Humans of Tango

"...through, just, love and committing to your own journey within a culture and within a craft and within a practice, you can embody whatever you want to. And there's nobody to tell you that it's not authentic or real or enough." Co-founder of Oxygen Tango School and Awaken Tango Mitra Martin talks about her Persian heritage and the value of research, innovation, acceptance, and attention in tango. Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Zorzal”, arranged and recorded by Orquesta Típica Misteriosa Buenos Aires [https://orquestatipicamisteriosabuenosaires.bandcamp.com/track/zorzal-d-z-rate] with music and lyrics by Dorita Zárate | Image Credit: Glenn Campbell [https://www.glenncampbellphoto.com/] Show Notes * Learn more about Mitra's perspectives and work on her website [https://www.mitramartin.com/tango]. (Bonus points if you learn more about “The Romance of the Rose [https://www.europeana.eu/en/stories/the-romance-of-the-rose-a-medieval-guide-to-love]” and gardens in Persian poetry [https://persianlanguageonline.com/introducing-the-garden-in-persian-poetry-by-matilda-moffitt/] or even read Mitra's thesis [https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-017-1658-1_8]!) * Read some background about Iran’s history and government [https://macmillan.yale.edu/middleeast/publications/iran-modern-history-0], then read Mitra’s reflections on Iran's 2022 protests [https://mitramartin.substack.com/p/we-sing-we-dance-on-behalf-of-the]. * TriANGulO [https://youtu.be/ncrZ95ZwTkc?si=qgu22OQRNT85T0GI] changed locations but is still going strong as a studio and community [https://www.tangonyc.com/] under the leadership of its founder, Carina Moeller. * Listen to “Instinct Tango, with Aníbal Dominguez [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/instinct-tango-with-anibal-dominguez/]” for another perspective on how contact improv relates to tango. * Read why Mitra recommends learning tango one-on-one [https://mitramartin.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-tango-group-classes] rather than in conventional group classes. * Listen to different versions of the same song, “El Choclo,” to get a sense of the different styles of Carlos Di Sarli [https://youtu.be/W3Uo5Z-6ZyE?si=rNHEDHUtJA20ehBR] and Juan D’Arienzo [https://youtu.be/0z_fP0UsYKk?si=q2gvF0wfwLeFR9ts]. * Learn more about Marshall Rosenberg’s framework of nonviolent communication [https://www.cnvc.org/store/nonviolent-communication-a-language-of-life] and read a post by the student Mitra mentioned, Andrei Andreev, applying Rosenberg's framework to tango [https://www.oxygentango.com/blog/2012/9/11/emotional-intelligence-for-better-tango-learning-part-1-of-2.html]. * Listen to “Flowing together, with Avik Basu [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/flowing-together-with-avik-basu/]” and visit Awaken Tango [https://awakentango.substack.com/] to read the Inner Experience of Tango report [https://awakentango.substack.com/p/judgment-and-acceptance-while-dancing]. * Mitra shouted out the following folks as key sources of inspiration and support in her tango journey: Avik Basu [https://dj.avikbasu.com/], Stefan Fabry [https://www.stefanfabry.com/], Jaimes Friedgen [https://www.jaimesfriedgentango.com/], Korey Ireland [https://www.communitytangoorchestra.org/about-korey/], Dave Lampson [https://www.oxygentango.com/dave], Carina Moeller [https://www.tangonyc.com/about], Rebecca Shulman [http://dancemanhattan.com/instructors/rebecca_shulman], Daniel Trenner [https://danieltrenner.com/], and Brigitta Winkler [https://www.brigittatango.de/]. Read a transcript of Mitra's episode here. [https://www.humansoftango.com/p/transcript-episode-26/]

