Just love!

World Street Art Festival at Borås...

Proud Swede.. my Town hosting World street art festival.. gives many Flashbacks from wonderful Buenos Aires.. I miss U ...BA

Summer memories...

Nice memories, wonderful people, open people.. Portugal ...I LIKE
Will return!

Do what makes you happy
Be with those who make you smile
And laugh as much as you breathe

Tango in Portugal

… So, a summer in Portugal with my latin tango friends. We rented a huge house down in Faro.. all 15 of us. Workshops and milongas in Faro & Lagos.. went up to Lissabon a couple of times..

Tango Na Rua/TNR organize streettango every week.. check for timing on their fbook site https://www.facebook.com/TangoNaRua

Visited as well Milonga d´a Barraca, an argentinian couple Alejandro Laguna and Solange GALVÃO had a practica we attended.. very nice people, fluently in English… a nice milonga, good atmosphere             http://www.tangoportugal.com/

Will probably revisit Lissabon later on this autumn.. in order to get private lessons and visit some of the appx 20milongas they have there.

just love!

miss you a bit.. Plaza Dorrego

but there is a ...

But there is a masterplan... I have a project.. thank god for projects, they keep you moving on

Miss you...

Miss you, a bit.. you become for a couple of weeks a part of me... waking up with your sounds from the street, the sun on my skin.. my feet on your sidewalks... miss you from a rainy lifeless...

... To lead ...Change

  Will spend my life in change management for the next coming years, and by the way.. I have done for the last 3years if you consider the working environement you nowdays spend your time in...Anyway it makes you reflect from time to time on the constraints between being the manager you would like to be versus the box you are managing within in your daily environment.. and what kind of leader style you need to have in order to succeed with your goals being the more longterm.. versus company goals being more short term ones…
  How to succeed using a leadership based on values driven by a management bringing people to the companys values through feelings…Engagement & values built around feelings

“People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou  

    I have a feeling, that it could be an idée to use the essence of the tango to let the teams discover the coaching part… in a relation.. by discovering the nature of leading & follow.. giving the dynamics in teamwork and collaboration.. support, challenge and creativity…. Maybe one day

when time cease to exist

when time cease to exist...
   Tango is often seen as.. passionate, vibrant etc... but in fact, if not danced in the more expressive show-off version...To dance tango is to dive oneself into a short moment of time when its possible to let go of everything else and surrender completely to the situation whilst expressing yourself through the music whilst being aware of every second .. every detail of movement of both yourself and your partner....
   Arriving one day to my class with Nora, I flagged immediately that I had been in contact with my office and that I had to much job in my head so she would not expect me to make the best turns in my life.. She just told me "start dance Robert, you will se, it will go away..." and she was right.
   Thats what I think is the magic with Tango, this deep connection that sometimes happens with your dance partner, that maybe even you have met for the very first time...and the pleasure and joy that can come along with that feeling... it can be like a meditation in movement with a total acceptence of another person through the embraze and with time an more intense interaction with your inner you... it brings harmony in life in a way I havent experienced in long time.. at least for me... the closest I have been was like twenty years ago when I spent a lot of time practicing martial arts. Dancing forces you to be attentive to your body, groundedness, balance, weight shifting.... and mind, concentration, musicality...to recognize the importance of connecting with another human..
    The only problem is time.. time to dance and your time to dive into the tango.. Raoul feeling a bit trapped from time to time.

... maybe

   Planning... next project will be to revisit Beirut.. always wanted to come back since my, lets call it "stay" close to 30years ago... so will go, for the country and the city but since tango is an international language.. in order to visit milongas and take some classes as well... but first, Menorca in july, lets see what that island can come up with in terms of tango..

BA tips

... Accomodations and tips
First there is a pricelevel for all needs coming to BA, I choosed maybe "convenient" as a brief to my trip. So I wanted to have an apartment on my own, where I could be on my own and with cooking facilities etc etc.
I booked mine through - www.BuenosAiresHabitat.com

and my appt is - http://www.buenosaireshabitat.com/apartment_n336.html       I payed in total 1.940 US Dollar for three weeks. As I said the place is ok, security and presence in reception 24/24.. a washing machine to be used downstairs, a rooftop with heated pool for sunny leisure time.. they serve in a resto on the rooftop breakfast with everything you wish for the breakfast table .. for 35pesos per time.. meaning 42sek.

