1554  Let's hear it for the women of tango

Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 17:06:56 -0400
From: rtara <rtara@MAINE.RR.COM>
Subject: Let's hear it for the women of tango

I was lucky to be able to attend two tango festivals in California, this
year - Tango Fireworks, in Long Beach and Nora's Tango Week, in San
Francisco.

I will not try to describe the differences between the two. There are many
differences and yet many similarities, too.

The most striking similarity, to me, was that they are both being produced
by strong, passionate women who love tango.

Nora Dinzelbacher, in San Francisco, has lived with tango her entire life, I
think. I remember meeting her at that same Stanford week in 1995 and it was
only a couple of years later that she took over the reins and began Nora's
Week.

Linda Valentino, in Los Angeles, who has also made tango the center of her
life, produced her third Tango Fireworks this year, and she did it with
style and grace.

I also attended The USTC Tango Fantasy, in Miami, which was produced by
Lydia Henderson this year, I believe. Another terrific tango experience

Three strong women of tango. Then, of course, there is Christie Coty, who,
with her team, produces Las Vegas and Valorie Hart, the world's best party
planner who produces Tango New Orleans with her partner, Alberto.

All this made me start thinking about all the strong women of tango and what
they've given us all.

Let's talk about the tango women who have shared themselves as teachers,
mentors, trainers, examples, models. Rebecca Shulman, Brigitta Winkler,
Graciala Gonzales, Ester Pugliese Maria Cieri and Maria Bastone, who were so
important when I started dancing Tango in 1993. Their understanding,
expertise, artistry and commitment has given many of the lucky ones their
foundation in tango.

And what about the milongueras? The women we've watched on the dance floors
of our hometowns, of Buenos Aires and around the world. In 1994, I met Katy
Funes and Lilia Felice in New York. (If you want to know what the word
"Milonguera" means, take a trip to Danel and Maria's milonga in New York
some Saturday night, and look for two striking, elegantly dressed, women
dancing with their handsome husbands, Carlos and Mario.)

There are many strong women in tango. Imagine what it must be like to travel
to one city after another trying to teach an advanced tango class to a group
of people who haven't mastered the precision footwork demanded by a molinete
or even a good tango walk. Imagine what it is like to do it alone. Imagine
what it is like to do it with a partner. The travelling professionals give
us their strength through their patience and determination to make us better
dancers. Thanks to Lorena, who has grown from an adorable young woman into
the dancer we all wish to be, Milena, who captured our imaginations in Tango
x Dos, Guillermina with the perfect little feet, Carolina, Fernanda, Andrea,
Loren, Brooke, Cecilia, Viviana, Giselle-Anne, Alicia, Patricia, Gloria,
Veronica and the many, many others, we are learning what a woman in tango
is.

I think it's time to appreciate the women of tango. Your partners, your
teachers, your role-models, your organizers. I wonder if the tango would
have enjoyed such a successful rebirth without them.


Best regards,

Robin

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