Joaquin Canay and Technique

4 hours of tango today in Pittston and still learning so much. Our private lesson was at 11:00. Mike worked on more pause and a lingering leg. The dance felt good. I worked on collecting my thighs- not so easy- making my leg an extension into my torso and my vexing problem of never completely relaxing. The dance consumed me. 1:00 we had the first group lesson- 7 couples back to basics. Joaquin and our dear friend, and instructor, Katerini showed the men easy ways to start and finish ochos. Ochos and walking. Ochos and walking some more. I never get tired of the security blanket of the beginning lesson. All the walking settles over me and I BECOME the dance. 2:30- 4:00 we worked on boleos. Boleos look like hell if the foot and leg are wrong. I am timid about boleos. Every woman should have a movie of her boleos. My God they are ugly if the foot turns in or the free leg is askew. Marissa Quiroga- no relation to Guillermina- spent hours with my leg and foot in the boleo and I still refuse to take it off the floor for a higher kick. One look in the mirror and the leg stays as low as it can go. Mike likes the lateral boleo we learned from Johana Copes and he surprised me with a few of those during our last tangos. So now we're ready for BsAs again and tomorrow the packing begins in earnest. "Foot on the floor" boleos are on my "to do" list for April. Nobody has to worry about a kick in the leg from this woman dancer.

Our Last Night in Clarks Summit

It doesn't get any better than this night. Tina, who is a natural, came first. This gave us about 30 minutes to walk, do torso and balance work. She just soaks it all up and transfers all the learning directly to movement. I tell her something simple- something like, "Watch that your foot doesn't turn in when you step and for the rest of the night she turns her feet out. This puzzles me. How does she do that? I can't wait until this summer when we open our tent and we can practice all we know. I love and respect her ability to learn. Matt came next. A total of 7 couples on the floor at one time. Right before Cathy left I made a video of her tango with Mike. This man is amazing.
He's right up there with the best. A little like Carlito Perez and Gustavo ZAid. My milonguero after only 3 years of hard and dedicated work.
At 8:30 we played "A Juan Carlos Copes", my favorite milonga because it's short and jaunty and Mike can make it through the entire 83 seconds. Matt, Matt, Suz and Tina helped us pack up the tables and chairs. With a little help coming our way we can dismantle the dance floor and put it away in the morning. One more private lesson with Vince on Thursday. One more tango workshop on Saturday with Joaquin Canay and we're ready for tango in the deep deep south. That 11 hour plane ride just doesn't see so long when the real dance awaits.

Hope we can manage all this!

Sunday will be the last chance to dance at our winter space in Clarks Summit. Monday the headaches begin. Because we moved in over a 3 week period, I didn't realize the accumulation of things that have to be hauled out. 13 tables, 30 chairs, tango pictures, the coat rack that Mike almost made level. Next there are the signs, the lights, the 8' ladder, vacuum, garbage can, storage containers and the still thriving poinsettia we feed every Sunday with 4 huge scoops of ice.
If all goes well, about 5 helpers and 2 trucks will drive in on Monday morning at 10:00- rain date Tuesday or Wednesday- and if anyone is reading this just stop by and help for an hour or two. The hard part is moving the 1000 pound dance deck and hardboard under it.
Today I called Celina Tent in Ohio and ordered a sister tent 15 X 15 for our "tango tent" at the airport. These things cost a fortune. Might as well do it now, I thought, as we may have to pack it up, head south and LIVE in it next year.

Making Videos

Since we'll be closing our space in Clarks Summit in 16 days- only 2 more Sunday milongas, Mike and I decided to set up our video camera and take a good look at what we've learned before our April trip to BA. My dancing looks stiff. The long leg that reaches back isn't so long after all. Why do I think I look like Silvina Valz?
Balance and footwork seem fair, but the dynamics aren't there. Cecilia Gonzalez and my other wonderful instructors gave me a list of 7 ways to improve my dance. If I'm in a practice mode and not lost in the dance ( which is rare)I pick just one to work on. Yesterday it was a deeper knee bend on my standing leg and a push with the toes to propel back. Certainly looks different on the video than it feels. My best guess is that I need to relax more and let the dance happen. HAH!
Mike had a wonderful hint from Vince- to stop thinking about walking and think about where he wants to go- where he wants to take me. This made a huge change in his lead. He feels like Chiche- just taking me along for the ride. Most of our dance is just walking and thinking about Miguel Zotto's emphasis on embrace. Figures we save for another day.

This one was a success!

Yesterday The Scranton Times had my favorite headline. "Best Bets for Sunday- Argentine Tango" Guess where? This one we made special. Andi had her going away cake. Vince had a photographer come at 5:00 and I think he took 1,000 pictures. In came one new couple from Sugarloaf who smiled and smiled. About 5:45 we had the lesson and Mike and I made movies of many of the dancers. 20 of us gathered around the floor watching and learning. Juan suggested the celebration waltz and the guys danced with Andi. Even Mr. Mazz did some walking and side stepping. This turned into a late night for us. A little more work than usual on the clean up end. After we watched the downloaded movies spent another 1/2 hour watching Oliver and Silvina in Moscow doing swing, tango and a milonga- a milonga that can't be described as dance. It is pure joy and energy like a cyclone moving along the floor. All of these are on YouTube from their recent trip to Russia. Anyway it was just the way a tango evening should be.

Wisdom? Maybe yes, maybe no

TANGO- a place of boundless generosity.
WISDOM- let the tango happen, don't make it happen.
BALANCE-as it is in tango, balance in life is a narrow place.
****May all beings be at ease************
Will someone tell me why I am so crazy about this dance?