In summer of 2021, Scott Boddye said goodbye to all but two-suitcases worth of worldly possessions and became a digital nomad. Since then, he's traveled on 4 continents and counting, learned to dance in heels, and created a social media platform for tango dancers that he hopes to launch any day now. Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Loca" composed by Manuel Jovés, arranged and recorded by Tango Bardo [https://tangobardo.bandcamp.com/track/loca] | Image Credit: Kappu Chino [https://www.facebook.com/chino.kappu] Show Notes * Check out Scott's website [http://www.boddye.com/] to learn more about him, then visit the website for Mundo Tango [https://www.mundotango.life/]. * Learn more about Daniela Borgialli [https://linktr.ee/daniela.borgialli], Scott's first tango teacher, then read an article about the Tango Club at Arizona State University [https://www.statepress.com/article/2024/03/tango-at-asu-tempe-dance-classes] - which is still going strong almost 20 years after Scott studied there! * For a deeper dive on gender norms and tango, check out any or all of the following HoT episodes: Small movements toward tango for all, with Arno Plass [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/small-movements-toward-tango-for-all-with-arno-plass/]; Embracing to change the world, with Alex Pacheco Castillo [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/embracing-to-change-the-world-with-alex-pacheco-castillo/]; Image, authenticity, and building bridges, with Phi Lee Lam [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/image-authenticity-and-building-bridges-with-phi-lee-lam/]; Reflections of a queer tango trailblazer, with Augusto LaMarshall [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/reflections-of-a-queer-tango-trailblazer/]. Read a transcript of Scott's episode here. [https://www.humansoftango.com/p/transcript-episode-25/]

FIRST BILINGUAL EPISODE! / ¡PRIMER EPISODIO BILINGÜE!  After a youthful stint in a rock band, Matías Mauricio turned his artistic inclinations to tango. Today he teaches and writes essays, books, and lyrics, and generally lives and breathes tango in his hometown of Buenos Aires. / Luego de un paso juvenil por una banda de rock, Matías Mauricio volcó sus inclinaciones artísticas al tango. Hoy enseña y escribe ensayos, libros y letras y, en general, vive y respira el tango en su ciudad natal de Buenos Aires. Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Capullo de Miel [https://orquestatipicamisteriosabuenosaires.bandcamp.com/track/capullo-de-miel-arias-mauricio]," composed by Javier Arias with lyrics by Matías Mauricio, performed by La Orquesta Típica Misteriosa Buenos Aires [https://orquestatipicamisteriosabuenosaires.bandcamp.com/] with Eliana Sosa | Image Credit: María Aimaretti (Matías is pictured holding a photograph of Enrique Santos Discépolo [https://www.todotango.com/creadores/biografia/425/Enrique-Santos-Discepolo]) Show Notes/Notas * Learn more about Matías’s work on his website [https://matiasmauricio.com.ar/english/]. / Aprende más sobre el trabajo de Matías en su sitio web [https://matiasmauricio.com.ar/] o leyendo [https://www.fracturaexpuesta.com.ar/tango/matias-mauricio-el-eslabon-anfibio-del-tango/] estos [https://tango21.info/matias-mauricio-y-la-nueva-poetica-del-tango/?lang=es] artículos [https://www.todotango.com/creadores/biografia/1700/Matias-Mauricio/]. * Read full translations of / lee traducciones completas de "Capullo de Miel [https://www.tangopoetryproject.com/translations/capullo-de-miel]" and / y "Mi Noche Triste [https://www.tangopoetryproject.com/translations/mi-noche-triste-lita]" courtesy of / gracias al Tango Poetry Project [https://www.tangopoetryproject.com/home]. * Listen to "Instinct Tango, with Aníbal Dominguez [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/instinct-tango-with-anibal-dominguez/]" to hear Daniel Melingo's musical interpretation of "En un Bondi Color Humo" / o puedes escuchar el tema directamente aquí [https://youtu.be/27jGSyj7HjY?si=3yXh4vt86e1jkLB9] y leer el poema aquí [https://mosaicosportenos.blogspot.com/2017/06/en-un-bondi-color-humo.html]. * In the episode Rubén reads this translation of "Tormenta" by Poesía de Gotán [https://poesiadegotan.com/2017/01/20/tormenta-1939/]. I also recommend checking out Jake Spatz's translation with additional historical context [https://tangodc.com/lyrics/2021/4/21/tormenta]. / En castellano, Tangos al bardo ofrece un buen resumen [https://tangosalbardo.blogspot.com/2020/11/tormenta.html] del contexto histórico de "Tormenta."  * Read more about the compadrito [https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/compadrito]. / Lee una definición de "compadrito." [https://www.todotango.com/comunidad/lunfardo/termino.aspx?p=compadrito] * Meredith Klein leads many tango-related projects, among them / guia muchos proyectos relacionados con el tango, entre ellos Philadelphia Argentine Tango School [https://www.philadelphiatangoschool.com/] and / y Bochinche Records [https://www.philadelphiatangofestival.com/bochinche-records]. Read more about Meredith (in English) and watch her dance [https://www.philadelphiatangoschool.com/meredith] / o lee un artículo sobre ella [https://aldianews.com/es/culture/patrimonio-e-historia/bailar-tango-filadelfia] en castellano. * Here are the contemporary tango artists Matías mentioned in his interview (with links) / Aquí van les artistas del tango contemporáneo que mencionó Matías durante su entrevista (con enlaces): Luis Alposta [https://www.todotango.com/creadores/biografia/1292/Luis-Alposta/]; Roberto Selles [https://www.todotango.com/creadores/biografia/1820/Roberto-Selles/]; Orquesta Típica Pichuco [https://www.youtube.com/@orquestatipicapichuco6281]; La Juan D’Arienzo [https://www.lajuandarienzo.com/]; Los Reyes del Compas [https://music.apple.com/es/artist/los-reyes-del-comp%C3%A1s/452242727]; Romantica Milonguera [https://romanticamilonguera.bandcamp.com/]; Fernandez Fierro [https://fernandezfierro.com/]; Astillero [https://astillero.bandcamp.com/]; Rascasuelos [https://www.youtube.com/@Rascasuelosorquesta/videos]; Cuarteto La Púa [https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qVnSGHiyfDcyw9PVOnjA0?si=ao7f-libQgizRe5utp6ZOQ]; Bombay BsAs [https://music.apple.com/es/album/noche-herida/1610777800?i=1610777808]; Marisa Vasquez [https://marisavazquez.bandcamp.com/album/esa-mujer]; Cintia Trigo [https://www.instagram.com/trigo.cintia/]; Patricia Malanca [https://www.todotango.com/creadores/ficha/3771/Patricia-Malanca]; Alfredo Tape Rubín [https://alfredorubin.bandcamp.com/]; Jorge "Alorsa" Pandelucos [https://tango21.info/quien-era-jorge-alorsa-pandelucos/?lang=es]; Victoria Di Raimondo [https://open.spotify.com/artist/09D5HdKL76ITimuP2wW49e?si=FGdrbU-3SXajaJc2FRs_Vw]; Carlos Rossi [https://www.todotango.com/creadores/biografia/1019/Carlos-Rossi/]; Cucuza Castiello [https://music.apple.com/es/artist/cucuza-castiello/552356458]; Walter "El Chino" Laborde [https://music.apple.com/es/artist/chino-laborde/337563993]; Sandra Luna [https://www.sandraluna.com.ar/]; Lidia Borda [https://www.youtube.com/@LidiaBordaOficial]; Black Rodríguez Méndez [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/black-rodr%C3%ADguez-m%C3%A9ndez/1649803332]; Eliana Sosa [https://www.elianasosatango.com/]. Read a transcript of Matías's episode here [https://www.humansoftango.com/p/episode-24-transcript/]. / Lee la transcripción del episodio de Matías aquí [https://www.humansoftango.com/p/episode-24-transcript/].

