Tango Uncorked

Tango Uncorked #11 - Gayle Gibbons Madeira - "You can waken the Entrega in the other person, if they're open to it."

Gayle sat down for an amazing conversation this week. I learned a lot not only about Gayle but what I believe is a very positive and healthy way to look at the dance. We also discuss her early days in New York City as a modern dancer, her work in finance that helped her have time to continue her growth as a dancer, her work as a painter and an artist, and also her philosophy about what tango means to her. I hope you enjoy her journey.
I will break down the show notes soon.

Tango Uncorked #10 - Norma Silver - "I think my first words were thank you."

Norma Silver drove her Silver Toyota into the city last week to sit down and chat about her very interesting life and all the things she has done before finding tango.
Born in Brighton Beach, she traveled the world at a time when the patriarchy was at a very strong place and most women were expected to stay put and to their "duties." Norma never allowed herself to be boxed in and she went off to teach in the Azores and Japan just after World War two. She returned and continued her career in Paramus, NJ. After retiring she started dancing and continued learning and growing as a person.
Let's listen to her story.

Tango Uncorked #9 - Juan Pablo Vicente - "I made my own ghetto."

I had the pleasure to sit down and chat with Juan Pablo Vicente, one of the organizers of La Nacional. It was my first time talking with a co-organizer and we shared a lot of experiences in this crazy business of running a Milonga in New York City.

La Nacional is one of New York Cities oldest milonga's and it was interesting to learn how Juan Pablo got involved with organizing it and what motivated him to do so.

You will notice a lot of sirens blaring during a portion of the show. I apologixe for that. We recored this episode in midtown Manhattan and there was a terrible accident a few blocks north. 

Tango Uncorked #8 - Kim Fraczek - "The only way we are going to find answers is by having conversations with each other."

I sit down with my good friend Kim Fraczek in Bushwick and we talk about all of her work with the Sane Energy Project. Her recent success in stopping a pipeline from being built, PLUS, her funny tango stories.
She has some very crazy tango stories.
Show notes will be coming soon.

Tango Uncorked #7 - Batt Johnson - "It's SIMPLE, I LOVE people."

Batt Johnson sit's down with us to chat and tell us about what he's been up to all these years and what led him to dance. His upbeat, optimistic energy was a joy to be around, is always a joy to be around. Batt is the type of person who when he walks into a room the energy of the room improves. 
He is someone who has lived through a lot and still maintains a deep fascination for people and for life.

0:00 - Intro
18:30 - Early days of radio / San Diego. //
20:30 - Moving to NYC in the late 70's. //
28:00 - What makes Batt so smiley? //
31:30 - Music transformation. //
34:30 - How did Batt become who he is? Early life in San Diego. //
40:00 - How Batt interprets music. //
43:30 - How Batt got into the radio business. //
51:30 - First steps in tango. //
1:12:00 - The Draft, Vietnam. //
1:26:00 - Tango Intoxication. //
1:34:30 - Batt's Tango quotes. //

Tango Uncorked #6 - Kening Zhu - Learning about yourself by sharing yourself

Kening Zhu stopped by to chat and we learned a lot about her writing, art, and inspiration. She shares her thoughts on why sharing her writing helps her learn about herself and we also discuss the potential power dynamic between dancers. I learned about what it is like to be an introvert and how she uses a daily formula to establish a grounded well being.

4:18 - Kening Zhu. //
5:20 - Working Marathons. //
8:20 - Kening's blog / website. //
10:30 - Childhood. //
11:30 - Glimpses of her work. //
13:30 - Camp Kening. //
18:20 - First time sharing her work. //
25:00 - Mongolia. //
30:20 - Current projects. //
33:00 - Getting started in Tango. //
39:45 - How to be an introvert. //
44.30 - Amatuers vs Professionals. //
50:20 - Introverted dancers vs extroverted dancers. //
54:20 - Tango equilibrium. //
62:20 - Power dynamic. //

Tango Uncorked #5 - Carlos Andrés Dueñas - "I'm in the car industry."

Carlos Andrés Dueñas came to the States from Colombia. His journey is interesting and relatable to a lot of immigrants who have come here. To make a better life. To leave a place where they weren't feeling inspired, or fulfilled, and to try life in a new place.

0:00 - Beginning. //
1:15 - 1st job in the US and arriving. //
7:30 - School in Colombia. //
9:00 - What makes a tango person. //
15:30 - Tango network. //
17:00 - When Carlos got hooked. //
19:00 - First impression of dancing at a milonga. //
24:30 - Phrasing. //
27:00 - Tango from childhood in Colombia. //
29:00 - Traveling for tango. //
34:00 - What are tango styles? //
45:00 - Orchestra's of choice. //
53:45 - Impressions of New Orchestra's. //
62:30 - The embrace
66:00 - Barrilito practica 

Tango Uncorked #4 - Michael Ricciardi - "Make em feel good."

Dr. Michael Ricciardi was a lot of fun to sit down with and get to know. He has accomplished a lot in life and still maintains a humbleness that I find really nice to be around. We sit down in his home in Staten Island and discuss quite a bit from his experience studying in Buffalo to his first experience dancing tango in New York. Please welcome Dr. Mike to the show.

0:00 - Bus to Staten Island. //
6:20 - Tattoos. //
9:30 - Science and Dentistry. //
14:00 - School in Buffalo and the accident. //
20:00 - Mike's first event and what drew him to tango. //
25:00 - Why we dance tango. //
31:30 - Clarity of communication. //
35:30 - How to build a dental practice. //
43:00 - Managing the stresses of the job. //
50:00 - Potential and what inspires
56:00 - Pushing structures. //
102:30 - Flossing, is it a myth? //
103:00 - Staten Island milonga and Robin Thomas. //
110:00 - Working with others and treating people as equals. //
120:00 - "Make em feel good."

Tango Uncorked #3 - Lucille Krasne - Hidden strengths and great ideas

Lucille Krasne came to New York City in 1969 and then she started the tango community... Ha... Sort of. Today we hear from Lucille and her involvement in the development of the NYC tango community. From "Hit and Run" events to Central Park Lucille has been a serious reason why the community has developed the way it has.

Show notes -

0:00 - 1997 and the beginning of her journey. //
15:00 - Esmeralda milonga and why she calls it that. //
17:00 - Central Park. //
19:00 - Hit and Run with Brigitta Winkler. // 
29:00 - NYC tango festival. //
36:00 - Getting to know the people of tango. //
43:30 - New Years 2000. //
48:00 - 1969. //
64:00 - The importance of community. //

Tango Uncorked #2 - Dan Dunbar and the Value of Mistakes

Have you ever craved something that you couldn't get your hands on? On today's show we sit down with Dan Dunbar, owner of Dun-Well Donuts in Williamsburg. Dan has some very funny stories regarding how he basically invented a vegan donut, his dreams of deep sea diving with sharks, and a lot of other fun stuff!!