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Argentine Tango in Malaysia 28 June 2009 Havana Estudio (HQ), Kuala Lumpur By Kee Huey Ying Here I am, again, with another dance episode to share and it is Tango this time! The Argentine Tango in Malaysia - Estilo Milonguero workshop was held at Havana Estudio (HQ) on 28 June 2009. Havana Estudio offers various dance classes including Belly Dance, Bollywood Dance, Hip Hop, Jazz Dance, Rhythm Tap, and Yoga. I was there a tad too early, but I got to chat a little with Sharie Dekorte, the studio owner, and Ogie Mendoza, the Argentine Tango instructor at the rest lounge. Mr Mendoza was to conduct the workshop. Mendoza, who was born in Philippines, has a long his-story. He was a Foreign Service graduate from a prestigious University in Manila, Philippines. He has so far organized three big tango events: TANGO ARGENTINO in 1996, VIVA EL TANGO in 1999, and TANGO EXPLOSION in 2000. Mendoza has travelled to Buenos Aires twice in 1999 and 2000 to further his skills and knowledge on Argentine tango. He has been teaching since in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bali, Jakarta, Dubai, Ho Chi Minh, Shanghai and Bangkok. At 2.15pm, those who signed up for the Estilo Milonguero workshop filled the studio and got ready to dance. The workshops began with some warm-up dance steps. Estilo means ‘style’ in Argentine. Thus, Estilo Milonguero suggests Milongeuro-style-Tango. The style is characterized by small steps, very close embrace, and syncopated rhythmic footwork. Although the style of dancing has existed for decades, the term “Milonguero Style” only surfaced in the mid-90s when the name was created by Susana Miller. Susana Miller is one of the most prominent teachers, choreographers, and dancers of the old Milonguero style of tango. She was an assistant to Pedro Tete’ Rusconi. She was born in Buenos Aires and is teaching there as well as internationally. Clarin, a Buenos Aires newspaper named her one of the four most important figures of the contemporary (2007) tango. On the other hand, other tango such as Villa Urquiza, Devoto, and Avellanda emphasizes on long elegant steps and complex figures. And also, the styles are mostly danced in open embrace, where the lead and the partner have space between their bodies. (Think fast and acute head-turning motion and endless twirling). As I observed, the close embrace that this style emphasizes sees the lead and the partner connect chest-to-chest and at the upper thigh or hip areas. The dance steps are categorized in parallel and/or cross movements. The former one indicates that both the lead and the partner would move about using the same leg, while the latter suggests that they would use opposite legs. The workshop ended with one last song danced by Mendoza who partnered Dekorte. The rest of us watched, wishing we could dance like them! For more information, log into: http://www.ogiemendozatango.com |
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