By chance just found these "Conversations on Tango" by the "Delicate Strength" blog, recorded at the Tango Element Baltimore 2011.

Sebastian Arce & Mariana Montes, Mariano Chicho Frumboli & Juana Sepulveda, Aoniken Quiroga & Alejandra Mantinan, Martin Maldonado & Maurizio Ghella,  Lucas Molina Gazcon & Cecilia Piccini are sharing (1) what attracts them in the person they ask to dance, what is tango, (2) what makes a good dance, (3) who inspires their tango, (4) what other art besides tango inspires them, as well as they will answer a few "rapid fire" questions (5-10) in Part 3 video.

Enjoy!

A charming TV issue in Russian by the Dancing Planet devoted to Buenos Aires, Argentina and tango. Author and host: Alexander Pukhov. (Russian TV "Moya Planeta") *** Wish they had English subtitles! It's really fun to watch.

(Tatiana Balashova for the TangoDancersBlog)

... Who hasn't admired vinyl records at some point of your life?.. I remember how we, kids (me and my (girl)friends) were dancing after school to the oldies hits recorded on enigmatic vinyls, I especially was fascinated with the small half-transparent light blue ones, they were very thin and flexible... We did not know tango at that time and it was mostly pop and rock repertoire, one of such vinyls had a song that really sticks in memory. It was the legendary "Daddy Cool" by "Bonny M" which we actually used to sing with the 2nd line as "Varvara zhureet koor" (aka. in Russian "Варвара жарит кур" which means "Varvara is frying chickens" :). And I swear in Russian it's really what we hear even now!!.. (it's really hard to understand that line in English!!)...  So of course that song people knew in Russia more as the "Varvara is frying chickens" song and not as "Daddy Cool" :). Plus it can also be more fun and easier to sing something in your native language, right?

Anyways, I guess there are funny stories like that in any country. I am glad that I grew up with vinyls, and then we used tapes, spent recording classical and pop-rock music from one tape to another, sharing with each other, or trying to catch it on time from a radio (especially some classical music I've heard in such a way)... When you had to wake up very early to go to a weekend music market to treasure hunt and secretly spend much more than needed there!!... to find some favorite cds or discover something new...

In our days there are still some Tango DJs are working with vinyl records which is amazing (I hope their efforts are worth it all). And now more and more people are actually collecting vinyl records, indulging in the music gourmet experience on cosy evenings...

Anyways, time flies, we are in a different age now and yet let's learn how what it actually takes to make a vinyl record.

There is probably no person in tango who have danced for 1+ years and haven't heard of Graciela Gonzalez and her legendary followers' technique workhop.  Also known as "La Negra", a woman of great charisma and power, Graciela is a self-made person who continues to inspire tangueras and tangueros with her sensual gracious dancing all around the world.

Today we would like to share a few links with interviews and an article about Graciela.

(Feel free to add your recommendations in the comments!)

Interview in Spanish:
http://www.santango.com/el-lenguaje-del-abrazo/

Russian version (big thanks to everyone who help translating the interview!)
https://www.facebook.com/tkomarda/posts/10200504987320811

Article from "El Firulete"
"The original women’s technique class"
(by Valorie Hart)
http://elfirulete.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/3031/

Another interview in English:
http://www.tangopulse.net/graciela-gonzalez

Hope you enjoyed the first part of the interview with  DJ SuperSabino posted recently. SuperSabino's blog got popular partly due to his great interviews with Tango DJs from around the world. Today we have an exclusive interview :) - DJ Supersabino answering his questions himself. Enjoy! :)

Tango Dancers Blog © May 2013

Hi SuperSabino, thanks for agreeing to answer your own interview. Let's start!

Q1:  Speaking about how you started dj-ing :  I suppose you first started dancing tango and then dj-ing, like many other djs? What inspired you to get to the DJ’s console and start playing music? Was is a conscious decision or it happened because you’ve got this chance?

Yeah, I started dancing tango and after some months i started like TangoDJ.  I've  had other experiences as a DJ but on other genres of music, and even musical experiences like dj in italian radio. I love and live for music. My choice to be a dj tango was certainly not the result of random. how to say ... I felt the call of the tango very strong from the musical point of view.

