The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 19 Apr 1999
to 20 Apr 1999
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 19 Apr 1999 to 20 Apr 1999
There are 11 messages totalling 341 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Tango Workshops in Upstate New York
2. Who put gomina in my shoes?
3. Souvenirs de Buenos Aires in Aachen (Germany)
4. california question (2)
5. Shoes
6. tango in NY
7. Can you stand more about shoes?
8. tango in Victoria, B.C.
9. Red Shoes
10. tango in victoria
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 09:49:57 EDT
From: "J. Martinez" <DancinSalr @AOL.COM>
Subject: Tango Workshops in Upstate New York
Greetings,
For those interested, there will be a full day of Tango Workshops in
the Upstate area, not to far from the Hudson Valley. On Saturday, April
24th, Johnny Martinez will be conducting Tango classes starting at the
beginner level and advancing throughout the day. As a side bonus there will
be a West Coast Swing workshop thrown in as well. That evening will find
Johnny and his wife/partner Diane Lachtrupp performing at a milonga, starting
at 8 PM. Please contact Jana Whalen at jmw04 @health.state.ny.us or call
(518) 435-8042.
Good luck and Good Tango.
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 10:05:20 -0400
From: chris humphrey <humphrey @MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Who put gomina in my shoes?
As a shoe junkie, I'd like to add my two cents worth:
The shoes I wear that get the most compliments from
both men and women, dancers and nondancers, I paid
$6.99 for on a clearance rack at Ross Dress for Less.
My most comfortable shoes cost $5.99 at Goodwill.
They are also, in my opinion, the most beautiful shoes
I have ever owned.
I do own a pair of "real" Fattomanos which I save for
special occasions because they're not so easy to
replace.
I have been known to dance in my Capezio dance
sneakers when my feet hurt too much for high heels.
At home with my sweetie I have danced in socks, in
bedroom slippers, in sandals.
My point? Because of the physics involved (body
alignment, centering, etc.), I prefer to dance in heels;
the shoes help me be where I need to be. BUT. My
technique is totally independent of what's on my feet.
Either I dance well or I don't. I have seen tango in
jazz shoes that is more beautiful than tango in high
heels simply because the dancer inside those jazz
shoes made it tango.
It's totally fun to try to achieve the "look." I like
to dress up, and I like to feel good about the way I
look. And I love, love, love to buy shoes. But the
clothes and the shoes don't make me a dancer. That's
entirely to me.
Look around at any milonga. It ultimately doesn't
matter who's wearing what. The people you watch
are the ones who are dancing well. Shoes are fun,
but they don't make the dancer.
ciao,
chris
===============================================
"If you forget the steps, just keep on dancing."
(Advice from a dance instructor to her young students)
Chris Humphrey/Biomedical Engineering Program
The University of Texas at Austin/Austin, TX 78712
512-471-1826/512-471-0616 (fax)
humphrey @mail.utexas.edu
===============================================
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 18:54:59 +0200
From: Rob van der Meer <vdmeerr @WXS.NL>
Subject: Souvenirs de Buenos Aires in Aachen (Germany)
Dear List,
Jacqueline and Oliver (from Media Luna, Aachen, Germany) are back after
three weeks of workshops in Buenos Aires. They will present a show and
diapresentation with the title "Souvenirs de Buenos Aires" on Saturday 24.
April. Also, there will be a workshop with the same content.
See you in Aachen,
Rob.
--
Media Luna
http://come.to/media_luna
media_luna @usa.net
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 09:57:18 -0700
From: phyllis victory <victory @MARS.ARK.COM>
Subject: california question
Hi List.
In June I'll be in Navato, California and will be looking for tango. Anyone
know of any classes or milonga's?
ciao.
phyllis victory
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 10:25:37 -0700
From: Greg Olsen at Work <golsen @NONSTOP.COM>
Subject: Re: california question
At Stars Ballroom in Novato, Tracy Calk and George Guim teach an AT class
from 6-7:30PM on Sundays. Admission is $10.
Stars is located at 68 Leveroni Ct. Their website is at:
http://bdsweb.ballroom.com/starsb/index.htm
Novato is a 30-60minute drive from San Francisco depending on traffic, so
events in San Francisco are a viable option. Check out the listings
at the Bay Area Tango Association website:
http://www.slip.net/~batango/home.htm
Happy trails,
Greg Olsen
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 12:32:00 -0400
From: Michael Ditkoff <Michael.B.Ditkoff @USDOJ.GOV>
Subject: Shoes
I've read a lot of mail lately about shoes: where to buy them
and what to put on them. I started to feel my dance shoes
weren't so good until I read Chris Humphrey's response about
Gomina.
She (I'm guessing Chris is a woman since she dances in heels)
is correct. "Technique is totally independent of what's on my
feet." Shoes can't improve your lead if you lead with your
arms and not your shoulders. Shoes with felt or other soft
substance will aid in pivots. (It's difficult to pivot in
shoes with rubber soles and heels, but not impossible.)
I love my dance shoes. They cost about $100 and they're not a
fancy brand. I don't even remember the brand. They feel fine
after I broke them in and my dancing has improved. Lessons and
practice have also helped.
I'm reminded of an old Gomer Pyle episode. (I'm really showing
my age.) Each marine in the Sgt. Carter's platoon had to take
a turn at leading the men. (Another sign of my age.) Gomer had
no confidence in his ability to give drill instructions.
Gomer's uncle told him about Excelsior. He gave him a badge
with the word on it and Gomer was able to lead the platoon.
When Gomer returned it to his uncle, the uncle put it back on
refrigerator door as it was the manufacturer's name.
