A new guest post By Sasha Cagen “You’re not getting the lead,” he tells me. Gruff, mid-fifties, beady eyes, a ponytail dwindling halfway down his back, Ponytail Man chose me as his partner for this advanced tango class at Floreal, a traditional milonga in Buenos Aires. It’s nice to be chosen, but now I’m not sure. Two famous teachers, los Totis, are teaching an unusual sequence. We’ve danced three songs and aren’t getting it. (A milonga, for those who do not dance, is the sacred place where … Continue reading
Articles by Guest Writers
Practicing Tango
Tanguera Escondida returns with more thoughtful and humorous observations on the benefits of practice and a salad with tuna: A couples months ago I said something truly ridiculous to my tango partner, Klondike. He had remarked that I’d danced beautifully at a recent milonga with good posture and elegance. I really took this compliment to […]
Tango Confessions by Tanguera Escondida
SF Loves Tango is thrilled to introduce Tanguera Escondida, our new guest writer. “Tango Confessions by Tanguera Escondida” will be a regular series at SF Loves Tango. Tanguera Escondida (TE) shares her stories, with honesty and a wry sense of humor, the joys and frustrations of dancing Tango in the Bay Area. TE frequents all the […]
More Tango Confessions by Tanguera Escondida
Another humorous story by guest writer Tanguera Escondida: Situations In Which Followers Should Be Paid To Go To Group Classes I recently decided to take a group class with one of my favorite instructors in the Bay area. I love his focus on the basics, his salon tango embrace, the way he walks around the […]
The Art of the Cabeceo
The cabeceo is considered the “Argentine” method of asking someone to dance. And truth be told, it is not easy for us North Americans to feel comfortable staring at someone so directly. But once you get the hang of it, it’s definitely a great way to acknowledge your mutual interest in dancing together. I have […]
Is Tango Better than Sex?
Guest writer, Sasha Cagen, returns with an even more enticing topic… The Tangasm. I do remember my first one quite fondly. It was at El V, and I literally left the dance floor a little breathless and light headed and would have gone for a cigarette if I smoked. Better than sex? I can’t say […]
The Lessons of Psicotango: How Tango Can Be Therapy
I am thrilled to announce we have another guest post by Sasha Cagen, author of “Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics”, relationship and life coach, and the creator of the Quirky Heart Tango Adventure in Buenos Aires. (Learn more at the bottom of this post). “Tango remains from its origins as a hug, an embrace, […]
Articles about Bay Area Milongas
Tango for the Day of Love
Valentine’s Day is coming up this Friday. Due to consumerism and pressure to buy stuff on every holiday possible, Valentine’s Day seems to have lost its meaning. Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating love. And I’m not talking about love just for your partner, but love for your family, friends, pets… you get the idea. […]
Dancing Tango in Public Spaces
There is something exciting about dancing Tango in cultural spaces around San Francisco, especially with an appreciative audience of bystanders. Terence Clarke and Beatrice Bowles of TangoCalifia have been bringing Tango out of the dark milongas and into beautiful (gasp) public spaces around San Francisco since 2007. These free public Milongas have been held at […]
Milonga Spotlight: Cellspace
It’s a Wednesday Night and you are in the Mission. You are at 18th and Bryant to be exact. You find yourself attracted to the colorful murals flanking the outside walls as the music of Piazolla, Bajofondo or Tom Waits drifts out on to the street. As you enter, an ever changing art gallery greets […]
Looking for Tango on Valentine’s Weekend?
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, this is a good time for a round-up of upcoming SF Bay Area Tango events. For some reason, many consider Argentine Tango to be romantic, passionate or sensual. Perhaps it’s the physical closeness of the dance, the intertwining of legs or the serious, contemplative look on dancers faces. For those […]
Milonga Spotlight: El Abrazo
After-hours DJ Club turns into Argentine Milonga. Yep, I’m talking about El Abrazo, the once a month Friday night Milonga at Danzhaus. Danzhaus, aka the Gingerbread House, located in the industrial part of Potrero Hill, is San Francisco’s only professional dance studio and late night party venue that has also been named “Best of the […]
Studio 1924 Slumberlonga
Do you often wish the milongas would last longer? Do you wish you could dance in your PJs? Then the upcoming slumberlonga is just what you need. Starting this coming Sunday, August 31st, Count and Melissa will be hosting their third Slumberlonga at studio 1924. The upcoming Slumberlonga celebrates the second anniversary of Studio 1924 […]