The man's left hand

Everything is connected to everything else. And the position of the man's left hand can make a big difference, as you will see in this article from Tango and Chaos.

So guys, compare your style to the pictures in this article, and see how the left hand's position can affect your dance. The Tray of Martinis tip sounds fun, too!

Pat

Improvisation ... that's what it's all about

Feeling the music, connecting with your partner in the embrace, sensing the possibilities which open up from moment to moment on a floor full of dancing couples - all these present creative moments, which become more intuitive the more you dance. I've even heard some say that those so-called "mistakes" which their partner makes are, in fact, openings for improvisation.

So, do you want to develop your improvisational skills further? Then take a look a this article and practise ... a lot.

And here are Melina and Detlef improvising to Biagi's Belgica at Porteño y Bailarin in BsAs.

Enjoy!

Pat

Pugliese, the innovator

Nadim (tanguero from Melbourne) has just sent me this historic link of Osvaldo Pugliese and his orchestra playing at the famous Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. It got me thinking about how Pugliese's tango compositions and arrangements are truly innovative (and therefore more demanding for dancers).


Pugliese was not a mainstream kind of guy. Joining the Communist Party because of the injustices of the Spanish Civil War landed him in gaol several times. As a sign of support during his imprisonment, his orchestra would still perform in his absence, but with a red rose on his piano.

From his early compositions La Yumba and Recuerdo, the distinctive strong, driving beat is present. But particularly in his later work, this is also meshed with exquisite lyrical elements, as well as intense, emotionally demanding passages. Without doubt, that's why so many dancers chose his later pieces, such as Pata ancha (Geraldine Rojas & Javier Rodriguez) and Gallo ciego (Lorena Ermocida & Osvaldo Zotto) for performances.

Despite his huge, trail-blazing body of work, when declared an honorary citizen of Buenos Aires he responded with a modest "I am merely a labourer for tango".

After his death in 1995, Roberto Alvarez, the great bandoneonista of his orchestra, took over the Pugliese baton and now leads the well-known orchestra Color Tango.
Pat