London life, a dash of tango and a spoon full of sounds
On tango, concerts, music discoveries, shows and life in London.
And maybe also about sailing, dancing tango, concerts, tall ships, football and rugby, jazz, adventures, the saxophone, social medias, art exhibitions, wooden floors, cooking and markets, clean and green tech, high tech and geekdom, city cycling, mountains, knots... I am just curious!
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Batsheva Dance Company at Sadler's Well
Dazzled by the energy of the dancers of Batsheva Dance Company... Not everybody's cup of tea but live with a wide open mind. My moments of the three piece tonight:
Bellus - the playful inventions and clever surprises of the duet on Bach's Goldbergs Variations. The sentences strung by the troupe's bodies standing along the full length of the stage.
Humus - the swirling bottom shuffles and the dancers step rythmically playing on the music.
Secus - Full blown ensemble piece grabbing you like a brass orchestra. The Beach Boys You're Welcome dying lights on the dancers muscles making you beg for more.
What a better way to finish this assault on the senses but to share the delicious food (wood roasted chicken with braised chard, lentils and baby onions cooked in Moscatel for me) on offer at Moro on Exmouth Market in the delicious company of S.? Un abrazo a todos!
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modern dance
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The original is unfaithful to the translation.
This is one of perhaps the most beautiful quotes from Jorge Luis Borges, and certainly my favourite. There is an art to remixing a tune or covering a song that I cannot fully explain or totally fathom. But I feel like any attempt should try to make the quote above sound true.
The remix below of the song by Nina Simone is an honest coup d'essai. I hope you like it too :)
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electro-jazz
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Wooden floors
Early signs of this love affair can be found in layers of memories. The engravings on the tiny school tables where i learnt how to write, les liés et les déliés - Building tree grottos, houses and forts from Auvergne in France, to New Jersey and any other childhood holidays in between - carving tiny boats out of bark, cutlings and leaves for miniature regattas - Admiring the curves, texture and life of the family tiny hazle statue, les cheveux fuyants - the smell of tall maritime pine trees on the road to Arcachon...
Now tango has bestowed upon me the love of wooden floors. Sure I used to always have an eye for the warm colors of the 'parquets' in the elegant Haussmann flats in Paris. But tango has sublimed all this: now I get to draw invisible lines on the wood :)Share your wooden memories!
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Notes from Cinematic Orchestra
I went to the concert of the Cinematic Orchestra last night. The Roundhouse was buzzing with tons of people inside and out, audible expectations running high. All ready for two sets: "Man with a movie camera" and "Ma Fleur".
First part is Man with a Movie Camera is a russian 1929 experimental movie, silent black&white job with tons of ideas and surprises packed in. The music of the Cinematic tickles the pictures, the play with movie techniques on the screen is mirrored in the soundpieces. I loved it even more live than on the album: the visual element makes the experience complete.
Second part of the show was tunes from the new album "Ma Fleur". I don't really know that album well and definitely want to check it out. "Petit bemol": a little annoyance from the musicians at some random loud whistling projected from the crowd mid-songs. Not sure if I was annoyed myself at the unecessary rudeness (it's not a rock concert guys!), or if I was just being jealous at some seriously impressive two-finger-in-the-mouth whistles :)
Heidi Vogel (vocals) came on in the second part, taxi issues apparently. Her presence was warm in contrast to the rest of the band: her voice mirroring the playing lights on the wood and pillars of the grand old building. My favourite of the night? All that you give: it is one of these great rolling song with a delicate sprinkle of pinched strings. Below is the official video of this tune with Fontella Bass on vocals, the sixties diva of Rescue Me fame.
Do you like it? What other music does this song makes you think of?
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Légèreté et élégance
This is the tango that I long for and aspire to. These are the feelings that truly resonates with me. There is utmost tenderness in the embrace, there is grace and balanced energy in their walk. The musicality and emotions expressed by the dancers is incredibly touching. I love this video!
The music of Francisco Canaro has this crackling flavour of decades gone, quand les hommes portaient le chapeau. The arrangement of this song is superb: the violins delicately blowing melancholia to the wind, the piano driving the paseo. I always picture the streets of Paris when the deep sound of the wind comes into the melody.
My favourite part starts at 1.33 on the clock: for a moment the dance becomes a hug, a tender and chaste hug, which flows and open into dance again. I would like to think that a true and connected embrace could and should always move seamlessly from hug to dance and back again. What do you think?
Merci Ezequiel y Eugenia, merci mille fois.
Un abrazo a todos.
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dance video
tango
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Notes on first dances
Let me share some notes on last night's dancing, and three first times.
M. is a lovely Japanese lady and we share our thoughts on the performance and the music. We connected on the idea that a great dance needs to paint on the music's canvas. She spoke sweetly, simply and true. We danced later and we could both feel some apprehension: for a first timetogether it showed promise and we both wished to walk together again.
A. was a different format altogether and challenging me to feel the rotation in a different way. The connection was fleeting and kept me on my toes. There was energy and tension just the right amount but the embrace did't quite feel like a hug. Darn I felt so rusty especially as we danced over milongas tras milongas.
K. was maybe the surprise of the night. The connection was strong and the embrace natural and warm. I was really taken aback as it is so rare to find a common melody the first time you dance with somebody.
We shared some beautiful moments with C. last night. As always it felt so comfortable and fun, that is after we got used to her new tango shoes. Higher heels, change in balance and posture, it felt a little strange. We stuck to the tango nuevo room downstairs and found our rythm. We danced and discussed silently on the floor. I love to be surprised by a foot, the idea of swerving the other way, the maybe?
Until next time, un abrazo!
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tango notes
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