The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 13 Dec 1999
to 14 Dec 1999
Reply-To: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 03:00:37 -0500
Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 13 Dec 1999 to 14 Dec 1999 (#1999-90)
There are 7 messages totalling 263 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. The lady leaning "heavy" on the man
2. Tango at see (4)
3. tradition and Copes
4. Zotto/Ermocida visit.
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Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 10:30:03 -0600
From: Stephen P Brown <Stephen.P.Brown @DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: The lady leaning "heavy" on the man
Personal experience has taught me not to make too many adjustments to
accomodate a new partner with whom I find dancing to be physically
uncomfortable. Adjustments can create a new set of problems when I
resume dancing with more familiar and comfortable partners. Instead I
choose more elementary movements for the duration of the dance and
then say thank you and escort her off the floor when the first song
ends. If I am having difficulty with a number of dance partners or
with partners with whom I dance regularly, adjustments are in order.
--Steve de Tejas
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 15:09:35 -0500
From: SERGIO <SERGIO @NCINTER.NET>
Subject: Tango at see
Cruises are organized by different organizations; they could be for Tango,
Ballroom Dancing, Country Dancing, Singles, Seniors, Gays, Believers or Non
Believers,etc,etc. The truth is that out of the hole ship (500-1000
passengers), only a few tables in the dinning room and a limited number of
activities are allocated to such organizations. The space and attention
given is proportional to the number of passengers brought by them. Some time
ago I noticed that some cruises had an important number of Spanish speaking
tourists, coming from Spain, Argentina, Mexico and other countries from
South America. They were annoyed because the shows, with a great number of
comedians were carried out in a language that they could not understand. I
personally wrote to the Cruise line suggesting the organization of some
cruises entirely dedicated to Castilian Speaking passengers. They dedicated
a few cruises entirely dedicated to those tourists. Actually they liked the
idea so much that they thank me with a free cruise. As the tango crowd
grows, we also could have an entire cruise for ourselves. There is something
we will not be able to change to much; the ship will continue to sway
causing trouble with our equilibrium. But then, nothing is perfect.
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 16:54:36 EST
From: Jack Karako <JKarako @AOL.COM>
Subject: tradition and Copes
Is this good or bad ?
Doesn't that imply that he actually did change something (as far as I know the change was quite drastic) 40 years ago, breaking the major traditions of Argentine Tango of the time?
One wonders why he stopped...
In a message dated Sat, 11 Dec 1999 3:21:11 PM Eastern Standard Time, tangostud <tangostud @MOST-WANTED.COM> writes:
> Speaking of Copes and "tradition", isn't a fact that most of his famous
> choreographies have not changed in 40+ years?!
>
> Not a single step - everything is the same no matter what show or movie he
> is in, Juan Carlos never changes anything!!!
>
> Respectfully,
> A.T.
>
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Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 18:11:18 -0500
From: Jacqueline William <williajm @BIOMED.MED.YALE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Tango at see
I suppose you assume that people from the Bahamas do not subscribe to this
list. I also wonder if you use the term "natives" to describe people from
other countries you have visited.
Jackie de Las Bahamas
On Sunday, 12 Dec 1999, Manuel Patino wrote:
> I do remember taking a rather cheesy and totally bogus "party cruise"
while in the Bahamas. What a joke! an uncomfortable trip in a boat loaded
with drunks with horribly loud, blaring, awful music (distorted noise
coming from over-driven speakers) to a slummy looking beach where we were
abandoned for several hours to be fed by surly natives some fairly plain
chicken and rice dish (and not much of it) and apparently to swim and play
in a sea weed filled, trashy, non sand, beach with out even benches to
sit on or shelter from the sun, let alone clean bathrooms or any other
amenity. Of course, they were very free with the rum punch (they served
it continuously). I guess "caveat emptor" comes to mind.
>
> Manuel
>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 19:18:40 -0800
From: Manuel Patino <white95r @HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango at see
Jackie and fellow tangueros y tangueras,
I apologize for using the term "natives" although I meant no slur, it can be
construed as one. I would have liked to say "surly locals".
Sincerely,
Manuel Patino
(a native Ecuadorian)
Original Message -----
From: Jacqueline William <williajm @BIOMED.MED.YALE.EDU>
> I suppose you assume that people from the Bahamas do not subscribe to this
> list. I also wonder if you use the term "natives" to describe people from
> other countries you have visited.
>
> Jackie de Las Bahamas
>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 07:10:07 -0800
From: "Renaldo \"Ron\" Leon" <RLeon49r @PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango at see
Having also returned from "Tango At Sea" Cruise, I share a bit of disappointment
in the organizational and logistical aspect of the cruise also. However, when
looking at the "Cruise" as a whole and the comraderie amongst the attendees and
instructors, IT WAS A SUCCESS!
