SHANA TOVAII!

Start the new year with a

Misconception

Hot To Tango

The new book by Robert Shapiro

Argentine dance musical provides steamy start
to Detroit's fall dance season.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

111

el Howard thinks inter-
national. He creates or
takes a show in one part
of the world and moves

The tango, which came into being
100 years ago in the brothels of
Buenos Aires, did not become socially
acceptable ballroom dancing until the
turn of the century. It picked up pop-
ularity in the 1920s with the songs of
the legendary Carlos Gardel and with
Rudolph Valentino's smoldering scene
in the film The Four Horsemen of the

it to another.
Metro Detroit soon will be the
Apocalypse.
stopover for a venture with Latin roots
Howard, who is Jewish, thought of
Tango Pasion — which shuns dia-
his heritage while planning an
logue in favor of nonstop music and
American tour of the Georgian
dance to express thoughts and feelings.
Dancers of Israel and booked them for
The dance theater piece, performed by
mostly Jewish audiences. Among the
a 30-member company of dancers,
other troupes he has ushered into the-
singers and musicians, will run Sept.
aters during the past 40 years are the
20-23 at the Detroit Opera House.
Comedie Francais, the Royal
Audiences first will find something
pleasant, humorous and
romantic to set them up for
what happens next," says pro-
ducer/director Howard, 63,
who brought Tango Argentine
to the area several years ago.
Gradually, the mood gets
into deep emotion and pas-
sion."
Tango Pasion takes place in
a dance club cafe in Buenos
Aires and features the Sexteto
Mayor Tango Orchestra under
the direction of Jose Libertella
and Luis Stazo. For two
hours, a young generation of
dance experts integrates con-
"Tango Pasion".. Feeling the emotion.
temporary tango music and
tango energy to become a
metaphor for emotions acted
Shakespeare Company, Africa Oye and
out through the choreography of
National Dance Company of Senegal.
Hector Zaraspe.
Howard has created a show with
"About 16 years ago, I produced the
characters representing different seg-
first tango show, Tango Argentine, as
ments of Argentine society. The
stage entertainment on Broadway and
dancers include many married couples
elsewhere in the world," explains
who
have been dancing together for
Howard, who has staged and pro-
years
and trying new routines, accord-
duced more than 100 plays, musicals
ing to Zaraspe, who has served as bal-
and dance programs. "Tango has been
let master for the Joffrey Ballet.
around for [a long time], but it was a
"Tango is a way of life for a lot of
ballroom phenomenon.
people in Argentina," Howard says.
"The orchestra, which had been the
"The lyrics of tango have to do with
heart of the first program, wanted to
the difficulty of living and loving." ❑
continue, and I thought we could
make a new show. Although we had
the same orchestra, we picked a differ-
em repertoire, chose dancers out of an
Tango Pasion will be performed 8
up-and-coming brew and tried to add
p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2
character by getting people from dif-
p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20-23, at the
ferent schools and styles of tango. We
Detroit Opera House. $17-$50.
don't want to be boring."

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Mr. Shapiro will be the opening/patron night speaker at the 50th Anniver-
sary Annual Jewish Book Fair Nov. 10, 2001.

Join the Jewish Community Center as it marks 50 years of bringing the
finest Jewish books and authors to our community.

More than 50 local and nationally-acclaimed authors will join us for this
fantastic community event!

THE JCC 50TH ANNUAL
JEWISH BOOK FAIR

Nov. 8-18, 2001

At both JCC locations

Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit

D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322

Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus
15110 West Ten Mile Road • Oak Park, MI 48237

Support the Annual Jewish Book Fair. Be a patron!

For information about becoming a patron and the special
patron-only event, call Elaine Schonberger, Book Fair direc-
tor, (248) 432-5577.

The Center of Our
Community for75years

9/14

2001

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