The Tango-L mailing list archive
Digest from 24 Jul 2000
to 25 Jul 2000
Reply-To: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 03:00:24 -0400
Sender: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango <TANGO-L @MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
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Subject: TANGO-L Digest - 24 Jul 2000 to 25 Jul 2000 (#2000-203)
There are 3 messages totalling 189 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Tango's growth or death in US
2. List of tango shoe resources
3. Metin Yazir/Teaching for the women [long]
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 06:15:43 -0400
From: michael ditkoff <tangomaniac @JUNO.COM>
Subject: Tango's growth or death in US
Rico Lombard sent a message last Saturday that included "Women are in
charge of tango growth in the US they can make or break our small
communities." His comments were along the line of women not dancing with
men because they don't get tango orgasms.
I feel the true reason women don't dance with some men is because IT
HURTS. I recently attended Daniel Trenner's Tango Locura in Montreal. In
one class, he had men dancing with men and women with women. When men
become more sensitive to their partners, they will be better leaders.
When I followed, one man shifted his weight from one foot to the other
before we began. I shifted mine as well. He asked "Why do you do that
(shift weight)?" I said "because you're doing it."
For the same reason women won't dance with some men, there are some women
I won't dance. Their right arm is as tight as a steel beam or they grip
my left hand like it's a hand grip to build up muscles.
Rico also wrote "We do not have a tango support system for men to learn
to be great leaders..." Well, if the women would speak up and tell the
men politely and directly and IF they listened, they would become better
leaders. Right now, women refusing to dance certain men is the only way
they know to send a message.
It takes two to tango. Neither sex has exclusive control of tango growth
in the U. S.
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 10:29:12 -0400
From: rtara <rtara @MAINE.RR.COM>
Subject: List of tango shoe resources
There has been quite a bit of discussion around tango shoes lately. In orde=
r
to save everyone time when looking for a source of shoes. Tara Design is
happy to provide a list of vendors. You might think I=B9m crazy to publicize
my competition. Maybe I am, but people need choices and not everyone is
ready to invest in the highest quality shoes. It is also difficult to find
all the vendors through the search engines.
There are shoes on this list of varying quality and price. Some sell very
expensive, high quality, handmade shoes of fine leather. Some sell very
inexpensive shoes of low quality leather and composition or plastic soles.
Some companies keep shoes in stock, so shipping time is 2-3 days, Some offe=
r
shoes shipped from Argentina with a longer wait time. Some offer custom
design services, which require a longer wait (anywhere from 4 weeks to 4
months), some sell ballroom shoes. The list was created by searching the
Internet on all the search engines. It is pretty comprehensive, though I ma=
y
have omitted someone inadvertently. If so, I would be happy to include them
on this list. Send me e-mail with the pertinent information including URL,
pricing info and delivery time. This list will be published on my web-site
when I am confident it is complete.
I have made a few notes about each company that I am familiar with. I wish
we had a "Consumer Reports" for tango shoes. Perhaps we could start our own
ratings list. I think it would be interesting for the members of the list t=
o
hear comments and reviews of each of the companies listed from customers wh=
o
have bought and wear their shoes. I would suggest a rating system including
such topics as: Comfort, Quality of Construction, Quality of Leather,
Styling, Customer Service, Return Policy, and Shipping Time.
A word of advice: Don=B9t try to order on-line. CALL these companies and talk
to them about their shoes. Ask about delivery times and materials.
These are not recommendations =AD only a list of resources.
TANGO SHOES
Tara Design =AD www.22tangoshoes.com
Expensive, high quality shoes for women =AD most sizes & styles in stock -
$140.
Amor de tango - http://www.amor-de-tango.com/en/adt/index.htm
Urs Ludi in Germany =AD 1 style for women
Tango Products - http://www.tangosplash.com/products.htm
No information about price or delivery
Tangomania - http://www.tangomania.com.ar/zeapa.htm
Can=B9t figure out how to order from this site =AD no information about price o=
r
delivery
Viviana - http://www.geocities.com/~hhognat/index.html
From $100 - $150. Custom, 4-6 weeks delivery
LindaValentino @PRODIGY.NET
Sells Susana=B9s shoes from Argentine =AD special order
Mr Tango Shoes - http://www.tangoinmiami.com/tienda/enter.html
Men=B9s and womens shoes - $69-79.00
BALLROOM SHOES
Eichner - http://www.dancing.de/Tango/Tango-UK.htm
2 styles for women =AD ballroom shoes - European
Dance Happy - http://www.dancehappy.com/mensshoes.html
Ballroom shoes for men. $115.00
Ballroom Connection - http://www.ballroom-connection.com
All Ballroom shoes - Large selection men=B9s & women=B9s =AD approx. $100-120
Champion - http://www.championdanceshoes.com/links.htm
All Ballroom shoes - L men=B9s & women=B9s =AD approx. $100-120
Ballroom Dance Supply - http://bdsweb.ballroom.com/BDSMall.html
All Ballroom shoes - Large selection men=B9s & women=B9s =AD approx. $$35-100
SALSA SHOES
Salsera - http://www.salsaweb.com/janette/index.htm
Salsa Shoes =AD men=B9s and women=B9s $90 =AD 110
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 12:17:49 -0700
From: Mike Hamilton <mikeh @MPL.UCSD.EDU>
Subject: Metin Yazir/Teaching for the women [long]
Dear List,
We first had Metin Yazir teach in San Diego back in March. As one of
the workshop organizers, afterwards I solicited opinions from as many
people as I could to find out what people thought and if there were
any details I should make an effort to improve the workshops for
people. 90% of the comments were entirely positive. However, the one
comment I got from a couple of women who took the workshop was a
comment which we've heard complained about many times on the tango-l:
he didn't teach enough for the women.
This last weekend, we had a second workshop with Metin. I mentioned
to him once briefly that that was the only complaint I had received.
And then, I watched very carefully what he taught this time.
I have taken several tango workshops from a variety of travelling
teachers over the past three years. I also spoke another woman who
attended our workshop this time, a guest from the LA area who has also
been dancing several years and taken many workshops and travelled to
Argentina several times. Neither of us could recall anyone
incorporating so clearly, thoroughly, and explicitly information for
the women.
He talked about frame technique, following and being active, body
kinesthetics and isolation... at one point he worked one by one with
every follower in the class kneeling next to her and working with her
leg to help her relax it for the proper technique of the gancho.
Another high point of the workshop came when a non-dancing friend of
one of the dancers briefly came in to drop something off. Metin asked
her "Excuse me! Do you know any tango?" The girl, rather surprised,
said no, and he proceded to demonstrate a very complex looking gancho
in order to illustrate the leadability of the movement. Very
successfully on the first attempt, I might add.
The workshop wasn't boring for the men, either. There was plenty of
material for both roles, and it was plenty challenging, and at the end
of it all, very fun. Once again he demonstrated his uncanny ability
to take difficult concepts and movements understandable and clear, if
not easy. Additionally, I think I laughed more in his workshop than
ever at a tango workshop. He is very humorous and fun to work with.
I admit that at this point, I am a partial. I view Metin as a friend
as well as a mentor and teacher. But, if he is in your area, I highly
recommend seeing some of the concepts he is teaching. In particular,
attend his classes on tango fundamentals. His approach is unique and
useful for all levels. His concepts of energy up and down and active
and passive are excellent models for dancing the tango and getting the
dance to work.
Sincerely,
Michael Hamilton
San Diego
End of TANGO-L Digest - 24 Jul 2000 to 25 Jul 2000 (#2000-203)
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