Q2: What was your early taste of tango? Are there significant differences with the current scene?

I started like a  tangoed in the last century ... has changed so much. A revolution - evolution in musical tastes. even if the public love for the great orchestras remains unchanged.

Q3:  Do you remember what was your first tango dj-ing experience like?

Yes, in a club  that doesn't  exist any more. At that time I had already 'a great collection of music and was a great success.

Q4:  There is a lot of tango music available now for web downloading and one does not have to have trouble looking for actual CDs. Do you think this paradigm shift has changed the way how DJs work?

Yes, It's more easy to find music, but It's more hard to play music. It's difficult to choose the perfect tanda that tangueros want. Now the public has become more and more demanding

Q5:  When do you prepare your playlist? In advance, on the way to milonga, or on the spur of the moment?

Moment by moment. this is the rule. every milonga, every city, every event has a different audience, a different taste in music.

Q6:  Have you ever played on a boring night? Did you have nights when you did not feel motivated by the milonga and you could not wait to finish? Do you accept whatever you get offered or try to choose a particular location and fascinating evening with friends?

In many years has happened only a few times. This is also due to the fact that accept only the events that I like and where I know I 'll fun.

Q7:  How would you define your style? Has it evolved over time? And in which direction? What can influence you in an evening? the audience, the dancers, the acoustics of the location, the duration of your performance ...

Classic and powerful. I try to please the tastes of the public. We must be able to meet the dancer who loves Calo, but also those who love Pugliese, who is crazy about Canaro and those who would like to dance only Biagi. My Style have evolved, like tango has evolved and structured during these years. Innovation in tradition, respecting the extraordinary cultural heritage that is the Argentine tango. Let us remember well: we dance Argentine tango. It's very important study all these factors. It's very different to djing in a sports hall with 1,500 tangueros compared to a small room marathon style with 100 tangueros. Its'very different plays with live music or teachers show. It's different the way to create an emotional wave.

Q8:  Do you prefer playing alone or sharing the night with a colleague? Generally prefer to work alone, or with friends who you feeling? Or, you love the thrill of experimenting with a colleague you’ve never heard until that night?

Except for rare cases I wanna play alone. And I love only friends  I know.  I don't like surprises.

Q9:  If someone asks you the name of a track you say it to him, perhaps suggesting where the CD is included, or invite him to venture into the trouble of searching?

Sure. The tango is a world heritage. No secrets.

Q10:  The public bother you with absurd requests: what do you do? Are you a jukebox?

It happened in the past, but after some answers a bit strong , all is changed

Q11:  Do you like to dance and listen to your colleagues enjoy the selections and styles of others from yours?

Sure , I love listen and dance the wonderful selection of my friends and colleagues...

Q12:  Do you believe that the art of “musicalizador” is different for geographic areas? Argentina, USA, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean ... or is it similar in every countries?

There is some difference,  but the great orchestras, the great songs are the same all over the world. if nobody plays a song there is a reason. I consider rather ridiculous those, that in the era of the internet, think to find nuggets...

Q13:  Would you like to have a milonga just for you, furnish it to your taste, try to create ambiance and energy flow that satisfies you & allows to play with it, as well as customize the calendar of events to your preference?

Too hard.  I prefer to travel around the world called from friends.

The classic point-blank questions you have to answer, you cannot refuse:

Three orchestras that can not miss in one evening.

Di Sarli, D'Arienzo, Pugliese

Your three favourite orchestras, which may also be different from the previous ones.

Di Sarli, Pugliese, Troilo

Suggest a tanda of tango instrumental, a tanda of tango singer, one of vals and milonga.

Tango Instrumental
Pugliese - La Tupungatina, Arrabal, Pata Ancha, Nonino

Tango Lyrical
Troilo with Marino - Torrente, Sin Palabras, Cristal, Sombras y nada mas

Vals
 Biagi - Viejo porton, Dichas que vivi, El ultimo adios

Milonga
Juan D'Arienzo - Milonga del Corazon, Milonga del Recuerdo, Milonga del 83

What are the three bands or singers you can not stand?

