Technical Tango

I was having a conversation with Salsa Prince and gf, and another talented dancer yesterday during supper at Lau Pa Sat.

They were gushing about tango:

Salsa Prince: The music is just so passionate.

Salsa Prince Gf: It is a passionate dance. I am beginning to like the dance more than salsa. Salsa is beginning to be so boring, with the straight LA style.

Talented dancer: Yeah, and the intensity it, if you can really get to the essence of tango music.

Me: Went for taster classes once, I can't seem to keep a straight and serious face. Half the effort of dancing the tango is to prevent myself from laughing out loud at the seriousness of the dancers.

And so, they continued talking about tango..yada ...yada..yada... and I was day dreaming (at night... heh) about my next dive trip until they mentioned the technical intricacies of dancing tango.

Talented dancer: There is just so much intricacies in dancing tango.

My ears pricked. And I raised an eyebrow.

Talented dancer: Because of the fact that the hold is very close, the lead has to be more subtle in leading the girl. The frame of the follower and the lead has to be firm.

Oh no. I can feel my interest stirring. I am NOT going to pick up another hobby. I have too much to do already.

Talented dancer: Though it does not have lots of intricate spin, the movements across the dance floor itself has a lof mechanics in it. It is a challenging dance.

The trap has been set. Help.

Talented dancer: This is further complicated by the fact that tango music does not have percussive beats in it, and as such, the counts are much harder to catch. You have to 'feel' the music and dance to the emotion of the music, using that as your rhythm.

And I have been caught, like a helpless prey to sign up for tango classes.

Damn. I love a challenge. Argentine tango, anyone?

Post note:

According to Salsa Prince, tango used to be a prostitute dance back in Cuba. As such, the music, and dance are usually filled with sadness, jealousy and emotions. The mafia used to visit these dens, and dance with the prostitutes. In tango, the backs of the guys normally face the wall, and they dance counterclockwise, as killings and back stabbings could take place within the mafia gangs whilst dancing.

Woo hoo...if I take up the class, will I be the mafia? Or maybe the local version. Ah Seng does tango! Heh...

Tripleperiod fulfills his original blogging aims.

Mr. Tripleperiod phoned and told me excitedly: "Hey, yesterday at Hideout was happening man... and I have fans!. Also, I got so many applications for my gf advert!"

G also commented on Mr. Tripleperiod's latest blog: "His latest advert was ingenious!".

This, coming from G (and friends as well) who used to complain comment that he has very luo soh blogs.

Being the guy that introduced him to blogging, and blogs like xiaxue and sarong party girl, I am surprised to see his confessions of his original intention on his blog. *grin*. I can vouch for it, it's all TRUE!!! ... heh....

I was glad that he started blogging, as now me and my friends have a clearer picture of who he is.

He is not a poseur as what our group of friends thought he was; we came to the conclusion that he is just a misunderstood SNAG!

So guys and girls, if any of you out there are looking to snag a SNAG, (pardon the pun), Mr. Tripleperiod here is the guy for you! I think applications are still open to them, right, Trippy? Unfortunately, chicks with dicks need not apply, as he has just gone through LASIK, and he has sharper vision now.

Pissed

Pissed by her cold and distant attitude towards me.

And her moody quiet demeanours.

But yet, it gives me great joy to watch her dance, to see an expression transformation to a happy and joyful salsera.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Shit.

Kenny Sia has a very funny post about his sentiments about Star Wars, and people who cannot pronounce it properly. Excerpt:

Another thing I can't stand is the radio stations promoting the new Star Wars movie. I always have a beef with Chinese radio station presenters not able to pronounce simple English words. In particular there's this dimwit radio host working for Ai FM who can't even announce the website address of his station properly. Its really wanita dot net slash radio5, but that idiot keep on pronouncing it wanita dot NEST slash radio5! Its a wonder he still kept his job after so long.
For a guy who pronounces 'f' as 'p', 'z' as 'j' and 'th' as 't', I thought it is only a matter of time before the stupid radio host screw up and pronounce "Revenge of the Sith" as "Revenge of the SHIT" instead.
But nooooooo, that idiot did even better than that. He called it Star Wars Episode III... Revenge of the SIKH!

