Traditionalists, relax, this mind-worm is not disruptive. In fact I find it hard to believe it has not been considered before in the vast history of Argentine Tango. If anything, it could revive interest in practicas. These techniques are only truly useful to those with a regular partner and a lot of practice time available, very likely just the pros who can live off of teaching and performing. It is unlikely to become popular due to the mental gymnastics involved. 

The idea of a “shared lead” has been around for many years. On the dance floor, traditionally, there are embellishments, such as at a parada, where the lead can be relinquished for a moment or two before being reclaimed. There are followers who have learned to lead, and leaders who have learned to follow. Some instructors exchange the lead in demos, re-embracing with the new lead. There was that hint of something in the end credits of Assassination Tango. None of these share the lead, at best, the lead is traded.

Can the lead be truly shared? No. The technique of tango requires a leader and a follower, those are the two that tango. If one is the leader the other must follow. Dancers can change roles, but the roles cannot change. Furthermore, neither can we have two leads at once, nor two followers. 

However, we can trade the lead better. It can be done in stunning fashion, with just two techniques, one old, one new. One is very easy, but the other is twice as complex as everything you have done so far in Argentine Tango. Next-level stuff that is probably not for everybody, yet worth visualizing or trying out as an improvisational exercise, as it is very good for cross-brain connections due to the nature of the difficulty. 

Technique#1: Palm Squeeze. A gentle squeeze of the open side palm is signal enough: Squeezer takes the lead. Simple. But now the open side of the embrace is on the wrong side. Uh-oh. Can you guess the next technique?

Technique#2: Mirror image. When leading from the follower’s embrace, figures are performed reversed left-to-right. Yes, twice as much work for both, for a bit, till the brain does the flips quietly in the background. Should one choose to throw in a change of embrace as well, then there is plenty of inverse practice to go around. 

In Practice: One can get the idea quickly using the old crusada eight count basic. The squeeze happens as couple is arriving to 8. Follower position then leads the basico in mirror image - two is side right, three is left foot, etc. The leader position is here following the 8 count basic in mirror. Then try ochos from 5, outside partner walking, sentadas or quatro figures. Emphasize seamless trading and phrasing. Then trade the lead occasionally, just a few times a song. 

Four legs, two hearts, one dance: Tango.

Zak 190508.1208
vztango.com

A wonderful night of live music and dancing. A big thanks to all who attended!

We have held classes and practicas on the newly renovated floor in the Streetside Room, and it is a vast improvement! There are still a few little details remaining to be done, but it all should be in shape for the upcoming third Saturday milonga, after we return from Valentango...

In the next few months we will see the return of Folias Music for a workshop and musical performance. They were very well received last year, and we look forward to another exciting event.

Also in the works is a possible concert/milonga in August, but we are still working out the details. This could be quite an event, but please stay tuned for updates.

​Zak 

Thanks so, so  much to all of you who came, listened, danced, set up, clean up, and made us look good last night. 
What a joy to welcome so many friends old and new, from Nevada City/Grass Valley, San Francisco, and elsewhere. We met some new folks from right here in Reno, too. Thank you all for making the milonga such a wonderful night. 

We have special thanks to a few of you - forgive us if we're missing anyone:

We want to thank our angel, Dennis Henner, who did, as Guillermo said, produce the event. Thank you for bringing so many people up (or over) for the milonga (and Victoria would especially like to thank Dennis and Randall for the wonderful tandas).

Thank you Marlene for arranging the hotel accommodations for the band. I'm sure they were more than comfortable. Thank you Harriet for volunteering your home to host!

Thank you to all who helped set up, run things, and clean up - especially to Cecelia and her charming husband Kirby, our man on the door, and to Larry, who even came back this afternoon to help move the furniture back, even after staying late last night to help us put things away. 

Barbara, what a trooper you are!  You are living proof that you don't really need your arms to dance! 

Please forgive us if we haven't mentioned you by name - we are still trying to recover our full mental faculties. We are so grateful to all of you for making this the most welcoming, friendly, and delightful bunch of tangueros we've had the privilege of knowing. You are truly the biggest little tango community in the world.

