Friday, January 31, 2014

Cover Photo
Join us for The Bad kitty, our charming and intimate milonga every Friday evening from 9:30-1am.
Hosted by Sarah la Rocca

This week our guest DJ is Lexa Roséan.
We are very pleased to have her with us.

Enjoy complimentary wine and snacks
BYOB is fine
Wonderful dance floor
Great music
Friendly ambiance

Admission $12 general public
Students at Dardo Galletto Studios $10


151 West 46th Street, 11th floor, New York, New York 10036

Thursday, January 23, 2014

dulce de la respiración

I have to say this: NO DRAGON BREATH in the milongas! In case you did not learn this, there is a list of foods not to eat before you dance. (and if you do eat them, clean your teeth well and take a mint and check your breath often.)
The List
Garlic
Onion
Cucumber (can repeat)

I am missing a few. Can anyone add to this?


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Salvados por las bolas y los senos

My first Argentine tango instructor taught me many cosas. Along with how to dance tango, there were also transmitted many codas y tradiciones, supersticiones, informacion cultural sobre Argentina - and of course - palabras sucias en Lunfardo.  All of these are necessary to dance the tango. These lessons, given almost two decades ago, still prove to be of immense value and they remain with me.

The other night, I arrived to the milonga early to set up to dj. The class was still in progress and I discovered right away that there was a problem with the sound system. The teacher, who usually sets the Pandora radio to teach, was using his iPod and apparently not happy about that as he prefers the radio with Fresedo. As I went to examine the sound equipment, I observed that many wires were tangled and the whole thing in general was a quilombo! Just at this point, I heard the tango "Adios Muchachos" begin to play. It seems, the teacher (expecting to use the radio) had not had time to prepare a playlist and was just playing the music in his iPod in alphabetical order.

The words of my teacher immediately came back to me... "It is muy mala suerte to play this song in the milonga. Even though it is a beautiful tango, we don't play it in the milonga because it was the last tango that Gardel and Le Pera wrote and recorded before they died in the plane crash in Medellín."
My teacher also told me what to do to ward off this bad luck should I ever hear this tango in a milonga. Without even thinking, I immediately shouted out this remedy to all in the room: "Todo el mundo toma su testiculo izquierdo o la mama izquierda immediatamente!"
"What!", I heard the organizer shout out.
Knowing that my español is not always clear, I repeated with even more urgency in English: "Everyone grab your left ball or left breast. NOW!"

The teacher, who was in the middle of teaching a cruzada, looked up in great surprise but nonetheless he repeated: "You heard what Lexa said! Gentleman - grab your left ball! Ladies, grab your left breast! Immediately!!!" He caught my air of urgency yet he retained his own element of complete surprise and bewilderment having no idea what this strange tango move I was suggesting was about. All the students and everyone in the room followed the instructions.
Then, on the last note of the infamous tango, a huge speaker on a stand (total weight of at least 70 lbs.) came crashing down. It missed my head and my laptop by a few inches and landed right where a lady would have been sitting had she not stood up to grab her left breast.

I am now convinced more than ever that the superstition is true.  Adios Muchachos is extremely bad luck and should not be played in the milonga. I am also convinced that the grabbing of the left breasts and left testicles worked and saved us all from disaster. After careful analysis, I realize it is more than just a superstition but a very spiritual ritual and psychoanalytical intervention. Adios Muchachos is about saying goodbye and Gardel and La Pera said the ultimate goodbye when they died in the plane crash. The song has now come to symbolize the death drive. The left side symbolizes the unconscious. The testicles are the containers for semen and the breasts are the containers of milk. Milk and Semen represent the libidinal or life drive. The Argentines are very wise. It seems important and advisable to reaffirm the life drive in the face of death.

It is also important to note that the management of the venue is now committed to cleaning up the quilombo so no such incident will ever happen again!
Deseando a todos buena suerte y buenos tangos!

DJ'ing TONIGHT!

Wednesday!
We've got snow!
--Got cross-country skis? skates? Come on over!
ESMERALDA'S will be at the Uke!
Where the weather outside is frightful, at the milonga it's just delightful!
@ Ukrainian East Village Restaurant, 140 2nd Av between St Marks & 9th Streets. E. Village
LEXA returns to DJ!
Dance 6 to 11:30--$10

Monday, January 13, 2014

MONDAYS ¡ESMERALDA'S TANGO OESTE! @ Mamajuana Cafe--570 Amsterdam Av, between 87-88th Streets--
"...and the crowd went wild"---Yes, the dancers love this charming, beautifully decorated venue with delicious food (optional always)--empanadas, quesadillas (muy barato)! Great menu!

Lexa DJ's with sensitivity and with imagination and with concern for the dancers.
Matthew joins me in an all level class and offers the same sensitivity! All have a blast!

6:30 to 7:30 Add $5 for the all-level class.
7:30 to 11:15 $10 Dance a lot

Near all West Side subways & buses  •  Parking after 7 or meters earlier.

Reservations recommended with parties 4 or more. Call me 212 777 6053.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

LEXA will be DJ'ing every Monday night in January @

¡ESMERALDA'S TANGO OESTE!-
Upper West Side Milonga @Mamajuana Cafe
540 Amsterdam--87- 88th St. • NYC
LEXA's returns to dj....  
AND THE PARTY CONTINUES!!
6:30-7:30 Add $5 for All Level Class w/guest teacher, MATTHEW Liam and Lucille. This is so much fun and so useful!
7:30-11:15-$10 Dance in the MOST CHARMING SPACE--everyone LOVES this venue--you will too! 
Near all West Side subways & buses  •  Parking after 7 or meters earlier.

Delicious eats (optional) including empanadas and quesadillas! Diners with 4 or more: Reservations encouraged.
For more info, please call: LUCILLE  212 777•6053.