My Tango Diaries

Backstory:  I have a frustrating problem with some tango songs. I love them so much, and feel so strongly about how I want to express them, that I am frustrated at my body's inability to express it the way I feel it.  Laurenz' "Alma de Bohemio" is one of those songs.  Even though I love this song so much, I know it causes some dancers just a small amount of anxiety. The vocalist, Alberto Podestá, carries one soulful note for so long, almost 12 seconds, it can feel like tan eternity between beats. For one long moment, there is no beat, just that strong, clear voice.  What do you do with that? You can try to hold the position you're in, if you managed to be ready and stable when the note started - - otherwise you are forced take a step, mid-note, where there is no beat. It used to feel absolutely maddening to me - moving during the note didn't feel right, but neither did simply stopping.  And my breath always catches while he sings that note, ...

Take a minute to watch this (sorry I could not embed here.) Tango, a Message from the Concrete Jungle It's a beautiful video that I can't stop watching. It takes me back to Buenos Aires, if only for a few minutes. Cab rides, wandering the city with friends, having cafe con leche *everywhere*. Dancing, watching dancing, dreaming about dancing . . . Every time I drift away and think I'll never make it back . . I'm back in its orbit . . . Tango "Tango Always ending, Always reviving." About the video: This poetry video is an elegant dance between the city of Buenos Aires and the Tango. The poem is written by Andres Bosso and the music composed by the poets brother, Jorge Bosso. The city of Buenos Aires, the poem and this intimate partner dancing inspired us to shoot this video.

Courtesy of Morguefile.com - btw, if I had a jar like that, it would have to be much bigger. And full of paper money. And I would have to go to the ATM. Warning : This is not a tango-related post. Well, not directly. Kind of. I don't know, really. It's been so long since I've updated, and I tell myself (and everyone else) it's because I'm so busy. "Busy" sounds so much better than "hiding". It also has the benefit of being mostly true. I have 4 part-time jobs - ghostwriter/content producer, shoe sales and leather restoration, web traffic data analyst, and certified personal trainer for dancers. (According to one of my online Argentinian friends, the fact that I've got several jobs and am working in leather, makes me an honorary Argentinian. I think that's good, right? Does that come with a lifetime supply of empanadas?)  I'm also still a student working on my next certification. Pretty impressive, right? I can revel in ...

I'm doing market research on the tango shoes that are most needed in Central Texas/Austin community.  What I have been hearing lately at practica and in my classes/consultations, is that dancers around town would like to see some more choices in: 1. Low-heeled ladies tango shoes 2. Ladies practice shoes 3. Men's shoes 4. Men's practice shoes. 5. Wide and narrow widths 6. Shoes with more padding 7. Ladies shoes with strappy toe box to accommodate various foot issues. In an effort to see how feasible bringing more shoes of the above variety into town, I am collecting data on what dancers wear, and what they like. Please feel free to comment here or send me an email at infinitetango(at)gmail(dot)com. Meanwhile here are the two surveys: Tangueros: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/T8M8CKS Tangueras: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/R6JSM5C If you're having trouble finding tango shoes in Central Texas - take the survey and let me know what you...

Join the Academy of Tango-Texas in celebrating the third annual “Day of Tango” Festival in Texas! Featuring: Performances, Live Music, Workshops, Dancing & more! The Day of Tango has been celebrated in Argentina every year on December 11 since 1965 to honor the birth dates of two men responsible for the worldwide promotion of the Tango: Carlos Gardel and Julio De Caro. With the approval of La Academia Nacional del Tango de la Republica Argentina, The Academy of Tango-Texas is proud to bring this momentous celebration to Austin! December 6-8, 2013 For more information please visit: www.dayoftango.org Or call: (512) 695-1024 Schedule of Events: Friday, December 6th @ Ben Hur Hall Workshop 6:15 - 7:45 PM Fabian & Roxana Workshop 8:00 - 9:30 PM Patricio & Eva Milonga 9:30 - 12:30 AM Saturday, December 7th @ Ben Hur Hall Workshop 11:00 - 12:30 PM Fabian & Roxana Workshop 12:45 - 2:15 PM Fabian & Roxana Workshop 2:30 - 4:00 PM Patricio ...

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt “Isn't it kind of silly to think that tearing someone else down builds you up?” ― Sean Covey, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens   I posted this one Facebook in response to a link share, but I think it needs to go here on the blog as well. The original link on Facebook was to Paul Yang's post on "In Search of Tango", titled, "Why People Quit Tango."   It was shared by several people, but Shellie Hubbard's comment summed it up beautifully: "Very short and to the point. A good read for all, but I want to take a moment to address a very small, yet very destructive, segment of our tango society. So, to you select ladies... Enough with the, "I didn't feel your lead" followed by instruction on the floor garbage. Also, stop leaving the new men to twist on their own while yo...

Another Tango Practica de la Leona - August 11th! When: Sunday, August 11th (NO CLASS THIS WEEK) PRACTICA DE LA LEONA: from 12:00pm-3:00pm Where: 8650 Spicewood Springs Rd #104 Austin, TX 78759 (Austin Bellydance Studio) Cost: by donation. Donation is not required to participate. DJ: Patrick Stallings (On the opposite end of the shopping center from Big Lots - near Cupprimo and Liberty Pharmacy.) A map can be found on Bahaia's "Instruction" page here . ) Description: The next Practica de la Leona will be Sunday, July 28th from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Austin Bellydance Studio. Come practice what our wonderful visiting instructors have been teaching us with wonderful friends on a great floor! Bottled water will be provided along with snacks. Feel free to bring treats to enjoy or share, but please understand that the owner of the studio would prefer that we keep food, and non-water beverages away from the dance floor and enjoy them instead in...