364  New Year's Embrace

Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 02:13:45 -0500
From: Keith Elshaw <keith@TOTANGO.NET>
Subject: New Year's Embrace

I take this opportunity to send a smile and best Happy New Year! wishes to
each friend I have made over the years through Tango-L - feeling blessed
indeed to know you.

In the last 6 months, during which time shocking events brought us up short,
made us count our blessings, I have been obsessively (what else is new?)
re-mastering/restoring the tango library and compiling dynamic Tandas.
Mining gold.

I still find, after 12 years of living with and learning about the music,
that I uncover new and exciting revelations. Every time you think you have
it all down, you should go over it again with an open mind. Like life?

As the follower inspires the leader with her sensual tendencies and creative
inclinations - so too the programmer of music can release potential energy
and creativity for dancers from hot juxtaposition of musical feelings/ideas.

Again this year, as has happened before, I can say that tango saved my life
in some ways. A large part of that is the music; but a large part has been
the embrace of partners. This year, I was utterly spoiled on the road and at
home by women who moved me as they moved with me - and by men who I saw and
talked to and admired.

Small moments have such an effect. What a beautiful thing tango is that it
provides us a way to give and receive small, warm moments intimately with
other souls - whether stranger or friend - this moment's partner on our
desert island.

And there's the over-all attitude / cultural environment that we feed on ...
need to contribute to.


Last weekend, as I was dj'ing at La Tanguería here in Montréal, another
small but exquisite surprise moment happened that illustrates why I love
life in this city.

It's passing 3 in the morning. There are 30 people still dancing, a few more
sitting around chatting. I want to put on something I hope will be a nice
surprise for people ... but really, it's for me. So I invite Pascale for
"I've Got You Under My Skin" by Sinatra (arr: Nelson Riddle). A great tango,
did you know?

She's into it, I'm having just a great time dancing with her to Frank and
the big band. Then ... what's that? I swear I hear a trumpet blowing with
the band - but from the other side of the room!

Sure enough, cool Québecois tanguero Stephane has pulled a horn out and is
blowing real nice with the music. What a way for me to find out if people
would like my choice of music.


People "get it" and participate in some personal way here; express
themselves; have something to say. There are nice things going on
constantly. Again I thought - I love Montréal!

And, more all the time somehow, I love tango.


I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of having you near
In spite of the warning voice
That comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear:

Don't you know, you fool
You never can win!
Use your mentality -
Wake up to reality!

But, each time I do
Just the thought of you
Makes me stop -
Before I begin

'Cause I've got you
Under my skin.


Tango. And tango people. I like you under my skin.


Prospero Año!


Keith


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