In answer to questions that come up repeatedly in our DFW area beginning tango classes, I offer the following information on local social dancing, videos, recordings, shoes and clothing. Check my links page for more general information.
DANCING SOCIALLY
For milongas (social dancing parties), the following seem best to beginners or folks who just want to check out Argentine tango. These milongas have an authentic flavor, with food and drink, so it's just as easy to watch as to participate.
Every Other Monday, 8:30-10:00 p.m.
Zaguan Bakery and Cafe
2604 Oak Lawn Ave.,
Dallas, TX
No cover. For additional information, call Zaguan
214-219-8393.
Last Friday of Every Month
Dunn Bros Coffee — 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
3725 Belt Line at Marsh, Addison, TX
No cover. Free Internet. 972-406-9711
For additional information tejastango.com and tangodallas.org and the tangodallas yahoo group maintain listings of classes, milongas, and events:
Join Yahoo group tangodallas or just browse.
For a first CD, “The Story of Tango” is the only compilation of popular, danceable songs by major tango artists that it is possible to find at local stores, and it is also generally in stock at online vendors such as froogle.com barnesandnoble.com, borders.com, target.com, half.com, and amazon.com.
“Pa Que Bailen Los Muchachos” is a terrific 2-CD compilation of great dance numbers, but it can be difficult to find in stock. It’s most often available at thetangocatalogue.com or tangostore.com.
More places to explore with greater tango selections can be found on my links page.
VIDEO-Entertainment and instruction
For entertainment, I recommend dance sequences in "The Tango Lesson", a widely distributed 1997 "art" film. The director and star documents the first year of her affair with tango alongside a surreal parallel subplot involving a supermodel, a dwarf, and a pistol. She dances quite well for someone with just a year of tango training under her belt. You can view the best dance sequences online here. Or purchase the video at Amazon here.
For instruction, "The Tango Fundamentals" with Fabian Salas complements the instruction John gives in the classroom. Salas is a star of "The Tango Lesson," a founder of Congreso Internacional de Tango Argentino (CITA) and a moving force in the new wave as a teacher, organizer, promoter, and historian. Available at amazon.com
More places to explore with greater tango selections can be found on my links page.
For shoes, leather soles are a big benefit. Eventually you'll prefer shoes especially crafted for dancing, ready made, or custom made for you in Argentina or elsewhere.
Local tanguera Laurie Vega sells her line of tango shoes at many local milongas (parties) and workshops.
Discount Dallas Dancewear, #323 Grapevine Mills 972-874-1943
Capezio Dallas, Woodlane Plaza 5600 W. Lovers Ln Dallas between the tollway and Inwood, 214-351-2555
Sandy's Shoes and Dancewear in Dallas near Mesquite 214-321-1764
and possibly at most any other dancewear outlet.
John and Lydia's shoes are by Susana Villarroel , NeoTango, Fabio, Comme il Faut and others.
