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)

You can control the SPEED in youtube

One of the most valuable option in youtube of today is the speed control: You can decide if it goes slower than normal or speed up your video. 

Here you have the control button:

If this option is not available at your youtube window you maybe are missing the add-on called HTML5 . All things remain the same on your youtube window but you just get the control button!

Place your cursor on the youtube window and RIGHT click. This click brings up a list of options and you take the HTML line. 

I use the slower options when I need to check details but the fast variants are really useful for speeches - at 1.5 you still understand the words but get through a 15 mins speech in 10 mins - GREAT  i think!

(I am updating all my channels with this info - sorry if you are hit by this several times. . .)

Clear and basic - Figures with Diego and Ana

When I need to know about a basic performance for a figure one of the places I look is the Diegos and Anas playlist for Argentine tango.  I thought that it maybe could be helpful for you too! This is for sacada my favorite figure this summer!

Link to the playlist!                 

(There is difficulties with videos so you get only a link.)     

Here you find a copy of the playlist window. You see that they have 47 items on the list! :)

http://youtu.be/zsiG6syustM?list=PL29FA8532E914DD98

Get a personal Tango Doctor!

Every now and then a follower comes to me at a milonga and asks for a recovery dance. Her body is out of order after a dance with a nice but unskilled leader who is shaking her body to chaos. During our tanda she recovers and can go home with memories of a nice milonga.

When I was still following I had a similar problem caused by rough words from some leaders. During that period I had a tango friend who was an easygoing, experienced dancer. His dance was not demanding but still spiced up with some moves and he could have some small talk going on even during a song. When my world was smashed down by someone I went to him and asked for a tanda. This playful dance let me recover and go home glad for the nice parts of the evening. I called him for my Tango Doctor in my mind.

Please take this advice and get your own Tango Doctor, a man or a woman! Your milongas will become a much better place in that way. Become friend with someone who has a healing effect on you. Become aware of this effect and keep this friend!

Who could be your doctor?

Tango moves on wikipedia

This site is a good place to start when looking for a correct name for a tango move. You find here the names in English and Spanish and quite explanatory pictures as well.

Figures of Argentine tango

Tango Lesson seems to be involved here because most of the figures are shown by Cristina and Homer Ladas.

I suppose you can find some videos at their channel on several of these figures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figures_of_Argentine_tango

Free apps for your Spanish studies!

To dance Argentine tango is also to get accustomed to the spanish terminology and for some of us it tickles alive a wish to learn some spanish. If you plan to visit Buenos Aires your wish will rapidly grow to a plan to enroll on a course! It can happend that the only local course is run on the very same evening as your favorite milonga so it is not an option!

But there is some other possibilities available for those of us, who only have a few minutes here and there.

Duolingo - Free app
I am using this one because it has a nice layout,  a good study plan and it is free. There is some more courses if you appreciate the method.
https://www.duolingo.com

Memrise - Free app
Yesterday I came across this tool combining the good quality of Duolingo layout quite well and giving you a possibility to create your own learning materials as well. There is a lot of courses your Memrise pals have done for themselves and generously sharing for us others too. I will definetly go with this app for Asian studies and my own material!
http://www.memrise.com

Anki - Free app
This is quite like the Memrise app giving you the option to create your own material. I have used it for my Asian language studies and to get fluent on the functions of my camera.
http://ankisrs.net/

All three have an app for ANDROID and APPLE as well as for the large screen on your computer at home.

Finding milongas on your ww trip

When I am planing my new trip I usually make a youtube search on that country or area to get an idea of the tango danced there. If I like a venue or festival I try to contact the account owner via youtube. Some times it don't work sometimes it works relly well and I have had a friend waiting for my visit!

This site has been a helpful start. It gives you the organizers email so I have been able to check if the event is still valid. You find the map and other information as well.
http://milongas-in.com/milongas-in.php

Other sites:

http://www.tangofestivals.net/

http://www.tangomarathons.com/

New York - http://www.newyorktango.com/