Re: Quickstart to Tango by Jeff Allen (ISBN # 0-9654423-1-4) Retail $19.95 Hi Tango L List Members,
Periodically my book distributor will return books that have slight imperfections on the cover due to the type of handling that occurs in a bookstore. Actually, these books are in better condition than if you opened and read them a bit. Some have never been opened but have slight mars or even a sticker on the back cover. I have about 12 of these. I am offering them to Tango L members for $ 8.00 that is approximately 60% off plus the normal $4.50 for S & H in the US. Global Priority will be used elsewhere (contact me for the fee by private email). Or I will include on of these same books free if a purchase of my newest book, Quickstart to Swing (ISBN # 0-9654423-3-0 Retail $21.95), is made. The shipping in the US for both will still be $4.50. To order securely it is best if you call me toll free at 1-888-254-3162 or Fax you credit card info and shipping address to (401) 828-2273. I have included a recent review from the popular Tango Magazine La Voz del Tango as follows: This review was written by Feature Writer Michael Ditkoff for the publication La Voz del Tango: A few months ago, I read a recommendation for this book and decided to purchase it. I am glad I did! Quickstart to Tango is a comprehensive book that covers both the American and the Argentine Tangos. For this review, I will limit my comments to the general dance and Argentine Tango sections. This book is more than a picture book that describes figures and whether or not a step is quick or slow. That is a review of Paul Bottomer's "Tango Argentino" book. Mr. Allen's book includes tango's social development - collaborating with well-known teacher Daniel Trenner. A sample of the chapters and salient point of each are: What is a dance step? - "Moving the body to new vertical position with all of your weight over the next foot" Learning timing - "If you can hear the knocking on a door, then you can certainly hear the beats in the music while you are learning to dance" Using Good Foot Contact - "The ball of the foot carries the weight in the Argentine style. Rotation in Tango - "Both of these figures - Fans in the Ballroom style and Ochos in the Argentine style - are initiated by one of the partners and concentrate heavily around the established center of rotation of their partner. The Basic Dance Positions and Body Framing - "A major difference in the Argentine style is that the weight of the body is poised over the balls of the feet while being compressed through the knees. Attitudes and Priorities: Mental and Physical - "Be very kind to your partner and remember you are learning too. There is a thorough discussion of contra body motion. Dancers should be "split at the waist" so that the top half and the bottom half can rotate in different directions, for example, in leading the woman to the cross. The man's hips face the left after the second step, but the chest should face the woman. Contra body motion has been rarely discussed in the group classes I've attended. There are black and white photographs of dancers illustrating various figures, e.g. Salida, the Walk to the Cross, and Grapevine. The woman wore brightly colored shoes so her movements show clearly. The man wore traditional black shoes, which don't show up as well. This book is an excellent reference and belongs in your library Thank you for your interest! Regards to the group members of Tango-L Jeff Allen -- ******************************************************** Please visit our new site http://www.QuickstartBooks.com We back up our books with Online support! Thank you for making 'Quickstart' # 1 ********************************************************
