Root Magazine

Ethnic Dance Festival

San Francisco welcomes the Ethnic Dance Festival, opening this weekend.  For the last 28 years, World Arts West has put on a 3 weekend schedule of performances by groups from around the world.

Director Julie Mushet says in the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Finally, ethnic dance was presented in a respectful way," Mushet says. "For too long, it was presented poorly and just outdoors. We are committed to giving the 100-plus dance forms, from countries all over the world, the same kind of attention modern dance and ballet receive. We give these forms a good stage, good lighting, and the result is that we have the best ethnic dance community in the world.

"We see that it's treated beautifully, that these dances wouldn't be performed between donkey acts."

Part of the reason root exists is due to the inspiration from attending these festivals and auditions.  I highly recommend this event!

Marcy Mendelson

Editor

Photo: Diamano Coura West African Dance Company taken by RJ Muna.

Tango

root focuses on an extra dance during each bi-monthly feature.  As we report on Flamenco through June, we bring you another dance form to read and learn about.

This month's xtra dance is the Tango.

Argentine Tango is considered the dance of passion. It has crossed international borders beyond imagination. Tango lovers through out the world enjoy a common language, in which a new story is told every night. Unlike other types of dances the tango language continues to grow, defying all efforts of standardization or establishing guidelines enabling an impressive growth for the tango community on one hand and a formidable challenge on the other for the students of tango.  Everyone can dance tango regardless of age, background, body type. While the stage dancers bring their art to audiences, tango still belongs to all people. 

BailaTango, under the guidance of Metin Yazir, is an Argentine Tango school bringing together many talented individuals in ten cities spread to four countries: USA, Canada, Turkey & Germany.

Baila Tango family currently has over thirty instructors. Some are highly successful professionals in various fields and part time instructors and others teach full time. They all share with one vision: their love of tango in their communities. To them tango is more than a dance, it is a lifestyle: love for the music, passion for the dance, respect for all on and off the dance floor.

Baila Tango's philosophy is that of tango as a dialogue, as opposed to monologues by the dominant men, between two independent and actively participating individuals connecting them at a higher level. Lead and follow concepts transcend to invitations and acceptances. This heightened respect for the women is the foundation of this vision.  Their goal is to spread the love of tango and see their students on the dance floor as soon as possible, dancing with music, with feeling, and most importantly with partner.

Since tango is a passion, the instructors bring lots of energy, enthusiasm and sense of humor to their teaching.  They are the dancers, teachers and organizers of practices, dances and special events. In fact they create tango communities and play a leading role in the development of these communities.  Progress is their main motivation and they consider themselves lifelong students of tango. 

Recommended music: Di Sarli, D’Arienzo, Canarao, Calo, Pugliese, Troilo.

Recommended outfit: Dance shoes because comfort comes first for a healthy tango life. Ladies beware of open toes and high heels as you are learning if you are not comfortable with them.

Gentlemen be ready to bring a change of shirt.
Of course a piece of mint is always recommended.

Photos: (top left) Metin Yazir & Rebecca Shulman taken by Grant Leduc, (bottom right) Metin Yazir & Vanessa Gauch taken by Jak Karako.

The Evolution of Dance

The Evolution of Dance

Lest we forget our sense of humor and get mired in taking ourselves too seriously, root Magazine happily brings you this video.  Click the link above to view what over 18 million others have in recent months.

I'd love to give this guy a medal, for what I'm not sure, certainly some type of choreography!  My favorite part is where he refuses to dance the Macarena.... and the visible sweat stains.

The San Francisco Chronicle writes:

Laipply, whose only formal dance training was a one-year stint in his high school's show choir, has received much feedback from fans, some wanting to book him for weddings and a few even proposing marriage. ("Yes I am single, I am straight, and I will not marry anyone who asks over e-mail," he jokes on his Web site.)

Photo of the Month

June's Photo of the Month was taken by photographer Chuck Revell.

Arangetram performance in Santa Clara, California by Ramya of the Shri Krupa Dance Company.