Clase Carla Marano

Last night was pretty cool: Carla (from Tango Discovery)'s class [can you do that puntuation with the apostrophe?] at Malabia 1738 went over various types of sacadas. The cool stuff: Carla gives the problem to her students. The first exercise we did was, "alternate sacadas, one for the man, and one for the woman." Then she gave some examples.

Now, it's a pretty great thing to have somebody do something that is NOT a sequence but rather a problem-framing (alternate sacadas, for instance). However, it's not enough at all, and in fact just results in the same sort of lost searching. Sure, at home with your partner (if I only had a fixed partner) you could figure out some combinations with that general framework, but the problem space looks like this: there are three types of normal sacadas (front, side and back where the man takes the woman's place or vice-versa) and one additional type (cuarta sacada) in which the woman and man switch places. Leaving out the cuarta, any of the three can be done while the other person does a forward step (cruce delante), back step (cruce atrás) or a side step (apertura). Now I'm getting lost in the multiplication because if you do all the possible legs you always get four for each (rr rl ll lr), and the man can do it or the man can lead the woman to do it. So I guess that's about 3x3x4x2 or 64. Not to mention the cuarta sacada.

Now, those are a lot of friggin' options to just grab randomly, especially because a lot of them require special attention and twisting and all kinds of shit that, unless you're a real natural, you're not going to figure out on your on.

And then Carla shows us a sequence that none of the leaders got the first time around (one is my friend Katha, who is great, and she made up her own sequence the first time). When are teachers going to learn that it's a waste of individual time to go around and show us the sequence. If the general demonstration of the sequence is clear and repetitive (imagine if you did not understand the sequence: that's what teachers have to do) then you can use the individual time to correct individual errors. Otherwise, as happened with Carla last night, she goes around and shows the sequence to each of us individually. Now I realize that I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer as far as picking up sequences goes, but I can get it if you show it to me well several times. Because in the end, you'll have to do that anyway, and then you won't have any time to teach me anything specific to me!

Now, to be honest, Carla is great and she did give me some personal tips anyway, but that's only possible because the group is quite small (5 couples or less). With a larger group, you must demonstrate the sequence clearly.

Alright, I'm off to práctica at Malcom (Tango Motivo), I hope to write up my neat conversations and experiences at the Practica Carla Marano when I get home (assuming I get home).

Happy Tangoing!

Saturday April 7, Viruta (Experimenting!)

I'm going to title each one separately so as to keep all of this organized.

Now the locals say that the Viruta was closed for a week a few weeks ago because they do not have a license to play salsa and the municipal licensing whatever inspectors got there on a Friday night just while they were playing salsa. So you can imagine my surprise when I got the Viruta on Saturday and they were playing Reguetón (Reggaeton) and Rock. I couldn't wait for the salsa to come on, mostly to disprove the whole "salsa license" hypothesis (also to dance). However, the never played salsa, and my sources are friends with the DJ at the place, so I imagine that they'll never play salsa there.

The reggaeton, rock, and other bullshit music set lasted until 2am (or 1.30, I think) and I was pretty worried that it would go on forever. Please note that this was not the Swing set, in which they dance all that 1950's couple's danceable music. However, when any music comes on, Argentinians kind of stand there and move without any connection to the music. If the music is fast, they move more excitedly, but not in rhythm with the music. Another particularity of local culture is that regardless of the type of music, men ask women to dance ("would you like to dance Celebration with me?"). Weird. Does that happen in the US? I wouldn't know, I guess, but I think that in a hip hop club you might sidle up to somebody, but you're not going to ask somebody to dance.

But anyway, the guy at the door (and later the DJ) had told me that the set only had another .5 hour when I got there, and that was right. Then it was pure tango (and Vals and Milonga, of course). The tandas are large but they are definitely tandas. People were great and every woman I took out to dance lasted a whole tanda with me.

The students from Copello had a table which is why you should always go to some places at least once a week: that way you've got a bit of a social backbone out there. It helps if they're women and know how to dance, which was the case.

Anyway, I took off at 5am but there was still more dancing to be had. The Viruta has a great floor, but it's a bit crowded and some people have no idea what they're doing and even crash into you if you stay still. One of the worst offenders was one of my fellow students at Copello, so I'm not sure what to make of it. I hope I'm not that bad.

One of the things I'm beginning to do on the dance floor is not just dance, but try out some things that I'm thinking of, even if they're simple (like front sacadas) or difficult (like back sacadas). If you're friendly and serious and don't crash into people all the time, women will generally let you do some experimenting. In fact, in my experience they seem to prefer the experimenting. One of the foreign guys down here that women love dancing with is Michael "The Pistol" (keeps his left hand with the index finger out, but I guess he'll stop if he reads this) and he's always trying stuff, some of which doesn't work out at all.

