Carlos Di Sarli - Virtual Class 8/30/2020 by Makela Tango

For the dancers, Carlos Di Sarli brings us lots of memories. Maybe the first class taken was playing his music. I particularly remember a performance of Osvaldo Zotto and Lorena Ermocida of Bahía Blanca at el Club Almagro in the 90s. I thought they were magnificent, and I will never forget how they expressed the music of Di Sarli with their foot work and embrace.

Carlos Di Sarli has many danceable tangos . They are simple, with a clear beat and at the same time the violins add a great sweet romantic melody. The piano is present in all the little spaces, to give us followers the opportunity to add embellishments. The almost inexistent bandoneon, appears in the moments that it is needed, given to the piece the tango flavor.

Roberto Firpo - Virtual Class 7/26/2020

One of the first cabarets was called The Armenonville - located at the Plaza Grand Bourg, in an European style chalet. In 1913 they called for auditions and Robert Firpo was selected among many other musicians. It is the beginning of the PIANO as the leading instrument in tango. The famous duo Gardel- Razzano also premiered there in 1913 while Firpo was playing.

Enrique Rodríguez- Virtual Class w/Makela 4/26/2020

Bandoneonist, composer and director (he also played violin)

His orchestra followed the influences of Edgardo Donato and Juan D’Arienzo. It was a revolutionary because in his Orchestra of all Rhythms he included all kinds of music:.(fox trox, polkas, valses, tangos, paso dobles and rancheras.)

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoApril 27, 2020Makela Tangotango musicality, tango, Argentine Tango, makela tangoComment

Tertulia #5 (conversations) with Makela and . Steven: MUSICALITY

First, when dancing it is important to find the pulse (the beat). After finding the pulse, we try to identify, the first beat of the phrase (number one): the strong beat. As dancers, we generally count a phrase in this way: one(strong)-two-three (semi-strong) four, five(strong again), six, seven (semi-strong) and eight, an then we start all over again.

Your Tango Music Collection - Part 3 - by Donald Cooper

The next orchestra we suggest adding to your music collection is that of Angel D’Agostino and his singer Angel Vargas, often referred to as The Two Angels.

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoFebruary 4, 2019Makela TangoArgentine Tango, makela tango, tango musicalityComment

Tertulia #3 (conversations) with Makela: Technique and Improvisation

For me, improvisation is being able to use what you know and put it in a different way each time depending on the music and your partner. You need to have some kind of structure with parameters and from that you can find the freedom.

Your Tango Music Collection Part 2 by Donald Cooper

Now that you have some familiarity with the Big Four orchestras you will likely want to experience some of the other major orchestras of the period. Our suggestion (Makela’s and I) is to now become familiar with Miguel Caló and his “Orchestra of the Stars” and his famous singers, Raúl Berón, Alberto Podestá and Jorge Ortiz.

"Tertulia #1" (conversations) with Makela - How did all this start? Get to know her philosophy and experience on tango -

About tango… And I always think the moment you stop studying is the moment you stop living basically. I always try to go back to Buenos Aires and talk to colleagues, practice, ask questions, read, and listen…Tango is such a huge array of things, the music, the history, culture, the relationship between a lead and follow, gender issues, so many things. It’s fascinating and I love it. ..