Superstars of Dance – Miriam Larici

If you doubt we have a thriving tango community in Los Angeles, then take a look at
“Superstars of Dance” tonight, Sunday, 4 January 2009 on NBC.

Miriam Larici will represent Argentina along with Leonardo Barrionuevo. They both teach Argentine tango in Bellflower on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. and host a milonga (tango dance party) on Fridays in Downey.

Tuesday Classes
9PM to 10:30PM inter- advanced level Technique $14
10:30 to 11:00PM guided practica.

16542 Bellflower Blvd.

Bellflower CA 90706

El Rincón de Betty & John on Friday Nights

Class: 8-9 pm
Milonga: 9 pm – 1 am

Admission: Milonga-$12; Class-$15; Milonga & Class-$25

Where: Downey Elks Lodge
11233 Woodruff Ave, Downey 90241

Happy Birthday to Vlad!

If you live in the Los Angeles area, and don’t know who Vladimir Estrin is, then you don’t know anything about Argentine tango.

Yesterday and this morning I was at his birthday party, dancing tango, salsa and a bit of swing. Vlad, who was born in Russia and came to the US in 1993, knows how to throw a party. The food was great (Argentinian and Russian) and the dancing was divine!

I rarely get out to Santa Monica to dance, but this was a special event and we did carpool!

Vlad came to Los Angeles, began to learn tango and then became an instructor. That’s not all, he built up a wonderfully comprehensive Web site: Tango Afficionado.

Before that, there was a personal page by a guy I only know as Larry. He did a great job, but Vlad took it one step further and continues to do so–spreading information about instructors, classes, special events and festivals in Los Angeles and at this point Las Vegas, Santa Barbara and San Diego.

How cool is that?

Tango! : Pulpo Comes to Pasadena (3 & 6 July)

If I say tango, you know I must mean Argentine tango…forget international, American or Taiwanese. Those are imposters and more liable to give you a sore neck and send you to a chiropractor.

Anyway, Pulpo is teaching two workshops in Pasadena this weekend at Caltech. If you don’t know who Pulpo is, he’s called Pulpo (octopus) because of his distinctive style of tangling up legs.

Norberto “Pulpo” Esbrez

3 July
8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All levels on Pulpo’s technique
9:30-10 p.m. Guided Practica

6 July
8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Intermediate level class on enganches
Please do not come if you’re a beginner.

Place: Winnett Lounge, second floor
Price: Caltech Students: $10 for one or $15 for two
Caltech affiliates and other full-time students: $15 for one or $25 for two
*Don’t forget your ID! Otherwise the cost is: $20 for one or $35 for two.

Downtown Dance: Free Dance (every other Friday)

This always creeps up on me because it starts in May when I’m usually busy with other stuff.

Tonight, 27 June 2008, is swing and I’m not even planning on going!

Downtown Dance features different types of dance styles. They bring out a floor and they allow you to check your jacket and bags–something that Paseo Colorado hasn’t thought of yet. They also always have a beginners lesson.

Going–take the Gold Line though it’s better to go in a group since you have to walk from the Red Line a block and it’s sort of dark. Cost is $5 for an all day Metro pass and you can always have a light dinner in Chinatown, Little Tokyo or Olvera Street.

There’s always a nice breeze and if you can’t remember the steps–fall back on what you know…even if it’s that high school two-step slow dance. No one cares.

JULY 11 is Bollywood/Bhangra featuring DJ Sandeep Kumar
JULY 25: Samba
AUGUST 8: Zydeco featuring TLou and his Superhot Zydeco Band
AUGUST 22: Cha Cha & Salsa
SEPTEMBER 5: Argentine Tango – a special evening at BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall
SEPTEMBER 19: Disco