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Connecting and Sharing

June 17, 2016

Once I again I find myself preparing a post in the wake of another tragedy. This time even closer to home (the last one was Paris).  This article began a couple of weeks ago as I was considering our world’s addiction to smart phones and social media. And now in the midst of this heartbreak, it’s exactly these two things that help us to share our feelings and connect with others. So in the end, I decided this post is really about connecting and sharing, in all the multitude of ways that we can.

https://tangoba.wordpress.com/author/guidodgs/

On this planet, we are more connected than ever before.

With a few taps of a screen we can easily “message” someone across the world or in the other room. We carry these contraptions with us everywhere and rarely put them down. It seems that if we are not staring at a computer screen we are staring at our phone or tablet. Even when we are surrounded by people we are often focused in our own virtual world and forget to notice what’s around us at that moment in time.

Granted, the internet and social media help us to stay connected with our friends and community. I am truly grateful that I have been able to re-connect with childhood friends and stay in touch with Tango friends.  But it seems that with all this “connecting and sharing” are we perhaps communicating in person, less and less?

As well all know, status updates can never replace a real smile, handshake, hug or a kiss. Even words cannot replace looking into someone’s eyes to know what they are really trying to say.

Our addiction to smart phones and social media is one of the reasons why Argentine Tango is more relevant today than ever before. Tango requires you to be truly present,  aware of your surroundings and to communicate without words.  Even in order to request a dance or agree to dance with someone, you are required to demonstrate your intentions through eye contact and a smile.

Non-verbal communication is an essential aspect of dancing tango.  Often when first learning this dance it is hard for people to use cabeceo (request a dance by eye contact).  Especially for those of us on the shyer side, it feels very forward to stare at someone and wait for their response.  Even though I have been dancing Tango for many years, I still feel shy sometimes to invite with my eyes, especially if it’s someone I’ve never met before. But I also know, that if it’s someone I really want to dance with, the best way to have my intentions known, is through cabeceo.

On a previous tango trip to Europe, I learned two important lessons.

During the weeks I was visiting, there were two Tango festivals happening and every milonga was packed with an international crowd of dancers. There was one woman I noticed that appeared to be dancing with many people at each venue. She was not an especially good dancer nor was she especially attractive so I was curious as to how she managed to get dances with so many people. I asked a friend who had danced with her why she was getting so many dances. He told me it was because she was especially aggressive with her cabeceo.  Whenever he walked into the milonga she would repeatedly try to catch his eye, until he finally relented.  So there you go, if you really want to dance, be aggressive with your cabeceo. (It’s best to do this from some distance and not by standing directly in front or next to the person.)

The second important lesson I learned is to never ask someone to dance verbally, especially someone that does not know you.  Sometimes it’s okay if its a good friend, or one of your regular dance partners. But if you are at a festival or a new milonga, never go up to someone that does not know you and verbally ask them to dance.  Save yourself heartbreak and embarrassment by using determined cabeceo. If they avoid your eyes or refuse to look at you, this means they don’t want to dance with you, and it’s best to direct your intentions on someone else.

One of the things I enjoy about Tango are the breaks between each song where there is an opportunity to talk to and learn about the other person. Even if its just small talk, we are learning and sharing.  That being said, there is so much that can be learned about someone by just dancing with them.  Often no words are needed to really “know” someone.

Tango requires you to really connect heart and mind with your partner in order to move together to music, especially music as multi-layered and complex as Tango. Because of this, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, to connect and share yourself, as the results are always physically and emotionally rewarding.

 

This weekend is a great opportunity to practice connecting and sharing at the “San Francisco Milonguero 2016“.

The festivities start tonight, Friday June 17th, and continue until Sunday. There will be workshops for all levels with Maestra Susana Miller, plus conversations, educational talks, guided practicas, milongas and more!  All events are held at the Finnish Hall Auditorium – 1970 Chestnut Street near University Avenue in Berkeley, CA

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Filed Under: Learning Tango, Musings, Special Events Tagged With: Connecting and Sharing, SF Milonguero, SF Tango

Tango scenes in SF

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Celebrate #bayareatango community, support everyone involved & share ♥️ of #tango with San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

