Matt and Andi and MILONGA!

How Matt and Andi learned that many milonga steps- many with a difficult and quick lead is an amazement. I loved his laminated list. 33 on the front and 33 (more advanced) on the back. The intricate little ochos and grapevines and of course the sentada- not for the weighty tangueras- were a delight to watch. Matt dragged me on to the floor to try his leading and I could follow quite well for the beginner that I am. Just as we were shutting down at 8:30 Mike got out to work on the ochos. Back were good- the front ones a little harder to lead. Always another week for us to perfect some of this. Close embrace seems impossible with some of the steps!
Milonga makes me happy. Everyone who pitches in week after week to help us makes me even happier. What a kind group of people!

Jerry Neri and our "Tango Tent" Part 1

This story can get so long and so involved, and so so boring if I include the details, and there are tons of details. I might compose in 2 or 3 parts. The bottom line is that it cost us a ton of money which turned into summers of great Sunday pleasure and our own tango tent under the stars.
Part I.
Trying to get to the beginning of our encounter with Jerry and Randi started with a trip to NYC to see Jersey Boys with the Durkins. After that, I kept my eye on Frankie Valli on the web to see if he'd be in our area. The closest one I found was at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Bought the tickets, not looking forward to the 3 hour drive, and then the unexpected happened and Mike was sheduled for prostate surgery at Sloan Kettering. Frankie was put on hold.
Again I searched and found he'd be at the Mountain Laurel Center only 1 hour from our home in NE PA. Bought these tickets, but never saw FV this time either. Came really really close though.
This worked out perfectly as we were on our way that weekend (Sunday afternoon)to Russell Sage College in Troy, NY to here John Gatto speak about public- and all- education. As usual Mike checked the route on Mapquest or Google and plottted spots along the way where we just might tango if the timing was right. Packed up our small Rialta motorhome on Saturday afternoon and off we went. This was at the end of June in '07.

Watching Andrew Walk

On Saturday, February 14, the phone rang. This was just a week after we plastered our phone number in 14" letters on the front window at our tango space in Clarks Summit. On the line was Andrew with such a sweet idea. He asked if our tango organization had gift certificates for Valentine's Day.
I said no, but asked him to join us on Sunday. He thought that was a great idea and it would be the gift his girlfriend would like for that special day - the day we all pretend not to like, but still wait for something special. My something special was a delivery of the softest gerbera daisies. The note said, "These girls want to be like you when they grow up" Love, Lorenzo. Could Lorenzo be MIKE?
Sunday around 6:00, in came Andrew- a senior at Abington Heights- and his lovely girlfriend- a student at Keystone. They watched everyone dance a bit, watched our videos and soon they were out on the floor walking to the music and believe me it was a "tango walk" with a hint of love and confidence. I told him to hold his chest as if he'd just won a prize and it helped keep his weight up and forward. He also got the hang of keeping one leg back so not to start a jerky movement between steps- almost as smooth as Mike. They were such a pleasure to watch and as the evening progressed they tried close embrace for a few tangos. Sure hope we see them again SOON. That evening was a special one for me. Holly, and Sandra dancing with Dan. Walter making up some great milonga steps and asking, " Is that right?" 18 of us struggling with a dance we hardly know. Like life.

What Were We Thinking???

Back in 2007, here was our plan to try to organize a sequence of figures between our not so balanced walking. I said,"Let's name the moves we like so we'll have a reference for our practice sessions." Yesterday when I was putting some tango photos away, I found a neatly printed list in capitals on a 3 X 5 card. This was all a good plan at the time, but now it has no meaning.
What could I possibly have meant by the "Ocho Cortado 3 Cut". How about these- "The Carolina", "The Angel Barrida", "Angel 2 Step", "Opposite Walk", Demian 1 Back Ocho", "Vince",
and to top it all off "The Double Bug". Is this insanity? I can't remember why or what any of this means. Maybe a few videos would have been a better plan. As I recall, there are more of these cards with intricate lists of odd steps. LUCKY US!

To Write About- A List

Stretching the shoes- Thinking back to when I only had one pair.
The Carlos Gardel movie- out in 1935 and the 12 second scene with Piazzola as a 12 year old.
Watching Piazzola play Adios Nonino. Watching anyone play Adios Nonino.
The time I demonstrated with Chiche and he called me a milonguera.
Mike's endless YouTube tangos on Cd's. You want ocho cortado. You get ocho cortado.
Alberto Paz and his gift for the music and lyrics.
My favorite instructors in BA. Little things that stick from each one.
Zotto's smile in his eyes.
Jerry Neri and our stolen idea for a "tango tent"

Snow and sleet for our 3rd milonga

Just after we left for Clarks Summit to set up the 5:30 dance- which means shopping for ice and snacks- the sleet started.
With the temperature at 19 I thought we were going to skid our way to Clarks Summit. 5:30 came, 5:45 came and it was Mike and I doing a quiet traspie to Poema. Me thinking it would be an evening of tango for 2. The more I think about tango, I think it's only and always tango for 2. Slowly the dancers and the curious walked in - the new couples and singles looked at the lovely space and the night turned out to be a wonderful evening of dance and laughter. How lucky we are to have found the tango. How lucky we were to stumble into the perfect tango space with Ed Mazeleski being so generous with his attitude. Whatever you do is fine with me!
Now I want to share my favorite Gardel of the week- "Cuesta Abajo" from a cd we bought at the Plaza Dorego in San Telmo on a Sunday. Marco Bellini pulls the orquesta tipica together with a perfect and haunting tenor. Name of the group is "Tango Al Palo".
One last item. The dance floor is now a real dance floor.

Solution to the Spongy Dance Deck Problema

Ripped it all up. Got 14 sheets of 1/8 " hardboard and put it down. Crawled around with a roll of duct tape to keep the hardboard from shifting.
Put it all back and, wow, it helped. Almost perfect- now we can dance. WE CAN DANCE.
Nothing like lifting 2000 pounds to keep us young?
True confessions. Had help from Dan Wilga who picked up the hardboard and helped us put it all back. Frank ran in to offer a little help, too. How I wish Cecilia and Gustavo were here to have the first dance. If I only could magically transport them out of the Carlos Copello school in BA.