Organizing а milonga is much more than playing music and letting them dance. It's not a rocket science, but every organizer has to know some things in order to enable their guests to enjoy. If you're starting your first milonga this post is for you. The points explained here are very basic, but they're important. The more experienced organizers can also use this article as a sort of reminder or a check-list for their already existing milonga. My feet were tired and I decided to skip the milonga tanda. The music that evening was great and I enjoyed a lot. Siting on the comfortable leather covered armchair I was watching the mastery of some of the dancers in the ronda. I sometimes feel … [Read more...] about How to organize a successful milonga?
Embrace like a lover, dance like the wind
"Embrace like a lover, dance like the wind" sounds like reading poetry, but having nice tango embrace is like writing poetry or painting: it comes from the heart and you can't fake it. It reveals who you are and it takes some work to be able to show what's inside you. This article is about what can you do to improve your embrace. Some of these things are natural and most of us know them instinctively. On the other hand, many are not, and people have trouble accepting them. I recommend you to try them anyway. Who knows, maybe they will open new horizons for you? When we talk about tango dancers there are two extremes. There are those who came for the moves: they enjoy being seen. … [Read more...] about Embrace like a lover, dance like the wind
Speed up your learning
I know! You want to learn without effort and you want to know right away. Who doesn't? Unfortunately there is no magic formula that will help you speed up your learning process. But I have good news for you: there are some things you can do to learn faster. These 6 recommendations can help speed up your learning: you may like them or hate them – it's up to you. Years of teaching experience proved me that if you respect the process your path from beginners classes to milongas will be much shorter. No-shortcuts approach When he decided to take private class with me he's been dancing for 2 years already. He knew a lot and yet, on the dance floor he could barely move. All he … [Read more...] about Speed up your learning
The four levels of tango musicality
One of the most important aspects of every dance is the musicality. A dancer can't be considered a good dancer if what s/he does is not in some way connected to the music. Dancing is't just mechanically performing step after step, sequence after sequence – it goes far beyond that. To be honest, I strongly believe it goes even beyond the music itself and touches the core of who the dancers are as human beings... but that's another topic. Let's now focus on the four levels in which tango dancers connect to the music. I tried to simplify the language and the explanations, so even beginners and people with no musical background can understand. I also need to mention that there is a … [Read more...] about The four levels of tango musicality
10 minutes tango DJing guide
Becoming a good tango DJ takes time, energy and a lot of love for what you do. But your first steps don't have to be that hard. In fact, it's much simpler than many people think. Now, there are many ways to begin, but in my experience these 5 steps are all you need to set yourself up for a great start. I'm not promising instant glory (though it's not impossible); I'm just pointing out what you have to do to build a solid base. In past few years I mentored and advised many people. Some have become rising star DJs, while others unfortunately gave up DJing and dancing for personal reasons. From these experiences, I can conclude that to become a good DJ you need two basic ingredients: … [Read more...] about 10 minutes tango DJing guide
The Most Common DJing Mistakes at International Events
DJing at an international tango event is a demanding responsibility. If you’re not careful, you might end up with an empty dance floor and a disappointed organizer. That’s why I decided to write about the five most common mistakes DJs make at international tango events. I first published this article on my tango blog Pocas Palabras, and then it went viral – DJs and organizers shared it widely on social media, the Slovakian editors of the tango magazine Gancho asked me to include it in one of their issues, and many people still mention the ideas from it. I’m publishing it here again with some minor changes. Imagine more than a hundred top dancers from all over the world at an elite … [Read more...] about The Most Common DJing Mistakes at International Events