Aja Fenn on the value of committing to our teachers, the significance of the yin-yang symbol to tango, how performance culture has evolved since she started, her philosophy on social dancing, and what's inspiring her 24 years into her tango journey. Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Duo de Amor [https://tangobardo.bandcamp.com/track/duo-de-amor]" written by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Tango Bardo | Image Credit: Maurice Kaplan [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163334746805001&set=t.618455792] Show Notes * Learn more about Aja's current activities through Fabrica Tango's website [https://www.fabricatango.com/] or by perusing her YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@ajafenntango?si=zizc90GUZ99XP9zm], then watch Aja perform with Fabrica co-founder Masha Abapolnikova [https://www.facebook.com/malajunta100/videos/462234769065318/?rdid=nvzeHXOL3Bqehw0g] (in Philly, as mentioned in the episode). * See the trailer of the film that inspired Aja to try tango, The Tango Lesson [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120275/]. * See what Aja's first maestro, Matías Facio [https://www.matiasfacio.com/], is up to these days, then learn more [https://www.todotango.com/english/artists/biography/1593/Tete-Rusconi/] about legendary milonguero Tete Rusconi [https://sites.google.com/site/argentinetangoinfairbanks/the-Milongueros/tete-rusconi] and Aja's first practice partner, Mitra Martin [https://www.mitramartin.com/]. * Learn more about Sharna Fabiano's current work [https://www.sharnafabiano.com/] exploring the relationship of lead and follow, then watch clips [https://youtu.be/6JAsHrFuT5o?si=vJkeoa8YNS8JjUmm] from TangoMujer [https://youtu.be/_N0b8bREJ9s?si=ACT4S0C_viS8ogvJ] performances [https://youtu.be/w-RqtiMZZpI?si=t4aptiQoxDGvKkP0] and a performance where Sharna and Aja switch roles [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbEaT4AOomo]. * Nerd out about the origin of the yin yang [https://www.worldhistory.org/Yin_and_Yang/]. * Watch Brigitta Winkler perform [https://youtu.be/1rlCdE8qEmE?si=12wuDfdKulVXakk5] or visit her website [http://www.brigittatango.de/], then watch a performance by Nancy Lavoie [https://youtu.be/7oMx_P4QMS0?si=2pC_C-h4JpXXisbD]. * Nerd out [https://www.latangoacademy.com/blog/tango-nuevo] about tango nuevo [https://tangovoice.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/tango-nuevo-versus-tango-milonguero-a-comparison/]. Read a transcript of Aja's episode here. [https://www.humansoftango.com/p/transcript-episode-23/]

Singer. Producer. DJ. Argentine woman on a mission. Camila Arriva is working in multiple ways to bring women's voices to modern tango. (And yes, she also dances.) Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Cantando" by Mercedes Simone; short clips of "Soñando," by Paquita Bernardo with lyrics by Eugenio Cárdenas, and “Ni una Menos” by Verónica Bellini, all performed by Camila Arriva Grupo as part of their MUJERES project [http://camilaarriva.com/en/mujeres-women/] | Image Credit: Facu Suárez Show Notes * To learn more about Camila and MUJERES, visit her website at http://camilaarriva.com [http://camilaarriva.com]. * Listen to a 2018 BBC audio documentary [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csy151] about the feminist revolution in Buenos Aires, read an article about the feminist tango movement [https://theworld.org/stories/2022/01/10/feminist-tango-collectives-take-center-stage-argentina], then check out 2 groups Camila mentioned in her interview, Tango Hembra [https://www.youtube.com/@TangoHembra/featured] and Movimiento Feminista de Tango [https://www.instagram.com/movimientomft/]. * Listen to Michael Lavocah's episode [https://humansoftango.podbean.com/e/the-ear-the-heart-and-the-feet-with-michael-lavocah/] or visit his website [https://www.tangomusicsecrets.co.uk/] to learn more about tango's Golden Age. Bonus: follow "Volver," the TV channel Camila watched as a child, on social media [https://www.volver.com.ar/]! * Learn more about Paquita Bernardo [https://www.todotango.com/english/artists/biography/899/Paquita-Bernardo/] and some of the “cancionistas” that inspire Camila (including one who didn’t make it into the episode): Tita Morello [https://www.todotango.com/english/artists/biography/167/Tita-Merello/], Azucena Maizani [https://www.todotango.com/english/artists/biography/159/Azucena-Maizani/], Mercedes Simone [https://www.todotango.com/english/artists/biography/131/Mercedes-Simone/], and Nina Miranda [https://www.todotango.com/english/history/chronicle/175/Miranda-Talking-to-Nina-Miranda-at-her-place/]. * Hear an NPR podcast on why cumbia is the musical backbone of Latin America [https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2013/09/30/227834004/cumbia-the-musical-backbone-of-latin-america], then listen to a playlist of Argentine Cumbia [https://youtu.be/OGOG5mDSPtQ?si=wIYBPapovMtc19EQ]. * Listen to the version of "Ni una Menos" by China Cruel [https://chinacruel.bandcamp.com/track/ni-una-menos], the band of songwriter Verónica Bellini, then watch a video of Gaby Mataloni and Rocío Lequio dancing [https://youtu.be/E-ht1Q2bLlM?si=Kwn8NepWjgEO-y2k] to Camila's version. Read a transcript of Camila's episode here. [https://www.humansoftango.com/p/transcript-episode-22/]