'J'ai Deux Amours’ – Josephine Baker

In what has become a pseudo-anthem for the American expat in Paris, ‘J’ai Deux Amours’ plays on Josephine Baker’s dual status as both foreigner and adopted resident of the capital. Celebrating her two cultural loves (the literal translation of the title is ‘I have two loves’), the lyrics from Géo Koger and Henri Varna may also serve – some have suggested – as a metaphor for Baker’s bisexuality, which was subject to much attention during her pre-WWII heyday. During the war, the singer/dancer/cabaret artist retrained as a counter-espionage agent, before working for the Croix-Rouge and later in intelligence for the Resistance movement. By 1945, she’d very much distanced herself from her native USA, to such an extent that she would eventually change the second verse of the refrain from ‘J’ai deux amours, mon pays et Paris’ (‘I have two loves, my country and Paris’) to ‘J’ai deux amours, mon pays, c’est Paris’ (‘I have two loves, my country is Paris’).

How to Dance the Tango

Learning to tango is not easy and requires the right skills and teacher. But the basics can be learned on your own and you can start learning by yourself.To begin,read on and soon you will master this elegant and romantic dance. Once you've mastered it, you could teach it to others as well!

Start with the embrace

 This is numero uno when it comes to the tango. The embrace is physically simple, sure, but it must also be sensual, loose but firm, and poised. Generally speaking, both parties mirror each other.

• Partner A (typically the man, though we'll try to be as astereotypical as possible) raises his (that sure lasted a long time) left hand and wraps his right arm around his partner, placing his hand on her back, centered slightly below her shoulder blades. Partner B then raises her right hand to partner A's left and places her left arm around B, with her hand on the center of his back, as well.

Maintain perfect posture.

It may have started out in the poorer barrios of Argentina, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't evolved since. In order to give tango its proper due, you must dance with the correct posture. That means your head held high, your spine straight, your core strong and chest lifted, and confidence oozing from your body language.

• With the wrong posture, not only will you look a little ridiculous, but you also risk injuring your partner. Imagine if you're all slumped over, forcing them to arch their back in abnormal ways and to step around your slightly-pigeon-toed feet like they're walking on eggshells. That's a quick way to get rid of any prospective partners!

Practice the basic step alone first.

Before you get going with a partner -- especially if you're leading -- it's important to know the basic step. Imagine going into gym class in a mini-skirt and high heels! No thank you. You gotta be a little prepared for this kind of thing.

• For both parties, remember this: slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. But for the leader, here's your five steps:
• Forward with your left
• Forward with your right
• Forward with left
• To the right with your right
• Feet together, moving left to meet right. That's it! Repeat!
• For the partner following (you're just mirroring):
• Backward with your right
• Backward with your left
• Backward with your right
• To the left with your left
• Feet together, moving right to meet left. Ta da! Repeat.

When you're ready, work with a partner.

There's obviously more to it than slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, but that's the gist of it. Once you have that down and can do it in a counter-clockwise circle, grab someone to work with. Whether you're leading or following, feel their presence and flow with them. Otherwise you're dancing near each other, not with each other.

• Experiment with different partners. Some will naturally be easier to work with than others. Certain styles just mesh together better than others. And, of course, if you can find someone who's a bit better than you, learn from them.

Try progressive rocks.

In American style tango, progressive rocks are where you rock back and forth moving your weight from foot to foot instead of taking a step. So in the basic step we talked about, instead of quick, quick being two steps in one direction, it's one step and then rocking your weight forward. Clear as mud, yeah.

• If you're leading, you're taking a two steps forward on quick, quick. Instead, take one step forward, and then throw your weight back onto your back foot (without moving it). If you're following, it's the opposite: step back on quick, and then move your weight forward on the second step.

Corté

With progressive rocks and cortés, you can get two moves in one. The corté is the same as a progressive rock but on the first two steps (slow, slow). To give it more oomph, make sure your strides are long and fluid.

Add swivels and turns.

Now have you and your partner facing the side -- this is called the promenade. Instead of thinking forward and back, you're thinking to the left or right. This way you can add in swivels and turns. In most tango forms, the follower (or woman) does most of the dirty work, but men can get in on the action, too!

• Let's say, as partner B, you take two steps to the right (slow, slow). Immediately after that second step (and before the third), throw your torso to face the left. Then you resume moving backward. Swivel check!
• For turns, the leader turns toward his partner 180 degrees on the first quick step and the one following steps between his feet. Now we're getting fancy.

