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September 17, 2007
La Tangomana
by Kevin Johansen
Posted by joegrohens at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2007
Review of Gustavo Naveira in San Francisco
The Greatest Maestro of Tango in The World
Terence Clarke, writing in the September 12, 2007 issue of Blog Critics, describes the teaching and impact of Gustavo Naveira following on his workshops in San Francisco this summer.
A class from Gustavo and Giselle Anne begins simply enough. He is not a tall man, in his forties with very dark hair, who dresses for the classes simply in a pair of slacks, a sport shirt and shoes. Seeing him walk across the street, you would not suspect that you were watching a volcanic arbiter of great dance and a noted historian of the genre.
[...]
When she and Gustavo first walk onto the dance floor to address waiting students, those who are unfamiliar with them will not be prepared for what they are about to see ... and to learn. Gustavo will begin with something like, "Well, today we are going to think about 'ganchos'," the widely-known move in which one partner's leg encounters that of the other partner in a kind of hooking motion. It's an invasion by one partner of the other person's space that, when done properly, provides an electrifying moment of conflict, engagement, and resolution. It at first appears, if not impossible, at least rather risky, and to be sure there are simple ganchos as well as very complicated ones.
Gustavo will survey the circle of students, holding his hands out, his shoulders hunched, a questioning look in his eyes. "Now what do you suppose a gancho really is?" he will ask, and therein begins a long, thoughtful, and conscientious discussion and demonstration of a move in tango that defines the very form itself.
He and Giselle Anne will demonstrate the various concepts of the 'gancho' upon which they've based their ideas, and the demonstrations become more and more complicated as the session moves along. What is heart-stopping is the beauty of what they have to show and the organization of thought that Gustavo brings to his teaching. They have ruminated deeply about these moves and interactions, and this is especially clear in the interplay between showing the thing to their students, helping the students do it, and then talking about it. The dance sequence takes just a moment. But the practicing and the talking may take all day, with many, many more illustrations, in which the gancho changes from something we students have seen and maybe can do in some elementary way into a living, breathing personification of the entire history of tango ... and all the possibilities that exist in it for people of ability and adventuresome creativity.
Posted by joegrohens at 02:26 AM
September 08, 2007
Robert Fulghum
Robert Fulghum, OFFICIAL Website - Recent Entries
Robert Fulghum is learning tango and writing about it very nicely.
Posted by joegrohens at 09:24 PM
September 05, 2007
Who is Petroleo?
Petroleo was an influential dancer who is said to have changed the tango during the 1940s. Something like the Gustavo Naveira or Fabian Salas of his day, I suppose, in terms of innovation and scope of influence. Petroleo died in 1995.
Below are some articles that reference Petroléo.
- Petróleo
- Petroleo, the great renovator of the 1940's
- Mingo's Golden Anniversary
- Daniel Trenner
- The ascent of tango | 2006
Posted by joegrohens at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2007
Tango Paintings of RJ Karlstrom
Click to enlarge
Artist Ron (RJ) Karlstrom's tango paintings are exhibited at the Cowboy Monkey restaurant and bar, in Champaign, Illinois. There one can often see Ron on Wednesday nights, watching the tango dancers, sketching, and getting ideas for his dramatic acrylic works.
See more of these paintings at RJKARLSTROM.COM
Posted by joegrohens at 04:18 PM
September 01, 2007
Tango in Purdue
Jill and Luca represent the Purdue Tango Club (La Milonguera) on the cover of the Journal & Courier weekend magazine. Purdue University is having Global Fest this weekend (Sept 1, 2007), their celebration of international culture.
Looking good, you two!
Posted by joegrohens at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)