The booking company is partly a US one so you get the full service through them with whatever you have need for.. cab to and from airport, tickets to events, tours ...

I chosed to stay in Palermo Hollywood.. close to Palermo SoHo.. the two most animated barrios when it comes to restaurangs, galleries, shops, clubs... and it simple to navigate from here to other parts of the town...

If to come here you can "like" Fierro hotel on fbook... its a hotel a couple of blocks from here, the staff is publishing regulary newsletters on what can be seen in BA and as well whats happening in BA on weekly and monthly basis

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/fierrohotel?hc_location=stream

http://insidebuenosaires.com/

Fridays they organize afterwork sessions where expats comes to mingle with local people, a casual event if you feel like chatting in english, french etc...

There is so much to be seen and experienced, this first time I have just surfed on the surface.. whats impressed.. and surprised me the most is the artscene and the food.

So will be back, for sure.

Tango in BA

Tango in BA.. or more like it, based on my experience during the three weeks I spent there..
   First, there is a tango version for all individuals, thats for sure. All levels, all nationalities, all dance styles etc etc.. thats the beauty.. its rich Buenos Aires.
For me it was working on the basics, getting some flow into it by practicing everyday, finding a way to use the lets say limited floor space using my skills.. my level. So having private lessons regulary every morning with same teacher, in my case Nora Schvartz, was perfect.
Then I added when I wanted, practicas with my follower in class, additional lessons with another teacher (tangopiola) etc.
   For the milongas, went once to Salon Channing, nice place but if was during early afternoon so a bit empty on dancers but Im sure that in the evenings its a nice place. La Virtua I really liked, all levels on dancers, different nationalities... and first time there when I arrived probably looking very much as a completely lost gringo.. I was immediately invited to dance by two women, argentinians, no english.. but anyaway it was a polite way of wishing foreigners welcome.. pretty good floor, casual ambience.. will return... I like!.
  I wanted to visit Le Cathedral, looked cool on pictures but was uncouraged by my teachers saying that I would need to hold on to my stuff because even local people get their belongings stolen... and last, went to the sunday milonga at Plaza Dorrega in San Telmo.. nice ambience as well its probably a really nice place to be in summertime when nice weather.. and of course La Glorieta.. up in Belgrano, I heard a lot good about it but I suppose my visiting in may.. BA autumn.. wasnt the best moment to pass this ouutdoor milonga.. but its supposed to be a very casual one with good ambience.
   As everywhere in the tango world, sadly enought, in BA as well... there exist this way of ranking the audience, ranking the leaders or followers.. this local club of people just dancing with each others... or the very skilled ones.. and then the beginners... and in the middle, the "intermediate" ones, not daring to dance with beginners because then maybe they will not be accepted by the top... I discussed with my class follower, and she said that she prefered to stay and dance in her local milongas and not going in to the more known ones in Buenos Aires just because of this...
  Its a bit said for something like the Tango, that supposed to be about the feeling, the embraze of two human beings etc etc.. and then as an opposite, fed by houndreds of bloggs this way of looking down on the how to say less performing...
  The only turn off .. I can imagine having experienced since getting tango into my world.. and being not possible to unit with my basic values that I normally run my life through...

open doors.. not closing them...

open doors.. not closing them...
Travel alone .. I think is a bit underestimated... because you will be more exposed to the environment you are in.. in a way you would never be traveling with family or friends. And even more importent, you are exposed to your self, your thoughts, idees, idees left behind.
So, important to live your life opening doors, not closing them.. because if so you will end up in a dark room one day.. without any doors or windows....
Anyway, back since three weeks at job... no tango since back in sweden.. retour to hectic professional life... but somewhere inside you, you are rich... so I start to realize, at least for me, the richess is not to be in one lifestyle or another.. but to have the opportunity to go inbetween them, hopefully living the best moments of each. Remember my second week in BA, having optimized tango in every way, lessons in the morning, lessons in the afternoon and practicas inbetween.. and after a couple of days I just thougt "please give me a day without tango".
   And finally, a video.. giving the answer on ... Why?.. two tango stars, caught in a moment of solitude, in the middle of a milonga...

