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So I was at this milonga and witnessed a theatrical scene… to say the least.

One of the local tangueras went to a well known tango “star” and commanded for a dance. After being turned down, according to “first hand” recounting, she threw a fit and berated him with names and something like ” you are in my country. You will do what I told you…”. Then she slapped him and was countered. She went to ground… and all hell broke loose. She subsequently threw a glass of RED wine to him and a few people sitting with him got some of that… including a teacher I have respect for.

I was dancing a milonga set with a friend of mine on the floor. I passed by the spot, annoyed by the commotion. What I saw was that the woman on the ground, then got up and went after the “star”; the star was refrained by his friends to execute a front kick, no mistakenly a trained martial arts move. I danced away immediately from that spot and only stopped when the commotion grew wilder at another corner.

Well, this post is not about who’s right or who’s wrong. Nor about discussion of public opinions of this sort of things. So I would delete any comments in that nature. And of course, no names will be revealed publicly, although I suspect the gossip will spread around if it hadn’t already.

The post is about dancing with the “stars”.

First of all, let me make my position clear: I don’t believe in calling or labeling anyone “star” or “deity”, let alone “god or goddess.”. They are just normal human beings who happen to excel in their profession.

Secondly, it is delusional to think that just because one has danced with and being seen dancing with a “star”, that one’s tango status has immediately elevated. A “star” dances with regular dancers for many reasons: y0u are a student or a target student, you are the DJ or the organizer, you are an acquaintance or a friend, you are deliciously gorgeous and in a sexy outfit, or in few cases that you are really good dancer…

Thirdly, your “deities” are also human beings. They could get tired, impatient or drunk. Sometimes milonga is the place they relax after a long day of teaching and performing. They surely don’t the obligation to dance with anyone whom they don’t feel like dancing.

I have been to four festivals this summer and all these festivals were stuffed with who is who in the tango world. Some of the female “stars” were generous to dance with common folks. Yet few of these common folks were really into the dance itself. They rather took the opportunities as a chance to show off their ridiculously shabby skills, pretending to be another “superstar”, dragging and flinging the women around. I felt sorry for the “star” whom, sometimes being dragged on the floor, had to endure the torture and couldn’t get off the floor quick enough once the music stopped.

I once asked a performer whom happened to be an acquaintance and sometimes would ask me for a dance in local milongas, at a festival milonga. She just performed that night with a well known tango “god”. She first told me that she was bit drunk and would like to dance later. I pressured her because a few people (among, one of the godesses in tango world, if you will) were around and my pride got better of my sense. She got up and danced with me. We didn’t connect, despite my favorite orchestra was on with my favorite songs. I tried, but she was not there. She could be tired and bit tipsy, or just dance with me because I insisted. Technically, we danced well. But I didn’t enjoy it, nor could I imagine she did.

At another festival milonga in a faraway country, I was standing there looking for a partner to dance the Tanturi con Campos tanda. There came a woman standing next to me, coffee in her hand and singing along with song in Spanish. Although I don’t often invite woman whom I haven’t seen dancing before, I figured if she could sing along, she couldn’t be a bad dancer. I caught her eyes and invited her. She was a bit surprised but told me that she could dance with me after she finished the coffee. A guy came by, greeted her and then asked her for a dance. She hesitated for a moment and explained to him that she promised to dance with me. (in Spanish they spoke). The guy apparently insisted so they went to the floor. I found out later that he was the organizer and she was one of the big “stars” who dances with the biggest name in nuevo world. I could have asked her for a dance again in the coming nights, but I didn’t. Instead I danced with the regular dancers whom embraced me and gave me a hell of experience that I had never felt before.

I still look to dance with the “stars”, not because they are the “stars”. It is because some of them are amazing tangueras. I want to dance with them when they truly like to dance with me, that we could mutually enjoy the dance. Just like they enjoy dancing with some of their fellow “stars”. (I have also seen them dancing with the fellow “stars” for the sake of just to dance with an acquaitance.)

In the end, for me the ultimate tango experience does not depend on with WHOM I dance. The ultimate tango experience occurs when two open their hearts, embrace each other and share the moments.

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The tango blog topic of the week is probably a Japanese couple won the Tango Salon category. I didn’t follow this year’s competition on youtube. I was busy dancing my heart out. Nonetheless it was quite a news that for the first time in the history, a non-Argentine couple won the Salon category.

And it is interesting to know that Yamao scored top position at Rondas Clasifications, and second place at Semifinales. There wasn’t a surprise that they won the final, because they were the only couple in top 5 position in both rounds. They had been consistent with their performance.

I also noted that a Russian couple scored the second at Rondas Clasifications and seven at Semi. Out of the top 15 at Semi there were six international couples, four representing Japan, one Russia and another Chile. 40% non Argentine…Bravo to that!!!

A few months ago, I posted a few clips of Asian tanguero(a)s dancing on my private blog. I commented that traditional Salon Tango was very popular in Asia; judged from the teachers whom were invited to their festivals and workshops, the posture and walk and of course the embrace that dancers showed. I’ve danced with quite a few good to great Asian tangueras. I was impressed by their clean footwork, good energy and nice embrace. Most of them had spent months in BsAs, learning and dancing. Although in Asia, Tango has the shortest history, Yamao’s winning of Salon proved that whoever said only Argentine knew how to dance tango was shortsighted.

Hard work, dedication and smartness can make up the shortcoming of language and culture difference. And I am not surprised that the Russian will win one in the future.

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I like and respect this couple more and more. Took their workshop at Baltimore Tango Element. Watched their performances at Moscow Milonguero Nights. Impressed by their professionalism and brilliance.

Hope you enjoy the above milonga as much as I did.

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If there were a tango nirvana in this world, I am sure I had been in it the last four days. Packed in some sightseeing around Moscow during daytime, I had been in the milonga till 6am every day except the first night. Body is tired, limps are sore, neck stiff… but my spirit is still high. The whole festival was full of new discovery, new friendship and new high of tango experience.

Quite a few tandas that I had danced, I’d experienced this indescribable, unprecedented and overwhelmingly strong sensation that I wanted to cry and scream. Two nights in a row, I had four tandas with two great dancers in the beginning of the night. After those four tandas, I was so physically and emotionally drained that I didn’t get a second wind till 2 hours later.

I had certain expectation when I left for the festival. What I had experienced was ten times better. Some moments were really magical and unforgettable.

That’s it, the highlight of my summer of tango, the festival of all festivals.

What’s next, I wonder…

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Turns out to be a summer of tango festival for me. The next one, most likely the last one for the summer, Moscow Milonguero night is only six days away.

I am truly enjoying all the festivals I’ve gone to so far. A few reasons:

1) The festivals that I chose had great lineup of teachers, which attracted good attendances.

2) The places that the festivals were held were cities that I’d not visited, except Baltimore. I enjoyed visiting Roma as a tourist and spending half day at the Taste of Chicago at Millennium Park in Chicago.

3) I felt I was benefited from the workshops that I attended with all the masters. There was truly something to learn from everyone. I’ve been focusing on improving my milonga. The workshops with Julio y Corina and Sebastian y Mariana had opened my eyes. I am sure whatever I’ve taken in would help me down the road, in a few months from now. Just like things I’d learned over a year ago, they are much more clearer to me now.

4) Part of the fun of going to festival is to make friends, whom share the same addiction; and to see old friends. It was always a pleasant surprise to see some one you know showing up at the same festival. A big and long hug, kisses on the cheeks, it warmed the hearts. And it was nice to dance with them and feel the difference after all these times, most of them had improved and the dance experiences were felt much better. Tango people are mostly NOT CLIQUE. If you open yourself up and try to make friends, you will see that this is a big happy family…

Traveling around the world dancing tango is quite a tough job. And I am serious!!! The jet lag, the long line and the run around at the airports, the change of diet, the lack of sleep, the never waning anxiety, and on the top of them, five to eight hours dancing a day… it is quite physically challenging and it takes toll on the body.

That’s why I am recuperating from the Baltimore Tango Element, which by the way was very good. Try to recondition my body, stretching, light exercising, good diet… After all, it is going to be four incredible days, probably the highlight of the summer, the festival of all festivals that I’ve gone to.

And my dance card is filling up quickly even before the festival (thanks to facebook)… I will let you know how it goes. I can’t tell you how excited I am, how much I look forward to it.

The summer of 2009 turns out to be the second highlight on my tango journey, other than my trips to the Mecca.

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