How to Become a Snake Charmer 101: Dating an Argentine Serpentine

Argentine women are reputed to be exotic fembots. Ethereal, enticing, exquisite femme fatales who leave men drooling out the sidewalk. Everywhere these women go the sound of piropos (catcalls) filled the air. In our North American society, catcalls are what you associate with dirty mouth construction workers with no class basically degrading female that walk by. But in Argentina, depending on how a piropo is done is can be a great compliment to a woman's beauty.  It is one of those things that are a matter of debate to whether piropos are uplifting or degrading.

Not all women in this country fit the stereotype of the Argentine femme fatale but there is definitely a subsector of women in this country that still fall into that category.  The Argentine Serpentine fits under the stereotype of having drop-dead gorgeous model like features. 

However, procuring a goddess comes with a hefty pricetag........that being the cost of your soul. As Divas they demand nothing less than divine treatment from those they have bewitched. In the past I have written blogs on cross-cultural relationships. This blog is about cross-cultural dating and things you should know about your Argentine fembot. You may find her ravishing but the relationship will leave you ravished if you aren't careful and take time to learn the cultural differences between the both of you.

Háva nagíla (Come Let's Dance)

Being Canadian I grew up being accustomed to there being about 9 public holidays. I always saw public holidays as a treat and an opportunity for refreshment.  Living in Argentina, that number jumped from 9 to 19 public holidays a year that included 7 long weekends. In fact there is a law that states that there has to be one long weekend per month.

What does this mean for all of us?  It means alot less money for those who work (because its unpaid) and alot more brunching and lazing around.  But the ridiculous amount of unpaid public holidays means that there is less money to go brunching and holidaying each public holiday and long weekend.  For example, this week we are gonna have a record number of days off.....6 consecutive days to be exact.

It works out that thursday and friday are part of semana santa (holy week), where Jesus's arrival into Jerusalem on a donkey is celebrated. Saturday and Sunday of course is the weekend where only a few work. Tuesday April 2nd is a veteran's day holiday to commemorate the war of the Faulkland's Islands War. And the gov't didn't want to interrupt all the reveling and partying so they decided to make April 1st a holiday as well so that we can down bloody marys and cure our hangovers.

The video above is an epic orchestra performance of "Hava Nagila" by Andre Rieu. For those of you aren't jewish, Hava Nagila is a Jewish traditional folksong that came out of eastern Europe. The melody's popularity caught on and it is played at a majority of jewish festivities such as weddings, bar mitzvahs and religious holidays.

Lyrics and meaning of the song translate to this:



HAVA NAGILA (Original Hebrew Lyrics)

Háva nagíla, háva nagíla,
Háva nagíla, venismechá.
Háva nagíla, háva nagíla,
Háva nagíla, venismechá.
Háva neránena, háva neránena,
Háva neránena, venismechá.
Háva neránena, háva neránena,
Háva neránena, venismechá.
Úru, úru, achím,
Úru, achím, belév saméach.
Úru, achím, belév saméach.
Úru, achím, belév saméach.
Úru, achím, belév saméach.
Úru, achím,
Úru, achím, belév saméach.



HAVA NAGILA (Literal English Translation)

Come let’s dance, come let’s dance,
Come let’s dance, and be merry!
Come let’s dance, come let’s dance,
Come let’s dance, and be merry!
Come let’s whirl, come let’s whirl,
Come let’s whirl, and be merry!
Come let’s whirl, come let’s whirl,
Come let’s whirl, and be merry!
Rise, rise, brothers!
Rise, brothers, with a glad heart.
Rise, brothers, with a glad heart.
Rise, brothers, with a glad heart.
Rise, brothers, with a glad heart.
Rise, brothers!
Rise, brothers, with a glad heart.




Whether you are celebrating passover, awaiting the easter bunny or attempting to sit through a drawn out 6 day public holiday, Hava Nagila is a great anthem to carry with you through whatever festivities you may be participating in :D

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La Casa de Carlos y Alison

Life is made up of details.  At times the details can be so tiny that they can't be seen. This doesn't make them any less important. This blog today is about shining a light on details and events that were definitely a significant part of my trip and did very much make up the journey.  For this story, I'll be taking you into the home of Carlos & Alison. I took lessons with them from the middle of Sept until the end of Oct. After that they went off to toronto form two months to teach at some workshops as well as to perform. I didn't get a chance to see them again or take lessons before I left Buenos Aires but just because I've spent little time with someone doesn't give them any less place in my heart.

Being in their home and chatting with them before, after, and during my private lesson helped shed light not only on tango but on the culture of Buenos Aires. Carlos is a succesful lawyer who is native to Argentina and Alison is a filmmaker who's roots are right here in Victoria, B.C.  I met them while taking one of their workshops here at Cafe Casablanca in Victoria. It was during the summer and at that point, I already had confirmed plans to go to Buenos Aires so I let them know I was coming.