I personally has a Wonderful Time! Mostly because I was able to look past some of
the problems that we had and tried to "make lemons into lemonade". Almost every
problem or difficulty that we had was to me "fixable" in some way to keep having a
good time. I was one of the "outspoken" ones at the meeting on board the ship and
I tried to always keep in mind that the "success" or "good time" that was to be
had or expected had a great deal to do with MY OWN "attitude" about adversity.
Having said that, I do not accept or condone the lack of some of the service or
promises that we made to us, however I feel that with a little more "accountable"
planning and directing this cruise can continue to be an ongoing successful event
that can be a great deal of fun for all attendees.
Having taken an informal "poll" of my own with the attendees whom I spoke to,
most of us had a wonderful time and made very special friends and "danced our
derriers off!" Dancing to 2:30-4:00 am every night was right down my line.
Some of us were dancing in every possible spot that we could, even without music
in the passage ways and lobbies. A lot of Fun!
The insttructors were very good, Christie Cote, Daniel Lapadula, Nora D. and Leon
Harris in cluding Nito and Elba whom to me were the "class" of the bunch. I must
commend them for their decision ( from what I was told by a staff member) to
"cancel" their "private" sessions due to the lack of a "quality" place to conduct
theri privates and the rocking and swaying of the ship for some periods of time.
I heard that if they could not deliver a quality invironment under quality
conditions then they did not choose to give the attendees a "diluted" product.
This to me was the mark of a true "professional" Milonguero and I commend them
for it.
All in all it was a great time to be had by all those whom could "accentuate the
positive" and try to "eliminate the negative". Much will be needed to make this
a "total" success next year, but I believe the people and desire is there to make
it very good in 2000. I WILL RETURN in 2000, however I will also have to have
some "guarantees" that it will "live up to" the Hype of the brochures.
Don't forget about the Valentine Cruise in February 2000 being arranged by two
great hosts, Victor and Christie from the Verdi Club in SF. Leaving out of
Los Angeles.
Happy Sailing! Renaldo Leon from Walnut Creek, California
Guy Barbe wrote:
> Just returned from the cruise "tango at sea" on the s/s Norway, with mixed
> feelings about the organization of the event by the promoter and, the lack of
> concern for our milonga space by the ships personnel. We were relegated to an
> open deck with 20 knots winds the first night along with a pitching deck made
> it very... shall we say interesting. After some complaints to the responsible
> ship personnel, we were allowed to dance after the last show in the main
> lounge usually by midnight. Thanks, for the "boom box" providing our music.
>
> If you decide to go on this cruise next year, be sure to ask hard questions on
> every details of the package to the promoter. Some problems brought to the
> attention of the promoter were dismissed, only to be corrected on the last day
> of class after a rather ugly scene, I will not go into any details. Later a
> meeting with the promoter and the cruise participant culminated into some good
> feedback that were noted and we were assured that corrective actions would be
> taken.
>
> Happy tango,
>
> Guy
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 16:05:22 EST
From: Charles Roques <Crrtango @AOL.COM>
Subject: Zotto/Ermocida visit.
As most of you know we had an impromptu visit last weekend here in NYC by
Osvaldo Zotto and Lorena Ermocida. It was a very successful day for all
involved. The turnout was very good with all the workshops filling up.
What was distinctive about their classes though was not the complexity of the
steps taught but rather the simplicity of them. Everything they taught was
something I had already seen or was working on. The quality of the movements
however was another story. Their sense of balance and poise and clean, crisp
elegance was so prevalent that the steps were secondary. I learned as much
from their basic class as I did from their advanced. Lorena moves with such
erect yet feline grace that it was a joy just to watch her walk in a straight
line. I have seen few people walk like that. Osvaldo has a beautiful,
centered equilibrium that gives all his movements great clarity and solidity.
Their performance later that night was also very beautiful (with the added
factor of their chemistry) which held most if not all us spellbound. Again it
was not the speed or abundance of steps. No whirling column of high-speed
ganchos - in fact not a single one that I remember - but instead an
impeccable, poised flow of movement. Danel summed it up afterwards. "They
don't get much better than that".
It was a great evening with Carlos and Alicia from "Tango Argentino" and
Diego and Carolina from "Forever Tango" stopping by as well as many of NYC's
best milongueros.
For those of you who have not had the pleasure, don't miss them if you have
the chance. And don't think you are too advanced to take the basic class.
With people like these for teachers you will miss a lot.
One final caveat though. Take it with a partner so you won't have to struggle
with people who should be more humble and not take advanced classes nor
inflict themselves on others more advanced than them. When you study with
people of this caliber, every step is about quality of movement. No amount of
steps will make up for any lack of it.
Cheers,
Charles Roques
End of TANGO-L Digest - 13 Dec 1999 to 14 Dec 1999 (#1999-90)
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