If you're a leader, plan ahead.

It would seem like leading is easier -- being able to read someone's mind is no easy feat -- but leading has its own perils, too. You always have to plan a step ahead and know where you want the dance to take you. So while you're working your way around the circle, think 8 steps into the future.

If you're following, feel your partner's weight.

You get to have the peace of mind that you just have to go with the flow. But going with the flow can be a little disconcerting if you don't trust. The easiest way to know that you're capable of depending on your partner is to feel their weight. Feel where it's going. Feel where it is between the moves. Balance with them. It'll take you with it.

Know that there's beauty in simple. 

You can do all the fancy moves you want, but if you and your partner don't have that synchronicity, that gel, that essence is the tango, it doesn't matter. Don't feel pressured to spice it up. Stick to what you feel. Keep it simple, master the simple, and the rest will come.

• Have you ever seen an old couple that just walks a simple dance together? How moving it is because you can see how they just get it? That. That is what you're aiming for.

Find a teacher that focuses on dance technique and not on memorizing steps and patterns.

The teacher should be able to dance both lead and follow so he/she can teach you both how to do it and how it feels for your partner. Try to find a class that has a dozen or so people so you have a few partners to work with but still can seek individual attention.

• There are three types of tango: Argentine tango, International Ballroom tango, and the American Ballroom tango. Argentine tango has become quite popular because of its free form, ad-lib steps and greater focus on the woman. Many amateur groups exist to teach and promote it.

Rock the circle.

Whether you're in class or at a party, the tango generally happens in a circle. There are a couple things to know:

• It moves counter-clockwise. You don't have to worry about turns, swivels, or anything fancy -- just know that you're moving counter-clockwise.
• Generally speaking, the better tango-ers take larger steps and dominate more space. The less-confident dances end up getting relegated to the center of the circle, all smushed in by the more audacious dancers. Don't let this happen to you!

Attend Milongas or tango dance parties to show off your skills!

If you go alone, find a partner to have a "cabeceo" with. However, you don't ask; you simply make eye contact. If you meet eyes, you smile or nod. If they don't meet your gaze, move on. It's less intrusive and doesn't leave one party pressured to say yes.

• Generally, a round, or "tanda," is 4 dances. So if you're not sure you want to dance with this person for 4 dances, ask them on the 2nd or 3rd.

Be patient.

The tango requires balance and the willingness to learn. At first there will be a heck of a learning curve, but trust that it will go away. The steps will come. You'll step on a few toes, but they'll heal. If you keep with it, you'll only get better.

• The tango is not a dance that can be learned in one evening or with one lesson. That is what makes the tango so much fun! There is so much to learn -- it can take you your whole lifetime to learn and understand the tango. But don't let that discourage you; let it intrigue you. When you've mastered it, you've mastered an art.

TIPS:- 

• Your instructor should be well versed in all three major Argentine Tango styles: Salon, Apilado (aka: Milongero) and Tango Nuevo. If they only dance one style, find yourself a different instructor. Why let them decide how you should dance before you figure out which one you like best?
• Learn from different instructors. Do not limit yourself to only learning from one person the whole time. Try an instructor out before you make a financial commitment. You might find out that you do not like the personality or the style of the instructor at all.
• Pick instructors who teach in couples. They are better able to meet your needs. A man might be able to lead you, but only a woman will help you become an excellent follower and vice versa.
• Make sure you wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move easily.
• If you decide to focus on the Argentine Tango, learn the difference between Apilado, Salon, and Fantasia/stage tango.
• Don't mistake American Tango for Argentine Tango. That will cause confusion and embarrassment. Tango originated in Argentina as a beautiful and intimate social dance. The ballroom movement took elements of it and turned it into another ballroom dance creating the American Tango.

Green Day Fire on 'Tonight Show' Debut with 'Bang Bang': Watch

Green Day has 30 years of history, tens of millions of albums sold, multiple Grammys won and a place in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. But until Thursday night, they’d never rocked theTonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

Now they have. And how.

Performing with a fuller five piece (complete with keys and a second guitar), the punk legends delivered newRevolution Radio song “Bang Bang,” and shot it down.

