What's New

Monday

Bulletin, Sept. 22

     Saturday's class focused on vals. Peter plans to work on milonga next Saturday.  The Sacramento community has just had a workshop on milonga, after which Ed Loomis wrote  to Sacramento tangueros making the following points:

     Last weekend Tango By the River hosted a Jorge Nel milonga workshops during which Jorge told us milonga and vals were not just rhythmically different styles of tango but different dances with a different feel and different music. Tango is unique in that it includes "la pausa" or the pause.  When a tango melody stretches across the compas it supports choreography that turns on itself, like giros, or simply poses.

    Vals and milonga have no pausa in their music, and choreography appropriate for a romantic tango is not part of these dances. This is important because of the effect that dancers who are not dancing Milonga when Milonga music is played or vals when vals music is   played have on the Line Of Dance. Remember these dances do not support la pausa and  advance steadily along the LOD.

     Since many of us have ballroom experience, imagine that you are at a ballroom dance and the music for a foxtrot comes on. You take your partner onto the floor  and  you dance a Cha-Cha.  Foxtrot is a smooth dance that flows in the LOD but Cha-Cha is a spot dance that does not move.  Now all the dancers are piling up behind you and the floor ahead of you is emptying out. Imagine  what the dancers behind you are thinking  as you continue to dance something inappropriate to the music,  blocking the LOD as the  opportunity to dance Foxtrot fades away.

   Now imagine that you are at a milonga and a vals is playing. The dancers are   driving down LOD  ,... except you. You are in the middle of your molinete with a drawn out parada and gancho or  volcada combination. You haven't moved a foot in eight to ten musical phrases. You are dancing salon tango while a vals plays and the situation is identical to the one above. If you are not dancing what is being
played you need to  take it into the middle of the floor, out of the way.

  Dance is the physical interpretation of music. Musicality is a cornerstone   for dancers and there are two sides to it. On one hand musicality is about the expressiveness of our movements both as individuals and as couples. The more we hear the music and interpret it as we move the higher the quality of our dancing becomes. On the other hand musicality addresses the social or communal side of dancing. We share the music as well as the dance floor.     The Line Of Dance, la ronda, works in Argentina because the porteños move  like a school of fish swimming through the same currents    in the music. In Argentine dancing the music is primary. Confusing the choreography with the dance is a common mistake but a mistake none the less.


CALENDAR FOR THE  WEEK

MONDAY - Tonight,  September 22  & 29, Social dancing and practica  at Jacobs, 8 p.m., 2501 McHenry Avenue.  A good place to practice class material.  No fee, but you are urged to order food and/or drink off the menu.  Some go early to eat.

FRIDAY - At The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislasus County, 2172 Kiernan Ave.  7 - 9 p.m. Mary will teach a six-week series of introductory level tango. Partner not necessary; men especially encouraged to attend. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in, leather-soled shoes with back support to dance backwards.
Dates: Fridays, Sept 19 & 26; Oct 3, Oct. 10, 17, 24  Fee: $3 suggested per session
 
SATURDAY - Sept.27 - Classes with Peter at Modesto Fitness and Racquet Club, 200 Norwegian Avenue.  The focus will be on Milonga in the intermediate class.
11 a.m. Beginner level ,        12:00 intermediate level,       1-1:45 p.m. guided practica
$12 per class.  Practica only $5.  Introductor  packages of 9 beginner level lessons for $75 available.
 

Modesto Tango is a non-profit association of tango aficionados dedicated to sharing the artistic, cultural and social aspects of Argentine Tango in Stanislaus County. To discontinue this bulletin go to <http://groups.google.com/ group/Modesto- Tango/subscribe>

OUT OF TOWN:  Some have expressed interest in these. To carpool call 522-1571

TUESDAY
Sacramento - New Tuesday Classes for September! at Tango by the River , 128 J Street - Old Sacramento
Level I - Beginning Tango - Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Level II - Intermediate Tango - Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Level III - Intermediate/Advanced Tango - Tuesdays 8:30-9:30 p.m.
 Classes taught by Donna Williams and Mark Napier. Cost is $50 per person/$90 per couple for each series. 
 
Emeryville, Allegro Ballroom. 5855 Christie Ave., Nora Dinzelbacher
7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Beginner Level $12
8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Intermediate Level $12
9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.: Practica $6 (Free with class) Ongoing -

WEDNESDAY:
Sacramento
At Waldorf School, 3750 Bannister Road, Fair Oaks.   6:30-7 p.m,
Luis "El Suave" Cacérès teaches beginning Tango Argentino
Contact Luis a : luiselsuave@comcast.net or 916-807-4210 for more info.

At Spotlight Center for the Arts, 2534 Industrial Blvd., Ste 150, West  Sacramento. Emily Trites sitting in for Cynthia Miller teaches Introductory Argentine Tango 6:30-7:15 p.m, Beginning/Intermediate Argentine Tango 7:15-8 p.m 

At Step One, 1920 T Street (at the RR tracks:), 8:30-10:15 p.m."La Práctica" for all levels with Mike & Alisa Bohan. Contact alisaandmike@yahoo.com, for info. This práctica is for ALL levels and beginners are always welcome. 

THURSDAY
Sacramento: 
Thursday with Ed & Rebeca!  Tango by the River, 128 J Street, Old Sacramento.
Every Thursday, Ed and Rebeca teach "Tango: Outside the Box." 
7-8:30 p.m. (followed by a práctica from 8:30-10 p.m.)  
The drop-in rate is $15 (for class and practica). The practica alone is $5.
 
Tango Classes with Chris Peake & Michelle Loughlin, 
Firehouse 5 - 2014 B 9th St, Sacramento (between T & U)
6:30 Beginning Tango / 7:30 Continuing Tango
8:30 Practica
$35 month - $10 drop-in - $3 Practica

Walnut Creek
Romina Hahn & Marcelo Solis / Tango Argentino
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Beginner class
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Intermediate class
Cost: $54 six weeks session.
At Social Hall, Civic Community Center of Walnut Creek, 1375 Civic Dr.,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596.
City of Walnut Creek Recreational Department, Tel: (925)943-5853.
Registration needed.  On-line registration:
http://ezreg.walnutcreekrec.org/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait
=N&aid=33
 
FRIDAY
TANGO RHYTHM & MOTION 
ODC Dance Commons - 351 Shotwell St., SF
Beg/Int Lesson  8:30-9:30 p.m, $10 includes practica
Dance Practice:  9:30 p.m-12:30a.m, $10  *Free w/ classes
 
SUNDAY -
Sacramento: 
Paul Wheeler & Rita Yanson teach at the Roseville Dance studio, 3992 Foothills Blvd.,   St. 175, Roseville, CA 95747, Tel. 916-719-3765.
1-2 p.m     Intermediate Tango
2-3 p.m     Tango Technique
3-4 p.m     Advanced Tango I
4-5 p.m     Advanced Tango II
For info contact Paul (916-521-9197) and Rita (530-304-9403) .

Emeryville
The Allegro Ballroom, / 5855 Christie Ave., Emeryville
Beginner's Lesson: 2-3 p.m, $12                    
Int/Adv Lesson:  3-4 p.m, $12 
Instructor: Julian  Ramil 
Dance Practice: 4-6 p.m, $6 (Free w/lesson)


MILONGAS: 
@>----  MODESTO -  Our next milonga at Jacobs will be Jan. 31, with Carolyn & Christopher as guest artists. Mark your calendar.
 
Milongas Elsewhere:

SACRAMENTO:
@>----  Thursdays,   6:30-9:30 p.m. free summer outdoor milongas under a permanent canopy at Toast Restaurant at the Quarry Ponds Town Center ** 5550 Douglass Blvd, Granite Bay 95746 www.quarryponds.com, east of Roseville. 
 
@>---- Saturday: September  27th,  At Tango By The River, 128 J Street in Old Sacramento Lesson at 8 p.m. and then dancing 'till midnight. Contact Donna at
donna@rivertango.com or 916-443-7008 for more information.
@>---- Sunday: September 28. Rincón Tarasco (was Sammy's Bistro) in Quarry Ponds:
 5550 Douglas Blvd. Suite 200, Granite Bay . From 5-8:30 p.m. Cover is $5
 Contact Luis at 916-807-4210 or luiselsuave@comcast.net for more info.
 
@>---- Sunday: September 28.  Dancing at "It's a Grind" coffee house,
2741 Del Paso Road in Natomas Town Center (Del Paso Rd exit from I-5) 7-9 p.m.
 
SAN FRANCISCO
@>---- Thursdays:  The "Mariposa Tango Club" meets at the Verdi Club in San Francisco every Thursday evening with host Victor Meneses. Contact cachafaz2@aol.com for info. This is always a favorite destination.

EMERYVILLE:
@>----  Saturday, October 11th Allegro Ballroom - 5855 Christie Avenue - 
 "LA MILONGA DE NORA"   Guest Teacher:   GRACIELA GONZALEZ.
 8 pm-8:30 pm: Different Basics & Caminadas (All levels).
 8:30 pm-9:30 pm: Tango Villa Urquiza Style (Int +)
MILONGA!!!9: 30 - 2:00 a.m.  Guest DJ: "POLO" TALNIR Class + Milonga:
$20, Milonga Only: $15, After 1:00 am: $ 5. Light snacks and wine included. Ample
beautiful floor - free parking - friendly atmosphere - all styles welcome. 



TANGO TOURS TO BUENOS AIRES
From Gato & Andrea
They still have openings for the Next trip to Buenos Aires
 November 8th to 21st, 2008. Register Now!!!!
 $1600 per person!!!! (Airfare not included)
The trip includes
*Transfers from  Airport to hotel and  hotel to   Airport
*13 nights accommodation  in a  Tango Guest House including buffet  breakfast, double occupancy.
(Single occupancy  available with  a cost difference)
*Welcome dinner in a typical Argentinean "restaurant parrilla".
*8 private group workshops  (one and a half hour duration, milonguero and salón styles) with excellent internationally well known teachers (assistants for single ladies)
*12   nights at the best milongas   (best tables booked at first line of dance )
*Last night Farewell Dinner at a   typical restaurant
*Ten Included Excursions:
1. Walking tour in downtown and Plaza San Martin
2. City Tour in private bus with bilingual guide exclusively for our group.

3.  Saturday in Recoleta   & Sunday in San Telmo .

4. Five stars Tango Dinner Show at one of the best two tango show houses .

5. A day in the country at Estancia 
7. Guided visit to the marvelous Teatro Colón & Café Tortoni

8. Guided visit to Recoleta Cemetery and Del Pilar Church (with bilingual guide) .

9. Guided shopping day for tango shoes and clothes.

10. Guided shopping day for leather clothes.

Extra: Optional excursions to Tigre & Delta and to Colonia (Uruguay)
From Tango By The River
February 25 - March 12, 2009 - Price Per Person  : $2,694 USD
Study Tango with   Oscar Mandagaran & Georgina Vargas!
Package includes   flight from Sacramento,   Tango City Tour, a balance of organized activities and free time.
Reserve your spot now as spaces are limited!  Registration forms are on website.
A deposit of $350  holds your spot.
 For details or see www.infusionstravel.com and click on the Buenos Aires tab . 
patricia@infusionstravel.com  - Patricia Thaxter
Posted by at
Labels: