In tango, heaven is found through the simple gift of grace.
IN MEMORY of my dear friend and dancing buddy Jon who loved Tango so much. He will be greatly missed especially by all the women dancers and his daughter whose name happens to be Grace. He was a kind and gentle man – a true gentleman.
PiazzollaAstor Piazzolla – a major influence
Mesmerizing, sensual and intimate are just a few words you might use to describe the Tango. A dance of romance and passion, it is among the most famous genres of dance in the world and is currently enjoying a massive renaissance throughout much of Europe, South America and the USA.
In Argentina, its spiritual home, the tango is a way of life and considered as important as the samba is to Brazil or bangra dancing is to India. Music is absolutely key, essential, absolutely impossible to separate from the dance itself. It’s not just some initial inspiration; the intricacies and interplay within the music itself are the whole lifeblood of the dance.
Argentine Tango – some history: There is none. But really, The origins of Tango are obscure. There are many theories, each with its passionate advocates, but ultimately it is impossible to discover the facts because the records don’t exist. Tango sprang from the poor and the disadvantaged, in tenement blocks and on street corners, amongst people whose lives usually leave little trace in the history books. Nevertheless, we owe a great debt to the many dancers and musicians who gave shape to the Tango, though we shall never know their names. Well we do know one:
Astor Piazzolla (March 11, 1921 – July 4, 1992) – “In my head I had Bach and Schumann and Mozart and very little tango.”
A LEGEND:
Astor Piazzolla is best known for being the father and inventor of Tango Nuevo – a revolutionary new genre in which jazz rhythms and classical music were infused into tango. Tango Nuevo, at first, was strongly rejected in his home country Argentina, but eventually was appreciated and celebrated for the genius it was throughout the world. I happen to love Tango Nuevo the best of all the tango music.
So often music can reach much farther than any words.
Adiòs Nonino, was composed by Astor Piazzola in 1959 after his father’s death, Vicente (Nonino) Piazzolla. Monica (one of our best local tangueras) posted this one on Jon’s Facebook page.
“My first bandoneón was a gift from my father when I was eight years old. He brought it covered in a box, and I got very happy because I thought it was the roller skates I had asked for so many times. It was a letdown because instead of a pair of skates, I found an artifact I had never seen before in my life. Dad sat down, set it on my legs, and told me, ‘Astor, this is the instrument of tango. I want you to learn it.’ My first reaction was anger. Tango was that music he listened to almost every night after coming home from work. I didn’t like it.”
“To give pleasure to the old man, I clumsily tried to learn, and I was dreadfully bad” (He got better).
Of course tango is a major influence on young Piazzolla, but one must be aware that he is much more multi-faceted than that. His dad said “If you want to change the tango, you had better learn boxing, or some other martial art.”
Whilst in New York his father buys him boxing gloves and Astor decided he wants to be a boxer no less! But this “career” is sharply curtailed after losing in matches against friends Rocky Graziano and Jake La Motta. However what Piazzolla takes from this is a resilience to endure the hard and very critical world of music.
Piazzolla meets Gardel (another Legend)
They say timing is everything! It is 1933, Astor is now 12, when his father – who is a huge Carlos Gardel fan – realizes that the icon is in town. Vicente has the crazy idea to make a wood carving to pay him tribute, and asks Astor to take it to Gardel. When Astor reaches the building where Gardel is living, who does he happen to run into, but Gardel’s musical assistant Alberto Castellano, who is looking lost.
Castellano has a small disaster on his hands – a most fortuitous one for Astor! He has left his key inside the room; but our youthful Piazzolla volunteers to climb the fire escape into the penthouse, through a window, to wake the sleeping Gardel. Inside Astor mistakes the sleeping lyricist Alfredo Le Pera for Gardel and wakes him. Le Pera reacts aggressively until he realizes Astor is a boy and not a thief. Eventually, Gardel is found, who accepts the present and even gives him a signed photograph.
One thing leads to another – Gardel and the Piazzollas became good friends, enjoying the cuisine and Latin musicians that meet in the Piazzolla household, allowing Gardel to feel nostalgic for Argentina. Eventually Gardel, because of his poor English, hires Astor as his interpreter; and after seeing his musical ability, also uses him as a bandoneón player, though only in private functions. Piazzolla takes part in Gardel’s movie El Dia Que me Quieras – who according to biographers was Gardel’s favorite – playing a brief part as a newspaper boy, for $25. Piazzolla considers this movie monumental to his life.
Gardel even offers Piazzolla to accompany him in his world tour as an assistant – but Astor’s father refuses this given the fact that Astor is only a boy of 14. This is a very fortunate refusal, for Astor is replaced by Jose Corpas Moreno, who along with Gardel is killed in the plane crash of 1935, on this tour. Timing, again.
There’s so much more but I will close with this quote from Piazolla:
“I learned the tricks of the tangeros, those intuitive tricks that helped me later on. I couldn’t define them technically; they are forms of playing, forms of feeling; it’s something that comes from inside, spontaneously.”
Yes, this makes perfect sense. Why would you want to do otherwise? I just came across a blog post written by a passionate couple (and admirers of the human spirit) about the habits of highly successful people of which this was one of them. Marc and Angel Chernoff enjoy sharing inspirational advice and practical tips for life on their popular personal development blog, “Marc and Angel Hack Life.” Currently the site contains over 600 articles on happiness, productivity, emotional intelligence, relationships, and general self-improvement, and has attracted over 100 million page views since its inception in 2006. This goes to show that many people are still searching not me of course for ways to increase their personal overall significance in life. This is taken from their blog and I think we can all agree:
You are the average of the people you spend the most time with. And that’s why it’s not always where you are in life, but who you have by your side that matters most. Some people drain you and others provide soul food. So be sure to get in the company of those who feed your spirit, and give the gift of your absence to those who do not appreciate your presence. There’s no need to rush into a relationship you are unsure of, or socialize with those who hold you back.
Spend more time with nice people who are smart, driven and open-minded about personal growth and opportunity. Use websites like “meetup.com” to search for local community groups of people with similar passions and goals. These people are out there – I know because I see they even have a happy hour meetup which would be perfect for me!
But seriously, the bottom line is that relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, people who care about you and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the energy and hope out of you.
Hope you have a nice and relaxing weekend. As for me, I’m trying to be more successful so later on I’ll be off to meet some happy people over happy hour. Cheers!
As in sports, if you want to improve your game play with people who are better than you.
You’ve heard the saying….laughter is the best medicine.
When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. I hear that it can also stengthen your immune system – even if temporarily.
Last Sunday six people came over for Easter dinner. This tiny group included a good friend I’ve known for 25 years who is nearly finished going through chemo, and a beautiful young woman who was experiencing some physical pain from a recent operation & lengthy in-and-out of the hospital stay. One of the greatest compliments someone can say is “I’m in pain but I laughed so much I forgot all about it” (the complete opposite of “I laughed so hard it hurt”)…which made me question can laughter act as therapy? It can.
Of course you’d have to be non-stop funny to forget about pain all together but bursts of laughter here and there can really help. The credit for all this laughter belongs to my chemo going friend. She’s BIG, she’s BOLD & you BETTER WATCH OUT! I think she’ll recover very well. With her attitude and a few killer wigs – she won’t let anything or anyone stand in her way. Some people are just entertaining by nature.
I think this holds true for smiling (the beginning of laughter) and even faking happiness (which includes smiling) at trying times in your life. Even laughing at yourself is therapeutic in a funny kind of way. So when you encounter all those brooding mopey faced people on the streets just give them a big smile (because you can’t really laugh at a stranger) and watch what happens.
Here are a some of my favourite quotes on the subject:
The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. – Mark Twain
Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one. – Oscar Wilde
A sense of humor… is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. – Hugh Sidey
You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it. – Bill Cosby
Manners never go out of style. How many know this proper etiquette?
Where have all my empty cards disappeared? I used to keep a pile of them on hand but must have used the very last one and now have to replenish. I didn’t go out specifically looking for the last batch – just came across some very pretty cards which I have used for a multitude of purposes. However I always end up staring at the empty space to which I’m supposed to write something clever and nothing innovative comes to mind. It’s a bit of a struggle at first but something always manages to get written even if it’s something very simple and unadorned. Some people just have an effortless gift with words. The main thing is to do it. This coming from one who, for the first time in several years, did not send out even one single handwritten Christmas Card and still feel guilty about it. More and more people are sending e-cards for holidays so maybe this is becoming more acceptable. Still, to all those (mostly out of towners) who did not receive a Christmas card from me this time, please do not take it personally. This never happens for birthdays or other special occasions.
That said, are manners becoming obsolete?
As in fashion, writing is an art. In fact, etiquette expert Emily Post even suggested that, “the letter you write…is always a mirror which reflects your appearance, taste, and character.” For thank you notes, this may be especially true. A handwritten thank you is eminently tasteful; it demonstrates certain gratitude and anyone who has ever received one knows how much appreciation the gesture fosters.
Etiquette requires you to send a thank-you note in the following situations:
Wedding gifts
Bridal shower and baby shower gifts
Holiday, birthday, Bar/Bat mitzvah, graduation, and housewarming gifts
Sympathy letters, flowers, mass cards, or donations made in the deceased’s name
Thank-you notes are not necessarily required but are a nice gesture in the following situations:
When a host has treated you to a cocktail party, dinner, or concert
After a job interview
Anytime you feel particularly indebted to someone
A thank-you note is exclusively about expressing your gratitude, so don’t worry if your note seems short and simple. The only hard and fast rule is that it be sincere — even if you cannot stomach the present, you can express gratitude for the gesture, at the very least.
Remember that an imperfect letter that comes with heartfelt sentiment is better than a perfect note that was never written.
“A little “thank you” that you will say to someone for a “little favour” shown to you is a key to unlock the doors that hide unseen “greater favours”. Learn to say “thank you” and why not?” ― Israelmore Ayivor
Hillary Clinton and Prince William champion elephants. The National Institute of Health releases its research chimps. New York City plans an end to its carriage horses. Shark fins are banned again and again. Will there be an end to animal cruelty? I try to remain optimistic.
Animals are deserving of our respect and compassion. For those of us fortunate enough to spend significant time around animals, we know that our relationships with animals improve us as people. If you stop to consider the positive results they produce in our overall well-being, it seems surprising that every household doesn’t own one. Animals are a part of nature that is too often overlooked despite the extensive benefits they provide for us. Have you ever noticed that when you pet your dog or cat you feel more relaxed? The simple act of petting an animal creates a mutual physiological response in both the person and the animal, lowering the levels, blood pressure, and heart rate of both. They’re amazing creatures.
Evidence now shows that some therapy dogs become so acutely attuned to people around them that they can even sense when a person is about to have a heart attack, before it actually occurs. One experienced service dog trainer explained to me that Schnauzers are known to detect the specific spot in the body where a person has cancer (McLaughlin Online). Companion animals have been used to achieve dramatic results in treating a wide range of physical and psychological conditions including: cancer, AIDS, ADHD, heart problems, and autism; as well as less severe conditions such as: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypertension, loneliness, insomnia, and headaches. That’s pretty amazing.
The below was taken from the Huffington Post – on the “Importance of Appreciating Animals”
Animals help us be better humans. Quite often, they show us how to be our best selves. Always in the moment, sticking their noses into everything (literally), they see a world that we take for granted, one we’re usually just hurriedly passing through on our way to lives we never quite reach.
The role of animals, and especially dogs, as roving ambassadors of goodwill can be seen most clearly in their role as therapy dogs. After the tragic massacre in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012, therapy dogs from all over the country were brought in to help the community, and especially the children of Sandy Hook Elementary School. Six months later Newtown held a “Day of Thanks” to show its gratitude. The gathering was attended by 50 dogs (and many more owners and residents). One parent explained that her daughter had had a rough time after the shooting. “But when she talked about the dogs that she saw every day at school, she lit up.”
We’re talking about a movement with compassion at its core. The Dodo would not be launching if not for Izzie Lerer, its co-founder and editor-at-large. Izzie is wrapping up her doctoral studies in philosophy at Columbia, where her research focuses on animal/human relationships. Her passionate and intelligent vision of this important subject is nothing short of wanting to change the world in the way animals are treated.
Sure, there will be cute videos on The Dodo, but we’ll focus on images you won’t feel conflicted about watching — as Izzie puts it, “we’ll celebrate animals, and not just laugh at them.” We plan to explore our fierce and fraught bond with animals broadly and enthusiastically, from animal testing to the ethical eating movement. Most people are still figuring out where they stand on a lot of these issues; one of my favorite voices belongs to Bob Comis, a pig farmer in upstate New York, who openly grapples with the ethics of what he does, once writing: “What I do is wrong, in spite of its acceptance by nearly 95% of the American population. I know it in my bones, even if I cannot yet act on it.” We’re not saying we have all the answers, by the way. But we’re committed to searching for them.
It sounds so calming and perfect…like being in “thezone” (a state of flow-like existence with increased focus and attention for obtaining higher performance levels – in a nutshell). In true yoga or meditation especially you need that kind of concentration and awareness, but in day to day life with a fairly short attention span how easy is this to accomplish? Can it be learned or does it automatically come from within? Just asking.
Sometimes you want to remain cool and together but then something happens like the car breaks down just before an appointment or the sale you’ve been waiting for all of a sudden gets cancelled…and your whole world turns upside down. Okay, that’s a huge exaggeration, but you know what I mean. How do you refrain from going crazy keep calm when life’s little annoying problems keep cropping up?
For some it will be effortless, for others not so smooth sailing. But YOU CAN achieve this state. I read that to really become more Zen-like you must be more like…….water??
Be like Water…..
When you consider our human nature and nature itself— it’s very hard to ignore the significance that WATER plays in our world and life. And, upon further review, what you are likely to notice is that the highest and most notable Zen traits very closely mirror those of our most valuable and notable natural element— WATER.H2O = 2-H, 1-0 (2.1)
To be Zen-like is to embody the characteristics (the habits) of water. Okay, I don’t have a problem with that.
Water and Zen are:
balanced – adjusts to pressure/ environmental influence always finds equanimity. Perfect ph balance strong – it’s strength on a molecular level and supernatural level is legendary persistent – water always find a way. relentless and persistent soft – very soft smooth–no harsh edges(how’s your character hard/rigid?) transparent –truth is always ultimately apparent. clarity provides focus slow – can move quickly but it’s nature is slow, steady deliberate – no confusion of it’s intentions consistent – water always behaves in the same manner formless – adapts to surroundings. is flexible and malleable… gas, liquid, solid natural – does not try to be anything other than it’s own true nature cohesive –it’s sticky and strongest when bounded with like substance. recognizes the value of teamwork solvent – simply known within science as the universal solvent effortless –may be the most powerful and persistent natural force yet accomplishes everything with natural ease
“The only true aristocracy is that of consciousness.” ~D.H. Lawrence
Okay, I’ll give it a go. What do I have to lose.…after all, it’s only WATER!
about basic Human Instincts and wondering what makes us the way we are. Are we really hardwired? Many of us share the same beliefs and that’s great as long as our general beliefs are decent and well meaning. I just came across an article on the subject that I’d like to share.
Can Human Instincts Be Controlled?
Abstract. Like all animals, humans have instincts, genetically hard-wired behaviors that enhance our ability to cope with vital environmental incidents. Our innate fear of snakes is an example. Other instincts, including denial, revenge, tribal loyalty, greed and our urge to procreate, now threaten our very existence. Any attempt to control human behavior is bound to meet with resistance and disapproval. Unless we can change our behavior, humans are facing the end of civilization. Our problem has several elements. (1) We have invented economic and social systems that encourage greedy behavior, and we have actually institutionalized runaway greed. (2) We are in a state of complete denial about the growth of human populations. (3) Earth’s finite resources simply cannot support 7 billion of us in the style to which we’d like to live. (4) We must make a choice between quantity and quality of human life. (5) To head off the inevitable collapse, we can no longer wait and merely react but we must become proactive. We must find ways to control dangerous human instincts, especially denial, revenge, tribal loyalty, greed and our urge to procreate.
As a wise woman from a third world country once said at the UN: “If the rich countries refuse to share their wealth with us, we will certainly share our poverty with them.”
Then I came upon this enlightening article from India’s “The Art of Living.” I am not a religious person but in this case we can equate the relation to “God” as the divine within each of us. Eat, Pray Love? Which reminds me I must make a trip to India.
There are two basic instincts in human beings and these have been with you in all your lifetimes:
There are two basic instincts in human beings, one is food, and the other is sex. These have been with you in all your lifetimes, when you were an animal and now as a human being. You are born out of these two – food and sex.
It is so beautiful that in this country (India) they connected both of these with the Divinity. Food is connected with God. In the Upanishads, it is said ‘Food is God’. When you consider food as God you will not over eat. You don’t simply stuff food, but you eat food with so much honor. No festival in India goes without food. And when you go to temple the first thing they give is some Prasad. Prasad is just a little bit of food that is given. Without Prasad there is no pilgrimage and no festival. Food is connected with God.
Similarly, sex is also connected with God. Otherwise you keep sex separate and think this is my material life and think of God as different. But here in India, the ancient people, they linked sex to God so that no aspect in you remains away from God. A basic instinct doesn’t remain away from God. So when you honor sex and consider it as part of the Divinity, then your obsession disappears, lust disappears and sacredness dawns. And the basic instinct, from being an aggressive lust, gets transformed into a submissive love.
This is the ancient thought. But some people are misusing yoga for their enjoyment of the carnal instincts, this is wrong. This is a blunder. It should be the other way around. Whenever there is a carnal instinct transform that into a Divine inner experience. There is a beautiful word in Sanskrit called Atma Rati, union with one’s being, oneself; rejoicing in one’s own self.
There are two things, Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (consciousness). Nature and consciousness inter play all the time. Your body and soul – your body is female and your soul is male. So their coupling is happening all the time, and seeing that union within oneself is Samadhi.
That is why Samadhi is considered to be a thousand times more joyful than the carnal instincts. Whatever joy sex gives, Samadhi is thousand times more joyful because there is no effort, and there is no action there. It is only Being and just Being. So just the Being consciousness, the play and display of consciousness comes to one’s awareness, comes to one’s experience. This is very beautiful.
Don’t keep any corner of your existence away from Divinity. The Divine should be interwoven into every aspect of your life and this is called Brahmacharya, which means moving with the infinity, uniting with the infinity.
Isn’t that so beautiful?! It is very deep and very high knowledge. If you don’t get it in one time, never mind, keep listening and keep understanding and one day you will say, ‘Ah! That is what Guruji was talking about.’
So here (in India) when you go to any temple anywhere you find both aspects – Shiva and Parvathi which symbolize Prakrati and Purusha, consciousness and matter. This is to first recognize the duality and then see the unity. They are not two, they are not different but they are two sides of the same coin. You are complete.
What does this mean? You are both man and woman. Coming out of this label, ‘I am man’, ‘I am woman’ – Getting out of your identity, this is Vedanta; the highest philosophy of the universe.
We keep identifying ourselves, ‘I am a man’, ‘I am a woman’, ‘I am old’, ‘I am young’, ‘I am educated’, ‘I am illiterate’. Throw away all these labels. What remains is pure consciousness. Do not even say, ‘I am consciousness.’ Just know that you are consciousness and not even say it. Don’t go around saying I am nothing.
Adi Shankar once said, ‘One who labels themselves as something is a fool and one who labels themselves as nothing is a bigger fool.’ One who is nothing does not talk, so just keep quiet. How can you say, ‘I am nothing’, when you are saying something?! There cannot be somebody there saying, ‘I am nothing.’ So keep quiet.
So when you consider the basic instincts of food and sex as sacred then aggression in you disappears and surrender dawns in you. Gratefulness and love dawn in you.
That is when it is said the devotee and the Divine have become One. They have merged into One!
Taken from an article by Pasquale Cusano (founder & publisher) of Montecristo magazine – on The Value of Value.
Hermes scarves
It got me thinking too because I believe quality matters and it’s not always to do with material things. When thinking of objects of desire, from a handcrafted piece of jewellery to a stylish car, an elegant suit or pair of designer shoes,
Manolo Blahnik
yes, there is a monetary price that can be invested to obtain these things. When we seek quality items, we assume that a brand name is a seal, an assurance and a promise of high quality. In most cases, this is true. In some cases, this is not. But what about investing in the little things that matter?
What about the value of taking time and the genuine, simple things in life? The barber, the tailor, the shoemaker, the baker. Even the old fashioned watch maker, took all their time. Maybe we do not really understand quality anymore, because we’re all too busy to see underneath the appearance of things, too preoccupied to understand their true value.
Quality was about using the best raw materials possible, and using the best techniques and some creativity, to achieve the desired results. Products that are beautiful but also durable, not just a brand name. They represent slow work. Therefore, some brands take decades to emerge as leaders. Until then, they are obscure, known by very few. When discovered, some styles are considered “classical” while others are “outrageous”, representing things that will only be appreciated years from now. So how do we perceive quality?
Become curious. Ask questions about what you are about to consume, purchase, invest your time in. What is quality? First and foremost, it is attention to detail. Quality is not appearance only, but what is under the skin. The powerful brands of today need to bring back, to reinforce the message that quality is about inspiration, stimulation, to get the younger, emerging artisans of tomorrow to reach new, higher levels. To stay true to their vision, taking no shortcuts.
the best quality
Fortunately, many quality experiences are simply free or of little cost. Time is the ultimate cost, and the ultimate luxury. The amount of time you invest in simply enjoying something, learning about something, experiencing something, that is the most valuable, long-lasting pleasure. It’s in the tiny details that constitutes what real quality is.
The ‘C’ Word or the ‘F’ word – which is worse? Being told to fuck off, or that you have cancer? Let’s combine the two nasty words together to make a statement.
Too many people I know have been, or are being diagnosed with cancer. My dear mom and a good friend died from having it, a close cousin and one of my best friends survived having it – but I swear it’s time to say FUCK IT! It feels good to say that.
Well at least it gets the message across. Another way is by using Social Media – Facebook vs. Cancer
From Vancouver Magazine:
We asked our community and pulled a list of the most messed-up things people have said or done that they thought were being helpful. Just about everyone has told someone that they have breast cancer/brain cancer/whatever and that person says to them “Oh yeah, I had an aunt/uncle/spouse/dog who had that. They died.” It’s terrible, but people are really just trying to connect. That’s Yael Cohen, 26, founder of a campaign that raises awareness (and eyebrows for its blunt name).