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Las Chicas del Tango @thetangodome Oakland, Califo Las Chicas del Tango
@thetangodome
Oakland, California
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Piano @sfsumi
Violín @basmaedreesviolin
Contrabajo @hannahmacgilv
Bandoneones @sinai_rim y @clarastern_bandoneon
Cello Vicky Ehrlich

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It's been a while since we do a spotlight on any t It's been a while since we do a spotlight on any teacher. But someone like @lucianavallel who has been a regular visiting teacher for over 20 years, we are very glad to welcome her back to San Francisco for the first time post-pandemic! (link in bio!👆)

Starting with pre-Milonga class this Thursday Aug 10 at @milongamalevaje, Friday Aug 11 at Milonga Genesis (hosted by @tangosabor) and two weekends of Intensive Tango Workshops at Monte Cristo Social Club (event link in bio👆)!
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #tangoclass #tangoworkshop #tangoteacher #tangoartist #sanfrancisco #sflovestango #bayareatango
Any time at @tangamente.sf is a great time to revi Any time at @tangamente.sf is a great time to review the social tango etiquette, a.k.a. The Rules of the Road, courtesy of @tangonnection & @ayano.yoneda.tango ♥️
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #tangofestival #tangomarathon #etiquette #floorcraft
❤️‍🔥 @tango_with_winnie and @hugosatorre ❤️‍🔥 @tango_with_winnie and @hugosatorre continued their SF Tour with a weekend of Adventures in Tango Land at @tangodome !

They first blew us away with Saturday Tango Nightclub joining forces with The Dome's house band, Orquesta Tipica Domo, including a special guest artist Aude Bresson.👏 Then they kept the adventures going with a Sunday afternoon Live Music Practica for Dancers! 🎶❣️🎵🎹

If you miss out The Dome events completely, check out our stories for a few highlights!👆 Want to feel the magic of their music in person? Don't miss the rest of their SF tour!👇
~Tuesday 6/27 at El Valenciano (hosted by @tangosabor w/ Julian)
~Saturday 7/1 at @tangamente.sf (hosted by @tanguera_e and @jesram_sf)

☝️Links in bio!
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevent #livemusic #tangomusic #contemporarytango #tangodancers #bailemostango
What a spectacular Music Celebration Day it was in What a spectacular Music Celebration Day it was in Berkeley! 🎶🎉 Hosted by @afberkeley and @ecolebilingue , an intercultural event with a one-time Milonga transported the attendees to the streets of Paris with "A Tango in Paris" Fête de la Musique. 🇦🇷🇫🇷

The event started with a conversation – part interview, part presentation – between @myriamdasilva_photo and @ayano.yoneda.tango (dancer, teacher, and co-founder of the Tango Poetry Project), who shared her insights on how immigration between Argentina and France has shaped the history of tango. 

As the evening progressed, we were treated to the live music by the Swiss Bandoneon player @fueyequerido and SF local pianist @sethasarnow . This may be their last appearance as a piano-bandoneón duo for quite a while as Adrian and his family are moving to Switzerland! Of course, there was some “romance de Paris” for the occasion (e.g., the tango ‘Griseta’ was one of the songs they played!). 

With many local tango dancers attending, to add to the ambience of the night, DJ @cruz.fierro handpicked tango tandas to keep the dancing going between live music sets and transport the audience from Buenos Aires to Paris.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #intercultural #specialevents #onenightonly #milonganight #livemusic #bandoneon #piano #duo #tangodancer #berkeley #bayareatango #sflovestango
For those who’ve missed Milonga Génesis this pa For those who’ve missed Milonga Génesis this past Friday, we hope you enjoy the performance highlights by @mariabelen_sebastian.tango 🔥

✨SEBASTIAN JIMENEZ✨ @sebastianjimeneztango is a renowned tango dancer and from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has won multiple awards, including the World Tango Championship in 2010, and has performed at prestigious events and festivals around the world. Jimenez is also a respected tango instructor and has taught workshops and master classes in several countries. He has had a significant impact on the world of tango, both as a performer and as a teacher.