More experimenting!

No Tango Last Night, But We Got A Link

As everyone knows, since Google started, the Internet works based on who links to you. We finally got a mention somewhere (http://www.fishnetsandfedoras.com) so we're now well on our way to fame (and later, fortune). I just have to put in better content, better photos, and more brilliant observations on Argentinians. I think I have a lot to contribute on this last point.

First let me say that I'm getting ready to go out and Saturday Night Live is coming in on cable channel whatever here in Buenos Aires, and my question is always the same: did it always suck this badly, or was it better when John Belushi was alive? I suspect that we only see the great skits from when Belushi was alive.

Anyway, yesterday was my parents last night here so I missed all tango classes. Then I died and couldn't go out (sore throat, fever, everything). However, everyone that did go out last night said the same thing: Canning was really crowded, and the Viruta was really not crowded. Which is strange. Is there any way to predict the patterns of these things in Buenos Aires? Tonight I think I'll head to the Viruta, but I have my doubts.

Anyway, since it's after midnight I'll write about today, Saturday, too. I went to class at Copello (Tango 2 with Jose y Virginia). Nice stuff with a man's primera sacada and a woman's tercera sacada. The figures came out nicely, which demonstrates my new spinning technique: if you suck your gut in and bend your knees, you will be much more stable.

Anyway, the information you won't find anywhere is that the class was nice with 1 or 2 men over a 1:1 ratio. Not bad, and Jose and Vicky are cool, but they're used to correcting at a pretty low level (no wonder they're the only people who can dance in the class). Also, once you get out of North America, questions about easy recipes and stuff never get answered. This guy asked tonight, "what's the secret for doing spins?" And Jose says, "work." Well, yeah, but there are a few tricks out there (Salsa Freak Edie What's-Her-Name had some great spinning tips a while ago).

Anyway, I think I'm heading to the Viruta. Here's a picture of my triply-non-kosher passover-week pizza:

Mucho Tango, Mas O Menos

This photo is from 6 in the morning waiting for some restaurants to open again on Viernes santo which literally translated means "not quite as annoying as this same holiday would be in Madrid, where everything closed for real."

Last night was quite cool. First, went to a Tango Dinner at a place on Suipacha between Lavalle and Corrientes (the one closer to Lavalle) that does tango shows for free during dinner... it was okay, but the food kind of sucked. The waiter assured me that it was just bad luck, that other diners had complained in the same day. I'm not sure I'll go back there. It was a question of convenience because my parents are staying downtown for their last few days.

Then we went to another shitty place to have desert on Esmeralda, also between Lavalle and Corrientes. These are probably the worst places my parents have seen since they've been here. Let's face it, downtown is a terrible place to stay compared to Recoleta (or I guess you could go the other way and stay in San Telmo or something).

1am Niño Bien
Niño Bien is one of the classic Thursday night places, and my Mexican friend Karla assured me that it's nice. However, last night was right before a feriado so there were so many people that it more like an electronic music club than anything else. And the dance floor was even worse. So when Karla got there we took off immediately for Catedral.

1.30pm Catedral (Medrano and Sarmiento)
We got to Catedral and there was a group playing and there was a fair number of spectators, but there was still one or two tables free (nada que ver con Niño Bien). The dance floor is uneven and weird, but there was definitely enough room to dance and try some stuff out.

Several more friends (the Australians, Ed and Annie and their friend Alex) showed up too and hung out for a bit, and it was generally a great night. Well, for me: Karla said that no on asked her to dance. But there were really very few guys! Anyway, I danced a lot with good people like Karla and Lía, her German friend. It's not my fault if better dancers than me have to stand people like me :)

4.50am Viruta
The Viruta closed early due to being the night before a holiday. You could get this information by guessing, because it sure as hell isn't on any website (showing the low value of information in a developing country).

As we walked into the Viruta we realized that most everybody had left, and they were announcing the last tango. I danced it with my chica (who had just come free, strangely) and danced quite well given how badly I suck. A great dance night, in the end...!

6am
We walked all the way to Corrientes along Scalabrini Ortiz (Emilio says, "it's only 4 blocks!") trying to find a place to have breakfast. Then I'm not sure what happened, I wound up at 12.30pm at my house really tired but unable to sleep (having slept elsewhere for 4.5 hours). The moral of the story: sleep is important, breakfast after going out is rarely interesting, don't bother. Oh, and go to your own house regardless of the prospect you have in front of you. If it's good enough, it will wait.

