3710 part two-dueling festivals
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:21:25 -0500
From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: part two-dueling festivals
<<<<and have great tango things to buy right in the comfort of your
luxury hotel? and great shops right outside of your hotel? do you like
the luxury las vegas style casino steps away from your hotel? do you
consider yourself worth pampering for a very good price?>>>> I got my
great "Meet in the Middle" t-shirt in Missouri, and I'm not the type who
cares for being pampered. And oh, I hate Las Vegas, and casinos.
<<<<are you of a certain age that the idea of cheap hotels and sleeping
bags and crashing somewhere unknown, sharing a bathroom with strangers
(or friends), just doesn't appeal to you?>>>> What does age have to do
with it? There were plenty of "older" dancers in Missouri!
<<<<especially since you really can afford better?>>>> I could afford
to attend, but then I may have to cut out my trip to Seattle, or Denver,
or Portland, or Ann Arbor.
<<<<do you like variety in your tango dancing, or are you stuck in a
rut with one trick ponies shuffling around?>>>> You got me here, I'm a
"one-trick" pony. I've no desire to learn stage tango, or fantasia, or
complicated figures and combinations.
<<<<are you open minded enough to accept and appreciate all who step
onto the great equalizer of the dance floor (even the one trick
pony)?>>>> I'm very open-minded, but not when it comes to stage dancers
crashing the outside lane of the ronda, endangering me and my partner,
because they don't know how, or care to learn to dance socially. Not
only are they dangerous and inconsiderate, but they detract from my
enjoyment, hence that of my partner, because I cannot focus all of my
attention on just dancing when I have to worry so much about protecting
my partner.
<<<<do you like meeting over 100 dancers from all over the country, say
- michigan, nevada, california, florida, tennessee, arizona, illinois,
texas, new york, alabama, georgia, mississippi and from baton rouge to
new orleans in louisiana, and and from argentina?>>>>Got it in Missouri,
Seattle, Denver!
<<<<are you proud of your own tango dancing (at any level) and able and
willing to share it with your peers by stepping up by being in a
showcase?>>>> Yes, I'm proud of my dancing ability, and all the hard
work, time, and dedication I've put into it, but a showcase? I'd rather
just be dancing. If somebody wants to watch me dance, they can watch
during the milonga.
<<<<have you seen broadway style shows, so you can appreciate the
effort that goes into making a really great tango show that not only
entertains, but helps bring new people into the wonderful tango
lifestyle?>>>> Yes, I have seen them, and I'd generally rather be
dancing!
<<<<do you recognize good service from staff members and hosts who are
proud and happy to organize for you, plan for you, consider your comfort
and needs, help you, wait on you, guide you?>>>> Nobody could be more
attentive and caring than Karen Whitesell, and Janis, and all her other
helpers. Did you arrange to pick everybody up at the airport twenty
miles away? Did you provide midnight snacks, or offer your home to
anyone who wanted to stay there? Did you have the ice-cream truck come
daily, and buy everyone whatever they wanted? Did your package price
include ALL meals, snacks, drinks, a wine glass, a champagne brunch,
etc, etc?
<<<<are you an adult with a job who buys things at fair prices?>>>>
Yup, I don't mind paying a fair price for anything, but I also look for
really great deals!
<<<<are you a single woman who doesn't lack for dance partners, ditto
for single men, and ditto for couples who "swap", when you attend a
wonderful weekend event out of town (in class, and at the milongas into
the wee small hours of the morning)? do you like well dressed tango
dancers who look sharp and sexy and smell divine? are you proud of the
argentine tango and are you one who puts a value on it, morally and
financially, and doesn't sell it, or yourself, cheap? do you respect and
accept quality in your tango lifestyle?>>>> Yes, to all of the above.
<<<<great! then we'll see you next year>>>> Nope, I'll be in Missouri.
<<<<no matter how many imitators, naysayers, or those who can't cut it,
or those who are cheap, or those who bash new orleans, or those bash us
on other discussion lists where they know we cannot answer back or
defend ourselves so they can continually assassinate our character, or
those who have no clue about respecting the argentine tango or the great
lifestyle it affords>>>> Sorry, not real sure what you intended with
this paragraph. I assure you I'm not "assassinating character", or
"bashing", or "nay saying" at all, but this paragraph appears to be (and
I hope I'm misreading it, somehow), a direct insult to everyone who
attended "Meet in the Middle" rather than your event.
