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Tango NoticiasJune 2003Volume 4, Issue 62Una historia del tango,By Jorge Luis BorgesTranslated by Séan Erwin5Chicago Tango6Chicago Events8“Same-Sex Tango andTango Rape”By Phoebe J. Grant12Central TangoEl Tango PendencieroVisit Our Website atwww.tangonoticias.com

Una historiadel tango,Part II(continued from May)By Jorge Luis BorgesTranslated by Séan ErwinThe Combative TangoThe sexual disposition of thetango has been noted by many, butnot so its violent disposition. It is truethat both are modes or manifestationsof the same impulse and, thus, in allthe languages I know, the word for‘man’ connotes both a sexual capacityand a warlike one, and the word virtus– Latin for ‘courage’ – comes from vir,meaning ‘male.’ Similarly, an Afghanon a page in the story, Kim, declares:When I was fifteen, I had shot my manand begot my man, as if the two actswere, essentially, one.To speak of the combativetango is not enough; I would say thatthe tango and the milongas directlyexpress something that the poetshave often wanted to say with words:the conviction that a fight can be acelebration. In the famous, Historyof the Oaths, that Jordanes wrote inthe sixth century, we read that Attila,before his defeat at Châlons, haranguedhis armies, telling them that fortunehad reserved for them ‘the joys of thisbattle’ (certaminis huius gaudia). TheIliad speaks of Achaeans for whomwar was sweeter than returning homein hollowed ships to their belovednative land and relates how Paris,son of Priam, ran with rapid feet intobattle like a stallion with stormy manein pursuit of mares. In Beowulf – thearchaic Saxon epic that originated theGerman literatures — the bard callsbattle a sweorda gelac or ‘game ofswords.’ At the start of the eleventhcentury Scandinavian poets called itthe Viking’s celebration. In the earlyseventeenth century, Quevedo, in oneof his ballads, called a duel a danceof swords —almost the same as theanony mous Anglo-Saxon’s ‘game ofswords.’ In his splendid evocationof the Battle of Waterloo, Hugo saidthat the soldiers, ‘understanding thatthey were going to die in that festivity’(comprenant qu’ils allaient mourirdans cette fête), saluted their god 1 inthe midst of the tempest.These examples have beenannotated from my chance readingsand could, without great diligence, bemultiplied. Perhaps in the Chanson deRoland or in Ariosto’s vast poem thereare similar passages. Any of thosepassages mentioned here — the oneabout Quevedo or the other of Atilla,let us say — are undeniably effective.All of them, nonetheless, suffer fromthe original sin of literariness: theyare structures of words, forms made ofsymbols. Dance of swords, for example,invites us to unite two dissimilarimages, that of the dance and that ofbattle, in order to saturate combatwith happiness, but it does not speakdirectly to our blood, does not recreatein us that happiness. Schopenhauer(Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung I,52) has written that music is no lessimmediate than the world itself; withoutthe world, without a common fundof memories summoned by language,there would certainly be no lit erature;on the other hand, music could existwithout the world. Music is will; musicis passion; the old tango, as music,immediately transmits that warlikehappiness whose verbal expressionGreek and German poets of remoteages tried to express verbally. Certaincontemporary composers search forthat valiant tone and sometimes craftcompetent milongas about the Bateríaslums or the barrio Alto. However,their labors—with deliberately oldfashionedlyrics and music—areexercises in nostalgia for what onceexisted; they are laments for what islost and, thus, are essentially sad eventhough their spin on words is joyful.They are to the rough and innocentmilongas in Rossi’s book what DonSegundo Sombra is to Martin Pierre orto Pauline Lucero.... music reveals a personal past which,until that moment, each of us ignored,moving us to lament mis fortunes that did notactually occur to us and to feel shamefor wrongs we did not actually commit.One reads in one of Oscar Wilde’sdialogues that music reveals a personalpast which, until that moment, eachof us ignored, moving us to lamentmis fortunes that did not actually occurto us and to feel shame for wrongs wedid not actually commit. For myself, Iwill confess that I cannot hear El Maineor Don Juan without remembering withgreat precision an apocryphal past, atthe same time stoic and orgiastic, inwhich I defied and fought, only in theend to fall silently, in an obscure duelof knives. Perhaps this is the missionof the tango: to give Argentines thecertainty of having once been valiant,of having realized the demands of valorand of honor.A Partial MysteryHaving admitted a compensatoryfunction of the tango, there remainscontinued on page 3Tango Noticias • June 20032

continued from page 2a small mystery to resolve. Theindependence of America was, to agreat extent, an Argentine enterprise.Argentine men fought in battlesall over the conti nent, en Maipú,in Ayacucho, in Junín. After thesethere were the civil wars – the war inBrazil, the campaigns against Rosasand Urquizas, the Paraguayan war,the frontier war against the Indians… Our military past is copious, butthe single unquestionable thing isthat the Argentine, though in dangerof considering himself valiant, doesnot strictly identify with that past (inspite of the bias in schools in favorof the study of history). Rather, heidentifies with the vast generic figuresof the gaucho and the compadre. IfI am not mistaken, this instinctualand paradoxical characteristic hasan explanation: the Argen tine findshis symbol in the gaucho and not thesoldier because the courage ascribedto the former by oral tradition is notin the service of a cause and, thus, ispure. The gaucho and the compadreare imagined as rebels; the Argentineis different from North Americans andalmost all Europeans, since he does notidentify himself with the state. This canbe attributed to the fact that the stateis an inconceivable ab straction. 2 TheArgentine is an individual, not a citizen;to him, aphorisms such as Hegel’s, TheState is the reality of the moral idea,appear as sinister jokes. Films madein Hollywood repeatedly display forour admiration the case of a man(usually, a newspaper reporter) whoseeks out the friendship of a criminalin order, afterwards, to turn him overto the police. The Argentine, for whomfriendship is a passion and the policea Mafia, experiences such a ‘hero’as an incomprehensible scoundrel.The Argentine feels, along with DonQuixote, “up there, each man will haveto answer for his own sins” and that“it does not fall well that an honestman acts as the executioner of others,with whom he has nothing to do” (DonQuixote 1,22). When confronted, morethan once, with the empty symmetriesof Spanish style, I have suspectedthat we differ irredeemably fromSpain; these two passages from theQuixote are enough to convince meof my error. They are the secret, quietsymbol of an affinity. One profoundnight in Argentine literature con firmsthis affinity: that desperate night whena rural police sergeant ex claimed hewould not commit the crime of killinga brave man and began to fight againsthis own soldiers, together with thedeserter, Martín Fierro.The LyricsUneven in quality – as theynotoriously proceed from hundredsand thou sands of different pens – thelyrics of the tango, after half a century,now constitute an almost impenetrablecorpus poeticum which historians ofArgentine literature will read or, inany case, defend. The popular – alwayswhen the people no longer understandit, when the years have antiquated it– achieves the nostalgic veneration ofscholars and validates polemics andglossaries. It is quite probable thatsometime around 1990 may arise thesuspicion or certainty that the truepoetry of our time is not in Banch’s LaUrna or Mastronardi’s Luz de provinciabut in those imperfect pieces preservedin the songbook, El alma que canta. 3Such a supposition is melancholyitself. A culpable negligence hashindered me from acquiring andstudying this chaotic repertory, but Iam not unac quainted with its varietyand the growing compass of its themes.In the be ginning the tango had nolyrics, or else they were obscene andhaphazard. Some had rustic lyrics – Yosoy la fiel compañera del noble gauchoporteño 4 —because their composerswere seeking popularity, but the bad lifeand the slums were not poetic material,at least at that time. Others, like therelated dance – the milonga 5 – werejoyful, showy boasts: En el tango soytan taura – que cuando hago un doblecorte – corre la voz por el Norte – si esque me encuentro en el Sur. 6Continued in July(Footnotes)1The emperor is Napoleon.2The state is impersonal; the Argentine onlyconceives himself in personal relation ships.For him, therefore, stealing from the publictreasury is not a crime. I am stating a fact,not justifying or condemning it. [Footnoteby Borges]3The soul that sings.4I am the faithful compañera of the nobleporteño gaucho.5Yo soy del barrio del Alto, Soy del barrio delRetiro. Yo soy aquel que no miro con quiéntengo que pelear, Y a quien en milonguear,Ninguno se puso a tiro. [Footnote by Borges;its translation reads: I’m from the barrio delAlto, I’m from the barrio del Retiro. I amthat man who barely notices with whom Ihave to fight, and whenever I milonga, noone takes a bead on me.]6In the tango I’m so bull-like (tauro) that, whenI do a double cut, word races North even if ithappens I’m to be found in the South.Tango Noticias • June 20033

Practica at Dance Connectionwith Séan and YaniraOFF TO LONDONTO TRAINWITH LEANDRO AND ANDREANO PRACTICAJUNE 5 TH OR JUNE 12 THJUNE 19 TH & 26 THNEW MATERIALFROM OUR LONDON CLASSESCost: $10 includespractica,opening workshopand refreshments.Photo by Studio MariDance Connection at3117 North ClybourneJust south of the intersection ofClybourne, Belmontand Western.AMPLE PARKING.Tango Classes with Séan & YaniraMONDAYS – TANGO BASICS CLASS from 7:30 to 8:30at Dance Connection, 3117 N. Clybourne.Cost $10OFF TO LONDON –NO CLASSES ON JUNE 2ND OR JUNE 9THPrivate Instruction and Ongoing,Semi-Private Group ClassesFor details contactdrtango@hotmail.com or 773.274.9564Questions?drtango@hotmail.comor 773.274.9564Tango withSéan&YaniraTango Noticias • June 20034

C H I C A G OT A N G OCHICAGO MILONGASSundays June 1 st and 29 thRecuerdo, 6137 N. Northwest Hwy, Chicago7:30 – 11:00 pm $15Complimentary beginner’s lesson with theprice of admission at 6:30 pm.Contact Carlos Favre or MichelleCostello at 312.593.3553 orwww.recuerdoclub.comMondaysSouk, 1552 N. Milwaukee, Chicago8:30 pm—midnight $5 coverComplimentary class from 7-8:30 pm20% discount on food and drinks for tangodancers. Visit www.chicagotangoloop.comfor more information.TuesdaysClub 720, 720 N. Wells - 3 rd Floor, Chicago8:00 pm – midnight; $5 cover, cash barComplimentary lessons 7:30-8:30 pmon the mezzanine with rotating guestinstructors. Visit www.Club720.com formore information.ThursdaysMilonga Loca – at one of two locations:Erie Street Café, 536 W. Erie or Mi Ciudad,3041 W. Irving, Chicago8:30 pm – midnight $7 coverBeginners’ lesson 7:30 – 8:30 pm at nocharge with Pamela StratemanCheck www.milongaloca.com for eachweek’s location or contact Bill Duvallat 773.549.0935 williamduvall@ameritech.netFirst & Third Fridays – June 6 th & 20 thLake Street Milonga, 942 W. Lake (atPeoria), Chicago9:00 pm – 1:00 am $10; light refreshments;BYOB6 th – “The Gatsby Milonga” – It’s asummer flapper party. That means whitesuits for him and demurely feminine forher. Join us to wish our favorite assistant,Mark Rector, a hearty farewell beforeembarking on another acting gig on theEast Coast for the next few months.20 th – “A Midsummer Night’s Milonga”– Our annual milonga at the SummerSolstice. This year is an especially magicalnight, as the long-awaited fifth Harry Potterbook comes out at midnight. Can wizardsand fairies dance together? Why not?Wear your summer sheerest, your flimsyfinest, anything shimmery or fanciful.Call Jan Carpenter 312.258.6137,Beth Braun 847.846.5611, or checkwww.tangoparatodos.com for details.Second Friday June 13 thRecuerdo, 6137 N. Northwest Hwy, Chicago9:00 pm – 3:00 am $15Complimentary beginner’s lesson with theprice of admission at 8:30 pm.Contact Carlos Favre or MichelleCostello at 312.593.3553 orwww.recuerdoclub.comLast Friday of the Month – June 27 thMilonga Nuestro TangoLatvian Community Center, 4146 N. Elston(at Hamlin)8:30 pm – 1:00am $10;includes light buffet; BYOBContact Valentina Cisar 773-763-8729,Carmen Pinto 773.279.9414, or Phoebe J.Grant 312.342.4335 WindyCityTango@yahoo.comSaturdays June 7 th and 21 stRecuerdo, 6137 N. Northwest Hwy, Chicago9:00 pm – 3:00 am $15Complimentary beginner’s lesson with theprice of admission at 8:30 pm.Contact Carlos Favre or MichelleCostello at 312.593.3553 orwww.recuerdoclub.comAre you a tango fanatic?Are you dying to come to Buenos Aires,but don’t know where to begin?Let us help you!Some of you may already know us, Kara and Nina,two Midwest milongueras now living in BuenosAires. Youll feel right at home with us as yourpersonal guides. Our extensive experience (andSpanish!) inside the community will bring youdirectly to the pulse of Tango in Buenos Aires.Want to know how?By assessing your individual needs and desires wewillIn essence, help you adapt quickly and effortlesslyto Buenos Aires and its incredible tango scene!COST: US$200CHICAGO PRACTICASWednesdays 7:30-midnightLocated at Ñ (restaurant and bar)2977 North Elston Avenue, ChicagoJavier Gomez and OlgaDrop-in Class from 7:30-9:30 followed bypractice afterwards.Cost $10Thursdays 7:30 to 9:30 pmDance Connection, 3117 N. Clybourn,ChicagoDrop-in Class: 7:30-8:15; practica 8:15onwards.OFF TO LONDON – NO PRACTICAON JUNE 5 TH OR JUNE 12 THCost $10 for class and practica.Contact Séan Erwin, drtango@hotmail.com,or 773.274.9564 for details.Fridays 7:30 – 11:00 pmLake Shore Athletic Club, MainAerobic Room1320 W. Fullerton, ChicagoCost $12Free ParkingContact Al Gates at 773.994.8180 orwww.tangochicago.com for details.Sundays 8:00 – 10:00 pmSchopf Gallery on Lake942 W. Lake, Chicago Cost $5Drop-in class 7:00-8:00 pm; $10; includesthe practicaContact Erica Sutton 773.505.1577 orwww.tangoparatodos.com for details.E N C U E N T R O T A N G OAdditional Services upon requestContact us now & have the tango trip of yourdreams!www.encuentrotango.com.arencuentrotango@hotmail.comTango Noticias • June 20035

C H I C A G OE V E N T SJune 19 th – 24 thCarolina Zokalski and Diego De FalcoWindyCityTango, Inc. brings thisacclaimed couple to Chicago for the firsttime for workshops and private lessons.Fri., June 20 - 6:45 p. Tango walkswith Partner (All Levels) and 8:15 p.Milonga Fun at the Milonga (All Levels)at the Latvian Community CenterSat., June 21 - 1:00 p. TangoCombinations (Intermediate); 2:30p. Vals and Milonga Combinations(Intermediate); 4:00 p. PerformanceDetails (Advanced) at Dance ConnectionSun., June 22 - 1:00 p. Sacadas &Ganchos (Intermediate) and 2:30 p. Giros& Enrosques (Intermediate / Advanced)at Dance Connection; 7:00 p. GuestInstructors for Erica Sutton & DouglasRivera Chacarerra (All Levels Regularclass pricing) at Schopf Lake St. GalleryCarolina and Diego will showcaseat local milongas during the weekendand will be available for private lessonsfrom Thurs., June 19 - Tues., June 24.Please note that some of the workshoplocations and/or topics may changeprior to their arrival. For informationon workshop locations, topics, pricingand private lessons, contact Phoebe J.Grant at (312) 342-4335 or WindyCityTango@yahoo.com. Workshops will belisted at www.tangoparatodos.com. Seephotos and bios of Carolina and Diegoat www.CarolinayDiego.com.July 30 th – August 7 thGloria and Eduardo Arquimbau returnThey are back! Gloria and Eduardo havebeen dancing Tango for 50 years! Theybegan working together as youngsterswith Francisco Canaro’s orchestra in the1950’s and they have risen to becomeone of the most popular tango dancingcouples in the world. Their style is thatof the authentic milongueros. They haveperformed in Central America, Europe,Japan and the U.S., thrilling audiencesin venues ranging from “The Ed SullivanShow” to the Congress Center of theKremlin in Moscow. They performedwith the critically acclaimed musical,Tango Argentino, from 1985 to 1992and with the 1990 Forever Tango tourthroughout the United States and Canada.They were also choreographers andheadliners of the original cast of ForeverTango in San Francisco from 1994 to 1995.Classes will include tango, milonga and vals.Early bird registration guarantees you a spacein the classes, as well as a discount. See thewebsite www.TangoinChicago.com orcall Elena Robles at 773.550.2646.August 7 th – 18 thAuthentic Buenos Aires: SummerTango TourIt may be a little chilly in Buenos Airesin August, but it’s hotter than ever inthe milongas! Come and experiencethe tango scene at its most authentic– away from the crowds of tourists thatpack the city in high season. You’ll getmore immersed into porteño life andculture, and have more opportunitiesto dance with Argentineans at themilongas. Our favorite transplants,Kara and Nina, are the organizers ofthis trip. Contact: encuentrotango@hotmail.com for details.“The Gatsby Milonga”Friday, June 6th - 9:00 pm – 1:00 amIt’s a summer flapper party. That means white suitsfor him and demurely feminine for her. Join us towish our favorite assistant, Mark Rector, a heartyfarewell before embarking on another acting gig onthe East Coast for the next few months.942 W. Lake (at Peoria), Chicago“A Midsummer Night’s Milonga”Friday, June 20th, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am - Ourannual milonga at the Summer Solstice. Thisyear is an especially magical night, as the longawaitedfifth Harry Potter book comes outat midnight. Can wizards and fairies dancetogether? Why not? Wear your summer sheerest,your flimsy finest, anything shimmery or fanciful.$10 - light refreshments; BYOBCall Jan Carpenter 312.258.6137, Beth Braun 847.846.5611 or check tangoparatodos.com for detailsTango Noticias • June 20036

Gustavo Naveira & Giselle Annein their U.S. debutGloria & Eduardo ArquimbauCarlos Copello & Alicia MontiMilena Plebs & Ezequiel Farfaro!Julio Balmaceda & Corina De La Rosa!Aurora Lubiz & Jorge Firpo!• 104 classes • Daily practices • 8 Milongas• Closing Night Dinner • MaestrosShow • Grande Tango Ball!Southern California’s ONLY week-long tango festivalwith the greatest tango maestros and performers from Buenos Aires!For week/weekend registration information visit our website, www.apurotango.com or call (323) 650-0509

LThis a regular column in TangoNoticias to review recent dialogue onTango-L & TangoATOF@yahoogroups,internet-based international forums fordiscussion of topics related to Argentinetango. The repetition in Tango Noticiasof comments posted to Tango-L or ATOFdoes not in any way constitute theendorsement of such by the editors of thispublication.TANGO-“Same-Sex Tango & Tango Rape”Summarized by Phoebe J. GrantSince the prior review columnappeared (in March 2003), a widevariety of issues have crossed keyboardsand lit up screens. Here I will addressthree and also add some relevant buteither obscure or new websites of interestto Argentine tango enthusiasts. A recentpractical exchange about the “Care offeet” relays helpful tips for our weary‘pies’. In early May, “Looking outfor each other” ensued a discussion ofwhether the term “rape” can be usedin conjunction with tango. This hadprogressed, in part from a discussion -in which two Chicago tango communitymembers were active - initiated as “Samesex dancing together” but addressingseveral tangential subjects during midto-lateApril, 2003.Taking off from a tribute to DanielTrenner (who recently relinquished thehelm of A Bridge to Tango), Daniel’ssupport of Argentine tango studentsdancing with members of the same sex(i.e., men learning to follow and womenlearning to lead) was touted. The TangoGuy – after admitting the merits of rolereversal for instruction – disagreed thatthis required dancing with a partner ofthe same sex. “Tango is not a series ofmechanical moves. It is also a danceof artistic interpretation, musicality,connection and passion which dependson the romantic and passionate feelingsbetween a man and a woman.” He thenwent on to say, therefore, that this couldonly happen between gay partners. EricJeurissen (Netherlands) vehemently andpersonally objected “after 16 years oftango-ing for fun, professionally andfanatically. … I am gay, and I dance morewith women than with men … WHAT iswrong with me??? WHAT is passion,WHAT is feeling, WHAT is this freedomif we put it to a certain shape in which weSHOULD mould it???” And our BibiWong countered The Tango Guy, with herusual tongue-in-cheek, that this meanswe each would need to “first developa romantic and passionate relationshipwith EVERY” partener before beingable to “generate artistic interpretation,musicality and connection.” Anothertanguera (Luda), however, believes that itnot only is possible but also is preferableto give yourself to your partner: “for thethree minutes while you’re on the dancefloor, you belong to that person – bodyand soul”.The Tango Guy responded that – as faras dancing tango is concerned – he is ableto have these feelings with his femaledance partners / friends “without beinginvolved or in love.” Russell Bauer(Denver) deemed The Tango Guy’sposition “A bunch of nonsense! … I canhave musicality, connection and passionwithout romantic feelings. … When I amdancing with someone (for whom I haveno) romantic feelings, my musicalityand connection doesn’t elude me. … Ihave passion for lots of things (such astennis). … (I)t does not have anything todo with … having as my doubles partnersomeone I have a romantic passionfor. I don’t see any connection betweenromantic feelings and my passion fortennis. ”Expanding on sentiments offeredby Joseph Moore, Bibi eloquentlyexpounded the topic of passion as itrelated to the music of tango. “To me themagic of tango, vs. other types of socialdancing, lies in the ability to interpretthe magical music that strikes to chordsof our senses. … If you take the time tounderstand the music, …tells stories oflove, hate, country and politics, hope,teasing, jokes and more. … Tango tome is another form of communication,regardless of the gender, age or race ofthe partner. … Many females AND maleswith whom I have had the pleasure todance could communicate beautifully. Ihave also danced with some handsomemale partners with great technicality butunfortunately we never clicked. … (O)nemay be surprised on how much our biasinfl uences our judgment sometimes.”Concurring with Russell, MichaelFigart (Houston) noted that in hiscommunity, where there is “a defi niteshortage of competent leaders,” anumber of women can be observeddancing together at most milongas andpracticas. “I can say unequivocally thatthose women who have learned to leadare among the highest quality followersin Houston. … I appreciate theirdedication, their talent, the beauty oftheir dance and the fact that it helps keepsome of the followers dancing when thereare not enough leaders to go around.And, on the other side of the coin, I’vehad great fun dancing with other men,especially during birthday dances(!!!) …I feel I can learn a lot from following, orleading, someone who usually dances onthe same side as I do.” Michael statedhis goal is to bring a follower to tears ofhappiness from his ability as a leader. “Ifit helps to dance and practice with a fewmen on the way to realizing that goal,great! Give me some more good leadersto follow!!!”Chicago’s Mark Rector agreed that“’men dancing with men’ can be a superblearning tool. … I think a good dealof bad leading habits could be brokenby men practicing with each other …because they can give very specifi cfeedback to each other – noticing detailsthat non-leaders might not even be awareof.” To which Jai (New York) added,“Not to mention details that non-leadersare all too aware of!!” Although StevenBrown (Dallas) remained “somewhatskeptical of men learning by practicingwith other men,” Michael (Washington,DC) supported Mark’s position. “Menneed to learn what it feels like to bethrown around the room or rushedthrough ochos. … I (am) glad not to be acontinued on page 9Tango Noticias • June 20038

continued from page 8follower because of the intense strengthmen use to lead. They use arms to steer… . Their feet move before the upperbody … . I don’t have a clue how womenput up with me. Following with a manat a class opened up a completely newperspective for me. My teacher is fondof saying, ‘If you can’t do what your areleading, how can you expect somebodyelse to follow you?’” Stephen is of theopinion that “(a) man can also developbad habits practicing with another man,”particularly if the partner is not skilledor knowledgeable. To which Russellresponded: “This sounds like a goodargument that men need to put more timeinto practicing following, not less.”Lois Donnay (Minneapolis) offeredanother perspective: “I danced with aleader last night who has become quite agood dancer… But last night he revertedto many of his bad habits – pushing meinto the cross, using his right hand like arudder, etc. – lots of ‘brute strength’. Itwas rather drastic,” so she felt compelledto comment after the first dance, to noavail. The only explanation he couldoffer was that “he had just come from aclass for leaders, where they all led eachother.” Mark concluded, “I also thinkmen should be able to dance the woman’spart – at least somewhat – so they canhave a better understanding of what itis they are attempting to lead, and whatthe woman has to do to accomplish it.Finally, if a man can’t execute a simpleback ocho on balance, how can hepossibly ever execute the more advancedfigures in a man’s part? Balance ISbalance, isn’t it?”The Tango Guy’s initial posting that“Tango is not just a series of mechanicalmoves”, elicited the following response(again, with a “grin”) from Bibi:“Contrarily, many times I found myselfdoing non-musical aerobic exercisewith male dancers.” This segued intothe introduction of the next topic withher queries: “’Can dancing tango withsomebody ever be non-consensual? Isthere such a thing as tango rape?’ I amsorry to say, unfortunately, yes! and itis a real problem.” Bibi cited not onlysituations where some women continueto endure discomfort while dancingbecause they’re “afraid of not beinginvited in the future” but also cases ofthe follower being groped or worse. “Itis very sad to see tango – which had theluck to be elevated to a higher cultural“Can dancing tango with somebodyever be non-consensual? Is theresuch a thing as tango rape? I amsorry to say, unfortunately, yes!and it is a real problem.”alter – may be treated (by some minority)as another tool for harassment,” sheopined. Peter Jouliard simply respondedthat we shouldn’t expect people tochange their basic nature just becausethey are dancing tango.Posting from Hong Kong, DonaldHsu concurred: “It is really sad butI have to agree – tango rape (or atleast harassment) is an all too commonoccurrence” and often causes beginnersto not return. He suggests teachersinstruct followers “how to deal withsuch situations (when the intention of theleader is immediately obvious from theinitial embrace).” Donald acknowledgesthat the reverse – female-to-male – abusealso is possible. He continued, “Froma more technical standpoint, a forced/ (does) a brutal lead or a self-guided/un-led embellishment (auto-ganchos orhigh-kicks off a forward ocho) count astango rape as well?”This brought out passionate opinions!!Beginning with Tanguera Alegra taking“very strong offence to the analogy ofbeing mishandled on the dance fl oor …as in any way constituting ‘rape.’ Any(wo)man who has ever been raped willprobably feel the misuse of this termtrivializes the brutality and violence ofthe rape.” Luda, however, believes thatthe term IS appropriate and the effectmay be “just as damaging. If not moreso. Ditto for mind rape. It constitutes theinvasion … of one’s privacy, or identity.”T.A. countered that “the difference is ona dance fl oor: (a) you have willinglyagreed to dance with somebody; and,(b) (you) can WALK AWAY if it becomesuncomfortable at any time.” LynneButler sustained T.A.’s objection: using“rape” in this context “Trivializesa horror … and sensationalizesexperiences that – tough as they may be– are simply nothing like rape. Wordsare not rape. Dances are not rape.Rape is rape. There are several wordsin the English language that need to beexactly and only what they are – rape isone, lynching is another … The victimsof these crimes deserve better than thisinsult.” Bibi clarified her definition of“tango-‘r’ as a sexual pursuit with anun-conscenting partner, not revenge ormaking a statement.”Clayton Beach consulted MerriamWebster (online, of course), finding thatthe term “rape” originated in the 14 thcentury with a third definition as “anoutrageous violation”. Thus, althoughthis makes it appropriate for Bibi andLuda’s usage, he suggests the seconddefinition is more specific. (Readersof Tango Noticias, should be informedthat there was a parallel dialogueabout a tanguero who allegedly hadbeen particularly bold and, thus, thediscussion of this term was receivinginput from two or more camps.) Claytonfurther suggested, “perhaps we shouldjust agree to discontinue the use ofany simile, metaphor or hyperbole …lest we … commit some sort of literarycrime.” From there the postingscarried into further tangents regardingincidents, rumors, trivialization, etc.– some of which are still mounting as wereach press time so this thread may becontinued next month.continued on page 10Tango Noticias • June 20039

continued from page 9On a more practical front, or ratherbottom, Bob Ramsey-Turner – havingjust completed the 4-day New Zealandtango festival – inquired as to how othertangophiles prevent or care for tenderfeet. Rick (Portland) has a do-it-yourselfpreventative solution, starting with “agood quality pair of black walking shoes,(I) trace the outline of each shoe on some1/8” leather …, glue each piece on thebottom of the (respective) shoe withconstruction adhesive and/or contactcement. I can dance for hours & hours,day after day. Feet always feel great,year in & out.” Bibi jumped in on thisone as well, passing along a collection of30+ years of dancing:Check your health; diabetes will createfoot problems.“Create a … routine” expand yourstamina.“Create exercise to strengthen yourfoot muscles.”Wear “comfortable shoes where thetoes can spread;” this, plus appropriateheels, will enable better balance.“If the dancer can land their feet gentlyeach step, … wear soft sole shoes.”“Massage with mint oil … orBengay®”In your home, have “walk withoutshoes on sissel rugs”.Before putting shoes on, “check thedance fl oor and wear (appropriate)shoes” depending on the condition of thefloor and your personal style of dancing.During the dance, stop or prevent painby “resisting the high and resting; …take your shoes off and fl ex / massageyour toes; put talcum powder on toesand inside shoes (to absorb moisture andenable the toes to move more freely).”Consider switching to another pair ofshoes.If you have laced shoes, either “tieyour laces from top to bottom so toeshave more room and ankle is more snug”or use two laces for each shoe for sameeffect.After dancing, “soak in very, veryhot water and massage; put ice on ‘hot’feet and elevate; alternate hot and coldtreatment.”Explore “wax therapy … or acupuncture.”“Meditate!!”Astrid (Tokyo) confirms several ofBibi’s tips, especially changing shoesand/or resting during long eveningsor weekend tango festivals. She findspeppermint bath salts to be particularlysoothing and she avails herself of foot/leg massages as well as reflexologysalons. Closer to home, Sarah LaRocca(New York) relayed a foot remedy shelearned from a NYC Ballet dancer:“soak a towel in witch hazel and wrap itaround your feet. … Keep your toe nailscut very short.” And, most importantly,keep dancing because “your feet growused to it!” Dan Boccia (Alaska)echoed Sarah’s last comment, addingthat all forms of regular foot (ab)use helpto condition them. He also suggestedlearning “how to place (y)our feet on thefloor in a relaxed manner.”Barbara Garvey (who, decades ago,worked in a department store) and FrankWilliams (Minneapolis) both advocatethe alternate hot and cold therapy. And,Lynne Butler tells about her B.A. hostesswho “would always have a little tub ofice water ready when we got home fromdancing all night. After (never during)soaking my feet in it, they felt much better– either because the treatment worked orbecause the cold was shocking and (myfeet were so) miserable it just felt greatto put them in and then take them outand put them in a towel. … It kept megoing for almost a month.” GuldenOzen (North Carolina) and JohnathanThornton caution use of cold therapy,including preventing haematoma at www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/1066-cryotherapy.htm. Steven Brown (Dallas)touts the cold therapy in a couple ofeasily transportable formats: putting iceand a little water in either (1) a zip lockbag and resting your feet on top, or (2) acontainer on which you can roll your feet.He further recommended arch supportfor your shoes and stretching exercise foryour calf muscles, hamstrings and lowerback. Also, check out the “Callusessection under “Health, Fitness & Safety atwww.dancescape.com/mydancefriends.Or, let’s encourage our partners – ona reciprocal basis, or course, to adoptFrank’s suggestion of “having yourfeet KISSED. Repeatedly. That whichgenerally happens subsequently maytemporarily alter your dependence ontango. Take that as good or bad, but youwon’t notice your feet hurting!!”As promised at the opening, I haveother internet sites to check out:‘Tis the season of tango festivals,with Miami’s Tango Fantasy justconcluding. To plan your tangotravels for the balance of 2003 andon, consult Keith Elshaw’s (Montreal)http://ToTANGO.net/ttindex.html.As some of you have recently inquired,tango terminology can be found on:www.SacramentoTango.org/Resources/TangoTerminology.htm.If you want to subscribe to Tango-Lyourself, send an e-mail from the serveron which you want to receive the messagesto LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU with“subscribe Tango-A (your fi rst namelast name)” in the subject and text. Youwill receive a confi rmation to which youneed to respond and then you too will beinundated with comments and news aboutArgentine tango all over the world.Tango Noticias • June 200310

In the world of Tango,it takes two.In the world of real estate investmentsit also takes two,you and Henry Holt.Dont use just anyone with a real estate license.Use a specialist!For a commitment to your futurecommercial real estate investments,whether to buy or to sell, contactHenry E. Holt IICommercial RealtorInland Real Estate Sales, Inc.2901 Butterfield Road • Oak Brook, IL 60523(630) 954-4447 • Fax (630) 954-5695Email: holt@inlandgroup.com www.inlandresales.comContinued from page 4CHICAGO CLASSESOn-Going Classes: call instructors for detailsor check the teachers’ pages on our websitewww.tangonoticias.com:• Al Gates• Séan Erwin and Yanira Collado• Pamela Stratman• Bob Dronski and Kathleen Kreher• Elena Robles• Erica Sutton and Douglas Rivera• Carlos Favre and Michelle Costello• Fred Romero• Javier Gomez and OlgaWindyCityTango, Inc.Carolina Zokalskiy Diego DiFalcowill be in ChicagoJune 19 th thru 24 thteaching workshops andprivate lessons(the schedule is beingÞnalized at press time)Upcoming Events(sponsored or endorsed)Tango Fireworks(Los Angeles – June 27-July 5)www.apurotango.comNora’s Week/Weekend(San Francisco – July 4-11)www.tangoweek.comLas Vegas Tango Party(Las Vegas – Aug. 29-31)www.lasvegastango.comWorld Tango Festival II(Buenos Aires – Oct. 5-12)www.worldtangofestival.com.arTangoFest(Portland – Oct. 15-19) – with Paulo!!!www.claysdancestudio.comFandango de Tango(Austin – Nov. 26-30)www.learn2dance.comand several others we’ll note soon!!!Coming to Chicago in 2003 with WCTMarcelo Martins e Vanessa GalvaoAnother Brazilian discovery by Julie Koidin“El Pulpo” y LuizaCecilia Gonzalez in SeptemberPaulo Araujo returns in late OctoberAntonio “Junior” CervilaWinner(s) of a FREE future WCT event from attendanceat the Lorena Gasse & Airel Barrionuevoand Paulo Araujo workshops will be announcedat milonga Nuestro Tango on May 30, 2003Random drawing for 1 certificate per each 50 attendeesContact Phoebe J. GrantWindyCityTango@yahoo.com (312) 342-4335or visit www.tangoparatodos.comTango Noticias • June 200311

C E N T R A LT A N G OCHAMPAIGN-URBANA, ILContacts:Leonardo: Tangoleon@aol.com;217.328.1311Joe Grohens: grohens@uiuc.edu;217.328.1008Milongas: Tango Society of CentralIllinois – Monthly milongas firstSaturday of each month at PhillipsRecreation Center, Springfield andMcCullough, Urbana.; 9:00 p-12:00 a; $5 for dance / $7 with premilongabeginner lesson at 7:30 p. Formore information contact Leonardo atabove e-mail/phone.MILWAUKEE, WIContacts:www.milwaukeetango.comMarek Szotkowski:argtango@hotmail.com 414.817.6775Milongas: La Conexión; – Friday, the13 th and Saturday, 28 th– at Gary Allen Dance Studio (611 S.Layton Blvd. = 27th St.); free beginnerclass 8:00-9:00 p; Milonga 9:00 p-1:00 a; Admission $10 ($7 w/ student ID,light buffet provided.; BYOBClasses: For schedules visitwww.milwaukeetango.com or contactMarek at above phone number/e-mail.MADISON, WIContacts:Steven Fosdal: steve@fosdal.net;608.288.8339Anna Snider:asnider@nutrapark.com; 608.836.7716Web Site: http://tango.doit.wisc.eduMilongas: Pasión del Tango atUnion South(227 N. Randall St.; Univ. of Wis.campus at the corner of Randall andJohnson; Tuesdays 7:00-10:30 p; Free.TWIN CITIES, MNContacts:Tango Society of Minnesota -Mntango.orgSteve Lee: 612.729.5306tango@winternet.comwww.geocities.com/twincitiestangoLois Donnay: 612.822.8436donnay@donnay.netFrank Williams: 612.379.4565Frankw@tc.umn.eduMilongas:Tango Society of Minnesota: 2 ndSaturday/monthly at Dancesport DanceStudio in Hopkins; lesson 8:00-9:00 p;dancing 9:00 p-1:00 a; Admission: $5 formembers or $8 for others.Steve Lee’s Tango Plus; Friday after 2 ndSaturday of each month; 9:00 p-1:00 a;lesson 9:00-9:30 p;. Admission: $5.Michael Cordner’s Mini-Milongas at FourSeason’s Dance Studio 1637 HennepinAve., Minneapolis; Sundays 7:00-9:30 p;Admission: $2; 612.342.0902.Practicas and Classes: please see thefollowing websites for details:www.mntango.org/tsomcalhttp://i.am.tctangoFor a weekly update of Twin Cities tangoactivities, go to http://mntango.org/mailmn/listinfo/ and subscribe to‘TSOM- announce.’AMES, IAContacts:Valerie Williams: www.vjw.biz/docs/amessocdnc.htm; v@vjw.biz;515.232.7374;Tango Salon: Classes resuming; contactValerie at above phone/e-mail for furtherinformation.FAIRFIELD, IAContacts:Heartland Social Dance AssociationDETROIT, MIContacts:Amy & Ray: MotorCityMilongueros.com313.561.3236Lori Burton: Argentinetangodetroit.com;586.726.2370Amy & Ray: MotorCityMilongueros.com;AmyandRay@comcast.netMilongas:Milonga de la Motor City Milongueros:Tuesdays at Father O’Kelly Knights ofColumbus Hall (23663 Park, Dearborn),7:00-10:00 