Live music at Firehouse Tango next Thursday November 13

Dance to the beautiful music of Tito Castro (bandoneon) and Maurizio Najt (piano), two of New York’s best known Argentine Tango musicians.  The schedule for the evening is:

7 – 9            Special Milonga lesson with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman

9 – 11          Dancing to live music with Tito Castro and Maurizio Najt.  Recorded music by DJ Joe during breaks.

The cost is $20.  As always, admission includes dinner, lessons, dancing and socializing with some of the nicest folks around. 

November is Milonga Month at Firehouse Tango (all levels)

Each Thursday in November, Fran Chesleigh, our incredible Firehouse Tango resident instructor, will teach one all-level milonga class (from 7 to 9 PM) in place of his usual beginner and intermediate classes.  For the best results, please try to come at 7. 

Fran’s Milonga Workshop on DVD

The material found in the month-long workshop in Milonga, which Fran is conducting right now at Firehouse Tango is available in a 4-DVD series. Now, you can have easy access to all the fabulous figures Fran is teaching – plus lots of things he won’t have time to show us during the four weeks. It’s all there in four fast-paced DVDs, videotaped right here at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall. Each DVD covers one aspect of this wonderful dance. You can start with “The Basics,” then move on to “Figures,” then “Ochos,” and finally to “Traspie.” The complete set of four DVDs is yours for only $99.95.

Pick up an order form the next time you’re at the Firehouse, or email Fran directly at franchesleigh@mac.com. You can also call him at 212-662-7692 to place an order. You won’t find another DVD series anywhere that offers so much material for so little money.

Tango Tip of the Week

Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week. Today’s Tip applies to both leaders and followers.

When you dance, how hard do your feet strike the floor? Do you feel a sort of “klunk?” Or maybe it’s a K-L-U-N-K!!!!! Check yourself out the next time you have a dance. Do you move along the floor so gently that it feels as if you’re walking on rice paper? Or is it more like your feet are trying their best to force their way through the floor?

In Tango the right technique involves contacting the floor as lightly as possible throughout the dance. Whether you use the heel-first, toe-first or whole-foot technique in addressing the floor, try to concentrate on gently padding the surface rather than landing forcefully. This will take two things to accomplish:

• First, you have to start noticing how much impact you make, when taking any given step.

• Second, you have to start softening the contact, so that you treat the floor with maximum gentleness as you go.

There are some major residual benefits to softness on the dance floor. You’ll find that your balance has also improved significantly. If you’re a leader, you’ll achieve greater overall control over your movements. If you’re a follower, you’ll find that it becomes easier to finish a step and wait for the next one to be led rather than constantly falling into the next movement before your leader gets the chance to invite it.

So, the bottom line: Stop being a KLUNKER, and start treating the dance floor like a friend. See you next week.

Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan

For Firehouse dancers who might enjoy a day in the Big Apple on Saturdays, Fran teaches from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every week. He offers a beginner class in Milonga & Argentine Waltz at 11:00 a.m. as well as an intermediate class in Tango at noon. From 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Fran and Pat host a special beginner/intermediate practice for bringing your skills up to speed. The cost for the practice is $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn’t necessary.) Fran and Pat are always on hand to answer any questions you may have about your dancing, and to help you with figures you’re working on. If you want to take the classes, call Dance Manhattan at 212-807-0802 to register. For the practice, all you have to do is arrive with $10 and your dance shoes in hand.

See you every Saturday for a full day of Tango!

Monica Paz visits US

Monica in New Jersey

We in New Jersey were very fortunate to be able to host Monica Paz.  Monica, from Buenos Aires, is a master teacher and dancer of milonguero style tango.  Thursday, she danced for us at Firehouse Milonga, Saturday she taught Chacarera and Tango Technique workshops in Maywood, and Monday night she wowed Walter Monteblanco's classes at Battista's in Hackensack.  Those of us who were able to take private lessons with Monica will never be the same. 

Monica in New York City

Monica will be in New York City until November 22.  For information about private or group lessons, here is the information you need. 

During her previous two visits Monica has developed an incredible following in New York thanks to her unparalleled skills as a dancer and as instructor. This time she agreed to be with us a little longer than in the past and she will be here from November 2nd to November 23rd, teaching workshops, special classes and performing at different venues. She will also host two practicas where her focus will be on working with each participant individually, a unique opportunity to get some great tips and suggestions to apply directly on the dance floor. Below is a preliminary schedule of her visit.

Monica will also be available to teach private classes and a lot has already been pre-booked so act quickly if you are interested.

For more information, to pre-register for
the workshops and to inquire and book your private classes, please contact
Francesca at francescabl25@gmail.com.