<<<<well i say great! come to new orleans anytime, where you will
always be welcomed with the open arms of the tango and fine southern
hospitality of this city and its local tango dancers we nurture in the
tango lifestyle we build, so you can check it out first hand, so you can
sling mud from first hand experiences, or maybe even enjoy yourself and
the good work we have been doing for the tango together for nearly
eleven years (and alberto has been doing it longer)>>>> Great, I'll look
forward to meeting everyone, and I doubt seriously that I'll find any
reason whatsoever to "sling mud".
<<<<and maybe, you'll be able to go all the way, instead of merely
meeting in the middle :-)>>>> Cute, but uncalled for, Valorie, in my
opinion, and this statement underscores my assertion that your email was
personal, and even a little vindictive. Due to all the reasons listed
above, and more, I myself would rather "merely Meet in the Middle", than
go all the way. I hope there are many tango dancers out there who would
rather go all the way, and contribute to making your event a great
success in the future.
OK, sorry for the length, but I couldn't resist the point-by-point. But
all I'm saying here, Valorie, is that there are many different types of
people involved in Tango. Many who find your event attractive, and many
who have reasons for finding Missouri attractive. And as different as
these two events are, I doubt very seriously that "the twain shall ever
meet". Those who went to Missouri wanted something totally different
from what your event offered, and those who attended yours will probably
never even consider going to Missouri. I'm just really glad that both of
these groups have the choice, and the opportunity, to attend whichever
venue offers the circumstances they prefer. There are plenty of tango
lovers to go around.
Regards to all,
Michael from Houston, Texas
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 17:43:16 -0700
From: Ed Loomis <TangoBear@POBOX.COM>
Subject: (fwd) RE: part two-dueling festivals - Walmart
Sorry folks, I'm not done yet either. Thank you Michael for so completely and
laboriously enumerating all the reasons why I am not about to apologize to Rick
for posting his Meet in the Middle - Walmart ditty so soon after this long
winded and unfortunately worded message from Valorie. Rick, you say out of one
side of your mouth that you are great friends with Karen Whitesell while sending
us what, given the juxtaposition with the Valorie post, cannot be seen as
anything less than "piling on" out of the other. I really don't give a fig what
you think of me, Rick, but if you are really such good friends with Karen you
might consider apologizing to her for being so thoughtless. Ciao............
Ed
On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:21:25 -0500, Michael Figart II <michaelfigart@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> <<<<and maybe, you'll be able to go all the way, instead of merely
>meeting in the middle :-)>>>> Cute, but uncalled for, Valorie, in my
>opinion, and this statement underscores my assertion that your email was
>personal, and even a little vindictive. Due to all the reasons listed
>above, and more, I myself would rather "merely Meet in the Middle", than
>go all the way. I hope there are many tango dancers out there who would
>rather go all the way, and contribute to making your event a great
>success in the future.
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 21:26:16 -0400
From: Richard deSousa <mallpasso@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: (fwd) RE: part two-dueling festivals - Walmart
Does anyone know whether Sabrina Lewis really exists? In her Aug 15
post where she praised the New Orleans Tango Festival she mentions that
New Orleans is her adopted city. Interestingly, Alberto Paz and
Valorie Hart were part of the San Francisco tango community until they
moved to New Orleans about five years ago...
El Bandito de Tango
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 17:43:16 -0700
Subject: [TANGO-L] (fwd) RE: part two-dueling festivals - Walmart
Sorry folks, I'm not done yet either. Thank you Michael for so
completely and
laboriously enumerating all the reasons why I am not about to apologize
to Rick
for posting his Meet in the Middle - Walmart ditty so soon after this
long
winded and unfortunately worded message from Valorie. Rick, you say out
of one
side of your mouth that you are great friends with Karen Whitesell
while sending
us what, given the juxtaposition with the Valorie post, cannot be seen
as
anything less than "piling on" out of the other. I really don't give a
fig what
you think of me, Rick, but if you are really such good friends with
Karen you
might consider apologizing to her for being so thoughtless.
Ciao............
Ed
On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 18:21:25 -0500, Michael Figart II
<michaelfigart@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> <<<<and maybe, you'll be able to go all the way, instead of merely
>meeting in the middle :-)>>>> Cute, but uncalled for, Valorie, in my
>opinion, and this statement underscores my assertion that your email
was
>personal, and even a little vindictive. Due to all the reasons listed
>above, and more, I myself would rather "merely Meet in the Middle",
than
>go all the way. I hope there are many tango dancers out there who would
>rather go all the way, and contribute to making your event a great
>success in the future.
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