Petruccelli, Tipica Brunswick, Maglio.

What is the band most underrated by the general public and which is the most overrated?

Underrated: Troilo, Calo', Francini/Pontier

Overrated: F.Canaro, Rodriguez, Donato

Your top three nights (in your opinion of course …)

Damn, It's very hard to choose. Ok The best is yet to come!!!

We are less serious: Last night a dj saved my life. The DJ rule is sexy? have you ever had a relationship with some fans and some flirt with your colleagues?

I believe only the tango teachers are sexy…but I know some girls plays music so sexy.

INTERVIEW – SUPERSABINO (Venice, Italy) - PART 1

Tango Dancers Blog © Interview by Tatiana Balashova (April 2013)

Q1:  Ok, let's start. What is your real name and when did you decide to take a nickname? Maybe there is some interesting story behind it? What exactly is super about .. (Sabino)?

My real name is Sabino, all my friends and parents call me Sabino.

It's a long story... An old friend of mine gave me this nickname. It comes from my passion for movies and music of the 70s, b-movie, the blaxploitation, gangster movie. At the end of the 90s there was the character of a video clip, an Italian rapper named "Super ... and then it' s a parody of this ... I'm not Superman, I haven't any powers. Ah Ah, but if you wanna know, my favorite superheroes are Wolverine, Batman & Punisher...

- Wolverine and punisher?!... Hmm, interesting ... So who do you want to punish?
Ah Ah, anybody, they are only my favorite comics.

....
Q2:  Where were you born and what kind family was it?
I was born in the South of Italy, in a classic family: father, mother and brother

Q3:  What are 2 most bright memories of your childhood, can you share them with us?
Italy world soccer champion in 1982, … the days spent with childhood friends

Q4:  Italy is one of those countries which instantly arouse a lot of associations in mind, I wonder how does growing up in Italy is different from other countries, what do you think

Italy is a wonderful country with an extraordinary artistic heritage. I feel that I was really lucky to be born in Italy.

Q5:  When did you first hear about Argentine tango and what inspired you to try that dance?
I met the world of Argentine tango very young, around twenty years. The first time listening to the music of Astor Piazzolla thanks to my brother, and then I discovered that the tango was a dance from an ad on the bulletin board in a university ... and since then I have not stopped. I think the tango will not leave me.

Q6:  How long have you been dancing? Where did you learn tango and who were your main instructors? What dancers and music inspired you?

I started dancing in 1996-1997 in Venice. My first teacher was Alejandro Aquino. And I fell in love with tango when I saw in Bologna, Tangomania festival, the legendary Gustavo Naveira. I was really shocked. As when I saw for the first time Chicho, an icon a and my personal myth. At first I was infatuated with Piazzolla then I discovered all the other great orchestras, D'Arienzo, Di Sarli, Pugliese...

Q7:  Do you remember your first milongas? What was your impression of social tango, music and dancers?.. How has perception of social tango changed with time?

At the end of the 90s the milongas in Italy were evenings with 60 people, and festivals were very few, with very few Argentine masters. Then thanks to some movies like Tango and Tango Lesson of Saura and shows like Tango x2, Forever Tango and Tango Pasion tango is really exploded. A boom that has increased the numbers. I remember the attitude of devotion with which the tangueros went to the milonga.  You had a certain fear to invite a woman. Today it all seems more informal, or at least different.

Q8:  Did you do any other dances, bodywork practices or sports before?
I used to go to discos and clubs, and played soccer and basketball.

Q9:  What keeps you in tango? … would you dance if you were not DJ-ing?
I love the tango, but maybe if I wasn't a musicalizador… I would go to the milonga forever.

Q10:  Tell us please about your BLOG. What exactly is your blog about and when was it started?

I love to write, I'm a journalist, and I think that my blog, since 2008 is the diary of my personal interests. Not only tango, but also music, art & movie reviews.  A deep look in my soul...

Q11:  How popular is your blog? Do you ever get feedback from your readers and any requests? Did they ever ask you to translate posts into English? How well do you know your audience? Or are you writing for yourself mostly?

