Thursday, December 31, 2009

Tango at Cellspace

Whew! This day was quite packed and that's the way they all should be. Not only did I sell back almost $400 back in books (two were optional aka Library thank you!). I got to go see a friend, get a double sweet hook up... one of which was to get me into the movie: Up in the Air. It has a good plot, funny moments and some life perspectives a pretty damn good movie. My movie goddess Jen has realized that when I am on break I can be spontaneous and has been spoiling me rotten.

After I saw the movie, I took the 22 towards Cellspace and walked a few blocks to Cellspace. Seriously wish the area had more light and activity as it is dead at 10 to 8pm. Oh well, got there in one piece obviously and then switched my shoes. The place had two classes a beginner and intermediate both of which were pretty full for the small dance space. True Argentine style, no room to move, oye.

Pierre one of the teachers was so cute, it was bloody cold and she was in mitten's at the start of the lesson. I should have gotten a picture. We were working on small traveling ocho's, and some of the walking turns with cross step footwork.

You have to remember that tango is just a matter of walking. Frontwards, backwards and sideways, with the ability to go quick and slow and turn around. If you can do that, then you can dance. It is just learning to do it to the timing of the music or for me trying not to anticipate and go with the flow.

This is really hard for me to do. Partially because where I first started to learn tango we learned both roles. Unlike this class where there were more guys than girls (Wow never happened before!) I got often stuck playing the lead in class. Then of course at home since I danced it! None of this has helped me develop my ability to follow. Oh well on to learning right?

I have to say I felt like a bumbling fool part of the time, and others like I was remember the old steps. In my head I kept cursing the shoes, while looking straight a head with a smile and holding a conversation. Trying not to anticipate and wait for the lead and of course not take the lead. Also trying to remember how to switch from quick to slow and listen to the timing. All of this is hard to do well in general but even more so with these damn shoes.

Remembering that dancing is on the feet, I am going to start hunting for a good pair of dance shoes. I also am making a note that those damn gel inserts did not work this time, strike one. They get two more cause I like the idea. I found a way of stretching shoes which I am going to try with these pair, funny I remember them being comfortable.

The lesson went well, the practice was lovely. They had a table of food and water all of course part of the $10 fee or $5 for just the milonga. Quite a sweet deal. People of all ages, though a lot were in their mid 20's to late 30's.. a nice little find. Met a few new friends, got to dance and practice. Went home a little on the early side cause I have so much to do for New Year's Eve which is today, hope yours is going well. I will be out at City Hall tonight, dressed to the nine's. Well talk to you in 2010. Be safe everyone!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tango Today!

Ok so I have mapped out how to get to Cellspace... still trying to figure out where the hell the 27 stop is but I WILL FIND IT! I have spent a bit of today trying on shoes and trying to remember which of them is comfortable and I feel stable in. This is particularly important if I plan on learning well and for those tricky "ochos". It is important for the shoes to have a leather sole so you can glide and twist easily. Rubber would get stuck and thus the movement would too.

Since I have things to do today... return books to school, pick up some things, go see a movie with a friend, then go tango. I will go because I am bringing the shoes with me. Ok off to get everything done today, I will up date you all on how the class went tonight.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Preparing for 52 weeks of Tango

52 weeks is nothing. I know that if I don’t start figuring things out now they will fly by me in a moment. Thus preparation! Since I am taking three classes next term (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) I’m looking for a tango class on Wednesday. While I should have the energy to go to a class on Monday or Tuesday cause they end early. I want to play it by ear. Who knows what happens after class with those “group projects” (BLEH!).

So research:

Wednesday Tango Classes:

· 8-9: Class, with practice after for $14 at Vima Dance Studio 560 3rd St. SF http://www.marcelosolisargentinetango.com/

· 7:15-8:30, with practice till 9:30 for $10 at La Pista 766 Brannan St. Btw 6th and 7th SF http://www.sfotango.com/

· 8:30-9:30, class with practice till 12:30 for $15 (1st and 3rd Wednesday) at La Pista (above)

· 8-9: Class, with practice till 12 for $10 at Cellspace 2050 Bryant St btw 18th n 19th SF

· 7:30-9: Advance Class for $12 at Mission Cultural Center 2868 Mission St btw 24th and 25th SF

Vima and Pista seem like the easier to get to and get the bus back, specially Vima since the 30 runs on 3rd St. But I really want to try and get to Cellspace which has a nice long milonga, but it's hard in regards to Muni. I am going to research how to get there and try for tomorrow. After all the dancing can start now! If you know of a better tango spot on Wednesdays, please let me know.

Monday, December 28, 2009

100 Things To Do

These are things that I want to do, learn, see... This list was harder than I thought it would be to put together. Some are life long, will take planning or just time and money.. but I plan on attacking this list. Let me know if you want to participate in any of them.
My short 25 To Do list for 2010:

School/Professional:
1. Get my IMC Certificate aka manage 3 classes next term

2. Learn Photoshop
3. 1st aid course CPR
4. My retirement plan

5. Sell Dad’s bags
Personal:
6. Make a difference in one person’s life

7. Create scrap memory albums

8. Start a blog - starting it here =)

Major experiences To Do:


9. Skydiving – Jun 16? - $100
10. Bungee jumping

11. Burning Man – 1/13/10 buy ticket - $210

12. Meteor showers

13. LT camping more than 3 days


Learn to:
14. Snowboard

15. Yoga – get more into it!

16. Learn how to sew

17. Expert @
Wii fit
18. Tango – really well

19. Make sushi


Try/do:

20. Grow my own cooking herbs

21. Be in a flash mob

22. Roller disco

23. Opaque dinning

24. Karaoke
25. Try trapeze

The compete list of 100 Things To do:

I decided to create a list of 100 things I want to do, learn, see... whatever. This was harder than I thought it would be. But this is what I came up with, some are life long.. but I plan on attacking this list a good bit in 2010. If you want to participate let me know.


1. Skydiving
2. Bungee jumping
3. Witness a solar eclipse
4. Meteor showers
5. Snowboard
6. Jet ski
7. Para sail
8. Sail
9. Yoga
10. Write book/play
11. Sign language learn it
12. A martial art more
13. Swing – really well
14. Tango – really well
15. Try Flying Trapeze
16. Hot air balloon
17. Dance in pouring rain
18. Scuba
19. Fire a gun
20. Expert @ Wii fit
21. Paragliding
22. Grow my own cooking herbs
23. Cliff diving
24. Northern lights
25. Swim scuba or snorkel a shipwreck
26. Drive the Coast
27. Drive a convertible
28. Visit all 50 states of the US
29. Be in a flash mob
30. X-Country road trip
31. Ride the 10 largest roller costars
32. Play pool well
33. fly kites for real
34. Learn how to sew
35. 1st aid course CPR
36. Roller disco
37. Go to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge
38. Create a UTube Vid
39. Sell Dad’s bags
40. Fire dance
41. Build a habitat for Humanity Home
42. Make a difference in one person’s life
43. Learn Photoshop
44. Start a blog
45. Get married
46. Have and raise a health happy kid
47. Make sushi
48. My retirement plan
49. Buy your own house
50. Watch Movie list
51. Watch Tyra live
52. Race car
53. Send a msg in bottle
54. River rafting
55. LT camping more than 3 days
56. Opaque dinning
57. Burning Man
58. be photographed next to 50 landmarks
59. Create scrap memory albums
60. Make my own jewelry
61. Throw a huge party
62. Swim with a dolphin
63. Find my passion
64. Get my IMC Certificate aka manage 3 classes next term
65. Get my MS of Marketing
66. Get my PR certificate
67. Really surf
68. Karaoke
69. Visit a Renaissance fair
70. Write a Kid’s book
71. Own my own business

Travel
72. India
73. Egypt
74. Greece
75. Truly travel Argentina
76. Tokyo
77. Great wall china
78. Machu Piccu
79. Petra Jordan
80. Eastern Europe
81. Chichen Itza Mexico
82. Tibet
83. Russia
84. Kentucky derby
85. Tomatina – Spain last Wed of August in the town of Buñol, Valencia region
86. Ireland
87. Manus - brazil
88. All continents
89. Israel
90. Vegas
91. See world wonders natural n man made.
92. Marty Gras New Orleans
93. Carnival Rio/Bahia
94. Grand canyon
95. African Safari
96. Great beerier reef
97. Bahamas
98. New Zealand
99. Australia
100. Germany

Intro to 52 Weeks

For a while now I have tossed around the idea of starting a blog, and I decided to stop thinking and just do it. After all talk is cheap and life is about action, and living on the side lines is not an option. Lately I have become complacent in life and settled into a comfort zone. This sounds like an ex or two of mine, (maybe where I got the habit, but I am bad for picking it up!) which is not how I want to live my life, do you?

So I created a list of things I always wanted to do, learn, or planned to do someday. Then took that long 100 item list and made a short list of 25 to work on in the next year. You guessed it 52 weeks. One item on this list is to learn to dance Argentine Tango well. I know the basics, I can do a bit but I never actually go out to dance it. Sad don't you think specially since I am first generation Argentine. Well I do, and I plan to go to at least 1 lesson each week. Call me out on it, I know I will.

Like any good San Franciscan, I will most likely be letting you know about all the "typical SF craziness". As well as other deals, tips and events. Ok it will be whatever is too good to keep to myself. There are 52 weeks in a year and time can fly fast, I hope to pack a lot in to mine. Join me on the journey.