An Ah Pek and a schoolgirl.

I was having coffee after lunch with salsa student turned drinking buddy on Friday afternoon, and this was how the conversation went ....

Me: So, what were your first impression of me teaching the first time? Your sis seems to think that I am a goody two shoes person. Prim and proper. Which of course, she realised otherwise. An angel at first sight, a devil in disguise. Heh, with all my vices.

Drinking buddy: When I first saw the you guys, thought that you and CF had made your fortune and already, and was retiring and teaching this for fun.

Me : (almost choking on my coffee) What??!!!!

Drinking buddy: Then , on the second lesson, when I heard the CF was studying in SIM, and I was like ...hmmmm.... an older man in his mid 30s with a much much younger girl ...

Me: (chokes, and coughs in disbelief)

Drinking buddy: But now, I know that you are not so old, CF is just a teaching partner, and without that thick glasses you look much younger. It's the glasses bah.

What da heow!!!?? Time to start getting rid of the beer belly, go for a wardrobe change, and wear contact lenses more often liaoz.

Though it's not difficult imagining myself to be sitting down in the coffeeshop, dressed in singlet and shorts, ABC stout in one hand, picking my nose with the other, watching soccer, and ogling beer aunties during the commercial breaks. Shudders.

A new found drinking buddy

She is loud. She is noisy. She is the first dance student that I taught who joked about the leads (guys) in the dance, telling me that she wants a different lead as that one is no good. And she is the first dance student that threatened to turn the intermediates class upside down. Yes, she's a terror indeed. She cracks me up with all her silly comments.

She can drink very well. And she can outdrink all my other guy friends, and that includes you, Mr. Tripleperiod. She can guzzle beer down like water, and she knows that whiskys like Macallan, Bowmore and Glenfiddich should be drank neat, or on the rocks. Not mixed with coke. You only do that with Jim Bean. Or Jack Daniels.

She's the new chick drinking buddy on the block. Looks like my liver gotta start working again. It has remained dormant ever since my previous whisky sipping beer guzzling drinking buddy got married and migrated to Canada.

LASIK appointment at TTSH

You know that the LASIK centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is making a lot of money, when they have a separate clinic and waiting area furnished with plush leather sofa seats.

You know that the LASIK centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is making a lot of money, when more than half of the nurses/staff are cheo bus. Not the ah lian cheo type, but the girl next door type.

You know that the LASIK centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is making a lot of money, when they provide patients with two Apple iMacs and free internet access whilst they wait for your appointment. And I am now blogging from one of these stations.

You know that the LASIK centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is making a lot of money, when they have all these huge posters of newspaper articles about LASIK surgery.

Now I know where part of my $4,000 fees for LASIK goes to.

To my dear friend

I have a friend whom I have a soft spot for; she has been out of sorts lately and today, she seemed to be in the dumps . I have tried probing to help or lend a listening ear, but to no avail. It worries me to see her in such a condition.

Cheer up my dear friend and do not be so sad;
Situation might be gloomy and things might seem bad;
Take things easy, don't be afraid of this rough ride;
For you're not alone, you have friends by your side.

CF's display nick

My beautiful, sexy but extremelyfussy selective friend had this as her MSN nick:
...Because women realize that it's not worth buying the entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

Sighs. I think all those attention from guys that she has been getting has turned her into man hater.

The jazz trio from London

It has been a hectic week, with a new job, teaching a wedding couple their wedding dance, and some catching up with friends.

I caught the trio of jazz musicians from London last thursday; Damon Brown, Greg Lyons, and Lewis Pragasum. Was particularly impressed by Damon Brown on the flugel horn; especially the horn's tonality whilst running through the notes. It's not easy doing that. Lewis Pragasum was good too, fusing some bhangra beats to the drum solos. Very technically competent, the ease of which he does it amazes me. If he was stationed here, would have taken lessons from him.

The acoustics at Jazz@Southbridge was good, and it has a very cosy environment. Definitely a place to chill out to.