✨MARIA BELEN GIACHELLO✨@mariabelengiachello is born in Argentina and now a tango teacher and singer based in Toulouse, France. With 30 years of combined experience in tango, training, performing and teaching, she has travelled to many beautiful places around the world showing her art.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #milonganight #bailemos #tangodancer #tangoperformance #sanfrancisco #bayareatango #tangoislife #tangoeslavida #sflovestango
@pabloinza and @sofi_saborido are no strangers to @pabloinza and @sofi_saborido are no strangers to the SF tango community! 💕 For a few years now, we've enjoyed having them around every summer.😎 Thanks @junicorn_33 for bringing them here.

Enjoy snippets of their beautiful performances last Saturday at Vecher Tango at the Russian Center 📸✨ and don't miss the last class of their visit this year TONIGHT before the milonga at @el_valenciano1153, hosted by @tangosabor !
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#tango #TangoArgentino #argentinetango #milonga #tangoclasses #tangoperformance #bailar #BailemosJuntos #learningisfun #tangoislife #sflovestango
✨ Vecher Tango at the Russian Center had another ✨ Vecher Tango at the Russian Center had another star-struck night!✨

@ariadnayfernando returned to San Francisco after their last visit in 2016 for @noras_tango_week.

On top of teaching all afternoon and performing four songs of their choice, they surprised us with an improvised encore to live music by Seth Asarnow (@sethasarnow on piano) and Adrian Jost (@fueyequerido on bandoneón), a first-time collaboration for the four artists altogether!! 👏👏♥️♥️🙌🙌 ¡Qué celebración del Tango!

Thank you Julia Schiptsova @juliasch999 and Davood Yazdani for bringing @ariadnanaveira and @fernet_sanz back to SF! We look forward to welcoming them back later this year in Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for details.

Check out our stories for video snippets from the amazing evening!
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino  #tangoperformance #bailar #bailemos #bailando #tangoshow #tangoevent #tangoperformance #tangodancer #tangocouple #specialevent #onenightonly #tangophoto #sanfrancisco #tangoislife #sflovestango #livemusic #duo #bandoneon #piano #improvisation
That Saturday night ❤️‍🔥 when Duo Villarr That Saturday night ❤️‍🔥 when Duo Villarreal Crom, @juanvillarreal_13 and @patriciocrom joined forces with Orquesta Típico Domo at @thetangodome !🎶🎻🎸🎹🎤
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevents #tangomusic #tangoconcert #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusicians #travelingmusicians #duo #guitarists #livemusic #milonga #contemporarytango  #bayareatango #sflovestango #oakland #weekendvibes #goodvibesonly #performanceart #tangoislife
Part 3️⃣ of Duo @juanvillarreal_13 & @patricio Part 3️⃣ of Duo @juanvillarreal_13 & @patriciocrom Crom at @thetangodome … a Chacarera! When the musicians extended an invitation to the audience to join them on stage, a few dancers spontaneously jumped at the chance! 👏👏👏👏
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevents #tangomusic #tangoconcert #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusicians #travelingmusicians #duo #guitarists #livemusic #argentinefolklore #contemporarytango  #bayareatango #sflovestango #oakland #weekendvibes #goodvibesonly #performanceart #tangoislife
REPOSTING… because how could one resist missing REPOSTING… because how could one resist missing the standing ovation *and* an encore because earlier post got cut off due to unknown glitch🙈… Second half of part 1️⃣ the highlights from an amazing night at @thetangodome with Duo 🎸🎸 @juanvillarreal_13 and @patriciocrom ! And our very own @scottodaymusic made it a guitar trio for the encore! 
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevents #tangomusic #tangoconcert #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusicians #travelingmusicians #duo #guitarists #livemusic #argentinefolklore #contemporarytango  #bayareatango #sflovestango #oakland #weekendvibes #goodvibesonly #performanceart #tangoislife
❤️‍🔥DJ @lebendiguna DROPS THE NEEDLE with ❤️‍🔥DJ @lebendiguna DROPS THE NEEDLE with the world’s fastest learning curve!❤️‍🔥

When Una’s laptop unexpectedly failed to connect to @thetangodome sound system, Daniel Peter’s vinyl collection and on-the-spot knowledge transfer to the rescue!! 😮🔥🧯❤️ After watching Dan just a few times dropping the needle between tracks, Una hit the track her FIRST TIME trying‼️✌️

🎥 @thetangodome 
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevents #milonga #tangodj #tangomusic #vinylrecords #newskillunlocked #tangoislife #oldtechisgoodtech #bayareatango #oakland
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