Tango - the healing embrace

The content is mostly clarifying the facts we maybe came across earlier but it is good to fresh up the facts again!

.... and go to the milonga!

http://www.argentinaindependent.com/life-style/society-life-style/tango-therapy-the-healing-embrace/

MARIA Y SEBASTIAN - Vals of the day

Quite not bad.       

(a Finnish expression of admiration at highest level)





Published on Jan 19, 2014
Maria Inés Bogado y Sebastián Jiménez, bailan "Dichas Que Viví", Orquesta de Rodolfo Biaggi, en la II Gala Aniversario de MIlonga "Tango Obsesión" de Puerto Montt, Chile. Sábado 11 de Enero, 2014.
https://youtu.be/caG_GEA0a9Q

Sebastian y Maria Ines - Vals

Sebastian and Maria Ines are among the highest stars on my vals sky and this time on the pista during the 2nd Shanghai Tango Marathon,

Their ability to create a flow with delicate changes in speed and still keep the performance live and interesting. They are exeptionel and they are great!




Sebastian Ariel Jimenez y Maria Ines Bogado
https://youtu.be/4u21IeM16V8

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Milonga - A Tango Project

A piece of mesmerizing stage tango and an interview with Sidi Larbi!

I find especially the beginning of this video extremely beautiful. There is a kind of bigger movement  surfing around on the group of dancers created by the individuals moving differently.




Guardian about the whole performance called Milonga

For Cherkaoui, the key image of tango is the dancers' close embrace, the motor of all their physical communication; it's this image that dominates the opening sections. Video footage of couples pressed together in a dance hall segues into the first live duet, which has two dancers moving in similarly intimate accord. Rather than facing front, the couple dance back-to-back, and in that startling reversal of tradition Cherkaoui makes us feel afresh the frisson of the dancers' mutual sensuality and trust.

(The whole article is enbedded here, click this line!)


http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/nov/08/sidi-larbi-cherkaoui-milonga-review

At Bennie Bartels' Tango/Feldenkrais WS

According to the information we got before the workshop, Bennie Bartels has a background as a professional dancer and a Feldenkrais practitioner.

With his own words about the subject:

"My focus in my teaching has always been to come to a deeper and more meaningful understanding of this "exotic" dance, to hand people clear and simple tools and a body awareness, to enable dancers to do what they want.
Understanding how grounding, uprightness, tension, travel of force through the body, intention and organisation, to be light but substantial, touch and energy work, is essential to dance a satisfying, pleasuralbe and communicative tango.

Feldenkrais is a non-corrective, exploring and playful technique through awareness and sensing. It is not static or abstract but works with process, movement and function (direction).
It is the best technique I have found in all these years of exploring movement and dance, that gives a great and helpful insight in all these processes. At the same time preventing injury and keeping you fit and with energy for your daily life.

The moving, dynamic and grounding side of the tango, next to a meaningful connection and a two way communication to create the music of the dance, is what I find very important to make people learn and understood.

The combination Tango and Feldenkrais create a philosophy for me, of an approach and a way of learning in which each person creates his or her own individual and unique style and dance".

We had 10 + 1 hours of training during this weekend with 2 h Feldenkrais and the 8+1 hour tango related exercises and games. The group had different backgrounds but he managed to keep us together quite well during these hours.

When I compare his pick of the teaching items, the methods and the pedagogical take with my earlier experiences with different teachers he is doing extremely well, especially on the connection issues and integrating the movements. Some of the delicate insights of technique and the responsibility of process within a couple were also well addressed during the hours.

Bennie and two students working on an abrazo exercise.

Two of my favorite principles we were working with!

The elbow management: If we both are stabilizing the elbows slightly in front of us - not stiff but stable - the feeling of connection is more easily created.

The integrated movement: We had several exercises and games to create a movement which involved the whole body. Many times we are creating the movement by moving just an isolated part of the body - we move the feet and the leg is moving from our hips - but the rest of the body is still. If the leader is just moving his leg and his chest is still it is impossibly for the follower to know what is happening. With his long experience Bennie could find different ways to explain and get us on board.

My special gratitude goes to his work to give the followers tools to take the responsibility for their own position and situation!

Thanks to you Fotini for organizing this weekend and Bennie for the insights!

The earliest youtube videos I found were from 2008 so he has been active with tango - as a dancer and teacher - for a long time.

https://youtu.be/B8SYn2vTL4I
https://youtu.be/FfelhJ9BH2w
https://youtu.be/NCkEVoA3ITE

I just love these sidesteps!  I found this video on Bennies homepage too.
https://youtu.be/d8Si3MHaqk4

Bennies homepage: http://benniebartels.me/about/

Our Last Tango - about Copes & Nieves

JUAN CARLOS COPES y MARIA NIEVES

A film about one of the mesmericing historic couple!