Lady Gaga Performs New Music, Rocks Out as 'Dive Bar Tour' Kicks Off

Lady Gaga gave her Little Monsters a million reasons to tune in to the start of her Dive Bar Tour: new music.

Gaga had promised a performance of the new song "Million Reasons" and a taste of others lifted from her forthcoming album Joanne. And she totally delivered on her word with a brief set Wednesday night (Oct. 5) showcasing the pop superstar’s rockin’ new musical direction.

Gaga wasn’t Mother Monster tonight. Nope, this was “Joanne,” a bluesy songstress leading a tight band.

Why We're Excited For Lady Gaga's Dive Bar Shows: A 'Joanne' Preview and a Return to Her Roots

The pop giant paused to slap hands with fans and soak up the vibes, then entered through the front door for the long walk through the crowd as cheers of “Gaga…Gaga” echoed around her. There were no fireworks, no lasers, no confetti cannons.

Gaga’s mini-run of intimate tour dates draw attention to her upcoming fifth studio LP, which the singer has promised will bridge country, pop, funk and more. She wasn’t kidding. Gaga opened her set in troubadour fashion – seated with a country-styled hat and an acoustic guitar slung over her shoulder -- for a low-key performance of Joanne track "Sinner’s Prayer".

Lady Gaga Reveals 'Joanne' Track List

The earthy, uptempo track "A-Yo" followed, and the ballad "Million Reasons" dropped in, and rounded out with a jam. Nashville seemed the right place to unveil this new incarnation of Gaga.

Track four was familiar territory as Gaga delivered a pumping version of the new recording's lead single "Perfect Illusion." And then, it was done. “Nashville. We love you. Good night,” she called out. And the mic hit the floor. By 10.50pm the Webcast was over.

All four songs will appear on the 11-song Joanne, which is out Oct. 21 and will feature a duet with Florence + the Machine's Florence Welch and production work from the likes of Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala and Mark Ronson.

Landon Azalea Garden Festival

The Landon Azalea Garden Festival has been a much anticipated event for over 60 years.

 Each year during the first weekend in May, families enjoy the magnificent 2.5 acre memorial Perkins Garden along with other features on our 75 acre campus including plant and azalea sales, specialty boutiques, children's rides and games, face-painting and food trucks from area vendors including Five Guys, The Lobster Roll and several others.

 All proceeds from the weekend's events benefit student financial aid and faculty enrichment programs.In addition, Mark's Run, a 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Sunday morning, benefits Joslin Diabetes Center.

Top festivals in Germany 2016

“Life is a festival only to the wise,” Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote.

With over 10,000 German festivals, including some of the world’s biggest and strangest, Germany is certainly a place sagacious souls can appreciate. From the raucous parties of Karneval to the acclaimed Berlinale film festival to the famously merry Christmas markets, there’s something in Germany’s festival calendar to suit everyone’s tastes.

Some of the traditional German celebrations include Bayreuth’s Richard Wagner Festival, Munich’s restrained commemoration of beer, Oktoberfest, the world’s largest trade fair for books in Frankfurt and the Munich Opera Festival.

Since the mid-1980s, however, there has been a rapid expansion of new, more niche-market festivals in Germany. Night owls and museum geeks can revel together during Berlin’s Long Night of the Museums, an evening when the city’s museums and cultural institutions stay open into the wee hours. Fans of avant-garde film can fill their heads with new, esoteric anecdotes at Videonale, Bonn’s festival for art and experimental videos. Even secret Dungeons and Dragons lovers can find a home at Bavaria’s medieval re-enactment festival Festival-Medieval.

Whether you’re just visiting Germany or have lived here for a while, attending a festival can be an easy and exciting way to discover German culture. To help get you started, here are some of the most important and interesting German festivals, carnivals, music, film, art and cultural events in Germany in 2016.

Festivals in Germany 2016

February: Berlin International film festival
The world’s second largest film festival after Cannes, the Berlinale draws together more than 19,000 film professionals from 115 countries. The festival showcases a wide variety of films, including big international movies, independent and art house productions, movies aimed at younger audiences, German productions and more experimental films. The 66th festival runs from 11 to 21 February 2016.

Mid-February to April: Bonn Videonale festival

One of the world’s oldest video art festivals, both stars and up-and-coming young artists of the international video-art scene can be found there. Launched in 1984, the biennial Videonale today counts as one of the oldest and most renowned festivals of video art in the world. Check for 2016 dates.

Mid-February: Karneval

The 40-day period before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins is also Karneval season in Germany. It’s a time when the typically orderly Germans let loose and party. Parades, costume balls and other such festivities take place throughout the country, often varying widely according to local traditions.

Mid-March: Leipzig Book Fair

The Leipzig fair is Europe’s biggest festival of literature and features more than 2,600 events held at 350 difference venues. An ideal communication platform, the Leipzig Book Fair provides extensive information about new publications as well as current and future trends in the German speaking and European markets. The next Leipzig Bookfair is 17 to 20 March 2016.

Early April: Munich ballet week

Perhaps the most exciting time of the year for the Bavarian State Ballet is Munich Ballet Week (Bayerische Staatsballett), when they and other international companies put on a week's worth of performances that always succeed in enchanting audiences. Over the last few decades this event has become one of the most prestigious of its kind, drawing visitors from across Europe and beyond. This year's ballet week will take place from 3 to 19 April 2016.

April to May: Thuringia Bach festival

The Thuringia Bach festival (Thueringer Bachwochen) specialises in Baroque music and performing the works of Johann Sebastian Bach in authentic sites. The festival appeals to music lovers and tourists alike. This year's festival will take place from 18 March to 10 April 2016.

May: Wave-Gothic Festival, Leipzig

Goths, Cyber Goths, Steampunks and anyone else into the 'dark' arts may want to head for the Wave-Gotik-Treffen, to enjoy the best of dark music and culture, with bands, fairs and events with medieval and gothic themes. The event, now one of the world's largest of its type, was considered so subversive in the days of the German Democratic Republic that it was banned. The Wave-Gotik-Treffen will run from 13 to 16 May 2016.  

Mid-May: International Dixieland Festival Dresden

Many a saintly visitor goes marching into Dresden in early May to check out the city's festival of Dixieland and early jazz music. Known particularly for its open-air events on the Elbe River, the festival boasts over 350 artists every year; this year is its 46th. Don't forget to drop by the Dixie parade and to catch a show by one of the city’s many street performers. This years festival will take place from 15 to 22 May 2016.

May–September: Rhein in Flammen

Rhein in Flammen (Rhine in Flames) is a series of spectacular firework displays lighting up the castles and vineyards on the banks of Germany's famous river in different locations in Bonn and St Goar. In 2016 these will take place as follows: Bonn 7 May and St Goar 17 September. You can view the shows from illuminated boats on the Rhine; ashore there are concerts, fairgrounds, food, drink and many other entertainments.

May–October: Oberammergau Passion Play

After escaping the bubonic plague back in 1634, the villagers of Oberammergau gave thanks to God by vowing to perform their now world-famous 'Passion Play' every 10 years. Over 400 years later, they continue to do so. Of the 5,300 or so population, around 2,000 are involved in the play which re-enacts Christ's life leading up to his crucifixion and can last up to eight hours (including a three-hour interval). The next performance will be in 2020 but the Passion Play Theatre is open for tours and other cultural performances in the meantime.

June: Rock am Ring and Rock im Park

These are two massive rock festivals that take place simultaneously over three days: Rock am Ring (Rock in the Ring) in Nürberg and Rock im Park (Rock in the Park) in Nuremberg. The same artists from a range of music genres appear at each venue, performing to combined crowds of around 160,000, making this one of the largest music festivals in the world. Check out the website for the line-up for the next festival which is 3 to 5 June 2016

June: Kieler Woche, Kiel

Kieler Woche or Kiel Week is not only the largest sailing event in the world — with over 2,000 yachts, tall ships, dinghies, and surfboards taking part — it's also a massive open air music and cultural festival with an accompanying children's cultural festival. What started life as a one-day regatta 133 years ago is now a week-long event where you can watch Olympic and international sailors race, a windjammer parade of tall ships and take your pick from some 300+ musical events. Keiler Woche runs from 18 to 26 June 2016.

July: International Africa festival

During this unique festival in Tubingen near Stuttgart, African artists and bands perform modern and traditional music and dance from their home countries. There is also a market with African crafts and works of art. In 2016, it’s on 21 to 24 July. You can also catch the Africa Festival Wurzburg which runs earlier in the year from 26 to 29 May 2016 and is one of the largest festivals in Europe for African music and culture.

June–July: Munich Opera festival

Held every year at the Bayerische Staatsoper (the Bavarian State Opera), the Opernfestspiele consists mainly of shows staged during the past year and always concludes with a piece by Wagner. In 2016, the festival opens on 19 June and runs until the end of July.

July–August: Richard Wagner Festival (Bayreuth festival)

The month-long Bayreuther Festspiele is held annually in the Bavarian town of the same name. Wagner himself oversaw the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, the theatre where concerts from the composer have been performed since 1876. The 2016 programme starts 25 July and runs until 28 August.

August: Long night of the museums

From its beginning in 1997, almost all of the city’s 180 museums and memorials have taken part in the long night. Each event offers a different combination of museums and a new programme (with ever more museums and initiatives joining in) so that visitors are guaranteed a diverse experience and new discoveries every time. In 2016, the event will take place on 27 August from 6–8pm. 

September: Festival-Mediaval

The Festival-Mediaval is a living history and re-enactment festival in Selb. The event includes performances of medieval music, fire shows, roaming performers such as witches and beggars, theatre groups and a medieval market. If you've ever had a hankering to try your hand at archery while munching on a medieval snack, then this festival is for you. This year's festival will run from 9 to 11 September 2016.

September to early October: Oktoberfest

One of Germany’s most famous festivities and the world’s largest fair, Oktoberfest is a 15-day celebration of Bavarian beer. More than six million people come to drink beer, eat chicken legs and pork sausages and engage in general revelry. Join them from 17 September to 2 October 2016.

October: Frankfurt book fair

The history of world's largest trade fair for books dates all the way back to 15th century, when Johannes Gutenberg first invented movable type just a few kilometres away from Frankfurt. Soon after, local booksellers held the first book fair. The Frankfurt fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) is now primarily for people in the industries surrounding books, although it does have some more layman-accessible events, such as its award for the oddest book title of the year. In 2016, the Frankfurt Bookfair is on from 19 to 23 October.

November 11: St Martin’s day

St Martin’s Day is the feast day of Martin of Tours, who began his life as a Roman soldier and ended up a monk. St Martin’s most famous deed is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, thereby saving the beggar’s life. That night, Martin dreamed that the beggar he had helped was Jesus.

On St Martin’s Day, which is celebrated in many areas in Germany, children go from house to house with paper lanterns and candles and sing songs about St Martin in return for treats. Many places also have public festivals to celebrate the saint that include re-enactments of St Martin’s donation of his cloak and the serving of the traditional dish of roast goose, or Martinsgans.

December: Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmarkts)

Nearly every German city and village sets up a Christmas market during the Advent season. Giving you a reason to brace the cold, visitors can ride a Ferris wheel, browse through the stands selling handicrafts, wooden toys and ceramics, sample the hot mulled wine (glühwein) and hot chestnuts or just absorb the merry atmosphere. These fairs have proven so popular that other countries have started copying the German-Austrian tradition. Notable Christmas markets are in Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg, Lubeck, Munster, Stuttgart and Heidelberg.

Sziget Festival

The Sziget Festival  is the Hungarian for "Island") is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe. It is held every August in northern Budapest, Hungary, on Óbudai-sziget ("Old Buda Island"), a leafy 108-hectare (266-acre) island on the Danube. More than 1,000 performances take place each year.


The week-long festival has grown from a relatively low-profile student event in 1993 to become one of the prominent European rock festivals, with about half of all visitors coming from outside Hungary, especially from Western Europe.It also has a dedicated "party train" service (with resident DJs) that transports festivalgoers from all over Europe.The second event (1994), labeled Eurowoodstock, was headlined by performers from the original Woodstock festival. By 1997 total attendance surpassed the 250,000 mark, reaching an all-time peak in 2016 with 496,000 visitors from 95 countries (the daily capacity having been raised to 90,000).It is now being increasingly labeled as a European alternative to the Burning Man festival due to its unique features ("an electronically amplified, warped amusement park that has nothing to do with reality")

In 2011, Sziget was ranked one of the 5 best festivals in Europe by The Independent.The festival is a two time winner at the European Festivals Awards in the category Best Major European Festival in early 2012 and 2015.

In 2002, Sziget branched out to Transylvania when its organizers co-created a new annual festival there titled Félsziget Fesztivál (Romanian: Festivalul Peninsula) that soon became the largest of its kind in Romania.In 2007, the organizers co-created Balaton Sound, an electronic music festival that quickly gained popularity.