Omar Vega - A Blue Moon Tango Celebration.

Hats off to Valeria Solomonoff. The second of her monthly "Blue Moon" Milongas for 2009 fell on February 13. Omar Vega would have been 50 years old that day. Rising to the co-incidence Valeria took a laudable step in respectfully dedicating the evening's event to his memory. She did not stop there. With the help of Yesim Sezer (La Turca) and Diane Ramo (great friend and supporter of Omar's work) she conducted a free one hour pre-milonga milonga class based on Omar's teaching style and philosophy. Thanks to Dance Manhattan for donating the class space and to Sergio Seguraose (from the school of traditional tango) for managing a fine multimedia presentation highlighting Omar's spectacular dancing and insightful instruction. Gayatri Martin and Diane were also instrumental in organizing the event.


The mood was Joyful and celebratory with just the slightest touch of the bittersweet. Here, moist eyes and mirthful laughter mingled with the open smiles and the inevitable whispers as the iconic Omar stories flowed. Stories like, well, maybe not on this forum, but they all rang solidly true to his character. Beside being a Magnificent dancer Omar was a very straight shooter, true to himself and always genuine in the pursuit of his passions. Whatever his failings there is much to admire and learn from this man's story.

Concluding the class, Valeria admitted that her only fear had been the specter of low attendance. She needn't have worried. This is New York, Omar's second home and the master's heart would have been warmed by the multitude of his friends that came out to play. The event's page on facebook is also popular.

I took very few pictures relying instead on Dance Manhattan to documented the event. What little I captured brought home to me the emotion shared by all who attended. It was a very special night.

While being mesmerized by a projected performance, a long time dancer and dear friend acknowledged that she had never, allowed herself to appreciate Omar's talent and style, unable to able to see past his 'reputation', that is, until that night. To my mind, that realization alone made the entire event a resounding success.



I don't quite know what it is about Omar's aura, but whenever I saw him at a milonga or now on print or screen, my mood elevates. It might be his profound love of milonga, a aspect of the dance he personifies (along with Ruben) to me, and energizes me in a very fundamental way. It might be the way he chose to live his life the best he could on his own terms. Regardless of what it is, in life and in memory his spirit remains potent.

Thank you Valeria and all involved.
TT

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Celebrating Red

New York City is seeing a lot of red lately not all of which is festive. Recently, celebration's color of choice has been tempered and tainted by the heat and glow of the current financial meltdown. But the Big Apple remains far from baked, it's roots remain firmly planted on an island of gold, even as the ebbing flow of it's river of green exposes the clay on which many of its financial houses are built.

(vertical ceiling bounce camera left, Gelled on axis fill, side lit BG)

Indeed our common fortune, like the tide, our line of dance and the very blood in our veins will cycle with time. Inevitably eventually the scattered herd of financial bulls, drawn irresistibly to opportunity cloaked in red must charge, stampeding before a new wave of prosperity.
Meanwhile we hunker down if we must and celebrate whenever we can, with family, friends, community, holidays, religion, culture and festivals all in this wonderful city that continues to sustain and excite us. We do so readily, very often within that color of celebration, the color red.

Red is the color of passion and intensity, brightness and visibility, of boldness, fire and renewal. Perhaps most importantly it is the immortal color of love (reason enough to celebrate it).


No wonder it is the color of the city, valentine's day and the passion of and for the tango.


The Argentine Tango was sired by rhythms furnished by African Slaves and mothered by a myriad of European musical elements. It came of age in the Argentine slums and was debutant haute société à Paris. Pedigreed both mutt and poodle it can be any man's best friend providing companionship, comfort and even escape. Forged by immigrants and still tirelessly innovated it has much in common with our city's experience and we surely need it here. It helps to ground us, remains a reliable anchor to our true selves and always the calm spot in the eye of a storm.


This Valentine weekend, after seeing red in the movie theater, ("The International"-Big Banks are evil & "Confessions of a shopaholic"-Credit Cards and stores are evil) we needed a lift and "Love Extended" at La Milonguita Ideal became a beacon.

DJ Ko was on fire (have to forgive him for wearing black, the color of the coal that feeds the fire), the dancing was hot and many wore their hearts on their sleeves, or at least their red on their heads, backs, shoulders, arms, feet.

It was definitely a night to celebrate and still I could not resist, so from time to time the camera came out to toast the red light.



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