The Argentina Tango Tuesday is a weekly event of what the tango dancers call "social dancing". It is a dance form that was created by immigrants and laborers in cafes around Argentina in the early 19th century and was meant to be for relaxing and socializing after a tough day of work. The dance form seems easy, as it is based on a simple walk where the man leads and the woman follows, but because there is no set pattern or choreography the dance becomes an intuitive improvisation or "conversation" between the dancers. Though the dance seemed to be simple enough, the tango is a challenge to some. One of the male dancers I spoke with named Gene mentioned the difficulty with leading. He mentioned that a lot of men will quit in a few weeks because learning to improvise to the music is a challenge. As for Gene, underlining his own difficulty in practicing tango in the last 10 years, he says learning is 50% love of the dance and 50% determination. Gene attributes his mastery by focusing in three areas a) learning the mechanics of the dance, b) learning to listen to the music and c) feeling the mood of the music and tempo. He asserts that it takes many years to master these areas and he is still learning. But despite his challenges and drive to master tango, Gene relates that his once a week night of dance is a pure joy to him and relieves him from the pressures of his daily work life.
Other dancers there at this half "practica," (practice) half "milonga" (formal) dance were there less for the pursuit of perfection as to just socialize and find release in this incredible bar room of the Candelight restaurant. The dim red and yellow lights, the rustic Argentinian tango rhythm, and sliding of dancing soles on wooden floors of the old converted mansion seemed to be the perfect setting for intimacy and "conversation." I really felt transported to another place.
Technical: This assignment was really tough to shoot, everything being at 1600ASA @ a 1/10th of a second, i.e., incredibly dark. I didn't want to destroy the intimacy of the ambient lighting, but everything I was getting was saturated red and muddy, or motioned blurred and grainy. I tried my best to fill with minimal bounce flash at minus 1 and 1/4 stops to minus 2 stops off the ceiling ETTL, but because of the funny ceiling decoration all my frames were inconsistent. But I persisted in this method the whole night through. Another professional photographer who was there mentioned he didn't have any luck there on previous nights. I was hoping for the best.
Professional dancers from Buenos Aires, Argentina Jorge Visconti and Susana Goytia-Miller dance an Argentina Tango, Tuesday night, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura. According to Stephan Bauer, a tango teacher based in Ojai, Argentina Tango is an improvisational dance created by immigrants and laborers in clubs of the Rio de la Plata in the 19th century. Because there are no formal steps in this form of dance, as the man leads and the women follow, the dance is described as more of a conversation, directed by the tempo and mood of the music. And because of the simple nature of the Argentina Tango, according to Bauer, it is a fairly easy dance to learn. The Tuesday Night Tango meets every Tuesday night at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura at 7:30 PM until 11 PM.
Brad Tipton and Abra Flores find intimacy while dancing an Argentina Tango, Tuesday night, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura.
Dancers find their step together on the dance floor, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura.
Bob Schaffer, left, and Ilya Magid watch the other dancers while taking a break from dancing, Tuesday night, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura.
Evelyn Reynolds and Gene Ekonomi move to the rythem of the music while dancing an Argentina Tango, Tuesday night, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura. Ekonomi, an engineer by day, says he looks forward to dancing each Tuesday after work, "here I can just let everything go. You have to be social when you dance, so unlike the fighting and stress at work, here I can be my real self."
Brad Wyatt takes off his work shoes and laces into his tango shoes from Buenos Aires before going onto the dance floor, Tuesday night, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura.
Professional dancers from Buenos Aires, Argentina Jorge Visconti and Susana Goytia-Miller dance an Argentina Tango, Tuesday night, September 7, 2010 during an Argentina Tuesday Night Tango at the Candelight Kitchen and Bar in Ventura.
David, could you please remove my name from your blog. thank you,
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