Juan and Sol perform at Alberto's - beautiful rendition of Poema

Beautiful dancers. I'd have loved to take some of their classes but didn't have any time in my schedule. At least I got to see their exquisite performances:


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Diego Blanco and Ana Padrone at Alberto's milonga May 24th, 2009

Please enjoy their performances:


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Back to Tango

After only dancing a few times in the past couple months I seem to have resumed tango in a limited capacity (2-3 times a week as oppose to 4-5 times a week). I went to Late Shift last Saturday and as I was about to leave, Juan and Sol gave a tango performance. I thought they did an excellent job, but did not capture video of it. They will be at Alberto's milonga tomorrow night performing so I hope to catch some footage then.

Life continues to be crazy busy, and I'm greatly looking forward to the week before July 4th when I'll have a few extra days to catch up on things. Work, hobbies, and classes fill my schedule. I'm a bit excited (and nervous) to get to meet Condoleezza tomorrow when my quartet will get to play through some Dvorak and Schumann piano quintets with her. The pieces really speak to me so they have been very rewarding to practice and very fulfilling to play through with my quartet so far. I love music!

Grand Canyon Adventure

In less than a week I finally fly out to the Grand Canyon for my big Team In Training event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'm pretty excited as this will be my first time traveling to the Grand Canyon, and with the training I've received, I feel very prepared for a full day hike. It's not too late to donate on my Team In Training page http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/CanyonS309/dalrae I can't believe the huge response and support I've gotten from so many people. It has truly been remarkable. Thanks so much to all of you for making this possible!!

Finally, I can start resting a bit and resuming tango again :)

The magnificent Mariela Franganillo & Cesar Coelho performances

I took Mariela and Cesar's workshops both Friday at ODC and their two Sunday workshops at Alberto's. Fantastic teachers with a light and fun demeanor. Great exercises and steps were taught (not too crazy, so they can be repeated at milongas and the such). R and I were going to take a private with Mariela Monday but she had to fly back to New York Sunday night, so she gave a little bit of private tips to me both on Sunday's workshops and at the beginning of the milonga perhaps since we didn't get a private with her. Very useful information that doesn't really complicate or get in the way of my regular way of dancing. I definitely wish to study with them again when they return.

Please enjoy the two videos from their milonga performance at Alberto's from Sunday night (sorry Dropshots cuts out after about 2 minutes):




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Team in Training

As I train more and more with Team in Training for my big Grand Canyon hike in May, I find many correlations with tango. I can see how athletes push themselves and overdo it, much like I experience and see in the world of tango. I can also see how people get that rush, whether connecting on the dancefloor, connecting with a partner, connecting with the music, connecting with yourself, or connecting with a hiking team, connecting with nature, connecting with oneself (mind and body). It feels good having your body doing things, being active, pushing your limits, new achievements and progress, breathing, and having fun. I guess life is all about experiences, and it's funny how some that are so contrasting can actually be so similar in so many different ways.

If you have a few dollars to donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), it will go towards my fundraising event which will be a one day 8-10 hour hike of The Grand Canyon. Your gift is tax deductible and more than 75% goes directly towards research efforts.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/CanyonS309/dalrae

Thanks, abrazos, and good health...



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The Lovely Alicia Pons and Robert Hauk at Alberto's milonga

My newest favorite dancer is Alicia Pons, and we've had the good fortune of having her and Robert Hauk visiting for a week. I took her class at La Pista last Thursday which was amazing, and also one of her three workshops this past Sunday at Alberto's before the milonga. Here are their performances from that evening at Alberto's milonga:



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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing