Cherie Magnus's Blog

Hero Worship and False Idols (repost from 2011)

In every field there are famous folks who have become cult figures, from rock 'n roll, to fashion, to sports, to science, to TV, etc.

Tango is among the worst, because everyone has his own style/preference/ideas of how to dance. "You dance who you are," means that there is not just one way to dance, thank goodness. But searching for the right way for YOU to dance can be like following the Holy Grail with one wrong turn after another; like trailing after glamour stars of tango, hoping some of the glitter will fall on you by propinquity.

Students and wannabees look often for quick fixes and "Argentine Tango in 10 Easy Lessons." One of our students told us about a "tango boot camp" in their country where you can learn to dance tango "well" in a weekend or even one day!

Well, sorry to disappoint, but this can't happen. Tango takes its time. I don't care who your teachers are or what they promise before you plunk down your money or how many hours you practice in a weekend; you've got to put in your time. Tango has to "cook" within you.

Often because of media fame or cults of personalities, some dancers are worshiped, not so much for what they do (which can be good or bad or several degrees in between) but who they are. Generally these are dancers who tour outside of Argentina, either performing and/or giving workshops.

The great social dancers of Buenos Aires just dance night after night in the milongas; they don't speak English, they have never left Argentina, no one has starred them in a movie, they haven't won or even entered tango contests, and they haven't danced in a stage show.


When hero worship makes cult personalities of tango dancers, it's usually because of marketing; the media and especially YouTube can make a star of anyone. But if all you know of a person is what you are told by advertising, and what you read/see on the internet or at long distance in a huge tango workshop, perhaps that person doesn't deserve the gifts lavished on them when foreigners bribe them to rub elbows during their trips to Buenos Aires from lands far away. And even more to the point, do not deserve  adoration.

I guess I'm getting somewhat cynical after so many years of working with tango, and above all, observing what goes on. Foreign dancers wine and dine the objects of their hero affection, and spend a boatload of plata on private lessons and buying drinks in the milongas, and always paying the taxi. That's fine, really; the foreign dancer gets what he wants--a little prestige to hobnob with the famous and an ability to name drop, and the Tango Star gets free meals, gifts, and more hours of private lessons. There's nothing wrong with that; it can be a friendly recognition that the visiting students probably can afford to do those things more than the locals. The problem begins when it turns to  hero worship,  when the star can do no wrong on or off the pista.

It's always been hard to separate the dancer from the dance. But worshiping false idols by throwing money at them, especially when the person involved is an extremely bad example of how to behave--meaning not following common rules of etiquette and not being a caballero (yes, I'm referring here especially to men), makes everything bad for everyone except the "hero" who is getting rich off of a false reputation of being a fabulous dancer, teacher, and a perfect person.

I have had occasion to know well a couple of famous touring tango dancers/teachers and they both made fun in private conversations of the foreigners they profited from.

We've all heard the story of Pablo Veron's fisticuffs with a woman at a New York milonga.

And the extremely famous contest winner who socked a woman in the eye when she inadvertently nudged him on the dance floor as he was walking to his table. She had to ice her face and leave the milonga. Ruben and I were dancing right next to this incident in Los Consagrados about a year ago. This is the same famous dancer who announced to his table of friends that no foreigner could ever dance like an Argentine--and he makes his living off of teaching foreigners.

I've heard about the really bad attitude of a famous dancing couple while giving workshops in Australia--leaving the room, paying attention only to each other, etc.

And tales of many male tango teachers seducing their hostesses while being housed for workshops.

Is this professional behavior? Is this worthy of adoration? Or is it all part of the Tango Game?

Some dancers haven't a clue how to teach. Some can't handle the fame and fortune that came to them late in life. Some are just "bad" people who can dance well. And some are ego maniacs with no respect for those who respect them.

But there's something a bit "immoral" about worshiping so-called heroes who behave badly. We can admire their talent--the way they play football or golf, or the way they dance. And that is what should be appreciated, not the whole package of a low-down rude, haughty, superior s.o.b.

Famous tango dancers are famous mainly due to good luck and marketing. If you like the way someone dances, by all means study how they dance. But don't waste your  adoration  on folks who probably would not take you to the E.R. at 2:00 a.m., especially if you were no longer paying them for privates or inviting them to restaurants.

You can have good professional relationships with your tango teachers and you can have good friends. Only rarely are they one and the same (yet it can and does happen.)

In the States, everyone is our "friend." "I'd like to introduce my friend, Bill," you say to Norm, but you've only known Bill a day. We all have many "friends." In Spanish they differentiate between "amigo" and "conocido," which I think is a great thing to do. In English we rarely use "acquaintance," because everyone is our "friend."

Maybe it's time to think who really is our friend and who is our tango teacher and who is such a perfect person he/she is worthy of worship.

If you are in Los Angeles on August 15, please come to my...

If you are in Los Angeles on August 15, please come to my Author Talk at the Memorial Branch Library, 4625 W. Olympic Blvd. I would love to see you there! (And copies of my two books will be available to borrow on your LAPL Library Card.)

Thanks to All Who Responded to my Old Milonguero Survey

The surveys on the old MILONGUEROS of Buenos Aires are now closed. I want to thank the many women who participated. Your answers will help me as I go forward with my third memoir about the eleven years I lived in Argentina. Of course my book is not a scientific study, or an anthropological report, but my personal experiences there. The survey answers help me to understand the machista culture through the eyes of others.

I got some funny replies, by the way. One person wrote, "This survey is utter crap." And, "Why are only females invited to complete this survey? It is discriminatory." I love it. All answers were completely anonymous so I have no idea who any responders were or where they're from, but more serious replies are useful. Thanks again to one and all who took the time to answer.




Las encuestas sobre los viejos MILONGUEROS de Buenos Aires ahora están cerradas. Quiero agradecer a las muchas mujeres que participaron. Sus respuestas me ayudarán a medida que avanzo con mi tercera memoria sobre los once años que viví en Argentina. Por supuesto, mi libro no es un estudio científico o un informe antropológico, sino mis experiencias personales allí. Las respuestas de la encuesta me ayudan a comprender la cultura machista a través de los ojos de los demás.

Antidote for the Milonguero's Ego

If only there were such a product! What do you think?


"Antidote for the milonguero's ego. Helps to prevent foolish antics, feelings of superiority, and the need for recognition. Perfect for these unique beings. Prescription is for life. Dosage: whatever your conscience dictates."

My Post, THE MILONGUERO WAY, From Years Ago Turns Up On A...

My Post, THE MILONGUERO WAY, From Years Ago Turns Up On Another Site
...but at least they cited the source of this blog!


click to read: Buenos Aires Spanish Classes in Palermo

Because of researching my new book, MILONGUERO, I just happened to run across the swiping of my own article. Ah well, that's the internet!

Here's one of the photos that goes with the article:

Tangueras! Please take my survey!

Many of you know I've written two memoirs-- The Church of Tango , and Arabesque: Dancing On the Edge in Los Angeles . Now I'm starting on the third, MILONGUERO . 
I need your input if you're a woman who's been to Buenos Aires to dance tango in the milongas there. 
Please help me by taking this 5 minute survey which is completely anonymous; not even your IP address will be logged. Share on social media and with your friends.
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MILONGUERO
I need your help to paint an accurate portrait of these mysterious, somewhat controversial beings, the milongueros, who are rapidly disappearing. I'm not interested in their names, biographies, or how they dance--their characters are what I want to explore in my book. Of course, as in my first two memoirs, there will be lots of my own personal experiences. It's the end of a very special epoch and I want to, well, not document because I won't use real names, but I want to preserve the recollections of the women who danced with them.
By definition in my book, a "milonguero" is old--he has grown up in the milongas, never taken a tango lesson, probably learned by watching with help from his dad, uncle, or brother, never had a regular job or profession and worked part time in some menial field, and went every night to the milongas where he danced all night. He had to wear a suit and his shoes had to be polished or he wasn't allowed in. Therefore by this definition there is no such thing as a "young milonguero" or even a "milonguera." In the olden days women just didn't hang out alone every night at milongas unless they were working girls.
Please pass on and share the survey to make it as interesting and complete as possible.  
Those who would like to share stories and anecdotes privately with me for the sake of the book can send them to MacFroggy@aol.com

And please feel free to comment below.
Espanol:Muchos de ustedes saben que he escrito dos memorias. Ahora estoy empezando en el tercero, MILONGUERO. Necesito su opinión si ha estado en Buenos Aires para bailar tango en las milongas allí. Por favor, ayúdenme tomando esta encuesta de 5 minutos que es completamente anónima; ni siquiera se registrará su dirección IP. Necesito tu ayuda para pintar un retrato preciso de estos seres misteriosos, los milongueros. ENCUESTA EN ESPAÑOL: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/LYXBVSQ

Tangocherie is Back!

Dios mio, tangocherie is back! This time from Hollywood!

I have missed you all, believe me, while I've been trying to reconstruct my life here in Los Angeles. It feels good to be posting again--I only hope some of my readers and fans are still around. Maybe I can interest some new folks as I will also post on Facebook, the social media that loves to be hated.

I wanted to share my big news that the third book in my memoir series, MILONGUERO , is now in the works. You may remember THE CHURCH OF TANGO and its prequel,  ARABESQUE .

I will be posting a survey for tangueras who have been to Buenos Aires to help me with a broader picture than my own experience and the stories of my friends. Please help me by taking three minutes of your time to answer my questions.

I've missed you! Please comment, suggest, communicate--in whatever language you are comfortable.
UN BESO ENORME A TODOS!

Hasta Siempre

To my readers, dear friends and students,


A still of Ruben's narration from "One Tango Moment"

I want to thank you for your support and friendship all these years that I’ve lived outside of my homeland. I left Los Angeles in 2001, and during those 13 years was only able to visit my family and L.A. peeps every year or so. It has been an amazing journey—I found not only love with Ruben Aybar, but a new profession as a teacher of tango, as well as publishing a memoir about those expat years, The Church of Tango. And currently I’ve just finished a prequel memoir, Arabesque: Dancing on the Edge in Los Angeles, which will be released soon. (You can check out what's happening at www.MirasolPress.com.
Now it is time for me to go home. I leave for L.A. July 1st.
Even though it is my choice, my heart is breaking to leave Ruben, my pets and garden, my gorgeous rented apartment in Boedo that has seen so much tango and so many asados and friendly gatherings on its broad, scenic terrace. To leave the life that I've built here over 11 years.And now I have to start over. Again. But it is time.
Ruben will continue teaching and taxi dancing. He can be contacted at 155-799-2038. Working with him to share our tango vision with enthusiastic students has been my greatest pleasure here in Argentina. (He doesn’t check his email very often—rubentango@gmail.com, but contacting him via Facebook works too.) He is an amazing teacher, and a warm-hearted, generous, honest person. I hope one day he can get a visa to visit the U.S. for a couple of weeks, his dream--and mine too. I want so much for him to see my country, at least my home town of L.A., and meet my friends and family. He has no desire to live there--after all, he has thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren of his own in Buenos Aires. And so he understands my need now to be with mine.


I’ve met many, many incredible people from all over the world here in our Boedo studio. As Ruben always says, people come to us as students but leave as friends, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have met hundreds of dancers I otherwise wouldn’t know. And who I hope to see again one day at a milonga in one part of the world or another.
And what about tangocherie? I probably won't be updating this blog, but I won't be taking it down either, just in case someone may find one of my more than 700 posts since 2006 interesting or useful. Perhaps I'll start a new one--L.A. Cherie! We'll just have to wait and see what happens in Los Angeles.
I dream to come back to visit Buenos Aires from time to time, but nothing is certain.

Thank you, Argentina, for giving me Ruben, the tango, la cultura gauchesca, Gauchito Gil, waterfalls and glaciers, painted deserts, la Pachamama, land of seven lakes, the Delta of Tigre, penguins, and Papa Pancho. And the world of the milonga, unique to Buenos Aires and forever my “home.”


Hasta la proxima…con besos, amor, y abrazos bien milonguero!

Your tangocherie

The Spirit of D'Arienzo at Yunta de Oro Milonga

 Milongas open and close all the time in Buenos Aires. We went to the inauguration of the Yunta de Oro Milonga at La Nacional last night to check it out but also to hear the fabulous orchestra, Los Herederos del Compas, who play in the style of D'Arienzo. An extra perk was the appearance of Osvaldo Ramos who was D'Arienzo's last singer, who can still croon out those great tangos. Plus the singer with Los Herederos is Pablo Ramos--his son, and when at the end of the program they sang together it was an emotional moment, I can tell you. When Ruben and I danced La Cumparsita after all of that, I could hardly keep the tears back. A fabulous Tango Moment of Tangasms.

These kinds of evenings can only be found in Buenos Aires. Maestro Osvaldo spoke about singing in this same salon in La Nacional fifty years ago, quite amazing to contemplate the history of those years. History and tradition are so important in the tango and the only place you find it is here, in Buenos Aires.

Whether the milonga will be a success on a weekly basis, who knows? As I said, milongas come and go here. But whatever happens, last night was unforgettable.










Nito y Elba performing
That's Marcela, the organizer of Nuevo Chique, in the background with Beto





Osvaldo really hasn't changed that much



Pablo y Osvaldo, father and son

Your Chance to Preview and Rate the Preface of My New Memoir, ARABESQUE

I'm asking you for a favor, dear readers. My new memoir, Arabesque: Dancing on the Edge in Los Angeles (a prequel to The Church of Tango), is nearing publication.

The Preface--Wings of Mercury, is available on CreateSpace, for reading, rating, and commenting. It's very short. This is the beginning of the book, and I hope it will make you want to keep reading, so if not, let me know at the bottom where you can answer two short questions about it. Thank you so much in advance for helping me make my story as good as it can be!

Winge of Mercury Preview