Saturday November 9th at 520 8th Avenue
3-4:30 Workshop "Followers' technique"
4:30 – 6:00 Workshop "Leaders' technique"
6:30-8:00 Workshop "Apply the techniques to couple work"

Sunday November 10th at 939 8th Avenue
3-4:30 Workshop "Adornments for followers"
4:30-6 Workshop "Sacadas Milongueras"

Wednesday November 12th at 939 8th Avenue
8-9PM Workshop "A rhythmic figure"
9-11 One on one with Monica: guided Practica

Friday November 14th at Triangulo
7PM Performance at the Afternoon Milonga
8:40-9:40 Special class

Saturday November 15th at 520 8th Avenue
4-5:30 Workshop "How to dance in a crowded floor"
5:30 -7 Workshop "How to dance in the line of dance"
8PM Performance at Practilonga 939

Sunday November 16th at 939 8th Avenue
2-3:30 Workshop "Different kinds of turns"
3:30-5 Workshop "Make a creative tango dance"
5-6 Special Workshop CHACARERA!

Tuesday November 18th at Triangulo
8:30-9:30 Special class
11PM Performance at Meat Market milonga

One workshop $35/Two workshops or couples $60
Chacarera workshop- 1 hour - $25
Practica $5 for students who attended the workshop, $8 all others

More information: www.tangotuscany.com  or http://practilonga-939.blogspot.com/
--
Francesca Bertelli
www.tangotuscany.com 

Monica  in Buenos Aires with Firehouse Tango

If lessons with Monica left you begging for more, join Firehouse Tango and study Argentine Tango with this fabulous tanguera in her own home town. 

Buenos Aires is an incredible city, steeped in tango and dripping with continental ambiance, yet far less expensive than comparable cities in Europe or North America.   Firehouse Tango, an extraordinarily friendly group from Bergen County, NJ, has conducted trips to Bs. As. for the past four years.  This year, we thought we'd offer our friends across the Hudson the opportunity to join us.

Our package is only $1975 (double occupancy - single supplement $450) and includes everything below.  It's a terrific deal, even after you add the airfare.  

The group leaves JFK on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 10:10 PM and returns on Saturday, March 28 at 6:05 AM.  As I write, the round trip fare for American flights #955/956 is approximately $1200.  However, you may be able to get it or another flight cheaper through one of the discount fare companies.

Let me know if you are interested in joining us.  You can contact me (Sue) at 201-825-1570 or firehousetango@aol.com.

What’s included?

·         8 nights/ 9 days in Buenos Aires with the friendliest group around

·        Stay at the excellent, centrally located Bauen Suites Hotel

·        Full breakfast every day

·        Transfers to and from hotel (included only if traveling with group)

·        Private group lessons with excellent local teachers (including Monica Paz) and local hosts

·        Milongas with local hosts (male and female) who are there just to dance with us

·        City Tour

·        Full day at gaucho ranch with barbeque and show

·        Popular Tango show with dinner

·        Day at San Telmo Flea Market & enough free time for shopping, exploring the city, visiting museums, taking private lessons, visiting milongas on your own or resting (heaven forbid).

·        You most certainly will want to visit a shoe store (shoes cost about 1/3 of their price here).  Prices in Buenos Aires are amazingly low and additional costs will be minimal.

·        Excellent & affordable local teachers (Monica is one of them) highly recommended by us for privately scheduled lessons

·        Plenty of free time to enjoy and explore this fantastic city

Chacarera

We're very excited after taking Monica's class in Chacarera (Argentine folk dance), which is danced in many of the milongas in Buenos Aires (and even some in New York).  We'd love to introduce it at Firehouse.  We're not yet ready for prime time, so a bunch of us practiced at 11:00.  Watch for our inaugural Chacarera within the next few weeks - and please, feel free to join in.  Below are two clips of groups dancing Chacarera in Buenos Aires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnVC284XQVM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2tybc2DOUI 

Monica at Battista’s

The crowd of tango lovers who showed up for Monica’s class last Monday impressed the heck out of Mario Battista.  We thank Walter Montalbanco for allowing Monica the opportunity to teach his classes and for allowing us to see Monica once more in New Jersey. 

Firehouse Tango closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Days

Thanksgiving is usually the only Thursday of the year without a Firehouse Milonga.  This year, sadly, all of the holidays fall on our day of the week.  You’ll have to enjoy them all your families and come back to us refreshed and ready for lots of dancing.

Inclement weather policy

In the rare instances when conditions are so bad that we are forced to close, we will post it on our website at FIREHOUSETANGO.COM and send an e mail to everyone on our list.  We’ll also have recorded messages on the hot line.  You can talk to us at 201-825-1570 (Sue and Joe) and 201-585-8346 (Jean).  My cell phone number is 201-826-6602. 

When conditions are doubtful, we try to send e mails and leave messages as early as possible.

Reader's Corner

We welcome readers’ contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular.  Send your thoughts to firehousetango@aol.com

Response to Chacarera Workshop 

Hi,     I was at the class Saturday but unfortunately cannot be there on Thursday night to do Chacarera.  I found a great You Tube video of Chacarera at La Ideal and thought others might like it.  The video was made by someone on Oct 17, 2008.  I saw the Chacarera for the first time at La Ideal just a bit before that on Oct 7 when I was there. I loved it and that prompted my taking the class last Saturday! 