“Fuck cancer is something you hear on oncology wards, in hospitals – it’s the sentiment you hear from patients and caregivers,” says the Vancouver native. When her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, Cohen made her an expletive-blazoned T-shirt to articulate her grief and anger. Response was massive. “It was visceral, emotional. People wanted so badly to talk about it, to hear her story and tell theirs or hug her or high-five her.” It spawned a movement (Letsfcancer.com) pushing early detection (90 percent of cancers are treatable in Stage 1) and community involvement (“The support group is archaic; nobody wants to wait until 7 p.m. on a Wednesday to go to a church basement, so we’ve looked at technology – whether it’s Facebook or Twitter or a parking app or a sex app – to alter that code to benefit people”). The wired generation is Cohen’s primary target, and they’re listening – the group’s Cancer Talk video had 55 million views in its first week, and celebrity endorsements come from KeSha and Perez Hilton.
Next up; sharing the model: heart disease, poverty, who knows? “We need to be the meta-leader who has an idea and gives it away to the community. Giving it away is often the most powerful thing you can do. Our generation gets that.”
Getting Involved: Open your mouth, not your wallet. Help us spread the word by sharing your social currency. Re-blog this Post.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, WE KNOW MORE THAN OUR PARENTS
Every kid thinks they know more than their parents, but for the first time in history, this might just be true. Because of the exponential growth in technology that has occured in our lifetime, Gen Y (Millennial Generation – birth years from the early 1980s to the early 2000s) teaches their parents more than any generation ever has. We teach them about social media, how to use their blackberries, and how to balance their diets.
SO WHY DON’T WE teach them something that can actually save their lives? Visit website to find out more:
There must be a reason that ‘almost’ every single designer on earth is gay!Where does this connection between style and homosexuality come from?
Initially the desire to create beautiful things may have been born in reaction to dealing with a homophobic society (which has changed to become much more accepting). Thank goodness because what kind of clothing would we be wearing otherwise? And let’s face it, who can teach us all about accessorizing more than a gay man? Who gets noticed more, likes to celebrate more and really knows how to strut their stuff? All in fun it’s hard to keep a straight face!““A Queer History of Fashion – From the Closet to the Catwalk” is a new exhibition at the FIT Museum in New York. The fascinating show curated by Fred Dennis and the museum’s director, Valerie Steele, spans more than three centuries of gayness. It includes 100 looks that chronicle the community’s experiments in hiding and flaunting and outdoing itself in all sorts of aesthetic ways. The show also explores the flip-side of gay fashion: masculine women.Teaser – a little bit of history:
Drag queens, often the leaders of the gay pride parade, will, fittingly, also kick off the show. Similar to the 18th-century mollies, who dressed up to go out to private parties and taverns (called molly houses), running the risk of arrest.
In the oppressive 50’s, most gay men tried to blend in and be invisible, unless at a club at night. But what a difference a decade makes. The 60’s seemed to make everyone bold and flamboyant. The gays embraced the mod, hippie, disco and punk movements. And then of course, there was Liberace. The exhibition includes one of the performer’s pink sequined capes trimmed with marabou feathers – you know, just a little something to dazzle the crowds with. And nobody knew he was gay??
There is a section of the exhibition devoted to the work of designers who died of AIDS, like Halston and PerryEllis, plus a sampling of AIDS-activism T-shirts bedecked with clever slogans and graphics.
For the really daring, the curators have included a Jean-Paul-Gaultier skirt-pant look from his 1984 menswear collection. The lender said he always felt very masculine wearing it. It would not be complete without the cone-bra corset dress like the one famously worn by Madonna.
The show ends on an elegant note, with his-and-his and hers-and-hers wedding ensembles.
The book “A queer history of fashion” accompanies the show.Worth seeing!
IN MEMORY of my dear friend and dancing buddy Jon who loved Tango so much. He will be greatly missed especially by all the women dancers and his daughter whose name happens to be Grace. He was a kind and gentle man – a true gentleman.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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