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Firehouse Tango

February 09, 2012 Newsletter

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Celebrate Valentine's Day at Firehouse next Thursday February 16, 2012 with

§ live music by Raul Jaurena & Mauricio Najt -

§ Extra hour of dancing -

§ Shoes by Mr. Tango for Sale

Valentine's Day Celebration

Our Valentine’s Day Milonga this year will be on Thursday, February 16. Combined with live music, shoe sale, and special Valentine’s cortinas during the recorded music break; it’s going to be one of our best ever. Don’t miss it! Come with or without your valentine – Oh, and try to wear something red. It’s sure to be a great evening.

Tango Shoes

Carolina Jaurena (Raul's daughter) will come with her dad on February 16. She's going to bring a large selection of Mr. Tango Shoes. These are my favorite tango shoes - they are comfortable, fashionable, and reasonable, so take a look. Hint, hint - they make a great Valentine's Day present.

Live Music and Schedule

Don't miss this awesome evening of live music by bandoneon maestro, Raul Jaurena http://www.rauljaurena.com/biography.html with Mauricio Najt on piano. The schedule for the evening is:

7:00 - 8:00 Basic lesson with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman

8:00 - 9:00     Intermediate lesson with Fran Chesleigh and Pat Altman
9:00 - 9:30     Buffet open and recorded music by DJ Joe
9:30 - 11:30   Dancing to live music with Raul Jaurena and Maurizio Najt. Recorded music by DJ Joe during breaks

11:30-12:00 Recorded music by DJ Joe

The cost is $20. As always, admission includes dinner, lessons, dancing and socializing with some of the nicest folks around.

Special Cortinas – Valentine’s Love Songs

A cortina (curtain) is a short piece (20–60 seconds) of non-dance music that is played between tandas at a milonga (tango dance event). The cortina lets the dancers know that the tanda has ended. The partners can then without insult thank each other and return to their own tables, to find a new dance partner at the next tanda. Cortinas are used at many of the milongas in Argentina and Uruguay but are increasingly common elsewhere. - Wikipedia

This week’s cortinas, as promised, were love songs as a prelude to Valentine’s Day.

Look for love songs again next week for an extended Valentine’s Day and tailored interludes in the future.

Let us know if you are celebrating an occasion and would like to request special music for that night’s cortinas. We will try very hard to accommodate you.

Celebrations

Birthday of Consuelo Evans – Thursday, February 23

For the second year in a row, Consuelo will celebrate her birthday at Firehouse. As those who were here last year know, dancing with this tanguera is a real treat. Don’t miss it.

Last year, Consuelo brought a three tiered tray overflowing with home-made cheese cupcakes topped with strawberries and cream. They were beautiful, and take it from me; they tasted just as good as they looked. I’m sure that this year’s treat will be even more spectacular.

Wedding of Bob and Georgette - Thursday, February 9

From Bill Krukovski

SORRY FOR THE SHORT NOTICE:

Bob and Georgette got married this morning here in NJ. They were married in Lebanon late last year. Today’s marriage was a USA confirmation/necessity to assure citizenship for Georgette. They wish to include tonight at Firehouse in their wedding celebration

Bob is a personal friend of mine and was at Firehouse several times with me and loves the place. He stopped going because of a health problem. His brother Joseph will be with us, as well.

I got a cake on short notice. Since it was short notice, the cake may be too big. The cake was made in the Monteleone bakery in Jersey City where they do delicious stuff. I hope this celebration is no problem.

Love smk/bill

***Note from Sue -- We were thrilled to celebrate the wedding of this delightful couple. The cake was delicious. The couple requested that we play a Lebanese song for their celebratory dance, and they invited everyone to join in. It was great fun.

If heaven is anything like celebrating one’s birthday at Firehouse Tango, it has a lot to recommend it. Frankly, I’d rather be at Firehouse. Thank you lovely tangueras, for a birthday memory I shall cherish. Con mucho amore,

Steve Turi

I keep saying I do not want to celebrate any more birthdays, but how many men will line up to dance with me, if not for the traditional tributes on birthdays.....oh well, you know that is not really true because our tanqueros dance with all of the ladies...

