

2018





PHOTOS by Gina Kotrotsios
Above: Olga, me, Chuck & Nada
Below: With William Hudson Temples and his beautiful artwork










GAINESVILLE TANGO WEEKEND
with JORGE MENDOZA & ANABEL SALDAÑA MARTINEZ
MARCH 10 - 11, 2018
— from David Chayes
What they ARE: they are beautiful, real, down to earth people with depth and gentleness. They are open about their knowledge of dancing and what it is based on, and want you to absorb EVERYTHING that they have. Thuy met Jorge at a milonga in BsAs, and his demeanor was, as a regular “Joe Blow” (a “nobody”) quietly enjoying himself going to the milonga. (He did not even have a business card because people always come to him, through ‘word of mouth.’
Thuy noticed his dance at the milonga “Cachirulo”—he nodded—and she loved his dancing. Only later she came to find out that he has been a childhood dancer—he has a university degree in dance. Jorge introduced Anabel who organizes a practice for women who want to investigate and practice the role of the leader. It is called "Practica Lideresas.”
Jorge and Anabel are sent abroad through the Argentine embassies to promote the tango culture. They direct and produce tango shows. Belong to the Association of teachers, dancers and choreographers of Argentine tango.
In 2017 Jorge was Supervisor of the Jury in the Tango World Championship.
The idea of someone privately enjoying himself—this is the essence of “social tango”—it is for the feeling of dancing freely to beautiful music, to feel first inside your own body and then together with your partner. And to socialize with people on this ‘real’ and honest level of knowing each other. Jorge’s and Anabel’s strength as teachers is to guide you gently to feel inside your own body the very clear concepts that clarify what is happening inside, to make the tango alive in your body. Their concepts center on being at home in your body with the things that we would like to let happen BETWEEN the steps—the cadences. This is something deep—yet, they do this in a super gentle, playful, non-threatening and humorous way that is accessible to any American (or other) “Joe Blow.”
Their lives are such that they are free to be themselves and don’t need to prove that they are ‘good enough’ to anybody.


Above: Sunday workshop group at Thuy Carroll's beautiful home
PHOTO by Steve Littler
Below: Farewell toast at The Top on Main Street, Gainesville,
where we had two nights of terrific dinners.








My take on the royal wedding cake: tres leches cake with elderflower liqueur, filled with homemade lemon curd, topped with fresh whipped cream and edible flowers.


THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018
Mike, me, Augie, and Deborah — at a non-tango event!
Listening to George Lilly, Edlene Hart, Rick Moore and band at
Dirty Martini @ Downtown at the Gardens









WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018
How cool to have Andrzej, a tanguero visiting from Poland, join us for Tango Lab.


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018
Here we are toasting Andrzej, who wasn't able to join us again this week, with Polish vodka and special Polish bread!
The joke we always tell newcomers:
A SKELETON WALKS INTO A BAR.
ORDERS A BEER. AND A MOP.
So what a surprise to find this fellow at the downstairs bar
at Twisted Tuna in Port Salerno!

THANK YOU...
WHAT A SPECTACULAR WAY TO RESUME
OUR MONTHLY MILONGA after summer vacation!
Special guest artists ALEJANDRO ZIEGLER (piano),
JAVIER STROMAN (bandoneon), LAURA CAMACHO (bass), and JOHN COOPER (violin) for the special experience of dancing to live music.
DJ CHUCK HAND not only for playing great tandas in between live sets, but also bringing his own fabulous sound system.
DEBORAH, who found a music teacher with piano & bass to rent, and MIKE and RICHARD for moving the instruments to the studio. Not to mention an ANONYMOUS DONOR whose generous contribution paid for the piano rental.
YOLANDA, HUGO, CHRIS, and LORELY for delicious additions to the food table, and Bruce for the amazing and frangrant roses.
SUSAN, for the photo above, and many more.
JOE and NADA, for the videos below.
ALL OF YOU! EACH & EVERY PERSON in the room added to the energy and success of the evening. Extra hugs to those who drove from as far north as Orlando and as far south as Aventura!
Finally... AUGIE, DEBORAH, NADA, and JAN, for invaluable setup and cleanup help.
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Photos: SUSAN GREEN
Video: JOE WYNES
Video: NADA SKAF
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2018
Alejandro Ziegler Tango Cuarteto
played at CITA in Hollywood.
After an epic night hosting them in Stuart,
I couldn't resist the chance to hear them again and to dance with all my attention on the music.
Thanks, Lee Ranger, for the photo!


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Great seeing our teachers,
ARMANDO ORZUZA & NURIA MARTINEZ
in a show at Arts Garage!

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2, 2018
Metropolitan Ballroom
Charlotte NC



NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2, 2018
Thanks to Daniel Arredondo & Kasia for another gorgeous Candlelight Tango Festival at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Charlotte.
And for the opportunity to bring Bandolera/Tangolera and Madame/Monsieur Pivot shoes from Italy!
Thanks, Joleen Stephan-Mease, for the pix of the ballroom and my shoe display.




DECEMBER 15, 2018
Holiday milonga with seasonal treats:
Christmas tree cheese, vegetable wreath, fresh fruit, Nantucket cranberry tart,
Gramercy Tavern's gingerbread with fresh whipped cream, and spicy hot brownies.