Bye bye wonderful flat of mine...

    Time to leave, bag packed seam to be overweight warning again on that one.. and still.. I have put 5trousers extra in my travel wardrobe... wearing my heaviest shoes etc etc...
will miss my 180degree view of Buenos Aires I have lived with during my three weeks here.. but will come back again, soon, to this very apartment and to this very neighborhood... and yes, I have seen glimpses of Raoul..when he visited BA... hope to cross him again.. somewhere

As there is people.. friends that will follow you through life.. I think there is such places as well.. places you will visit and revisit.. and they will age with you and follow you through life and its always a bit like coming home.. when passing...Paris been like that for me..
Molay Bousselham in Morocco.. and I have a feeling Buenos Aires will end up as such a place as well.. lets see
... Final

and Geraldine...

.. cant resist.. from a movie.. "Assassination tango" .. by Robert Duval ..
First because its been one of the songs turning EVEEERY day in my classes - Una Emocion by Ricardo Tanturi... but second.. because its again.. Geraldine Rojas

Geraldine.. my Geraldine...

.. so to end with a video.. from a place here in BA that I have learned to like during my stay, an open, generous and welcoming Milonga for all levels of tango lovers... all ages.. all nationalities...The video is taken in 2006 with a performance by Carlos Gavito, a teacher, a dancer, a true milonguero and here together with Geraldine Rojas another of the dancers I admire...
For me this short film, reflects in so many way what tango and the tango community gives to me.. pleasure, joy..excitement, sensuality, respect and curiosity, energy, astonishment... and it can truly drive you crazy as well.. because its so bloody difficult sometimes.. but its still, a feeling, being danced.. that you give to another human being.. being for a short moment in an embraze.. with you

    Had last tango class with Nora....friday
So a bit melancholic I left.. even if there is always a moment when its time to move on.. even with tango lessons... But its been a privilege, these daily classes, because its been so much more than just tango steps. Inbetween all these thousands of small corrections on my tango ....their is another exchange.. since when you are in the hands of someone that love to teach it will not just stay to tango.. we have chatted on argentinian politics, the culture, the food.. and on our lives in general...and a lot of laughter.. and not only on behalf of my steps..
   I have tried open classes in for example La Virtua, DNI etc.. but its not comparable with being able to have a teacher for yourself... and on plus a follower at your service.
   I have been teached lets say the tango milonga/tango salon.. not so much emphasis on creative moves.. more on walk, posture, bodycontrol.. and then some ochos, and then turns in all ways possible.. and in the end you understands how to combine everything in an easy way...  I can just recommend for anyone coming to BA.. or if Nora is abroad to join her classes..I hope I have improved.. I think so...her last comment to me was "when you came you floated.. now you have presence and a direction.."
You can find her contactinfo on - http://www.noraschvartz.com.ar/tango_en.php

Last day in BA

   Last day spent in a way that wasnt planned, at least I didnt know before coming here... 25mayo is the national holiday, celebrating first of all the day in which the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata was overthrown and replaced by the First Assembly; one of the turning points in Argentine independence... but its so much more today.
   I havent thought on it... but if anyone should have asked me when coming here, what mood I would have expected the argentinians to be in... considering how their history looks like the last 20years and on top several economic crises.. I would had said ... that I supposed to meet people being a bit in a negative mood... but its not what I have met.
  The argentinians are very proud of their country and never hesitates to be the ambassadors of their native country... I have found a people with a very high intellectual, culturel spirit.. and a booming creative side. ... even if still financial problems (the "blue rate", the inofficiell exchange rate between argentinian pesos and US dollars went up yesterday again).. and you feel since still a low presents of international brands/stores.. that their is a problem on the trade/commercial side.. but still you feel a strong self confidence when you talk to people... and its probably the two last presidents having done a very good job.
  I spent the day around Plaza Mayo today to take a look on the celebrations.. they expect around 2million people coming down today to listen to Cristina Kirchner.. her previous husband was president before her and the one decided to come back on the amnestia having been given to the military for the crimes commited.