Terri Lopez

Our Sympathy to June Stahl

Our sympathy goes to long time Firehouse friend, June Stahl, on the death of her mother, Alice Slater Stahl. I know from experience that it hurts no matter how old or how expected. Donations can be made in her honor to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, 50 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652. Sue

Hi Sue,

I'm writing to let you know that my Mom passed away early this morning. I haven't been to Firehouse for the past few weeks because my Mom had taken a turn for the worse and I was spending a lot of time with her. I just wanted you to know -- although I know you didn't know her. I know you have been here and know what I am going through. Mom had turned 99 on January 28th and sadly had suffered a stroke shortly before that which precipitated her decline.

I hope you are doing well and I hope to see you soon,

Regards,

June

Tango Tip of the week

Fran Chesleigh has been writing weekly Tango Tips for Firehouse since 2006. You'll find them all archived on our website at www.firehousetango.com under Tango Tips.

Hello everyone, Pat here with your Tango Tip of the Week. As Fran has promised, this week I will compliment his Tango Tip on the leader’s use of his right arm in the dance, with the follower’s corresponding use of her left arm.

When forming the dance embrace, the follower typically positions her left arm around the leader’s right shoulder, so that her hand comes to rest on his upper back in a place that is most comfortable for the couple. It could be his shoulder itself, just below the shoulder, or further around on his upper back.

If dancing close, the follower can position her arm all the way around the lower part of her leader’s neck. However, this can only be done if the follower’s height allows her to remain on her own balance. Too often, we see a follower forming an embrace in which she literally drapes herself on the leader, arm hooked around his neck and balance totally compromised as she leans on him at a precipitous angle. Followers: please don’t ever do this!

But let’s assume that the embrace is in balance and comfortable, and the dance begins. In linear movement (forward, side and back steps), the follower can comfortably keep her arm and hand in place, as I have described above. However, if the leader asks for full side-to-side ochos, these pivoting and stepping movements will require the follower to adjust her arm in order to accommodate additional space, so that she can execute her ochos with good technique, and in balance. This could mean that her hand slides onto the leader’s upper arm. When the leader moves on, she can re-adjust her arm to its former position.

Similarly, in molinete, there should be enough space between leader and follower to allow her balanced execution of this difficult technique. I find that my arm and hand immediately slide to my leader’s mid-arm, usually just above the elbow. This separates me from the embrace sufficiently for the molinete, without any chance of pulling him off balance. Once the leader moves on, again the closer embrace can be resumed.

The follower should also be prepared to adjust her arm in other movements, such as gancho and parada, even the cross if the leader creates a separation in the embrace during such movements.

Periodically, when the embrace is close, a follower may lift her arm off her leader’s back and hold it in position but without touching. A few movements later she will re-engage her arm and resume the full embrace. This is entirely the follower’s choice, and should only be done during linear movement.

Followers, understand that your arm position can and should be flexible. Do not keep it rigid throughout the dance. Knowing that there can be movement in the embrace, which can be really close or can move apart at certain places, will open up a greater understanding of this amazing dance. By adjusting your left arm positions throughout the dance, you will feel much more confident and in control of your movements, and it will enhance your enjoyment and comfort.

While the Cats are away - it's time to play CHEF!

Hello everyone, Pat here, and the Cat’s Away poster is back once again in preparation for our two amazing evenings at Firehouse when we feast on some of the most sumptuous dishes you have ever tasted. This year these two special evenings will be held on March 8 and March 15!! Please make sure to mark your calendars. What’s different this year is that there are no Cats who are away…we are all here, including Sue and Joe, and ready to start cooking! We will bring the poster each week from now on so there's plenty of time to consider what you will bring. We'll need appetizers, entrees, salads and desserts--and the usual beverages, so start reviewing your best recipes and plan to join the banquet brigade! If you’d like to sign up via email, contact Fran or me at franchesleigh@mac.com. You can also contact Pat at paltman@bcrfcure.org.

Saturdays with Fran and Pat at Dance Manhattan

For Firehouse dancers who might enjoy a day in the Big Apple on Saturdays, Fran teaches from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every week. He offers a beginner class in Milonga & Argentine Waltz at 11:00 a.m. as well as an intermediate class in Tango at noon. From 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Fran and Pat host a special beginner/intermediate practice for bringing your skills up to speed. The cost for the practice is $10 per person. (Bringing a partner isn't necessary.) Fran and Pat are always on hand to answer any questions you may have about your dancing, and to help you with figures you're working on. If you want to take Fran's classes, call Dance Manhattan at 212-807-0802 to register. For the practice, all you have to do is arrive with $10 and your dance shoes in hand.

