Saturday, January 21, 2012

Distribution of guilty

When I started to lead my steps were unstable and without possibility to adapt to the variations on the dance floor. I was often involved in collisions and many times the guilt was on me, but not always. For some reason more experienced dancers could get mad about me when finding the space needed already occupied by me. I was maybe standing still or moving in line but the guilt was still on me! I got feeling that these people actually did not notice me dancing there and got angry at physical obstacle of my body! I was supposed to apologize!

Then one day there was a collision again but this time the other leader was apologizing directly. From that day on this was happening more and more often!

During the years I learned to control my movements better, my partners were experienced dancers with capability to change direction as fast as needed and I was more seldom the cause of a collision. But I still do mistakes and when I turn around the other one is apologizing! Apologizing even if it is my fault!

It seems to me that the guilt for collisions is not distributed only based on the involved leaders actual actions, but other aspects are involved. I think one of those is the skill level leaders around you can recognize and accept. There is also some kind of respect you earn during the years you have been developing on the pista. During the first months other leaders are literally willing to walk over you, you are invisible somehow, but later they are more willing to leave space around you and there is less risk for collisions.

Onlookers can vary the degree of guilt based on different facts. If an experienced dancer is repeatedly doing same mistakes the guilt is more severe on him than for others. The same if you have a high position in the tango community.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Libertango portal

I think the biggest surprise when working on this Libertango portal was the lack of ordinary tango performances! There is some but not in the numbers as for other tangos.

The second one was the fact that it is so appreciated  world wide, of different ages so you can find it in repertoirs of old musicians as well as the ones below 10 years. It is also suitable as background music for beauty contests and car races - amazing!


..

Please click here and enjoy this small selection!

There is different themas for playlists:

Moves us - dance and performances
Unusual instruments - never seen like them
Chicas - things from bellydancing to stage
Outdoors - all kind of activities under the skyes
Classics - the old ones and the next generation




PS. It seems there is some problems with the music, which is not allowed to be shown in all countries. Please send me a note if you can not see this. I will check what I can done for this...... 










Theremin portal

When working on an other portal I came across the Russina instrument theremin again but this time I got fascinated by it.

This portal shows that the instrument is still alive! Really popular in Japan where they have at least one orchestra with 100 musicians. There is also an iPhone app so you can play it everywhere!

Please enjoy!









Sunday, October 23, 2011

Geraldine Rojas - Portal

I have seen Geraldine dance live only twice but I hardly remember anything about the dance but only her dresses. The first time was 2004 when she was dancing with Javier and her dress was red lace. I was a beginner then and could not see the magic in their dance, what a pity....

The second time was in Paris 2010 and her dance partner was Ezequiel Paludi; she in black lace. But it was not better: I could not relate to their dance. It was beautiful but nothing more for me. It was just now when I was working with this portal I started to appreciate their dance. I have watched huge number of videos, many of them several times when I suddenly noticed how musically they are dancing, how fresh the musical interpretations are and how professional they are.

But now to the palylists!

Geraldine Rojas
There is some difficulties with the spelling of her name. The early and most common verson is the one I have used here. On her home page she nowadays writes Geraldin Rojas.

When you make google seach you get several Geraldine Rojas and one of them is very look alike - a dancer from New York with long brown hair and the same name!

Mother and the extended family (click the title to start a playlist)
Geraldines mother is Maria del Carmen, an appreciated dancer of Villa Urquiza style. She is married to Jorge Dispari and Geraldine is grown up in this family together with Samantha Dispari, her sister.

In one of the interviews on Geraldines homepage she tells how unmusical her father was and how this caused the separation of parents. (On other pages Jorge Dispari was stated as her father but I think it is uncorrect)

Childhood performances
I did know she had performed as child but now when reviewing these videos I was still surpriced! What an opportunity to develope her own talent with all these talented leaders.

Young professional
Here we have some of the performances and films she has contributed to.

Dancing with different partners

Pay attention to her ability to adapt to different partners.
I have collected clips I like, watch and enjoy!

Bologna
These videos are from Bologna festival where she was dancing with Javier Rodriguez. It is interesting how these performances have maintained the power to attract us, still after so many years.

with Paludi
After splitting up from Javier, Geraldine has danced with Ezequiel Paludi. This gives her possibility to combine the professional life with family life!

It is obvious that she is talented and she had possibility to develope that talent with great dancers. I am sure that her early training to perform on stage makes the performing situation more comfortable for her, compared to dancers with later start.

But she has also worked on her own training. There are stories about how she as a child danced alone for hours; training steps to different music, alone, early in the morning.

Please enjoy the portal!





In the text section (bilow the video window on Youtube page) you find the liks to Geraldines and Ezequiels homepage as well as to one dance analysis. (the link was removed ...)