  Have written about the street art before and its was amazed me the most being here, its really living with an art gallery around you.. and its this merge between history, politics and art.. for example you can see how Nestor Kirchners face traces is copied into a figure coming from the cartoon world (from a story telling about who people came from outer space to save the earth) and then taking it all into a piece of street art (picture in the middle).. and the streets is a living gallery.. I passed a street ten days ago.. and now today I passed again and suddenly there is this huge painting on the wall with a head and a panther (pic on left)...
  Would have loved to stay until 8 this evening and listen to Cristina Kirchner.. but needed to secure to get everything packed, and as well my spanish a bit poor.. tomorrow starts 36hours in company with British Airways..
   Finally.. passed my favorite bar .. Le Seddon, since I was in the neighborhood.. and finally a piece of meat on my plate...

Turning 50 in BA...

    So how does a day turning fifty in Bunes Aires looks like? .. first.. no one knows that Mr B has a birthday.. its cool..already
    Day started with class, why shouldnt it.. Nora and me we are now in our tango relation where she thinks I had have enough stuff to handle.. she is always politely asking me "is there anything I can show you how to do?".. and then if I answer... like "yes boleos".. the answer is " you already knows how to do them low.. you cant do high ones in a milonga then you kill people.. I cant take the responsability for you killing people.." or like today I answered on same question "yes please, volcadas.." and Nora answered "Robert you have just learned to walk, now you will go home and learn how to run by yourself.. then! you can come back and I will teach you how to fly.. but now, keep on walking..!".
  So my last days will be hardcore on posture, walk, pivot technique.. its like "Robert move your elbow 2cms".. "Robert, both feet shall touch the floor.." .. "Robert, close each time!!".. "Robert, keep the line"
     After class went to Neotango and bought 3pair of shoes.. shiny black, black suede and casual beige.. the bicolour ones will have to wait, tried a pair on but felt like the guy that bought the shoes and forgot about learning the tango... Then of to 4corazon.. bought "tango trousers".. 3pair.. true-casual-nolstagic-baggy ones.
  Now I feel that there is some smiles looking at the pictures, especially among the non tango community ones.. but I can assure you, its buying a lifestyle just as well as the Örgryte/Partille-Gant-Ralph Lauren one.. or the Nudie/Filippa K- vasastaden one...
     Then time for lunch so went to Tortoni, an old well kept french style cafe... lets say its not the food that its worth coming for.. more the environment.. so I think you get more out of it coming in the evenings when they have concerts.. around 20h.. jazz, flamenco, tango etc
   After that home and changing in order to have a practica at Salon Channing.. this time I wanted to do the experiment bringing along for two hours a taxi-tango-partner.. so a couple of days ago I passed the agency (can of course be done on-line).. and filled out some papers..  Shortly.. the equation is the following.. Her height +7cms vs my height +3ms should end equal my height -3-5ms.. then I crossed "english skills" etc etc... So at salon channing I had match with Louisa 26y, finishing sociology at university, born in US and raised in Argentina.. danced tango since she was young girl.. The idee was to have a practica in a real environment.. meaning dancing counter clockwise and not bumping into other couples.. with someone I havent danced with before.....

   Salon Channing, nice place but .. off tourist season.. in the middle of the afternoon.. it means that there was like 8 other couples.. and except Louisa.. I was clearly the youngest one!  felt a bit like having ended up in the old movie "Cocoon" if anyone remember that one... so this so called excersise was an easy task.. the other couples were quite "slow-movers-without-to-much-fuzz"..
   Nice anyway to have a chat.. in a language that you master a bit.. otherwise I start to be very skilled in using head,hands and feets to explain what I want... Normally it goes like this;
"ingles?.. no.. frances?.. no.. åkej".. and then like 5 to 10 minutes with different gestures in order for the other person to reply something in spanish.. and if you feel confident you answer "si si".. the best one I had two days ago, tried to explain that I was looking for glue in order to repare a pair of shoes.. took at least 15minutes..
   And now just back from La Virtua, where I went in the evening in order to just have the pleasure to watch other dance... in the qualification rounds infore the national championships in tango...
.. now sleep and tomorrow.. class again