Close Embrace Tango Teachers

Albuquerque/Santa Fe NM has several. SF - Liz Haight. SF - Shahin Medghalchi. Abq - Eva Garlez & Pablo Rodriguez. Abq - Paul Akmajian. They are all close embrace all the time dancers and teachers.
 
Zoopsia59 said:
(I'm not claiming to be one of the "great community teachers".. that assessment should come from other people, like my students and the people who dance with them.)
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Zoopsia59 said:
I sometimes use a modified close embrace.....

I believe that the techniques learned and used are adaptable to most other styles, and that can't be said in reverse. I also think it is easier for most people to learn other embraces and styles after learning a "milonguero" than it is to learn a milonguero style after spending time only in open or pronounced V.
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1. IMHO, Zoops, you have nothing to be too modest about.
2. I, too, teach what I call an elastic embrace (modified embrace, but different from Zoops'). Though my preferred dance style is what most in this country would call salon, I really dance mainly in a CE embrace that is relaxed to a semi-opened embrace when necessary. Of course, if the music warrants an apilado embrace, then that's what I do, period. I agree that it is easier to vacillate into or in/out of other styles if one is adept at CE first.
 
Lois Donnay said:
Who are the great community teachers (not traveling pros) who concentrate on, teach and/or promote close embrace tango?
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Here, in NYC, I'd say most but not all. There are quite a few who teach a style that seems to be based on Gustavo Naveira, which swings between open and closed, closed and open. Well, all "embraces" are close, by definition. What's Naveira in terms of style? Nuevo?
 
tangobro said:
Ok, with that clarification I can respond. I distinguish between dancing "close embrace" and dancing "in an embrace". My concept of "close embrace" came from visiting teachers: "Tete" Rusconi, Susana Miller, Maxi Gluzman, Monica Paz, Armando Orzusa & Maria Martinez, maybe a couple of others who I don't recall off hand. Here in NYC I'm not aware of anyone who regularly teaches that style. Rebecca Shulman is among the few teachers here who I have seen dancing socially in that style. There are teachers here that advertise classes as "close embrace" but actually teach within the embrace. Diego Blanco & Ana Padron, Carolina Jaurena & Andres Bravo are 2 couples teaching @ Triangulo dance studio. Jorge Torres, of Astoria Tango School, regularly teaches techniques that only work if the couple is close together within the embrace, and he stresses that point.
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Oh, there are others - Robin Thomas, Gustavo Rios, Maria-José Sosa. And they all dance socially that way. Torres, whenever I've seen him dance socially, dances a bit like Naveira, which is quite different from the "traditional" style someone like Monica Paz dances. Mariana Fresno teaches the close style as well. I'm sure I'm forgetting some as well.
 
oldtangoguy said:
Gustavo, as well as Chicho Frumboli and Fabian Salas all refer to their styles in the same words: Tango. None accept the "nuevo" sobriquet. And BTW, all can dance beautifully in a close embrace as the floor conditions require.
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Yeah, I'm sure they can, but you can hardly compare what they do in performance to what's done at a milonga. And what I've seen them do doesn't resemble traditional tango very much. I realize they say it's all "tango," but that's a pretty big tent and can lead to confusion. What do you call a style wherein you never open the embrace then? On the other hand, I don't want to start a lengthy terminological discussion of the types and criteria of various forms of tango. There's Tango Voice for that.
 
I think the issue the OP was getting at is the teaching style, not the dancing or performance style. I would also imagine she is familiar with the more famous "names" that she could consider bringing to her community. That didn't seem to be the direction she was looking to go.
 
oldtangoguy said:
Albuquerque/Santa Fe NM has several. SF - Liz Haight. SF - Shahin Medghalchi. Abq - Eva Garlez & Pablo Rodriguez. Abq - Paul Akmajian. They are all close embrace all the time dancers and teachers.
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I'd like to ask out of all the teachers you mentioned - who do you like in terms of teaching style the best and would recommend? I really don't consider Paul in Albuquerque since he has a job in Tucson and splits his time between the two, but he's a lovely dancer and great D.J.

I'm looking to seriously study, but don't like the emphasis, style, and technique that is taught in the Las Cruces/El Paso area. (In my humble opinion it's the "let's see how many ganchos, volcadas, and other flashy moves we can do.") I feel the dance level and styling is much like the "blue pill" offered in The Matrix - washed down with a glass of electric kool-aid.

That means I'm going to have to travel to find a "proper" instructor. This involves some driving time, motel costs, and of course the cost of the lessons. I've talked to a few people, and Eva and Pablo come highly recommended - albeit pricey at $90.00/hour.
 
ArbeeNYC said:
What about a trip to Buenos Aires for a month to study and visit?
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That's EXACTLY what I'd love to do and feel that would give me the best opportunity.

Sadly, I have the responsibility of a 15 year old terrier-mix (that I've had since six weeks old) who is recovering from a five day hospital stay with pancreatitis (resolved) and was diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease. We all know how this story with a beloved dog will end - but for now she's happy and stable. After 15 years of companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love I "owe" my best girl every advantage I can give her as long as there's hope.

When the time comes, I'm off to Buenos Aires for a three month stay...
 
I've not studied with Eva & Pablo except in group class, so I can't really comment. I will say that Liz Haight is one of my all time favorite instructors. She focuses almost entirely on the connection - very soft and enveloping - and on retaining the connection at all times. I can instantly identify follows who have studied with her due to the quality of their embrace.
 
Desert Diva said:
... I'm looking to seriously study, but don't like the emphasis, style, and technique that is taught in the Las Cruces/El Paso area. (In my humble opinion it's the "let's see how many ganchos, volcadas, and other flashy moves we can do.") I feel the dance level and styling is much like the "blue pill" offered in The Matrix - washed down with a glass of electric kool-aid. ...
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Oh great, now I am going to be analyzing that analogy for months!

Let's see, the Blue Pill is a dreamy world where I can have Tango superpowers, like jumping from one rooftop to arrive at a Milonga on another rooftop, or Tangoing on any surface, including the walls and ceiling. There is also really good music in basement nightclubs. The only downside is when I'm heavily introspective, like when writing my Not Touchy Feely posts here on DF, I vaguely feel like there is more out there that I don't quite grasp.

The Red Pill is the gritty real world, with sticky floors, ladies who say no, I hurt, I get tired, and I step on lady's feet. My triumphs, however, don't just happen but I feel I have earned them through hours of work.

Tango is a form of alternative reality... I've heard Tandas described as "Being in love for 10 minutes." Is Tango in general the Blue Pill?

OTOH, I've had enough blunders and social angst I'm sure I have taken the Red Pill.

But wait, it was more Red Pill at first and is becoming more and more Blue Pill...

Desert Diva I would enjoy hearing more on your Blue Pill vs. Red Pill views on Tango.
 
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