LEW SMITH wrote on Oct. 19, 1999: "As you know, I have been taking group classes and workshops with just about all the Argentinean teachers who have taught in northern California the past three years. Without a doubt, the best ever was the workshop given by Marcelo Solis and Yanina Messina at the Danceasy studio in El Cerrito on October 10.
"The theme of the workshop was TURNS (giros). Basic turns; combining turns with kicks, sacadas, paradas, ochos, boleos and syncopation; using different rhythms (tango, vals, and milonga); and using turns to change direction. These repeatable, compact patterns adjust very well to the stop-and-go of our crowded milongas. "Best of all, these patterns work equally well in Milonga and Vals, as Marcelo and Yanina demonstrated. The leader just adjusts his stride to match the beat. More useable material in three hours than thirty with all the others. "I am looking forward to doing a retake in a private or semiprivate lesson with a serious practice partner (still searching-she is out there somewhere). Meanwhile, I look forward to your next monthly milonga. Lew" Jeanne Hill
