3709 part one re; dueling festivals
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:15:34 -0500
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: part one re; dueling festivals
Valorie Hart wrote<<<<<< ps this has nothing personal to do with
karen in missouri. it's a shame she didn't come to new orleans, but
rather chose to offer her event on the same weekend long after we
announced our tangofest>>>>>>>>
Unfortunately, Valorie, your message, however unintended, DID come
across as personal. It was also just a little cynical, sarcastic,
condescending, and patronizing, again, however unintended. But
fortunately, Valorie, although I doubt you knew it when you wrote it,
your message stated all the reasons that many of us chose to attend
"Meet in the Middle" over the New Orleans Festival.
I've yet to meet you, or Alberto, or many of the New Orleans tango
community, and this message in no way is meant to cast aspersions. I'm
sure that you have a great community, and I'm sure that your festival
was first-class. I know at least several Houstonians who loved it in
2004, and I hope they returned this year. I hope it was very successful,
and I hope your success only continues to grow. I look forward to
meeting you someday!
But I highly doubt that Karen's event in Missouri drew away any
possible attendees from your event. Some reasons why?
<<<<do you like beautiful places?>>>> Yes, and I like New Orleans, but
tiny little Mt Vernon is a very beautiful place in its own way, and has
much to offer those who appreciate the small-town hospitable atmosphere.
<<<<do you like comfy beds in your own room with luxury linens?>>>>The
beds and linens at the not-luxurious $35.00 a night USA Inn were just
fine with me. And after Missouri I could still afford to go to Seattle!
<<<<do you like marble bathrooms with big comfy terry cloth robes in a
sexy leopard print and great aveeda bath products?>>>> The shower at the
cheap motel got me just as clean, god-forbid a "sexy leopard print"
robe, and if I used Aveeda I can take it with me.
<<<<if you had an allergy would your hotel provide you with a chemical
free room, no scents of any kind, immaculate, and do it with a smile for
you?>>>>I do have allergies, but the USA Inn did not seem to make them
worse, and I saved at least $80.00 per night, probably much more. And
the lady at the desk smiled at me!
<<<<if you were one of 100 diners at a catered dinner, on a no salt
diet, would the chef make a special provision for you?>>>> Karen is glad
to make provisions for those with special dietary requirements, and all
meals were included in the $125.00 package price.
<<<<if you have a dog (or cat), would your hotel or house host allow
you to bring your pet, and then pamper it for you?>>>>I have a dog, but
no desire to bring her on my tango vacations. And like me, she's not
much on being pampered.
<<<<do you like starbucks coffee and a coffee maker in your room to
brew it?>>>> I don't know what kind of coffee Karen served, but it was
fine with me.
<<<<do you like turn down service, where you get chilled bottled water
left bedside for you?>>>> I can turn down my own bed, thank you, and
there was an ice machine twenty steps from my motel door.
<<<<do you like complimentary wine and wonderful brie stuffed olives
and tasty crunchy munchies served everyday at cocktail hour, in a
gorgeous living room, to you and your friends?>>>> I don't drink wine,
but there was wine available, and even champagne for brunch, served in a
glass that we could take home, and munchies available pretty much all
day long, and delicious midnight food wraps, all included in the
aforementioned package price, and all served in Karen's beautifully
remodeled three-story historic building, right on the square in
beautiful Mt Vernon, and all in the company of 107 great friends. I can
pass on the "brie stuffed olives".
<<<<do you like getting first rate tango lessons from professional and
top rated teachers in a gender balanced class with a beautiful
state-of-the-art dance floor, with no more than 40 people, so you get
lots of attention from the pros?>>>> Got it in Missouri! Most of my
favorites were there. Four of the finest teachers of social tango in the
United States; Robin Thomas and Jennifer Bratt, and Robert Hauk and
Barbara Durr. Many thanks to them all for their many years of hard work
and dedication to the social aspect of Argentine Tango.
<<<<can you video tape your lessons? and shows or exhibitions?>>>> I
don't even own a video camera, but I don't think there were any
restrictions on filming at all. I do however find it annoying and
distracting for people to film during classes. And I don't normally care
for shows/exhibitions, but the one in Missouri was one of the best I've
seen, designed for dancers. At least I wasn't fidgeting in my seat
thinking I'd rather be dancing.
<<<<do you like being taught in a classroom setting and not coached or
taught on the social dance floor of the miilonga (no professional
teacher would have the bad manners to do this)?>>>> Is this a suggestion
that this occurred in Missouri? If so, I believe you are badly mistaken.
I certainly never witnessed this.
<<<<do you like milongas that have excellent music (tandas with
cortinas)>>>>Yes, I do, and there are no better DJ's in the US than
Robert Hauk and Robin Thomas, both present in Missouri.
<<<<excellent sound system>>>> OK, Karen is working on that part, there
were a few minor problems there.
<<<<excellent dance floor>>>>Got it in Missouri!
<<<<excellent food and drink>>>> Got it in Missouri!
<<<<AND excellent friendly dancers>>>>Got it in Missouri!
<<<<who dance every style of tango>>>> Don't want it; I want to share
the floor with those who dance close-embrace social tango.
<<<<to every style of orchestra>>>> Don't want it; I want good
danceable tango music played for social dancers by great DJs who
understand that there is a lot of tango music that was not meant for
dancing.
<<<<and with every dancer they can get to?>>>> Got it in Missouri!
<<<<do you like hotel dinners that don't feature rubber chicken, but
gourmet food catered from it's 4 star on premise restaurant>>>> It's ok
every now and then, but I can generally do better at home without having
to pay an arm and a leg. When I'm at a festival, toss me a barbecue
sandwich, and let me get on with my dancing.
<<<<do you know what it means to miss new orleans, the most interesting
and beautiful city, so close to buenos aires in feeling, so exotic, so
unique, so musical, so delicious, so friendly?>>>> Yeah, I kind of miss
New Orleans, it's been awhile. I think I'll have to plan a visit soon.
Know any good milongas?
<<<<do you like to shop?>>>> Not particularly.
Continued in part two.......