BocaTango

Went to Boca Tango last night since this person knows that person etc. The show was incredible and my parents loved it. I think that while Madero Tango is an amazing show (with differential pricing if you're Argentinian or not, bastards!), Boca Tango is way more fun. At Boca Tango there's a first theater part which they somehow make fun for even the most non-participative of participants. And then there was a serious tango music and dance part, with three couples all of whom were excellent. The level of the dancing wasn't perhaps as good as Madero Tango, but it's way better than La Esquina Homero Manci where only one of the couples was decent.

I was really impressed and enjoyed it. If you must spend 140+ pesos for a tango show, I would definitely recommend Boca Tango. On the other hand, you might want to save your money and just go to Bien Pulenta on Saturday night and watch when people finally dance. Though last night convinced me that at least one tango show in a Casa de tango is essential for any tourist stay in Buenos Aires.

Practica X and Color Tango in Canning

Quick report because I'm rushing out of the house to get my parents (who are still visiting) to go to "Chinatown" (Arribeños) and then we're going to Boca Tango where we know people. I hope they like it.

Last night:

Practica X
Práctica X was great as usual although if I'm not mistaken there were fewer people than normal. Lots of foreigners and lots of amazing dancers. This is one of the best female dancers who was there (I didn't even bother, of course)

But there were enough people to dance with, the floor is really nice (maybe too fast, but you can always put some water on your cromo) and really huge. Great vibe and great people as usual. However, I should note that one of my female friends was complaining that "no me saca nadie!" So I guess it depends on your perspective. On the other hand, one of my other female friends was having a great night. Not sure what this all means (yet).

Canning
Then I went to see Color Tango in Canning, which was great. The floor was tight (I didn't even dance, still feeling scared or whatever) but Color Tango was amazing. I always wondered how they get such a big sound... the answer is simple. Two bandoleones playing in unison! Now that might sound stupid, but Tango is based exclusively on technology that does not depend on electricity (except the microphones, of course). Personally, it was incredible and all, but I really think the best way to see Color Tango is on an MP3 player while you walk around Buenos Aires on a sunny day. Pero soy un hombre simple, ¿qué puedo decir?

Was Out Of Town, Now Back To Tango

I haven't gotten much of a chance to write but it's been a lot of tango anyway. But not as much as some of the foreigners out here, who take at least 2 or 3 classes a day. I see some of them at the prácticas and at the classes, and since I imagine that it's likely that if I see you at one class, you're probably taking other ones that I don't know about. Like that weird German guy with the moustache. Man, I should take that guy's picture. But his tango is pretty good, all things being very relative. It's surely better than mine. But sucking more or less is not really a great honor these days. And now my new book, Sucking At Tango.

I'm just being modest, really: I do still suck, but I think it's pretty clear that someday I'll dance okay (or maybe even well).

Let me see if I can remember anything from the week:

• Saturday, March 31: I went to Tango 2 class in Copello where we did enrosques with women's giros. I walked out in the middle because I got pretty frustrated. I really think that this is pretty much the hardest thing I've seen yet, because you have to pull the woman along as your feet catch up differentially. And at the same time you have to keep your balance.
  
• Sunday, April 1: Stayed in in the morning and mi chica helped me with enrosques. What's the final analysis: that until you have really good balance spinning and doing the enrosque alone, you can forget about doing it well with a woman.
• Sunday night: Went to the class with Carla (Tango Discovery) at Malabia 1738 1ºPiso at 9pm and práctica afterwards. Has anyone ever noticed that the floor sucks!? It's absolutely impossible to spin. Though if you have shoes with cromo it's nice because it roughs it up again (which is good, because in general you don't want your shoes too slippery). Anyway, there were very few people at the práctica.
  
• Sunday night, still: Then on a hot tip, we headed to Brujas for Salsa... wrong! So we headed to the Viruta and I really danced almost all night long until 6am. It was incredible: I really got some concepts on, and at some points I was really improvising and connecting with the woman. I mostly danced with my Mexican friend Karla, who is one of the coolest people I've met in Tango.
• Monday April 2: Hey man, it was Passover! I never made it anywhere, and since everything was closed due to Malvinas' day I couldn't take any classes during the day. Did figure out how to make an awesome kugel though!

One interesting note about the Viruta on Sunday night is how damn crowded it was. Also, people SUCK in the Viruta so they bump into you even when you don't fuck up.

Another interesting note is a general one about Buenos Aires which I noticed when I was dancing salsa a lot: Sundays before feriados are always way crowded. The Viruta was so packed on Sunday night that it was only acceptable if you were in a good mood in the first place. I was, remarkably.