Graciela Gonzales & Jo milonga improv 1995, San Franciso

Graciela Gonzales is a wonderful dancer and teacher. I met her at Richard Power's tango congress at Stanford University in 1995. This was filmed at 'Tango by the Bay' and Graciela was supposed to close the show with Eduardo Arquimbau; but he got delayed and wasn't showing up. The organizers came to me and asked me to dance with Graciela; I was almost in shock and suggested that they ask Carlos instead (a terrific tango and salsa dancer that was there that night). But in the end I danced... obviously. I was terrified and exhilarated in the moment! In the film it's easy to see that I'm so tense I'm up on the demi-points of my feet for most of the dance... dang. I don't dance milonga like this anymore; in fact this is a good example for my students of what I don't like... dancing milonga like a tango, using the half-step cross to throw off the musicality, etc.
The best of Graciela's influence upon me came over the next few months in my pedagogic development for the Graffiti Tango school; in this realm she is still with me in a way... and an important part of my tango lineage.

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Entertainment

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• Graciela
• Gonzales
• Joseph
• Bain

[Ritmo2X2]

Magnifico! I had the pleasure to do an improvised performance with Graciela in Brasil, she made me look phenomal in the floor...Gracias Graciela!