Marlene  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2tybc2DOUI  October 17, 2008

 Would love to get the CD - just really hard for me to get to there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Sue,

 It was fun on Saturday, a great lesson in Chacarera and tango technique.!  I’m going to miss Monica, but it was terrific to see her and learn from her.  

Mary Ellen McGlynn

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HI Sue.

This sounds like fun.I have final test at 8;10 class.

Will try to come and join you.

Love Tsipoyra.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok

Tom Rodgers

Thanks to all who helped with cleaning!

Many Thanks once again to the wonderful folks who helped with the cleaning.  You have no idea how much we appreciate you:

Steve Maisch

Steve Turi

Bert and Estelle Stanger

Elena Syrett

Jesse Barton

Renata Witkowska

Thanks to everyone who brought …

·        Herb Elfvengren brought root beer and salad servers

And those who brought wine:

·   George and Teresa Ngo

·   Camille DiSclafani

·   Stephen Maisch

·   Marion Levine

·   Dave Thomas

·   S Bernardi

·   Cathy Doherty

·   Mary Dinos

·   Bob Brillo

·   Jesse Barton

·   Terri and Fernando Lopez

·   John Anillo

Other Argentine Tango happenings

Asada Milonga – this Sunday, November 9

Great Dancing, Great Company and Great Music

Hosted by Greg Lordi and Jean Torsiello.

Community Club of Brookside
1 East Main St., Brookside, NJ
Phone Number - 908.221.1033

Introductory Tango Class by Steven Cook from 6:30pm 7:15pm

Milonga from 7:15 - 10.

Admission is $15 at the door (BYOB).

For more information call 908-221-1033 or 201-585-8346

e mail info@tangoasado.com
Website:  http://www.tangoasado.com

Hora Cero Milonga

Every third Friday of the month

Jose Fluk & Silvana Brizuela

Workshop:  8:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Performance: 9:30 p.m. -- 12:30 a.m. -- Milonga with authentic music from Argentina

Cost: $17 per person / $28 per couple

Light meal, coffee & cake served

Starlight Dance Center, 7 High Street, Nutley NJ 07110

Argentine Tango in Central Jersey

One of the most beautiful Argentinean Tango settings in Central New Jersey.

Location:          Crow’s Nest Piano Bar

Seabra’s Armory

200 Front Street, Perth Amboy, NJ  08861

732-826-6000

Accessible from the NJ Turnpike, GS Parkway, Rt. 287,

Rt. 1, Rt. 9 and Staten Island.

Dates:               September 18, October 16, November 20 and December 18 – Third Thursday every month

Time:                7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Beginner lesson at

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. with Lee Sager from       www.tangopantera.net)

Cost:                $9.00, $7.00 with Student ID

Free and ample parking, snacks, cash bar.

Come early for dinner on the magnificent Raritan Bay.

For directions, or more information, contact Tracy at tracyjord@gmail.com, or call us at 732-343-1717.

We look forward to seeing you there.

New York – Friday Afternoon Milonga at Triangulo

The Afternoon Milonga at TriANGulO
Fridays 4:30pm to 8:30pm
135 West 20th Street #301 (bet. 6th & 7th Ave)
(212) 633-6445 Admission $10
Dj: djGuy
Hosted by Maura and Richard
More information:
www.TANGONYC.com

BEGINNER LESSON: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., taught by Fran Chesleigh  & Pat Altman 

INTERMEDIATE LESSON: 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., taught by Fran Chesleigh & Pat Altman 

MILONGA: 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. with the world’s friendliest tango crowd!!!
 

Join us at the Maywood Knights of Columbus Hall every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for an evening of Argentine Tango with a sprinkling of Latin and swing.  The Beginner lesson begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. and the Intermediate lesson is at 8:00 p.m.  (It's OK to come a bit early to warm up and get ready.) The milonga follows from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.   We serve a great buffet, and you can bring food and wine, if you'd like.  Admission of $15 covers both the lesson and the milonga. Dress is optional.  No one wears jeans or formal, but you'll see everything in between.  Singles and couples of all ages are welcome.

Send to this email address for additional information.  The Knights of Columbus address is below, and anyone who has questions or needs directions can call Sue Dallon at 201-825-1570, or Jean at 201-585-8346.  If you know anyone who would like to be added to our list or called with information, or if you want to be removed from the mailing list, reply to this email with details.

Sue Dallon

201-825-1570

Cell 201-826-6602

Firehousetango@aol.com

www.firehousetango,com

(Knights of Columbus Hall 105 Grove Avenue, Maywood, New Jersey 07607 - 15 minutes from GWB)

Firehouse Tango is a cooperative venture, run by dancers for dancers.  Our goal is to collectively provide an environment in which everyone who joins us has the chance to dance Tango, to meet other people who dance Tango, and generally to have a really wonderful time.