Even though we had only met for the first time and didn't know each other well, in the coming months I got messages on my facebook wall from them that gave me a sense that they were welcoming and anticipating my arrival to Buenos Aires. Messages like "Much love Angelina! We await you here in BsAs".  Already I could feel the openess and the hospitality which very much makes up the Argentine spirit.

Often in our society, success often means that life gets complicated.  People feel the urge to create busy schedules and to get caught up buying things and trying to add things to their life. That's why it was such a joy to have the chance to meet Carlos & Alison. It is such a pleasure to be interacting with people who do obviously have success but have made keeping life simple and uncomplicated a high value in their lives. Their home is decorated tastefully with art pieces and tango memorabilia. But what got my attention wasn't the things in their home, it was the rich energy and vibe that you can feel the moment that you walk through those doors.

Taking tango lessons with them in their home was one of the best investments I ever made. Not only did my tango progress in leaps and bounds in just 6 weeks, but being with them and chatting with them really helped introduce me to the Argentine culture and way of life.  One of the greatest things that they've taught me about tango and about life is about the beauty in simplicity.

Their encouragement to me was that it was better to learn a few moves really well and to get the fundamentals down pat than to try and do a whole repertoire of fancy moves that I really don't know how to do well.  I definitely plan to make private lessons with them a part of my life and schedule whenever I am in BA. The next time I am there, I hope to see them at Plaza Dorrengo dancing tango like they do every Sunday night.

Alot of tourists and people outside the tango community have this idea from watching TV that tango always has to be something dramatic.  What people need to understand is that here in Buenos Aires, there is a difference between the type of tango done for performances and the type of tango that is danced socially. Both are beautiful in totally different ways. And Carlos & Alison demonstrate such a fantastic example of a tango done with class, elegance, beauty and simplicity.  Watch.....



http://www.carlosyalisontango.com/

 "More and more I am finding that tango is not just a dance, it is a way of life in this city even for those that don't dance tango.  The city has a way of wrapping it's feathers around me to comfort and ease all loneliness and thoughts of home and the people there.  Like a mother hen, it soothes me safe and & warm under it's wing."

  -Angelina

Arts + Acrobatics = Argentina

When it comes to shows, the good news is that there is an abundant supply of them in Buenos Aires. Argentina has made amazing strides in rebuilding the country and the economy since the 2001 economic crisis. And they are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to performing arts. You can still see regular dinner shows with live tango. Traditionally, that's the most publicized kind of show down in BA. But in your quest for a good evening of entertaiment, don't forsake trying some modern and off the well worn path. Let Buenos Aires dazzle you with a little taste of the other forms of incredible artistic talent that lies deep within the heart and soul of the city :)

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Dancers perform on a watery stage suspended above the audience during the Fuerza Bruta (Brute Force) show in Buenos Aires, March 23, 2010

The Immigrant’s Tango

Sitting amongst refrains of nostalgia
rooted in past shadows
A walled flower
waiting

Eyes meet,
in trespass or invitation?
Her vined legs unwind
from the seat of familiar
Uprooted

Facing,
With one arm they embrace,
their other stop-sign hands clasp
marking a joined border
of resistance

Transplanted onto this dance floor
soiled with memories,
they negotiate the boundary
of their new, shared space
With each haunting call of the bandoneon,
compelling their circling steps
into now

The insinuating rhythm
unites them with one pulse
and yet
the eternal push, pull
hiding, enfolding
Clinging to the music’s strains
drawing them together, apart
this tensile arrival, separation
never quite pausing
in past or future

Just a timeless heartbeat
of sinewed silence
before the music propels them on
Moving as one,
the dancers seek freedom
through their locked embrace,
escape without departure
Echoing the bandoneon’s pull, push
Leaving, returning
Mourning, uniting

Into a finale flourish.
Then the tango begins anew.
(dimly remembered past seasons
litter their feet)
yet they dance on
singing for freedom
calling for home


(this poem was written by writer, tango dancer, and author of "The Chief Factor's Daughter" Vanessa Winn)

Breast Cancer Tribute

So I'm really having fun adding fun learning to add videos onto my blog posts. And as usual, I make sure that my site has nothing but the brightest and the best for you all. This is the third video that I've added and it is nothing less than breathtaking. One of my favorite shows is So You Think You Can Dance. A dance competition that showcases the very best. There were many memorable dance pieces but there has been one that has been the most talked about of all the pieces. In the history of SYTYCD, there has never been a more powerful or moving piece. It's a tribute to breast cancer and it is truly magnificent. Here is Melissa & Adye performing their stunning piece on "Ellen"

Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo

So it looks like my new skill for the day is learning how to add YouTube Videos directly onto my blogsite. I've already posted a spectacular nature video of Dolphins making bubble rings to play with. But I'm going to add another spectacular video to this site. World reknown Tango dancers Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo participated in a televised dance competition called "Superstars of Dance" last year. The video I am posting here is their performance in week 2 of the semi-finals. All I can say is that it is absolute "eye candy" and simply one of the most breathe taking performances I have ever witnessed. As well I think this video is an awesome representation of Argentine tango at it's finest. Enjoy!