It's fine for dancers to think that their shoes make the
difference. But remember, the shoes don't know how to dance,
The person inside them knows (or doesn't know) how to dance.
I can imagine two women commenting on a poor leader. One says
"He's so rough with me. I feel like my right arm is going to
pulled out of the socket." The other says "So what. Look at
those shoes!"
I'm putting on my asbestos jacked in preparation for the
incoming flames.
At Milongas, everybody is at see level. With so many people
dancing, I don't understand how it's possible to track shoes
across a dance floor.
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 17:33:49 +0100
From: Manuel Patino <manuelp @MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: tango in NY
Hi all,
A friend of mine is going to NY and wants tango info (where to go, milongas,
etc) she's not subscribed to the list and I'll have to copy the info for
her. I would really appreciate all info anyone can post. I apologize for
asking this question as it has been addressed before but I've no copies of
previous answers.
Thank you all very much,
Manuel
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 19:22:08 EDT
From: Cherie Magnus <MACFroggy @AOL.COM>
Subject: Can you stand more about shoes?
Hola, List!
I've resisted putting in my two pesos, but since the discussion continues,
I'll go for it.
With all the dancing I do, and the various pairs of shoes I bought with tango
in mind, I basically only wear two pair --which I bought at Flabella's over a
year ago. When I was in BsAs last month, I went to buy another pair, knowing
how Eduardo is. I mean he's great on the kisses and the serving of coffee,
but getting your shoes made in a reasonable length of time, or worse yet,
custom fitting your feet? Forget it.
What worked for me last year was to ask him to bring out every pair of size
8's he had, and then I tried them all on and picked the most comfortable, or
rather the ones that hurt the least. (I have lots of problems with my feet
due to dancing all my life, no bunions or anything like that, but pain.)
Say what you will about Flabella's, but at least they know where to put the
heel. And there is good support in the sole. Ballroom shoes don't work for
me, neither do street shoes. And if I don't feel secure in my shoes, my
dancing isn't as confident, or as comfortable (and I use "comfort" loosely.)
So what I ended up with this year after a visit to Eduardo, was not a
replacement for my beloved black suede T-straps--I ordered some but they
weren't ready after 2 weeks of waiting, surprise!--but spectacular red suede
and black smooth leather pumps. I haven't worn them yet because they are
definitely "Look at ME!" shoes, and I haven't had the courage. Or the correct
wardrobe, to be honest. But sometimes love is like that.
Cherie
Los Angeles
http://www.viveladifference.com
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 16:41:54 -0700
From: David Feldman <feldman @MATH.UVIC.CA>
Subject: Re: tango in Victoria, B.C.
Yes there is tango in Victoria. Their practices used to be on Sunday
nights at the Chester street scout hall. I'm not sure if they still are.
They now have a Tuesday night event which is supposed to be fun. There
is an organization called Tango Vita which is currently organizing most
of the events there. I am sure they put ads in Victoria's Monday magazine.
Good luck (I'm currently in Nelson B.C. which is why my info isn't completely
up to date.
Dazza
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 21:51:59 -0500
From: robin tara <rtara @MAINE.RR.COM>
Subject: Red Shoes
Cherie Magnus wrote: Regarding Shoes from Flabella
what I ended up with this year after a visit to Eduardo, was not a
> replacement for my beloved black suede T-straps ...but spectacular red =
suede
> and black smooth leather pumps. I haven't worn them yet because they ar=
e
> definitely "Look at ME!" shoes, and I haven't had the courage. Or the c=
orrect
> wardrobe, to be honest. But sometimes love is like that.
I was a lucky kid. My mother had ambitions as a fashion designer. She
made many of my dresses and mostly with my design input. When I wanted a
dress for a high school dance, she and I would comb the fashion pages of
the Sunday New York Times , looking for design ideas. I=92ll always
remember her saying =93Don=92t ever forget, it=92s the girl in the red dr=
ess
who has the best time=94.
Well, in tango, it may be the woman in the red shoes.=20
Live it up, Cherie. Wear those gorgeous shoes. You=92ll feel great and
when you feel good it must be true that your dancing reflects it. That=92=
s
not to imply that wearing great shoes will make a bad dancer great, but
maybe wearing beautiful shoes that are comfortable and well balanced
will give a new self confidence to ones dancing. =20
I have been lucky to get a few pair of comfortable dancing shoes from
Flabella. Even a couple of red pair. And, I agree, he does know where to
put the heel. I also love dancing in my Paoul practice shoes from Spain.
They are soft and hug my foot like a glove. But when I want my feet to
look delicate and my leg to look alluring, I always bring out the high
heels. If, during the evening, my feet begin to hurt I switch to a pair
of lower heeled soft suede ballroom shoes. The balance isn=92t as good bu=
t
after a night of dancing in thin soled Flabella shoes it=92s like steppin=
g
into an old pair of slippers.
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 23:02:14 -0700
From: phyllis victory <victory @MARS.ARK.COM>
Subject: tango in victoria
yes, there is tango in victoria; AND if you are up to a ferry ride or two
there is also tango on saltspring island. gail meyer, gmeyer @saltspring.com
lives on saltspring and might be able to give you some info on events in
victoria. a little further up vancouver island and two short ferry rides
will land you on beautiful hornby island where the tango community is new
and dedicated. hornby island has practices on monday evenings at the
community hall. we also invite teachers from vancouver and victoria. in
february we invited carlos loyola to teach here and in march, susana
domingues, also from vancouver,came for a few days. they each brought their
own flavors to help quench our burning thirst.
island life is sweet and the passion for tango mingles with nature and the
elements.
ciao, phyllis
End of TANGO-L Digest - 19 Apr 1999 to 20 Apr 1999
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