Who Loves To See You!

It was last year, the place was The Corrientes and the time was one o’clock am exactly. The music suddenly stopped in the middle of the tanda. The organiser “Giraldo” put his head over the balcony above the dance floor and said “Sorry, times go forward, it is 2 o’clock and this is the last tango!” Well it was not, he was wrong but….!

Please note that the British Summer Time does changes at 2 am and NOT 1 am. That lack of attention is beside the point here because if it mattered to them then they would have found out such simple details.

As simple as that! The lights came on, music stopped and they started hurriedly gathering the glasses off the tables. Everybody was annoyed with the way it was done. No prior warning, signs, explanations or anything that indicated prior to 1 o'clock what was planned. In fact up to 12:25 people were still paying at the door and coming in. These included a few of my own friends who joined us thinking we’ll be dancing together till almost 2 am.

Tango dancers as a rule are very polite customers but some organisers see us: the customers, as an encumbrance and a burden!

It reminds me of the old ways some English Pubs and bars used to operate when they had to stop serving at 10:30. One could buy a drink or more at 10:25 but the pub owners wanted the customers OUT as immediately as possible past the 10:30!

The Corrientes has tried to improve and tidy up its act however it is still a far cry from its glory days many years ago. It became very careless with how it received everyone till there was a point in time about 4 years ago when it reached the bottom. I suppose once one gets there then the only way is up.

I hear also that the rude old woman collecting the money at door is no longer there. Many had expressed their opinions on how they found her most annoying and irritating with her personal remarks. I don’t think she had any idea how just incredibly rude she was to the paying customers. Thumbs up on not having a mad person at the door and it seems that the penny had finally dropped.

I must add that I have had some wonderful evenings over many years at the Corrientes. I attribute them mostly to the good company of friends and dancers whom I have been lucky to share my evening with.

Personally I only vote with my feet. Those who are glad to receive our custom should know that it matters if the place is clean, the hosts are polite and look as if they are glad to see us there.

I am not sure what The Corrientes is doing this time around as the clocks change again for the British summer time. I do however know that people did not get an extra hour when it was British Winter time change!

Regardless of these I shall be enjoying myself at the Crypt with The El Once Club de Tango this week. I know there is a warm welcome awaiting many with the lovely hosts Paul & Michiko from El Once Club whose care and concern for their guests has always been exemplary any evening of the year. Maybe other organisers should pop in from time to time to observe how good hosting is done!

MilongaCat.
The Only Cat Who Loves You Back!

The Woman, The Shoes & The Dress

One of the most frequent topics of conversations around the dance floor amongst female friend dancers is about Tango Shoes and/or dresses.

The topic is dominant to the extent that it may make some think the shoes feature themselves more obsessively in the thoughts of those friends dancing than the music or the dance itself.

Of course the quality and the elegance of the shoes worn by any dancer does have a direct correlation on how it makes the dancer feel. The Comfort and the confidence that arise from good shoes can be seen as undeniable need in a long evening of dancing however I believe this goes a little deeper.

The shoes are also seen to be representative of a dancer status in the community of dancers. The height of the heels, the intricacies of the design, the colour and type of material used they all lead to the views taken on how good the dancer must be in order to wear them.

Naturally the reverse is also true that if an inexperienced dancer wears a very noticeably "classy" pair of tango shoes then that dancer is allowing for many harsh comments and criticising looks and comments being received.

The magic combination of an elegant dress and some fancy pair of shoes attracts everyone's attention. Some have a lovely figure to match the deep pocket that the above attire may need while some don't know any better and end up looking similar to some wonderful decoration placed on a wedding cake that may be good to look at from distance but inedible and tasteless in closer examination.

I like to think that what attracts most good dancers to each other is the promise and joy expected from a moving embrace. The shoes and the dress are hardly noticed in a magical tango embrace. Still, if the shoes and the dress make you feel good, and you believe that it may make me feel good too then please do not hesitate.

MilongaCat.
The Only Cat Who Loves You Back!

A Tango For Peace

An attempt at translating an eastern tango song:
Glasses all empty;
Bottles are drunk and not even a drop is left inside.
There are no matches;
and if there is fire, the problem is: not having any cigarettes left.

The dawn is here but; the sky continues being dark,
maybe the last drink was spiked.

Here, since you left me behind,
my only friend has been the wine.
A picture frame standing on my table filled with blank,
the picture's gone,
It frames now the image of "An Empty".

I know -I loved you for an eternity,
but I can't even recall you by your name.

The glasses are empty and if there were gallons more to be drunk
- somehow I doubt that they would have been enough,
I remember you taking about Love
- even your love seemed greedy to me.

Misfortune does not just arrive when the pay is gone,
Life is somehow a kind of disaster when the best things in it are:
- Lies, Fictions or just Memories fading gradually, helped by wine.

"Well Done!", You have managed to be victorious in this War!
Can you tell me if you know what you wish to do with victory now?
I've surrendered - there are no grounds which I wish to fight you on -
Can you tell me now till when you intend to escape this Peace?

"A Tango song is always a Tango Song regardless of in which language it is sung!"