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LINKS...
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BEGINNING TANGO CLASSES
If you are interested in future beginning classes in Argentine Tango, please contact us by sending email to tangoclass@tangomendocino.com. Be sure to include your name and how best to contact you (email address and/or telephone number), and we will add you to our mailing list.
Argentine Tango is not the tango you see in Ballroom Championship dancing on TV, nor is it what you might have learned in a Ballroom tango class. Rather, it's the social partner dance that is practiced in clubs in Buenos Aires and all over the world, with an emphasis on the relationship between you, your partner, and the music. It is more sensuous and more intimate than other derivative forms of tango. The movie The Tango Lesson has good examples of both club style and stage Tango. Many ballroom dancers (ourselves among them), once introduced to Argentine Tango, have forsaken the study of other dances to focus solely on this exhilarating, romantic, and intensely passionate dance: the Tango.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Special tango events, near and far, of possible interest to Tango Mendonesians
- Quartango, concert at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville, CA, Sat, Mar. 13, 2010, at 8 pm, featuring Argentinean dancers Roxana & Fabian. Free beginning lesson prior to concert; practica afterward. Tix are $49 to $89 (20% discount to "tango instructors and students"). Sponsored by Napa Valley Symphony. For more info, call 707-226-8742. http://www.lincolntheater.com/performances/09/winter/tango.html
- Dancing Fools Tango Fest, week of workshops at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA; Wed-Mon, Mar. 24 - Apr. 4, 2010: whi-tango.com. DFTF events include:
>> Hombres de Tango, milonga with live music at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Sat. Mar. 27, 2010, 7:30 - 10:30 pm: whi-tango.com, gottango.com
>> Jorge Nel, workshops at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Sun-Sun, Mar. 28 - Apr. 4, 2010: whi-tango.com, zapatoscrueles.com
>> Maria Finn, booksigning at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Sun Mar. 28, 2010, 5-7 pm: whi-tango.com, www.mariafinn.com
>> Zapatos Crueles, milonga with live music at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Fri-Sat, Apr. 2-3, 2010: whi-tango.com, zapatoscrueles.com
>> Felipe Martinez, workshops at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Sat-Sun, Apr. 3-4, 2010: whi-tango.com, felipetango.com
>> Origins and Traditions of Tango Music, lecture and multimedia presentation by Jerry Coe at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Sat, Apr. 3, 2010: whi-tango.com
- Austin Spring Tango Festival, festival in Austin, TX, Fri-Sun, Mar. 26-28, 2010: austinspringtango.com
- Gustavo Benzecry Sabá & María Olivera, workshops at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Fri-Sun, Apr. 30-May 2, 2010: whi-tango.com, tangosalon.com.ar
- NEW! Santa Monica International Tango Holiday (SMITH), a new festival in Santa Monica, CA, Thu-Mon, May 6-10, 2010: www.santamonicatangofestival.com
- Glenn Corteza, workshops at Weller House Inn, Fort Bragg, CA, Fri-Sun, May 14-16, 2010: whi-tango.com, www.sfotango.com
- 10th Denver Memorial Day Tango Festival, festival in Denver, CO, for intermediate to advanced dancers, Thu-Mon, May 27-31, 2010: tango.org/2010memfest
- Pampa Cortés' Memorial Day Argentine Tango Weekend, festival in Houston, TX, Thu-Sun, May 27-30, 2010: www.pampatangosoul.com/workshoppage.html
- NEW! TangoMundo Festival, a new festival in Palm Springs, CA, Fri-Mon, May 28-31, 2010: tangomundofestival.com/index.html
For more information on tango events in the San Francisco bay area, visit the excellent and comprehensive Tango Mango website at tangomango.org.
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THE TEMPTATION TO TANGO
By Irene D. Thomas and Larry M. Sawyer
Two of Tango Mendocino's resident milongueros have written a fascinating book about the attraction of tango and what it's like to learn this complex and engaging dance.
A unique feature of this book is that it includes both a man's and a woman's point of view. Irene's essays give newcomers an idea of what they will encounter, both physically and emotionally, in the process of learning this dance; advanced dancers will recognize themselves and the experiences she describes. Larry's short stories offer vignettes of the tango experience from a variety of perspectives and add an extra dimension that enhances the reader's understanding of the alluring world of tango.
Part essay, part memoir, part history, part fiction, The Temptation To Tango appeals to experienced dancers, beginners just starting their tango journey, those who aren't yet sure if tango is for them, and those who are simply curious about why this dance is so compelling to so many.
Excerpts from the book are available online. Visit their website, http://TheTemptationToTango.com, for more information and to order your copy.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF LEAD AND FOLLOW ROLES
Leaders:
Some may say that Leading is the more challenging role in tango, because from a kaleidoscope of options, continuous split-second decisions require pleasing a partner, interpreting the music, maintaining safety & direction, and uniquely expressing oneself.
Followers:
Some may say that Following is the more challenging role in tango, because it requires near-psychic sensitivity which must be slightly subdued, while making continuous accurate split-second responses to match a partner, enhance the music, maintain balance, and uniquely express oneself.
With thanks to Polly McBride of Portland, OR -- from her (now defunct) All Things Argentine Tango website.
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TANGO DANCE ETIQUETTE
Here is an informative explanation of the etiquette of the Tango. This is especially good information for new dancers who haven't yet had much experience at milongas or Tango dance workshops, with lots of good general tips plus specific advice for leaders and for followers. More experienced milongueros probably know much of this already, but it's still a good review.
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WHERE DO WE DANCE?
Here are maps and driving directions to tango venues on the Mendocino coast (note: these pages contain graphics):
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