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Tango
| The word tango appeared much earlier than
the dance. It first appeared outside Argentina, in one of the Canary Islands
(Isla de Hierro) and in other parts of America with the meaning of "gathering
of blacks to dance to drum music; also the name the Africans gave the drum
itself". The dictionary of the Spanish Royal Academy of Letters, 1899 edition,
defines Tango as "Fiesta and dance of Negroes or "gente del pueblo" (those
that belong to lower socio-economical class) in America"; also a second
meaning: "Music for that dance". (Tango
Terms and Etymology) |
ToTango |
| Argentine
Tango Dancing by Larry E. Carroll is a website that details tango step
patterns in a series of lessons. "The 'steps' of a dance are the most visible
part of it, so every new student is eager to learn them. But even if you
learn hundreds of steps, you will only look silly if you learn nothing
else about the dance," Carroll explains. "So these pages also help you
learn the unique style of the Argentine tango, how to lead and follow,
and how to navigate around the dance floor. You will also learn a little
bit about one of the most important parts of any dance - its music. (Lesson
One) |
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| Tango, Our Dance (Copyright
(c) 1998-2005 Planet Tango)
is a series of 28 articles published in El Firulete, The Argentine Tango
Magazine by Alberto Paz and Valorie Hart. The information is based on their
experiences, first as students of the dance and second as teachers of Argentine
Tango around the United States. (Chapter
1: Stand up straight, embrace your partner and walk...) |
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Tango Shoes.
"Tango is typically danced in shoes with
leather bottoms that stay on your feet well. Shoes with straps for women
and lace-up shoes for men are the most common. Women also need to wear
shoes with a heel. In the beginning, open-toed shoes for women and slip-on
shoes for men are usually disasters. There are shoes designed specifically
for tango dancers, but your main consideration should be to find shoes
that support your feet, don't squish your toes, and are comfortable enough
to dance in for several hours. I don't recommend using ballroom dance
shoes because they have little to no support and suede soles. No matter
what shoes you dance in, everyone should add pads to their shoes. I recommend
Spenco pads because they are incredibly comfortable, resilient and long
lasting. Dr Scholl's foam pads are OK, but avoid the expensive and
useless blue gel-filled pads. They seem like a good idea–a waterbed
for your feet–but are extremely disappointing. (Susan August Brown, The
Beginner's Guide to Argentine Tango) |
Ballroom
Dance Shoes |
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Tango
Zen
This pocket-sized volume
provides step-by-step instructions for mastering a meditative, zen-like
form of tango that is relaxed and peaceful.
Buddha practiced meditation
while walking; why not tango?
Chan Park, the author,
is an accomplished dancer, martial artist, and teacher of meditation and
Tango. He offers weekly Tango Zen sessions at his studio in Silver Spring,
Maryland, as well as Tango Zen retreats in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
From its origins in the
streets and salons or Buenos Aires, tango has spread around the world and
Park's fusion of an intimate South American social dance with an Eastern
philosophy of meditative concentration is an innovative concept.
"Once recognizing similarities
and benefits of the two, one can truly unite and practice Tango and Zen"
Park explains. "One can meditate while dancing Tango, experiencing deeper
appreciation of physical, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of inner
self."
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