Candy Korman #26 - "Tango is a wonderful uncertainty."

Today on the show we feature Regina Angeles! Regina is a connector and a pioneer. She loves bringing people together through her work and in tango. She is also one of the more popular people in the community because of her fun outgoing energy and her ability to lead and follow.   (02:21) Regina Angeles reflects on her journey as one of the first female leaders in the New York tango scene, co-running a practica called Leading Ladies, and the challenges and support she received from the community. (03:12) Adam emphasizes the importance of community and connection in tango, encouraging a positive and polite approach to interactions within the dance community. (12:23) Regina shares insights from her work as a headhunter, highlighting the importance of preparation, storytelling, and connecting experiences during interviews to make a compelling case for hiring. (22:01) The discussion explores the shift in work dynamics post-pandemic, noting that remote work has increased productivity for many employees and questioning the necessity of returning to office spaces. (27:01) Regina reflects on the cultural and social aspects of tango, including the unique rituals, the challenges of leading as a woman, and the evolving dynamics of gender roles in the dance. (46:45) The conversation touches on the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments in tango, particularly for newcomers, to foster learning and community engagement. (53:02) Adam discusses the evolution of the New York tango scene, noting the increase in female leads and the shift towards a more welcoming and inclusive culture. (55:43) The challenges and nuances of leading in tango are explored, emphasizing a gentle, conversational approach to leading that prioritizes connection and mutual engagement over force. (01:01:04) Regina highlights the joy and transformative experience of dancing, focusing on the energy and connection shared with partners, which enhances the overall experience. (01:19:43) The importance of structured practice sessions in tango is discussed, advocating for spaces where dancers can experiment and apply their learning without the pressure of performance. (01:17:44) The episode concludes with reflections on the future of tango in New York, expressing optimism about the renewed interest in the dance and the potential for continued innovation and inclusivity.

Today on the show we sit down with Candy Korman. Candy is a dancer who has been a part of the NYC tango community for over 30 years. Candy tells us about her experience growing up in the New York tango community. Some of her major influences and how they inspired to stick with tango and continue on her journey. Candy is a writer and you can check out her work here: www.candysmonsters.com

Today on the show we welcome back, Norma Silver. We first met Norma on this show back in 2019 and I wanted to bring her back and see how she has been doing these past 5 years. Our friendship has developed quite and bit and it was nice to chat again and get to hear more of her stories. Norma talks a lot about what inspires her, what she looks forward to, and how grateful she is for having tango in her life. At 96 years of age, she still loves driving around and being independent and her attitude toward life inspires me daily! I am grateful to be friends with Norma and I think you will be too! SHOW NOTES: Norma attributes her health and vitality at 96 to her love for tango, emphasizing its emotional and physical benefits, including fostering human connection and mindfulness. Norma highlights the therapeutic value of poetry and body-focused approaches in psychology, linking them to the movement and emotional expression found in tango. She reflects on the joy and optimism tango brings, encouraging a focus on its positives rather than common complaints within the community. Norma contrasts the expectations of beginner and experienced tango dancers, noting that beginners often find more joy due to their lack of preconceived notions. She discusses societal changes over the decades, including progress in civil rights, women's rights, and mental health awareness, while acknowledging ongoing challenges. Norma credits her long-term engagement with therapy, starting at a young age, as a key factor in her mental and physical well-being, emphasizing the importance of self-care. She challenges stereotypes about aging, showcasing her independence and active lifestyle, and aims to serve as a role model for aging with vitality and fulfillment. Norma reflects on the importance of adaptability and spontaneity in life, sharing how changing habits and embracing new experiences can bring excitement and joy. She finds value in journaling to document and revisit cherished memories, which provides comfort and fulfillment despite physical limitations. Norma discusses the meditative and present-focused nature of tango, emphasizing its ability to disconnect from distractions and foster joy and connection. She reflects on the reciprocal joy in dance, noting how her initial pursuit of tango for personal enjoyment has evolved into enriching the lives of others. Norma emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful experiences for others in events, contrasting genuine care with less engaging approaches.