From our hearts, 
Victoria and Zak

Victoria will be the Guest DJ at Tango by the River in Sacramento on Saturday, November 22. The format will be 3 hours of traditional and newer-version music from 9 to midnight, followed by at least an hour of new and alternative music. We're really excited about the opportunity to play music for our friends in Sac. Hope some of you will be able to make the trip!

You've heard us go on about how great Burning Tango is, and now a whole bunch of you know first hand. Watch these cool interviews with some of the instructors at this wonderful festival (DJ interviews coming soon!)

Taped at Burning Tango 2014 in McCloud, California
Adam & Alyssa (Portland, OR) discussing their personal Argentine tango histories, their teaching philosophy and methods, and the future of Argentine tango.

Taped at Burning Tango 2014 in McCloud, California
Dancing together since 2009, Kenny Bell and Chooi Goh work tirelessly to improve their dance, pushing and encouraging each other to achieve perfection and excellence. Their love and determination of the Argentine tango keeps them working diligently in all aspects of the dance, aiming to perfect their technique, floor craft, musicality, embrace, and connection.

Taped at Burning Tango 2014 in McCloud, California
We started working on our dance together in 2011. The landmarks of that year in our tango career were competing in the Tango World Championship in Buenos Aires, and being invited to perform in an important Tango Festival in Mendoza, Argentina. In 2012 we traveled and performed in Europe, specifically Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, Paris, Lyon, Marseilles, and Nice. Wherever we danced, we were well-received by the European tango community. We have recently moved from Chile to Berkeley, California, USA, where we are excited to participate in the vibrant tango community!

We have very exciting news! The wonderful Marcos Questas and Ruta Maria will be returning to Reno on Memorial Day weekend! They will be holding two seminars on Saturday May 24, and performing at the milonga that evening!
Here is their performance from the last Reno visit:

12-1:15 pm  Vals Workshop
1:30-2:45 pm  Tango Workshop
Cost is $30 for one or $50 for both.

Milonga 8pm - 11pm $15 - includes snacks, beverages and performance!
All at The Ballroom of Reno 2540 Sutro St #1, Reno, NV

Marcos and Ruta will be available for privates in the afternoon of Sat 24 May after the workshops.

Milonga that evening will be held in place of the 3rd Saturday MIlonga formerly scheduled for May 17 at the Ballroom. 

We are so lucky to have them - please welcome them to Reno with a big turnout!

And here is another link they sent to us:

So avoid the holiday traffic jams and stick around town for a rare and fantastic opportunity to learn from two of the best. Marcos and Ruta are not only amazing dancers, but extraordinary teachers as well. They are experts at breaking down movements so that everyone can understand and perform them. 

We don't get many opportunities like this, fellow dancers. You will not want to miss this!

And don't forget - also in May, special Milonga workshop with Tom and Sue Standlee, Monday May 12 at 7 pm.  


V&Z 7 &8:15 classes shift to Mondays starting May 5; Practica shifts to Wednesdays.

Starting in May 2014, classes will be held on Monday nights. "Argentine Tango Essentials" (7-8:15pm) for those just starting out and "Continuing Argentine Tango" for more experienced students (8:15-10pm) at the Ballroom of Reno, 2540 Sutro St., Reno, NV. Cost is $10 for single class or $15 for both.
   The practica will also be moving in May - to Wednesday night, 7-9pm.

  On Tuesday we had a wonderful evening of teaching Tango and having a practica at Tango by the River in Old Sacramento. Donna and company are off in Buenos Aires soaking up the sights, the shoes, the premiere instruction and the wine, and will continue these activities for another week. So next Tuesday we get to do it again! It was ochos from the cross for the beginning class, and a parada with a sweep for the intermediate. The students were all atentive and quick to learn - well done you guys!
  What is coming up? Well, you'll have to show up to know... or wait for another post. But reading about tango compared to dancing it.. c'mon!