Fishnets & Fedoras

Tango . . . a national dance.

Tango . . . a national dance.
Originally uploaded by artsyevie.

Dance and Movement

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Originally uploaded by Anchan_uk.

The Guardian goes to Buenos Aries

Just before New Year, The Guardian, a UK newspaper published a couple of tango articles. In the first, journalist Robert Elms headed to Buenos Aries, to dance the tango.

This is the "tangopolis", a swaggering yet blue city obsessed with the wheezing melancholia of the accordion, and the blazing footwork of the dancers. If you really want to understand the complex psyche of the Argentinian capital, you have to know tango. If you really want to know tango, master its moves and more importantly its soul, you have to fly for 13 hours and immerse yourself in this big, disorientating southern town. But then what a town.

For those keen to follow in his foot (dance) steps, there's also a travel guide to the capital of the tango world.

Tango passion

Tango passion
Originally uploaded by ibanda.

Nice piece of tango-based art, here

Fernando smiling - tango bandoneonist

Fernando smiling - tango bandoneonist
Originally uploaded by Nádasdy.

Tango in Bogotá (part 1)

Not quite sure what's happening here (the perils of being hopelessly anglophone), but I like what I see:

Milonga a Media Luz

DSCF5902a
Originally uploaded by milonguero.

One image from this great set of milonga images.

Don't Drink and Dance

Lexa Roséan got to spend New Year's Eve at an all-night tango event. The moment of New Year itself sparked some thoughts about drinking and dancing:

After the ball dropped, everyone formed a group circle and sang Auld Lang Syne (except nobody knew the words). I was very busy looking for some friends to share my bottle of champagne with. I wanted to toast the New Year, but the thing is, you don't want to drink TOO MUCH when you dance tango because it interferes with your balance. I know that serious drinkers don't like to mix eating with their drinking. I guess I'm a bit of a danceaholic. No eating for me either. I like to get that out of the way beforehand as it interferes with the dance.

Dance in front of Graffiti

Tango
Originally uploaded by catemici70.

Around The Blogs: Festive Season Round-Up

Here's a selection of tango-related writing from around the blogosphere from the Christmas period:

Goombata eloquently sums up the pleasures as a new partner moulds to your lead:

If you are with a new partner, it takes a while to get into a rhythm. Once the two relax, and allow their bodies to flow with the music, their mere movement is as one. It's a graceful stroll to the music, letting all your cares disappear, as you focus on the chemistry. The best moments are in the pause, as you lead your partner stepping to their side, and leading them to a graceful cross step, holding them until they regain their balance, looking into each other's eyes, you return to the dance.

Brian Hines finds that tango in movies inspires changes to the rest of his life:

Maybe “Take the Lead” will re-inspire me. I liked how Banderas explained why men have to learn how to take the lead in dance, and why women have to learn how to trust them. As in dance, so in life. Respect between the sexes on the hardwood floor transfers over into respect on the street. And the living room.

Melanie hopes to be tangoing in the New Year…but leaves us hanging as to whether she gets to or not.