Surtango… La esquina del sur

Hier kommt ein Essay von unserer Freundin aus den USA

The teacher is great, wonderful, amazingly talented, nice and fun. I felt so lucky to have found such a teacher…..yet his class is absolutely unbearable. I start dreading it already a couple of days before. On the day of, I think of ways and excuses not to go. Maybe I should be sick today. Maybe I should rather be studying. Maybe my cat needs me at home…… no that just won’t do. I feel bad even thinking of such an excuse. I try to reason with myself. What on earth could prevent me from taking advantage or from following such a wonderful opportunity in attending such a class? One person did. How could I allow one lone person to stand so obstinately blocking my path towards tremendous progress?

I thought back to how I got into such a predicament. My instincts had screamed at me that there was something amiss in the very beginning. Only, I couldn’t conjure up any tangible evidence or facts to present to, or reason with the logical part me. I was trapped. I hesitantly accepted what was offered. I told myself to think positively. Why not? He seemed like a reasonable enough chap. I forced a smile on my face, and fought to be punctual against my natural tendencies. I was cheerful and patient. I dressed down for the occasion and practiced my blank poker face before arriving. It was sadly all to no avail. I was miserable and every pore on my body cried out in agony. Misery almost eclipsed my aura. It preceded me every where we danced and was secret to no one except the dance partner.

I tried to dream of handsome, hunk-like (and talented) dance-partners past thus fighting to maintain the forced smile on my face. This did not work because not even they could help me through to the other side of the scary-dance-partner tunnel. The dance partner seemed to take the class as a social venue. “Why must you be so driven? Relax. It’s just for fun.” My efforts to explain that “little fun would be had if no progress or endeavors were made towards dancing well”, fell on deaf ears. He followed me everywhere. He introduced me to all his friends. He monopolized the conversation with me during breaks. My only escape was the girls’ restroom. He repeatedly attempted to meet up with me privately for dates. He refused to follow the maestro’s suggestions. Mistakes made dancing were always my fault in his eyes and he followed no rhythmic system known to mankind.

I realize that no two dancers are really perfectly matched and one is almost always better then the other in something. This should not pose a problem because matching skill does not necessarily automatically correlate with matching dance styles. A great dancer does not necessarily dance well (or feel good dancing) with a partner just because he/she is also great. Sometimes things just don’t click. There are indeed times when you cant judge a book by its cover. You won’t always know exactly how things will go before hand. You may not always encounter synergy in your chosen partners. So, I have thought up some tried and tested ways to make such alliances much easier to bear for all parties involved.

Try to shower before going to dance. I can’t stress this one enough even if you are from one of those countries (no names) where people think showers are overrated. Shower or no shower, apply and reapply deodorant. Take some with you in case it wears off. Wear freshly laundered clothes. (Yes, this does include socks and underwear.) I don’t care how fresh yesterday’s (or last week’s) shirt may seem. Added with today’s perspiration the old shirt will immediately smell like the bacteria that have been multiplying in it since yesterday (or last week). Avoid garlic, raw onions, fish and live farm animals at least two meals preceding any dance-like activities. Brush your teeth and floss before going. No excuses. Chew gum if you have excuses. Remain completely silent if you have no gum. Do wear cologne or perfume but avoid overdoing it. Sharing the elevator with the neighbor close to your flat or condo or passing the valet the keys to your car, should you notice any immediate bouts of coughing the minute you arrive, you very likely overdid it.

Do listen to advice from instructors. Even if you think they are crazy, keep this to yourself and try to do what they tell you. Don’t assume all mistakes are the fault of your partner and if they really are, don’t say so out loud. Pressed by the overwhelming need to tell your partner what he/she is doing wrong, don’t be pedantic or priggish about it. Since you are the lead guys, (yes, you are) this is very important—you are solely responsible for making sure your partner does not bump into or get bumped into anyone. Most girls cannot see behind their heads. Even if she can, she should be concentrating on reading your every move and will not be able to magically clear the way behind her.

Ok, you have done all this, you have a great teacher, you are well groomed, you even experience synergy and magic dancing with your partner? Lucky you. Well then, please don’t assume that your partner wants to spend the whole night dancing only with you if he or she doesn’t tell you so when you ask. Change partners during the evening even if your partner tells you they want to dance only with you. (Unless you have a jealous boyfriend who won’t talk to you for a month if you change partners). Couples, this means you too. People who never dance with anyone else don’t progress as rapidly as they should. Couples don’t argue at dance places regardless of what happens. No one wants to witness domestic strife in public… unless you plan to make up in front of us as well…

Ailsa

Unser Freund Caio Rodriguez singt wieder in Hamburg dieses Jahr. Er hat uns die Liste seiner Auftritte in der spanischen Blog Version gepostet:

“Entre tanto, te quiero contar, desde enero 2007 que comenzamos practicamente con este proyecto de tango, PERFUME DE MUJER que solo llego emociones a mi vida ,con la posibilidad de cantarle a este pueblo, tambien sufrido como nosotros,que por eso ,ellos se identifican tanto con el Tango nuestro, TANGO ARGENTINO que compartimos con canto y baile , pero tambien con orgullo de ser Argentino
AQUI TE ENVIO LOS TERMINES DE PERFUME DE MUJER
07-01-2007 HAMBURG TANGO CHOCOLATE
22-02-2007 TEATRO LÜBECK
12-05-2007 HAFEN GEBURSTAG HAMBURGTAG TAG
12-05-2007 SALZWEDEL HABEN
CADA PRIMERO DECADA MES
JULIO; AGOSTO
HAFEN CITY
07-07-2007 STADT FEST HEIDE
14-07-2007 HANNOVER KONZERT MIT GERMAN CASSANO Y LILIANA ESPINOSA DE BUENOS AIRES
22-08-2007 HAFEN HAMBURG CAPITAN SAN DIEGO:
GRACIAS MIL POR DIFUNDIR EL ARTE; SALUDOS CAIO RODRIGUEZ”

Milonga am 22. April 2007
Nachdem wir uns gestern an einigen Tangos erfreut haben und später nach der “Practica” mit einigen Übriggebliebenen einige Flaschen Wein tranken, könnt ihr euch die Fotos unten anschauen:

Suche nach dir in den Klängen von Rachmaninov;

Sehe sie auf Erde, Stein und Weiß herabtropfen,

Sehe ihre Gesichter auf Boden gemeißelt abglühen

Und glaube dich zu erkennen.

Mein ist jedoch die Eitelkeit,

Die mich hindert zu sehen was nicht zu sehen ist,

Um zu erfahren,

Dass dort am Boden düster des Herbst

Mit den Noten du nicht liegst.

Jawohl gar in mir,

Durchsichtig und klar,

Nackt und bloß,

Warm und tot,

Wie gänzlich und rar,

Wie aus Wasser gemacht,

Du am Horizont erwachst.

Liebe Tangofreunde,

Hier zeigen wir Euch die Fotos von Roaland bei unserer letzten Milonga…

Wir sind sehr Gluecklich, dass mehr und mehr Freunde und Freundinnen vom Tango beigeistern lassen.

Mit rythmischen Gruessen, bis zum naechsten mal!!!
Miguel

Hallo liebe Tangofreunde,

Ich freue mich, dass Ihr bisher so zahlreich vorbeigekommen seid. Achtung! Unsere nächste Milonga findet am 29.10 (übernächsten Sonntag) statt.

Click auf das Foto, um die Gallerie zu sehen.

No comments

„Mi Buenos Aires“, in welcher Sprache sprichst du bloß zu mir? Dein ewiger Wunsch nach Rückkehr lässt dich nicht zur Ruhe kommen. Zuckend pochen deine schwarzen Adern mit leuchtend gelben Dächern, die blitzartig dein Blut in Irrwege leiten. Jeder eingeschlagene Weg von dir entstammt aus deinem stetigen Wunsch heraus, woanders sein zu wollen. Bloß sich nirgendwo anzuwurzeln. Das käme deinem Tode gleich. Du glaubst, du hättest ein Ursprung, eine Keimzelle, die in Vergessenheit geraten sei. Alle möglichen Anstrengungen unternimmst du, um sie wieder ins Gedächtnis zu rufen. Du lässt deine Menschen ziellos nach deinem Ursprung suchen, treibst sie und jagst sie durch deine millionenschwere Untergrundsasphalte. Über hundert Buslinien halten die Hoffnungen deiner Menschen wach, denen du glauben lässt, sie würden um ihrer Selbstwillen jeden Tag die stundenlangen Strapazen ihrer Arbeitswege auf sich nehmen. Deine Suche nach dem „echten“ Buenos Aires, nach der wahren und einzig gültigen Vergangenheit, die nur dir zu gehören habe, lässt dich im unermüdlichen Kampf um die Wahrheit gegen dich Selbst antreten. Wie Don Quijote gegen die Windmühlen möchtest du in deiner Welt dich von dir selbst befreien. Fantastische Gefechte liefert ihr euch alle …. alle möglichen Städte von Buenos Aires. Du zersplitterst dich in tausend Geschichten; alles Versuche in der Rückkehr deine Herkunft zu finden. Allein die Schlachten dieser rivalisierenden Sehnsüchte geben dir deinen Namen „Buenos Aires“.

Hola Tango-amigos!

Ich wollte mich für euer zahlreiches Erscheinen an der letzten Milonga bedanken.
Man kann auf den Fotos die Begeisterung unserer Tänzerinnen und Tänzer sehen!

Click auf das Foto, um die Gallerie zu sehen.

Nächster Termin…..

Ich erwarte euch alle wieder am Sonntag, den 08.10 um 19 Uhr im Großen Saal im Christophorus Haus.

Hier wollte ich mit euch die Erinnerung an unseren ersten Tangoabend beim Christophorus Haus teilen.

Click auf das Foto, um das Album zu sehen!

Hier ist das Album von unserem ersten Tangoabend….