… I would say that my blog is popular enough. Read it from all over the world thanks to the various translators. Perhaps this is the reason why I did not think to translate the articles in English. On second thought there are some interviews directly in English, such as your . but writing is also a way to release some of my emotions

What are most popular posts on the blog and which ones are your 3 favorite?

…. It's very hard to say what are the post that I love more ... but surely those more read have relationship with the tangoworld. Some interviews with tangodj as Horacio Godoy continue to be read by many people, and even some reports regarding famous tango festival ( Mantova, Porec, Belgrade, Turin…)

Q12:  Now a few questions to you as a DJ. (We will talk more on that in the 2nd part of the interview)

-  What is the most challenging and the most rewarding part of being a popular DJ?

The most rewarding part is definitely participate in the most important events on the international scene, while certainly more difficult make always high-level performance. But I say: the best is yet to come

Q13:  Did DJ-ing influence anyhow the way you dance?
Surely the knowledge of music helps a lot…know the rhythm and melody, especially the pauses.

Q14:  There are DJs who say that they can’t (prefer not to) DJ more than once a week because it would not feel as special otherwise. Can you DJ every day (a few times a week) and stay inspired, enjoy it?

I would say that I can only play in the events in which I truly believe. There are not many, so I'd say once or twice a week, except in big festivals where they often play in two consecutive days. I do not live by the DJ, I have a job, I'm a journalist, so I can afford to choose only the events that I really like.

Q15:   How do you think tango DJs will be dj-ing music in 5-10 years?
R:Using a tautology, the tango is the tango. I believe that the great classics will remain unchanged and as usual there will be some fashion, that as all the phenomena of this type is momentary. Perhaps there will be more competition, but in the end the great DJ, as the great masters and the great orchestras, will remain the same.

Q16:   What is your position about dj-ing at a distance? (by skype or sending a playlist to the organizer, etc - without being present in the room)
R: Bullshit. The physical presence of the DJ is ESSENTIAL.

Q17:  3 things you would you recommend to an emerging DJ?

Listen tango for a long time, try to create a personal style and remember that if anyone plays a tango… that there will be a reason.

3 things you would you recommend to an experienced DJ?

… Continue to study , work on your personal style and remember that if anyone plays a tango… that there will be a reason.
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Q18:  A question offtopic.  There were a couple of pictures on FB that caught my attention on your profile.  You were surrounded by some of the most beautiful tango dancers – instructors (Juana, Dana and Noelia) and you looked very serious there. Can you tell a bit about these pictures?

... Ah Ah It' s a picture taken at Mantova Tango festival in 2012, one of the biggest festivals in Europe. Dana, Juana and Noelia are three of my friends, 3 wonderful ballerinas, and the photographer is really special, Chicho. It's strange that I seem serious. It's a picture is very "macho style". but it is all a joke, we played.

  ....
Q19:  What is your occupation apart from tango and how do you manage to balance tango and other life?

I'm a journalist . It's not easy to reconcile work with tango ... but I try to do everything possible

Q20: … What do we people don’t know about economics? And what they should know?

It's very difficult to find an answer. There are so many fanatics around.

- What countries in your opinion are the most advanced (developed) in terms of economics? And others can learn from them.

I think Russia, China and Brazil are large countries in economic rise, I believe that Europe should deal better with these nations.

Q21:  Have you got any hobbies? … What do you enjoy doing in free time?
Listening music, watchin'movies…and I love soccer ( Juventus is my favorite club)

Q22:  How did you life changed when you started dancing tango?
Perhaps the only thing that really has changed is that I travel every weekend

Q23:  What in your opinion might help people to enjoy tango dancing and get more comfortable in a milonga setting?

Be more relaxed. Dance for the pleasure of dancing, thinking only of yourself and your partner ... perform and show to the public, does not make sense.

Q24:  What would you advise to people whose life partner does not want to do tango and is concerned that his /her beloved is dancing with other men/women?

Surrender. The tango is a feeling too strong to resist. if we talk about betrayal, I think the milonga less dangerous than other places.