Welcome back after a 5 year hiatus! Today on the show we sit down with long time New Yorker, Mariela Franganillo to chat about the past, present, and future of Tango here in New York City and elsewhere. She welcomes us into her past and her philosophy of dance, teaching, and performing. Recently she has teamed up with Dagny Miller organizing and producing tango events in NYC. Stay tuned for their upcoming festival here in NYC in November 2025!   (05:36) Mariela reflects on her arrival in New York in 1996 with the show Forever Tango, which significantly influenced her career and connection to the city. She notes that the Tango community was larger in the 90s due to the popularity of such shows, which attracted many newcomers.   (07:30) The conversation highlights the challenges of maintaining a vibrant Tango community, emphasizing the importance of a dedicated core group despite the transient nature of many participants.   (12:30) Mariela and Adam discuss the impact of social media and technology on Tango, noting that while it can attract new dancers, it often detracts from the live experience. She stresses the importance of being present during performances rather than focusing on recording them.   (15:19) Mariela emphasizes the value of preparation in performances, stating that even improvisational dances require a strong foundation. They find it disrespectful when performers do not adequately prepare.   (18:11) Mariela shares her journey into Tango, starting with her love for Greek dance and her early training with Gustavo Naviera. She highlights the unique environment of learning Tango in Argentina compared to other places.   (22:04) Mariela recounts their decision to learn to lead in Tango to avoid dependence on partners and enhance their teaching abilities. They reflect on the clarity and compactness of leading techniques taught by Gustavo and Mingo Pugliese.   (27:07) The conversation touches on the taboo surrounding women leading and men following in Tango, contrasting professional acceptance with conservative views at milongas. Mariela emphasizes the importance of breaking these norms to foster inclusivity.   (31:11) Adam and Mariela highlights the importance of teaching musicality and phrasing in Tango, as it helps dancers connect with the music on a deeper level. They stress that stepping on the beat is not enough to convey the essence of Tango.   (37:19) Mariela emphasizes the need for the Tango community to engage with beginners, suggesting collaborative efforts to attract new dancers through events and classes. She notes the openness and enthusiasm of beginners as a valuable asset to the community.   (40:03) Mariela reflects on their evolution in dancing with beginners, finding joy in these experiences and prioritizing connection over technical perfection. They emphasize that every dancer has the potential to improve over time.   (42:12) The conversation explores the balance between maintaining personal technique and supporting a partner's skill level, emphasizing kindness and integrity in dance partnerships.   (48:01) Mariela shares her independent journey in Tango, learning to lead and dance with various partners, which enriched her understanding of movement and musicality. She highlights the importance of connection in dance, stating that true dancing cannot occur without it.   (50:01) Adam discusses the necessity of inspiration in the dance journey, explaining that they and their partner continue to study with different teachers to avoid stagnation in their dance.   (01:01:46) The conversation highlights the challenges of attracting beginners to Tango classes in New York City, emphasizing the need for effective promotion and collaboration among instructors.   (01:06:04) The importance of hygiene and etiquette in Tango, particularly in close embraces, is discussed, with a call for better education on these topics for newcomers.   (01:09:17) Mariela shares her approach to teaching beginners, emphasizing the importance of connection, listening, and gentle touch in the initial classes to foster a comfortable learning environment.

Hello again everyone, We are happy to be back with a special short episode. We wanted to catch up after 8 months away and see how everyone is doing? What are your holiday plans? How have you been doing since our last episode? We featured music from Pablo Aslan's latest release and you can find that and much more here: avantangorecords.bandcamp.com/album/xmas-tango-project-milonga-edition It was really fun catching up. We discussed a lot about what inspires us to dance and where did we get inspired from first? The movement, or the music? Marcelo joined us again and thank you for calling in. We want to wish everyone a great Holiday and hope you have a great New Year as well. We hope to connect again soon!

