Missed tango - I am bad

I am bad, I did not do TANGO today! I should I really should have, but I am not feeling well I have had a headache for the whole day. I took a nap tried to get rid of it but I could not. I have gotten a lot done today but I have not danced this week. I will try to find a class or something to make it up or twice next week. I am not flaking just felt ill.

Tango at Cellspace

I suck! I was running late. Ok I was good and I went to the gym and got a 45 min work out in. So that's good, but once home and having to have a quick bite, shower and then catch the bus... with the new Muni changes. HA! This is a whole other issue, which is quite BS. The prices go up but Muni takes away services and frequency. I am sorry but it should not be a 28 min wait for the 22 Filmore line, specially at 7pm. Like really.

Obviously Murphy's Law was not loving me in the early evening but I got there just 15 mins late. It was a bit hard to catch up, since the intermediate class is really kinda advance but the beginner is way to newbie for me. So I am a lil stuck with the fact that I don't quite follow the class specially when coming in a bit late.

I am realizing some of my issues with tango is that I anticipate instead of being lead. I really just need to let go and let the moves come naturally. Sometimes the footwork does not come, I am not sure what they are trying to lead or what ever. This time my shoes were a bit better, they were a lot lower and more comfy in the toes. Sadly they were swing backs and the heels kept slipping. Again I realize that shoe shopping is needed, wonder how much it would cost to have a pair made for me. I will go more into shoes and fix its it a tip later.

Cellspace tonight!

Wow! I am getting ready to go to Cellspace tonight, I have to leave at like 730 ish to get there in time. This is the first Meetup event I am doing, I am excited and a bit nervous but this is for sure going to keep me on track. Gotta print the sign!

I swear the list of things to do just get's longer. I am all proud of myself for being done with the awful sewing pile and yet I just see more and more projects. It's ok, one project one HW assignment at the time right? Take a break for things that must be done healthy wise. I was reminded on FB by a friend who did a major work out that I need to go to the gym and keep it in the mix. I don't go and it's so wrong. So I am changing and will be there from 5-6. Talk you everyone after Cellspace.

New Assistant Organizer of Dance San Francisco's Meetup.com

OMG! So excited, I got asked by the organizer of Dance San Francisco to become an Assistant Organizer of their Meetup. Vikas the organizer liked my suggestion of the Wednesday tango, and said I could arrange it. Thus I will! I already posted a meet up for this Wednesday and one for next. This will help keep me on my tango goal. I am so excited to be doing this. Here is the link, come join us: http://www.meetup.com/DanceSanFrancisco/calendar/12221281/

Meetup.com info pasted below:

At 8:10pm to 9:05pm beginner & intermediate classes taught concurrently! From 9:05pm to 12:00am a Milonga. There is a door Fee: $10 for both the class and milonga or $5 for the milonga only.

This is a great deal for an hour lesson and three hours of practice with a table of snacks and water provided, great as you get hungry and want to talk and mingle. Everything here is volunteered and part of the Project Tango which is a Non profit... over time I might also try to pitch in and bring food. More info below.

The Cellspace alternative Milonga is an effort to balance out the wonderful classic tango events throughout SF and the Bay Area with a progressive community endeavor. This is a Project Tango non-profit community effort (started July 9th, 2003). Checkout the CELLspace DJ page for more info on alternative dj'ing & music! We are developing a pool of alternative DJ's. From time to time we also put on special theme nights and have performances of various art forms (not just tango)!

Dance is in all of us

Bajofondo - Pa' Bailar
This is an amazing group who mixes techno, rock, rap, ska.. you name it to a tango beat. Yes you heard me a TANGO beat. This video is great and so much fun watching him dance and break it all down all around the train. I would love to see this in person.


Eddie Ueahara - Dance to Express, not to Impress

While this is not tango, it does have the tango undertone of moving how the music tells you to and not being afraid of anyone else opinion.

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!

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.

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 3^rd St. SF http://www.marcelosolisargentinetango.com/

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

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

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

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