. Enjoy.

We’ll be building on this and the last 2 vids to create the next 2 movements so try it out.

A

How D!

Sometimes getting a blog post up on time can be a friggin comedy of errors! Oh well. Thank you all for your loving patience!

Today we look at last post’s movement with a partner. We’ll expand on those ideas more in the coming episodes!

Wowzers! Was it interesting to finally get this post up. I’m back from the holidays, and from the Houston Tango Festival.

This is the first in a few week series exploring a simple movement that we use in the dance often unconsciously but can, once polished be one of the most fun movements in our toolbox. We will explore many variations and ideas built on this idea with my buddy, Carmella Hill Burke.

Enjoy and see y’all soon!

A

Hey all!

I’ll be beginning the last 6 week class series in Eugene on February 10, 2010.

6:30pm - Beginning Tango
For those who are new to the dance or wanting to brush up on basics.

7:30pm - Intermediate Tango
For those wanting to get better, faster.

Price:
$50 for full series
$10 Drop-in
$25 for full-time students

Where:
The Reach Center
2520 Harris St.

These new workshops are intensive 3 hour classes with a small break.
There is a new focus each month. If you’re coming from out of town, come for the
workshop and stay for Carmela and Jeanine’s milonga Sat!

**Just so everyone knows, I will be moving back to Houston on April 1st. These will be the last classes I teach here in Eugene as a native, so please come and bring your friends.

It would be great to see you all there!

This month:

When:
Sat, JAN 30 , 1-4 pm

Nuevo Tango Intensive

A handle for the evolution of tango. We will look at the newest ideas of the fundamental approach to the dance, from embrace to vocabulary. Focus is on connection, creativity, musicality and style.

Price:
$20. 1/2 price for full-time students.

Location:
The Reach Center
2540 Harris

A NEW INTENSIVE EACH MONTH:

Saturdays from 1-4 PM

FEB 27 Close Embrace
MAR 20 Music + Musicality

Close Embrace - Looking exclusively at the most addictive expression of the dance, we will dissect, understand and explore the subtleties of the embrace, limits and openings when we choose to dance close.

Music + Musicality - Both a deep look into the music that we dance to as well as well as a series of processes that get us to hear what is happening on the most exquisite levels. Then how to translate that into our personal expression of movement and emotion.

More info:
royaltango@gmail.com

This is a very common movement in tango. You see it everywhere in vals, milonga and everything from the 90 year olds to the most ‘nuevo’. Its often hidden in turns, angles wide and narrow and speed, but its there.

If there is a spanish name for this movement I’d love to know!

Next time we’ll look at the movment with a partner, add more details and play with variations.

Today we take the ideas from the last two videos:

http://royaltango.com/?p=233

and we create a stopped and rebounded energy for very clear and powerful check-steps. These can be done in parallel or cross system and in any direction.

CIAO!

Here are Monday’s + Wednesday’s editions rolled into one.

Today I begin a few simple and somewhat challenging exercises to build up strength in the standing leg and open up freedom in the free leg, by using a spicy balancing posture while articulating the free leg. Practice these like everything else, one song per side per day and you will feel a tremendous increase in your stability and control.

Let me know what you think!

Houston Tango Festival is coming!! Register while you can. Late bird ends soon:
Http://www.houstontangofestival.com

Ciao!