For our final weekly episode we were joined by Mario De Camillis. Mario is a dancer, performer, and artist from Buenos Aires. He joined us from his neighborhood of Villa Crespo where he has lived since he was 9 years old. We chatted about his history as a dancer, how he got started who some of his influences are, and some of his favorite things about tango as well. We hope you enjoy the conversation. We will be continuing the podcast on a less frequent basis, but stayed tuned for announcements of when we will be having our next show!   Thank you all for listening, calling and being a part of this while we are all apart. We will continue to bring you great shows to keep us connected socially as we learn and talk about Tango as it has so many layers. Tango Cafe takeout is a donation based show. If you would like to help you can send any contributions here. [email protected] Via Venmo or PayPal.

Tonight on the show we were joined by Gabriel Prynn. A native of England, he has been based in Montreal for many years. A fabulous cellist and tango dancer, we had a great time getting to know him more and learn about his history as a musician and dancer. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Thank you all for listening, calling and being a part of this while we are all apart. We will continue to bring you great shows to keep us connected socially as we learn and talk about Tango as it has so many layers. Tango Cafe takeout is a donation based show. If you would like to help you can send any contributions here. [email protected] Via Venmo or PayPal.  

Tonight on the show we were joined by Daniel Trenner. If you are dancing tango, or have danced tango, in the US over the last 30 years, Daniel is probably part of the reason why. Daniel spent a good amount of time in the 1980's in Buenos Aires, before it was a tango tourist destination. During that time and after he studied with as many dancers and teachers as he could find. He made a series of over 80 instructional videos with over 40 artists capturing a very unique moment in the history of tango that would have otherwise been lost forever except through stories. During the tours he filmed interviews, Milongas, tour workshops, special private lessons, and parties. Today he has hundreds of hours of footage from this period, mostly on VHS and Hi8 tapes. Since 2010, he has been slowly working to preserve this library by digitizing and cataloging this aging material. His digital Tango Archive, 20 years in the making, will hopefully be released this year, but much of the material has yet to be converted and cataloged. Completing the project will require the support of the greater Tango community. There is a lot more being discussed in the show and we hope you enjoy learning about the history and growth of tango. Thank you all for listening, calling and being a part of this while we are all apart. We will continue to bring you great shows to keep us connected socially as we learn and talk about Tango as it has so many layers. Tango Cafe takeout is a donation based show. If you would like to help you can send any contributions here. [email protected] Via Venmo or PayPal.  

Tonight on the show we have Cecilia Garcia!! Cecilia is a life long dancer, artist, and creator. We had a nice discussion about her path to tango and journey before. She has been one of Ciko and Adam's favorite teachers for many years.  She has a unique ability to articulate how the body works and transmit that to students. It was nice to hear about her process as an artist and dancer and we found it to be very inspiring. We hope you enjoy the conversation! Thank you all for listening, calling and being a part of this while we are all apart. We will continue to bring you great shows to keep us connected socially as we learn and talk about Tango as it has so many layers. Tango Cafe takeout is a donation based show. If you would like to help you can send any contributions here. [email protected] Via Venmo or PayPal.

Tonight we celebrated the END of an ERA! This is our final Wednesday show as we will be reopening classes starting next week. We will be moving the show to Thursday at 8:30PM!! Tonight we were joined by Cleveland native and musician  Andrew David Minor. He shared some beautiful music he wrote and we chatted about his background in music. Alberto and Micaela also called in to discuss their time together as a professional couple, what they have been up to during Covid, and also some plans for the future in Cleveland Ohio. It was an all Cleveland show as Adam was also in Cleveland to record it. Enjoy! Thank you all for listening, calling and being a part of this while we are all apart. We will continue to bring you great shows to keep us connected socially as we learn and talk about Tango as it has so many layers. Tango Cafe takeout is a donation based show. If you would like to help you can send any contributions here. [email protected] Via Venmo or PayPal.