This video is more about the time when they were active in the 1974
Tango was danced in a different way and the technique and visual beauty ideals were different at that time but still you can get an idea why they were apreciatied!

(the dancing starts about 3:20 - but the  historical milieu in the beginning is fascinating too)

A story and an interviews are to be found at todotangos site at this address:
http://www.todotango.com/english/artists/info/1713/Maria-Nieves

      Then a inexperienced and daring young dancer, that she later 

would know that his name was Juan Carlos Copes, 

discovered her at the Estrella of Maldonado

http://www.todotango.com/english/artists/info/865/Juan-Carlos-Copes

His life and dancing by his own words:

There is a Tengo una pregunta para vos - done with Maria Nieves but it is without any English subtitles -  but for you with skills in Spanish please enjoy!

This is the part 1 of 3!


https://youtu.be/PkkeRYkq2XA?t=3m13s
https://youtu.be/ewlTss5oMQU
https://youtu.be/szsqKKoX9-0

TANGO BA final result

Finals for this year are as follows:

CLARISA ARAGON  y  JONATHAN SAAVEDRA 

Campeones de Tango de Pista 2015

CAMILA ALEGRE  y  EZEQUIEL JESUS LOPEZ   

Campeones de Tango Escenario 2015   

                                    The dance starts at 4.50

Dispari tango dynasty

Yes I should have become aware of the situation long time ago but I had a break through this summer!
Suddenly I just realized that many of the important tango influences are coming to me from Dispari family. It is definitely because of the way they dance, the availability of the workshops and the nice way they meet us!

Jorge and Maria Dispari
During the years the organizers here in Nordic have cooperated with Jorge and Maria! Thanks to them I have had possibility to participate once a year to their workshops. Here one of the most beautiful dances on Youtube.

Javier and Ceraldine
Geraldine is Marias daughter and it is said that even Javier has strong influences from Marias dance style. The early videos of this couple are the all time high among the tango performances. Here you get one of my favorites from Bologna 2001!

I met Javier first time 2004 and after that I have participated in his classes every now and then. He is one of the few teacher who is clearly pointing out the problems with our, students' dancing. He also starts the lessons by walking exercises to point out the importance of a good base for tango.

If you want to know more about her so check my youtube portal for her! (I am sorry but it is working only for computer - yt regulations) When a thumbnail and the title appears you can click on it and get more videos connected to that title.

Adrian and Amanda Costa
Costas are strongly dedicated students of Jorge and Maria! I have had possibility to study for them twice and will continue!

Jorge and Marita have also a daughter Samantha Dispari living on the pistas but I have not had opportunity to participate in her workshops.

https://youtu.be/-VK_Nyykfg8

https://youtu.be/p6rVh5i6xX8

https://youtu.be/fzBNiqwCwdg

https://youtu.be/PPJCjtWxz98
https://youtu.be/9wtokkp6qTg

TANGO BA semifinal result

Here are part of the list for the participants in final competition this August: The most happy information is that my Singapore favorites are ON!

The whole list you can find here:  http://festivales.buenosaires.gob.ar/uploads/admin/estaticos/db59bd928a1c90d9db035714bf949309.pdf

Los Laurels in B.A.

Mi tango nació en Sarandi - Elina Roldan (sub inglés)

A beautifully done film about tango!
The place Los Laurels is a beautiful gem among the tango venues in Buenos Aires. The food is not so - when we visited the place the stake was inedible - the second try was good for my friend but I just accepted a reduced price and got dancing on salad!

But still I would go back there again! 
The memory images of the people (wasn't he there that night?) and the details in the venue are still so beautiful . . . . 





https://youtu.be/IvL3UNCA-i0

Javier Rodriguez with followers

Javier Rodriguez is performing with different partners giving us an opportunity to se how a follower is having an impact on leader!

What you think?

MOIRA Castellano




CARLA Rossi

FATIMA Vitale


Would these followers have an impact on yours dancing?  In what way?

A tango during your surgery?

According to the news an old truth was confirmed: Music has impact on your wellbeing but it also lessens the pain during a surgery!

Doesn't this indicate that the effect is created below our awareness level; it is created and handled in a different part of the brain compared to the phenomenon which need our focused thoughts. Maybe this is the level of our true dancing?

You find the whole story here!
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-17525232

Lost my dance!

As stated in the earlier posting my dance has clearly two levels. The stepping mode where i just do the moves and the intense one when the dance comes alive.

To my surprise the daylight situation makes it difficult to reach the dancing level. If you add a crowd dancing in very different styles so the harmonious pista is not developed and I was left craving for my fix!

Stepping vs dancing mode

Sometimes I notice that I am just moving to the music and decide that this is not enough.

I change the mood and the dance comes alive.

There is a change of focus, intensity but not necessarily a change of steps or in musicality. I am though quite sure that this change is visible to an experienced eye!

A musicality play

I just love his creativity in finding new ways to visualize the things happening in a song!

Here one example:

A virtual marathon runner?

We come to tango for different reasons and our expectations are build on that ground. If we compare tango to walking/running it can be easier to make the variations in expectations and needs visible. The question why some dancers are training all the time and others not at all maybe get an explanation!

Yes we have the group of Sunday walkers. They come to the weekly milongas chatting with people, dancing some and if they participate in a class it is more for the fun than for a serious skill growing. In a large community you get all kinds of combinations of skill and fun; from the Sunday walk person to a totally focused marathon runner.

Along the way I have become aware of my deepest interest which lies in skill growing. I am as a marathon runner spending lonely hours to develop the skill, technic and strength. I am not chasing to be the best in the world - that dream was crashed quite early - but I am exploring my personal limits, exploring how far I can push myself!

Yes there are Sundays when the walk is absolutely wonderful, mutually appreciated and joyful. On other hand I need my training, my dancing moments when I push my limits to my personal extreems with a partner who is at about the same level. If this is not available my frustration level is rising making me irritated and sometimes even short tempered.

Are you a Sunday walker or a marathon runner?

Take a look about it and you will find what are the essetial needs for your tango life!

Tivoli Milonga on Fridays

This milonga is the largest and for continuous visitor the cheapest milonga in town!

It is opened in May and run every Friday until the end of September. A seasonal card - a green card - is valid for the whole summer and you can buy it for 240kr. There is Tango on Fridays and salsa, foxtrot or bugg the other evenings and all this is available with the same card same price.

Some pictures from last Friday, this year!

On this video you find the place from a different angle and in the beginning you get the directions to Grönalund tivoli by tram and in the end by the boat. The last one is a good summer option and easy to reach from the pieer at Slussen.  (the tram stop has been moved further down after this video was completed - just a some meeters more to walk in same direction, same street)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwGeCaYIzs8

Dancers, test to tape your feet!

During the encuentro I opened a Taping station for those who wanted to test the help a tape could do for the tired feet! There is different methods to do this - please test to find out the most suitable one for you!

This posting is to urge you to start experimenting, start to ask and to know that there is some help on the way!

Tape, scissors and instructions!

Don't be shy but let your dedication for this dance become visible!

Here a testimonial:

Hi Leena ! 
[...]
I just wanted to say that I use the "paddings" you were talking about and it has changed my life of tango dancer (follower). No more frustrations for the last tandas of milongas... For me, it doen't prevent of any pain, but the metatarsal pains arrive much more later... 

Of course, it's a little visible, with this piece of beige material of the upper band "escaping" of the shoe, but it doesn't matter ! I have 2 pairs and I wash them regularly without any damage ! I will never dance again without them (except if the shoes themselves have paddings like some of "SUR" brand)... 

I've never tried sport tapes but the colored ones can have an interesting effect with tango shoes !!... Hope to see you soon ! Chantal

(this is not Chantals foot but from the same occasion)

In Close Embrace: visuals

I call my photos for digital paintings because for me the most important thing is to communicate my experience and visual preferences than the actual environment. If you scan through several photographers work you will find your favorite way for visuals! Far down in this posting are the links to facebook and some more paintings!

I did not use my camera so much because of the execssive dancing but some videos I can share with you!

Two sets of facebook picture collections

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206400611686937&set=pcb.10206400627527333&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206388455943051&set=pcb.10206388461663194&type=1&theater

The body exceeds its limits!

During the last weekend I participated in the encuentro Stockholm in a close embrace! A wonderful event just a few minutes away from my home! We were offered 26 hours of dancing and the warming up as well as cooling down milongas added 7 more hours to the total number.

I usually get tired just after the midnight but not at this event. I came early and stayed around the pista most of the hours just squeezing out an half an hour here and there.

This was also the first time I withouth doubt experienced the effect of the skilled DJs. During the weekend I felt flames of frustration within me when a tanda was sounding and I did not managed to get a partner at once. Later on it was more difficult when the pista was filled up and it was not possibly to catch an eye on the other side. On Sunday the strategies were better and of my 5,5 hours at the event I danced 5.

I clearly experienced in my body an arousal level above of the normal, a level driving up the number of dancing hours. My usually so morning stiff back was nearly ok but I still expected that the body would be aching some days after the last milonga. It has been so earlier - but no, not this time. Even when all the happiness chemicals had thinned out from my system the pain did not reveal itself.

Here is the program for the weekend and the DJs who put my body in fire!

 I think the change of my basic training in to the cardio direction and the closer relationship to the music are the main reasons for the difference compared to the earlier encuentros.