Tango in NOLA - Halloween 2013

Saturday, Oct 19, 2013

Late night trEats at The Trolley Stop Cafe

La Milonga Que Faltaba
Dance Quarter
1719  Toledano St, NOLA

Milonga Performance by Damian Lobato
Dancecard: Maurine y Lorena

Notes: Park a block away from the venue. Wonder if we will arrive safely as we walk that long block.

Inside, I'm tying my shoe with my head down when a beautiful pair of Comme Il Fauts appear in my field of vision and in my face. Stand up straight and make the obligatory introductions. Can't help but wonder why?

Regrets: Missed a dance with Christine.

Fri, Oct 25, 2013 - Ector's Halloween Milonga

Milonga a Media Luz at The First Presbyterian Hall. 5401 S Claiborne Ave, NOLA
Dancecard: Maurine y Liz

Notes: Inadvertently sit at Valorie and Alberto's reserved table not knowing it is reservado.

Maurine chides me for dancing with Liz because she is so young and beautiful.
Left early.

Sat, Oct 26, 2013

Regrets: Received a $40 parking ticket from the City of NOLA.

Delights: The City of NOLA did not tow my little truck like the Austin City Police.

Orquesta Fleur at Café Istanbul
2372 St. Claude Ave, NOLA
Featuring Katarina Boudreaux

DJ: Ector.

Tango Performance by Linda Sutton.
Readings from Gotta Tango by Valorie and Alberto.

Dancecard: Deniz, Ondina y Emilie.

Regrets: Missed Deniz singing Por una Cabeza y Ring of Fire.

Notes: Last dance with Deniz. Left early.

trEats at Fatoush Restaurant

Sun, Oct 27, 2013 - Annual Black and White Tango Masquerade

La Milonga de New Orleans at Galvez Restaurant, 914 N Peters, NOLA
Organized by Valorie and Alberto

Dancecard: Deniz from NOLA formerly from Bulgaria, Katarina from NOLA, Kate from Elsanor, AL, Lynn from Baton Rouge, Nancy from Baton Rouge and Ondina from NOLA.

Notes: Talk about Albuquerque with Lynn. Talk about lower Alabama weather with Kate.

Watch Ector. He is so smooth; suave.
Last dance with Deniz. Left early.

Save the Dates

Dec 6 - 8, 2013 - New Orleans Tango Weekend

Sat, Nov 9, 2013 - Tango boot camp workshop with Linda Sutton at A Tango y Salsa in Biloxi, MS.

Last Tango in NOLA

Milonga Que Faltaba

Dance Quarter

1719 Toledano St

New Orleans, Louisiana 70115

Organizer - Lorena y Mirna

DJ - Juan Antonio

Dance Card:

Melinda from NOLA,

Moma from Normandy, France,

Valorie from NOLA,

Others.

Delights:

Juan Antonio's Music

My dance with Moma

Happy that my last Tango was with Melinda

Regrets:

Hitting the floor with Melinda

Regret that no one took a video

Valorie's Teachable Moments

Neil's Ugly Little Secret:

Since May 2015 I've been on Meds for cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Drug side effects include "loss of balance when walking."

The ability to walk balanced is a basic requisite for dancing the Tango. Yet, yours truly, had ignored that fact with impunity because the reality is that I don't want to accept it.

Last night when I crashed God was telling me that I have no choice. Sorry about that. I shouldn't be dancing. It's not safe. I should accept that fact graciously. 

I'm a 71 year old man, disabled veteran with cardiovascular disease who can't walk a balanced walk. It's time to give up the Tango and walk with a cane.

So, adios NOLA. Adios Tango. 

Final Note:

I've always said that as a Milonguero I wanted to die dancing in a Tango Bar in Buenos Aires.

But I have to settle for dying alive by hitting the floor with a jole blon. No one was hurt physically. But I didn't survive. Even though I could count the two middle fingers that Valorie put in my face. I left walking alone on my own two feet without saying good bye as is my custom.

Arrived home safe and sound in Pensacola at 4 AM.

It wasn't a very good night for Tango in NOLA. 

It was my last Tango in NOLA. 

Adios amigos.

My sincerest apologies to Melinda and everyone else.

I am so sorry.

The Bible Verse:

Proverbs 16:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain

The Quote:

“I’m a little wounded, but I am not slain; I will lay me down to bleed a while. Then I’ll rise and fight again.”

John Dryden


I get up.  I walk.  I fall down. Meanwhile I keep dancing.

Rabbi Daniel Hillel