p; contact them at above e-mail/phone for details.La Practica: Thursdays at the Pittsfi eldGrange; (1/2 mi. S of I94 on Ann Arbor/Saline Rd., exit 175); 7:00-10:00 p;Admission: $10 ($5 w/ student ID)Milonga at Cafe Zola: Friday, May 3 rdin a cafe that is reminiscent of the cafesin Buenos Aires (without the smoke);11:00 p-2:00 a; (112 W. Washington,Ann Arbor; 734.769.2020); $5.Latin & Argentine Tango Club 10thAnniversary Celebration – October 17that Giovanni Caboto Club (21275 Parent,Windsor, Ontario).Lori Burton: Argentinetangodetroit.comor Lori@Argeintinetangodetroit.com;586.254.0560Milongas:Argentine Tango Detroit/Tango Suave;three times weekly see website fordetails.Brickhouse. Auburn Road, Utica;8:00 p; $7.Sky Club. Tuesdays- on hold Classes:Argentine Tango Detroit: every dayof the week, 7758 Auburn, Utica; seewebsite for details.Workshops/Special events: Gloria andEduardo Araquambo ) August 20-24ANN ARBOR, MIContacts:www.umich.edu/~umtango;umtango@umich.edu 734.327.0642Membership/Fees: All events are freefor members and 1 st timers; membershipis $10 for students,$15 for non-studentsper 4 month semesterMilongas:Saturday, May 3 rd - Milonga en CafeZola (112 W. Washington); 10:30 p- ??;$3.00 coverSaturday, May 10 th - All-Night Milongaat Pittsfield Grange, (3337 Saline Rd.);10:00 p-Sunrise; $7(students)/$10(nonstudents)Fridays, May 16 th and May 30 th andSaturdays, May 10 th and 24 th - Milongacontinued on page 14Tango Noticias • June 200312

Authentic Argentine TangoRhythmic, Sensual, Sexy….6 week summer session begins June 16, 18 & 20MondayWednesdayThursday6:30pm to 7:30 pm – Milonga Basics7:30 pm to 8:30pm – Tango 1 Fundalmentals6:30pm to 7:30pm Tango 1 Fundalmentals7:30pm to 8:30pm Tango 2 intermediate7:00 pm to 8:30pm Tango 2 intermediatePrices:Individual classes:$15 per personSix week session:$ 80 per personEarly bird discount:If payment received by June 121 class per week: $60 per personSave money by registering for multiple classes2 classes per week $ 90 per personSend check payable to:Tango Sentido Production, Inc.4751 W Touhy Ave., suite 201Lincolnwood, IL 60712773-550-2646http://www.TangoinChicago.comSAVE THE DATE: JULY 30 th - AUGUST 7, 2003special tango treatGloria y Eduardo ArquimbauThe living legends of Argentine TangoGloria and Eduardo have danced over 40 years together and are still sizzling hot.World renown and highly respected, these master instructors have worked andchoreographed many of the great Tango dancer s (including Carlos Gavito andMarim Larici) in the famo us Production s “Tango Argentino “ aka “ForeverTango”. This energetic dance couple popularized Tango worldwide with aninstructional video that has been translated into 8 languages. Their love of lifeand Argentine Tango is clearly seen in their fast, precise, playful, elegant, andflashy dance. Gloria and Eduardo will give you the opportunity of a lifetime, totaste the authentic, porteño style of Tango.This workshop promises to be anunforgettable experience!Classes will include:Tango 1 - fundamentalsTango 2 - ochosTango 3 - girosTango 4 - sacadasTango Vals cruzadaMilonga 1-fundalmentalsMilonga 2-traspieFor more details go the web sitehttp://www.TangoinChicago.comElena or DannyTango Sentido Production, Inc773-550-2646

continued from page 12Picantes at Pendleton Room, MichiganUnion (530 S. State St.); Beginners’lesson 8:00-9:00 p; dancing 9:00 p-1:00a.KANSAS CITY, MOContacts:Korey Ireland;korey@kodair.com or816.931.9545;http://www.kodair.com/tangoMilongas: Wednesdays at Fedora on thePlaza; 210 W. 47 th ; Lesson w/ MitchWeiner 7:00-8:00 p; Live music byTango Lorca 8:00-11:00 p; Free.“La Ceremonia”; Sundays at WestportPresbyterian Church (201 WestportRd.); Intermediate “cool move of theweek” class 7:30-8:30 p; Milonga 8:30-10:30 p; live music by Tango Lorca;$5/person including pre-milonga class.Monthly Saturday night on Dec. 14;hosted by Toi Shaw at the Swing Club,6101 Martway, Mission; dancing 8:00-11:00 p.Practicas/Classes: contact Korey Irelandat above e-mail/phone.MT. VERNON, MOContacts:Karen Whitesell: 417.471.1001;Fax 417.471.1002;www.thelearningdepot.com/murrays-1/ST. LOUIS, MOContacts:Carter Maier: tngomn@hotmail.comEstella & Randy:tangoartists@tangorosa.comLourdes Ylagan:Lylagan@path.wustl.eduMilongas:Club Viva; second Tuesday of everymonth; contact Roxanne.Soulard Coffee Garden; 910 Geyer Ave.;call 314.241.1464Monthly Milonga; at Focal Point;Admission: $10; Call Estella & RandyPracticas/Classes: contact aboveindividuals and/or websites.TULSA, OKContact:Bob & Gretchen Manhart;OKTANGO@prodigy.netMilongas and Classes: Contactfor details.FAYETTEVILLE, ARContact:Elayne Hency at Elayne’s Dance-The Artof Social Dance;elaynesdance@aol.com: 479.521.6683or 479.263.6683Milongas, Practicas and Classes:Contact for more details.DENVER AND BOULDER, COContacts:www.danceoftheheart.com;Deb Sclar:deb@danceoftheheart.comMilongas:Boulder - 2nd and last in Boulder atBantaba; intro. class 8:30-9:30 p. (checkw/ Deb for special topic each time);milonga 9:30 p-??; $10 for class andmilonga; $7 for milonga.Denver - every Friday at Marilyn’sMercury Café; www.mercurycafe.comColorado Springs - every Wednesday atRum Bay (Fat Alley Jazz upstairs room);7:00 p-????; www.tangosprings.comPracticas and Classes: check websiteor contacts listed above.NOTE: Effective June 2003, CentralTango will list each community’scontact and milonga information only.Tango Noticias intends to feature aMidwest Argentine Tango organizationeach month. To add, change or updateinformation appearing in this sectionplease send your notices tocentral_tango@hotmail.comTango Noticias • June 200314