MIYAKO BAIZER

We are very pleased to present Miyako Baizer as our Student of this month of September 2011.

Miyako started her Tango journey about...months ago. She has been an enthused and dedicated learner. Miyako took her Walking classes very seriously; so much so, that upon her return from a long trip to Japan, where she had gone visiting with her family and her to live with the effects of the last natural disaster, she came right to the Beginner's calss. She wanted to make sure she remembered correctly what she had learned. It was a pleasure to see how she re-affirmed her passion for Tango. It would be best, read her own thoughts:

"I happened to read an article about how Argentine tango dancing is very popular among Japanese seniors. It was just about the time that I was looking for something fun to do for my upcoming retired life. How can Japanese seniors dance such athletic and acrobatic dances as seen on "Forever Tango" stages?  I took ballroom dance lessons for a year and a half when I was a bit younger, but I knew nothing about Argentine tango neither its music nor its dance. 

With trepidation I called Jean Pierre  and asked if I could be a student after finding Tango Magdalena on the internet.  He graciously explained to me that there are different styles of tango dancing and that tango can be danced regardless of age because it is the "art of walking".  It's been seven months since I started taking tango dancing classes. It gives me great joy and is a fun workout.

My musician friend once lamented, "How can I, as someone who grew up eating rice and fish and breathing Japanese air not only appreciate but express and perform Beethoven's music?" Well, each person has his/her own answers but this is my thought on tango. If you are inspired and moved by its spirit, then humbly embrace it wholeheartedly and  just enjoy it. 

My current favorite CD is Tango: Zero Hour by Astor Piazzolla & The New Tango Quintet. According to the liner notes, "he imagined la hora cero as the time after midnight, an hour of absolute end and absolute beginning."  These days on my small galley kitchen floor with nobody around, I immerse myself in the music and walk slowly or quickly, changing partners to the dialogue of the bandoneon and violin. I lose myself in the music no matter where I am or what time of day it is.  I sheepishly call this time my Zero  Hour."

Bravo Miyako!!!! Keep it Keeping on !!!

 

Jean-Pierre, Vivian, Tanya and Lindsey