Birthdays

Inna Dranovskaya

What an honor and what a treat to celebrate the birthday of our old friend, Inna Dranovskaya!  Inna started dancing with us even before Firehouse Tango was a gleam in our eyes.  Even then, she was a beautiful dancer.  Now, she is awesome.  The Firehouse Tangueros loved every minute of the birthday tango.  We certainly hope that this will not be her last visit.  Another surprise was Darina Konstantin, who started just a little bit after Inna and also dances like a dream. 

The first to dance the celebratory tango (and may I add to knock our collective socks off) with Inna was the fantastic Lexa Rosean, who teaches Argentine Tango and runs a milonga in New York City.  You can get more information at http://tigerstango.blogspot.com/ or TigersTango@gmail.com

Inna brought delicious treats from Russia; cherry cheese cake and a box of truffles so mouth-watering that I knew my choices - none or the entire bowl.  I hope that everyone appreciates my sacrifice.

Next week, August 14

Joe Dallon

Next week, August 14, we will celebrate the special birthday of a very special guy; our very own DJ Joe.  Ladies – I get the first dance; then Jean; then Eva, but after that – by all means, go for it.

Fran's Surprise - West Coast Swing

The dance is West Coast Swing.  The date is Tuesday night, September 16.  The place is the Knights of Columbus Hall in Maywood.  The teacher is Fran Chesleigh.  More next week

Only three weeks to go - Fourth Annual Firehouse Tango on the Hudson - Saturday, August 30, 2008

Join us at the magnificent Alpine Pavilion, where Firehouse Tango will dance under the stars on August 30.  It is a magnificent stone, open air structure built in the 1930’s by the WPA, nestled in the forested Palisades directly on the Hudson River, with a huge wood floor made for dancing.  Its protective roof, picnic tables and matchless ambiance make it perfect for eating and dancing rain or shine. 

Alpine Picnic Area

This area was known throughout the nineteenth century as "Closter Landing," "Upper Closter Landing," "the Closter Dock," or simply "Under the Closter Mountain." It was part of the settlement of fishing villages known as "Undercliff." Of the dozen or more houses at Closter Landing, only the Kearney House remains.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the Palisades Interstate Park operated a bathing beach here, and the stone picnic pavilion used to have lockers on the lower floor. Most bathers came on the Yonkers Ferry, which landed at the south end of the Alpine Area. The ferry service was discontinued in 1957, after the completion of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Buenos Aires March 2009 - World's Best (and most reasonable) Vacation -

No Experience Necessary

If you haven't been there, you don't know what you're missing.  Everyone who goes falls in love with the city; and everyone who goes with Firehouse Tango says that we run the best (and friendliest) trip around.

Argentina is still comparatively inexpensive, and you get more "bang for your buck" than almost anywhere else. Not only that, but we guarantee that your dancing will improve exponentially, no matter what level you're at. 

 If you want to go to Buenos Aires with us this year, I strongly suggest that you make all of the arrangements immediately.  We can't include transportation, and with the rising price of fuel, airfare is going up every day. 

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 on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 10:10 PM and returns on Saturday, March 27 at 8:15 PM.  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 now 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 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

Tango Tip of the Week 

Hi everyone, Fran here with your Tango Tip of the Week.  Let’s continue our discussion about leading and following ocho. In leading ocho most beginners simply push their followers to one side, assuming, I suppose, that they’ll know how to get themselves where they’re supposed to go. The result is that followers routinely try to pivot at the same time that they’re trying to walk. Of course, they end up completely off balance and quite uncomfortable. If the ocho continues, so does the discomfort.

The good leader is aware that, in fact, there are two leads, which have to be given in order to invite the ocho. The first is the lead for the pivot; the second is the lead for the walk. If each of these leads is given at precisely the right time, the ocho is effortless for the follower.  Today, I’ll talk about the lead for the pivot.

In order to execute an ocho, the follower has to move in the direction of her weight – in effect stepping around her standing leg. To do this, she has to pivot in either direction (depending on whether the leader wants her to produce a forward or a backward ocho). Once he has placed his follower on the correct leg, all the leader needs to do to invite the pivot is to turn his torso slightly in the direction he wants her to go. When I say “slightly” I mean perhaps one inch or less. The reason this lead is so small is that only the beginning of the pivot needs to be led. Once the lead is given, it’s up to the follower to do the rest. And that will be the subject of our next Tango Tip of the 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!

Reader's Corner

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

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Thanks from Ligia Tapia and Elena Syrett

Dear Sue:

Just a note to thank you.

Jean, Eva, Joe, and all the wonderful people at the firehouse tango, that made my birthday celebration a memorable one.

I love you all.
Thanks again

Ligia Tapia

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Dear Sue
My throat has taken longer than I thought it would do, to get better. I am alright now, more or less, but will be away from tango for a while longer.

Thank you for your wishes and for thinking of me.
My love to you
Elena

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Tango on the Hudson – Sharing food and rides

***Note from Sue  

If you are interested in finding someone to share rides and food for Tango on the Hudson, send me an e mail.  Tell me where you’re coming from, and I’ll try to locate someone nearby.  We’re l

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Perfumes and Colognes

YES.....................thank you for the note on perfumes and colognes. Some of us are so sensitive we can be at milongas only for a short time if we dance with people who leave "their scents" on our clothes and arms!

Thank you!!
Marilyn 

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Tango on the Hudson

Dear Sue, What a beautiful setting for tango dancing. I will hope you have gorgeous weather that evening. Enjoy, enjoy! I can't attend because I'll be in Buenos Aires. I will see you again at Firehouse when I return in September. Happy dancing!!!!!! Affectionately, Norma

Other Argentine Tango happenings

Next Asada Milonga  this Sunday, August 10

A Wonderful Evening of Great Dancing, Great Company and Great Music

Hosted by Greg Lordi and Jean Torsiello.

Community Club of Brookside
1 East Main St., Brookside NJ
Milonga Phone Number - 908.963.6284

Lesson - 6:30 - 7:30

Milonga from 7:30 - 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 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

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

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.

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.