Q25:  Did you manage to “convert” some relatives or friends to tango dancers?
Absolutely no

Q26:  You live currently in VENICE. When did you move there? What is really special about living in Venice?

I came to Venice to study at university, I was 20 years. A unique experience, I believe that living in Venice is really very special. The pace of life is temporal absolutely special. People lives on the streets, walking and meeting other people. not everything is' positive, transport for example are not comfortable, and you do not have the help of the car if you have to carry a load … Live in Venice, is very different than being as a tourist

Q27:  When is the best time to visit Venice? What do people who live in Venice know about it yet don’t talk about it to tourists?
I think the best time are spring and september. The late autumn depends from the high water. Venice is so famous in the world…but if you like arts you must come when is the Biennale Exhibition, and if you like movies during Movies exhibition. But venice is very charming during Carnival too.

Q28:  What are your plans for 2013?
About tango many festivals and tango events around the world

Q29:  If you could DJ anywhere you want, where would it be?
Brasil, Love Parade, Ibiza, Goa…

Q30:  if to look at the years spent with tango what was the most special (dear, emotional) moment that comes to your memory?

The best is yet to come.

BLITZ questions  (tell us please what you like most):

- favorite tango music:
D'Arienzo, Di Sarli, Troilo, Pugliese, Caló. But if we're talkin'about voice: Goyeneche, Rivero, Podesta, Duval, Maciel ( Not in order of preference)

- tango DJs:
It's hard hard choice. From Argentina, the No.1 ( For me) Horacio Godoy, Marcelo Rojas, and legendary Felix Picherna. From the world, Florin Bilbiie, Mauro Berardi, Luigi Felisatti, Punto y Branca ( Ok is argentinian but lives in Italy), Fausto Carpino, Sergio Chiaverini, Vladimir Vereschagin, Ariel Yurievic ( argentinian but lives in Spain), Alfredo Petruzzelli, Semeon Kukormin, Konrad Krinsky. Girls? La Rubia, Melenita, Vivi La Falce, Hiba Faisal, Jenney Surelia, Tina Ferrari. but there are so many great DJs around…

- non-tango music:
R: Good music, … Rock, soul, clubbing, new wave, dubstep, hard rock, prog, r'n'b… only if it's good music

- color?
Blue. I graduated with a thesis on the history of colors and in particular on the film Blue Derek Jarman

- what is your favorite flower?
carnation, rose, iris, orchid

- favorite dish / food
Grilled meat

- which animal would you like to be if you were an animal in your next life?
Crocodile

- what dance would you dance if not tango?
no dance, but I really like the disco

- what is your favorite film? (name a few if you want)
2001: A Space Odyssey, Citizen Kane, Apocalypse Now, Andrej Rublev, Wild Bunch, Pulp Fiction, Aguirre der Zorn Gottes, Blade Runner, Taxi Driver, The French Connection, The exorcist, …

- Which Italian films would you recommend watching?
La Dolce Vita, Profondo Rosso, Saló o le 120 giornate di Sodoma, Once upon a time in America, Milano Calibro 9, Il grande racket, La mala ordina, La casa dalle finestre che ridono, La notte, La caduta degli Dei, Il Vangelo secondo Matteo, Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto

- Book you recommend to read:
Thomas Pynchon... Gravity's Rainbow

- what place would you choose for a romantic trip?  - Rome

- what place would you live if you could live anywhere?
Rome

- favorite non-tango place in Venice which you would show your friend (except your home)?
.. seems pretty obvious ... St. Mark's Square

- if you had a chance to bring time back what would you do differently in your life?
I do not know ... maybe the gangster!!! Or superhero like Batman and Wolverine

- Who would you like to say “thank you” to?
Myself. No regrets.

- Your DJ-ing motto:
The best is yet to come.

Anything else you would like to say to the TangoDancers Blog’s readers?
A big hug to all
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 T: Thanks, Sabino! It was a pleasure to talk to you. Good luck with everything!  And we will soon publish the 2nd part of the interview where you will answer your own DJ's interview from the SuperSabinoBlog :). (coming soon!)