See you every Saturday for a full day of Tango!

Readers' Corner

We welcome readers' contributions about Argentine Tango in general and Firehouse Tango in particular. Send your thoughts to firehousetango@gmail.com

From Eva Roth – in answer to my question when she will be away. Thank you, Eva, for helping my Spanish studies by sending me the message en espanol. The translation is mine.

NO PUEDO VIVIR SIN MIS COMPANEROS DEL FIREHOUSE. ES REALMENTE UN LUGAR MUY ESPECIAL. EVA (I cannot live without my Firehouse friends. It is really a very special place.)

Firehouse Tango hot line – We rarely cancel

We want to remind everyone that if the weather looks really bad, we will leave messages on our web site www.firehousetango.com and phone 201-825-1570. You can also reach us on our cell phone 201-826-6602 (Sue) and 201-913-8504 (Joe). Feel free to leave a message on any of these lines. We cancel only when absolutely necessary (only about six times in all these years), but please check whenever you’re not sure. If there isn't any message, we're on.

Lost and Found

You lost it, we probably have it. We still have a beautiful black sweater with fur collar, and a pearl bracelet that someone lost in the parking lot a few weeks ago.

A final thank you

The following folks helped set up, break down and clean up before and after the milonga. Without them, there would be no Firehouse Tango.

· OMG I forgot one last week – How could I forget Eva Roth – vacationing in Jersey in between vacations around the world – who brought fish and rice last week? I sincerely apologize. This week, she brought an equally delicious pan of stuffed cabbage. What is there to say about someone so generous? We love you, Eva.

Mary Fanning – Came early, stayed late – How did we ever get along without you? Welcome home!
Stephen Maisch
Dave Thomas and Susan Konight
Tsipoyra Sartan
Jesse Barton
Debbie Glaser
Sylvester Jaworsky - Climate Control and thanks for the markers (he didn’t like mine)
steve turi - mr. wonderful
Cris Grapa

A reminder that Firehouse Tango does not supply wine - Your fellow tangueros bring it. Therefore, if you drink it, please make sure to bring a bottle every so often.

The folks below brought food and wine this week -

Eva Roth - Stuffed Cabbage with saffron rice
Herb Goodfried - Rum Raisin Ice Cream
Lou & Faye - Key Lime Pie
Judy Assisi - Chocolate Cake & Cookies

And these people brought wine

Eduard Simpson
Dave & Susan
Bill Krukovski
Mary Pagano
Dan & Georgina
Carl Schaefer
Bob Brillo
Eduardo Campos
Jesse Barton
Terri Lopez
Eduardo Campos

Tango in New Jersey - Milongas

Firehouse Tango - Maywood, New Jersey - Every Thursday night. See below for details) or call 201-825-1570 or www.firehousetango.com.

Milonga Del Encanto -Wednesday nights in 2011 at Blend Bar at 17 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood, NJ

Stay current on Tango events at www.TangoAnyone.com

Admission: $10 General Admission ... includes lesson Blend features: Wood dance floor Full restaurant (available Dinner & Tapas) Full Service cash bar Dance floor tables Plenty of free parking

is located at: 17 Chestnut Street Ridgewood, NJ 07450 Easy access via: Car - GSP to Ridgewood Avenue exit (167), East to Chestnut Street Bus - #163/164 to Ridgewood bus terminal, 1 block to Chestnut Street Rail - Ridgewood train station, 1 block east to Chestnut Street For additional information call: Tango Entertainment (281) TANGO-NY / (281) 826-4669 for details...

Hora Cero ...

STARLIGHT DANCE CENTER

7 High Street

Nutley NJ 07110

973-235-9835

www.starlightdanceusa.com

First and Third Friday of the Month

Hosted by Jose and Silvana and Ninah and Anton Gazenbeek

Roseland Milonga

Monthly - next one on Saturday, December 10 at 8:00

Location - VFW Post