Your bonus offer expires tonight

On Christmas Eve I described Fred Astaire's special introductory offer for my students:

• two 30-minute Private Lessons,
• a 40-minute Group Class,
• and a 90-minute Guided Practice

all taught by me . . . a $250 value at the remarkably low price of $40.

I don't know how long Fred and I will maintain this offer, but I'll repeat the year-end extra incentive: if you just call me at 239-776-6535 (or email htreitman@gmail.com) to schedule your first introductory private lesson of the package by today, DECEMBER 31, I will add one extra 30-minute private lesson at no additional charge. Then I will have my head examined. But okay . . . after all, " 'tis the season".

The bonus-lesson incentive (a free 3rd private lesson) will disappear on January 1. You can still call until 7 p.m. today for your first appointment in 2009 and get the bonus lesson. Or email until midnight. Then that's it. The special $40 basic intro package remains, but not for long.

The additional offer, with the cd of some of my favorite tangos, milongas and valses from the Golden Age (the greatest orchestras of the 1940's) if you took the first lesson before the New Year, has expired! Lucky are those who got it. :D

Again, to reserve your $40 introductory lesson package, please call me at 239-776-6535 or email me at htreitman@gmail.com.

Our first Group Class and Practica of 2009 will be Wednesday January 6, starting 7:15 p.m. at the Fred Astaire Studio. This double session can serve as the group part of your introductory package. I highly recommend this option.

I'm very happy to share with you everything I know and love about Tango - but you'll have to come and get it.

My very best wishes for a healthy, propserous, TANGASTIC New Year!

Am I describing you? Part 2

(continued from yesterday)

In my years of teaching Argentine Tango in Central Italy, I noticed a profile emerging of the kind of person who was often attracted to my classes, and once these people were introduced to elementary tango, they tended to stay with it and make it "theirs". Whether they were happily married for many years, in a relationship that had become problematic, or single, divorced, or widowed, they usually had the following several characteristics in common:

• They were all highly intelligent.
• They were often culturally sophisticated.
• They often, but not always, had a high level of formal education.
• They were accomplished in their fields. (Here a high level of education is not always relevant, such as in the case of some super-successful entrepreneurs.)
• Some of these successful professionals, executives and entrepreneurs had gone through a major life change, or had overcome some great personal challenge.

No matter how satisfying their careers or family lives were, so many of these mature, high-achievers confided in me after a year or two of lessons and dancing, that discovering Argentine Tango had been a turning point for them, giving them a profound sense of joy and personal fulfillment they had never quite experienced before.

I was often privileged to observe a transformation, as these successful, mature people discovered, explored and confronted areas of their inner selves that they had previously kept locked away. As month by month they progressed in their study of that most elegant language of tango, they began to unleash their inner expression, before long in a free and spontaneous way.

Whether or not you have ever danced before, whether you are out of shape or in top form, whether or not you have a partner who would like to try it out with you, I invite you to put yourself under my expert guidance for an hour or two and see if there might be something stimulating, intriguing, potentially gratifying for you to enjoy and begin to explore.

In collaboration with the Fred Astaire Naples Dance Studio, I'm offering a special introductory package to encourage you to experience Argentine Tango with a minimal investment. And if you reserve your trial lessons by December 31, 2008, I'll add to your introductory lesson package an additional free 30 minute private lesson.

Just email me at htreitman@gmail.com or phone 239-766-6535 or call the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Goodlette and Pine Ridge 239-592-7737. Remember that if you call or email in the next 3 days, you'll get an additional 30 minute lesson with me at no additional cost.

I suggest you take advantage quickly of the introductory offer! The first group class of the year will be Wednesday January 6, at 7 p.m., followed by a 90-minute practice session.

Am I describing you?

In my Christmas Day post, I listed some questions you might ask yourself, if you're wondering whether Argentine Tango is right for you. I'll address two of them here:

• Do you find yourself, after decades of dedication to your work, enjoying a privileged lifestyle - but experiencing a quietly disturbing sensation that something’s missing?
• Do you feel that, despite of all the success you’ve enjoyed, you need something to nourish your spirit?

Indulging yourself was probably not how you got where you are today. You've achieved your success through diligence, self-discipline and personal sacrifice, focusing on excellence as you built your career and raised a fine family. And today, if you're at the apex of your career or recently retired, the sports, recreational activities, and social life you are now freer to enjoy may be very fulfilling.

Or perhaps you're one of those people who feels that deep within you there's something more that deserves expressing. You may have waited all your life to allow yourself the time to cultivate an expressive passion. Or you simply experience a vague longing for something; you may not be clear on what "it" is. You might not even admit that you have this desire for personal expression, certainly not to your business, golf or tennis friends, maybe not even to your spouse.

In my years of teaching Argentine Tango in Central Italy, I noticed a profile emerging of the kind of person who was often attracted to my classes, and once these people were introduced to elementary tango, they tended to stay with it and make it "theirs". Whether they were happily married for many years, in a relationship that had become problematic, or single, divorced, or widowed, they usually had the following several characteristics in common:

"Tune in" tomorrow for the rest of this article!

How to know if Argentine Tango is for you

• Do you find yourself, after decades of dedication to your work, enjoying a privileged lifestyle but experiencing a quiet, nagging sensation that something’s missing?
• Do you wish you had a way to live out your expressive potential?
• Would you like to achieve a fuller expression of your sensual side?
• Could your social life use a jump start?
• Has your relationship with your life partner gotten a little hum-drum?
• Are you looking for a new challenge?
• Do you love music and sometimes wish you could be doing something expressive with it?
• Have you avoided dancing because you’re afraid you’ll look or feel stupid?
• Do you feel that, despite of all the success you’ve enjoyed, you need something different to nourish your spirit?
• Are you starting to get bored with traveling as a tourist - an outsider to the rich local life that tourists rarely see?

I'll be addressing how tango speaks to each of the above situations, and others, in upcoming posts.

Tango lessons Christmas Eve?

People were so excited after our Tango Open House Monday evening at Fred Astaire, that they started signing up for lessons. Some will be doing their introductory packages at a very special price over the holidays. Even on Christmas Eve!

I can't believe I'm teaching for this price! But Fred* somehow convinced me to seduce you all with this unbelievable deal. (*Astaire.)

The package consists of:
- two 30-minute private lessons,
- one 40-minute group lesson,
- and one 90-minute guided practice,

. . . all with me as your teacher! No assistant, no trainee, no jack-of-all-trades ... me! Who's been dancing Argentine Tango 15 years and has taught around 700 people to dance exclusively this. I'll be your teacher for more than two-and-a-half hours for a fraction of my normal fee. Why am I being so generous? Because I'm new in town and I want everyone to get to know me and see why my method of teaching Argentine Tango is so effective.

So what's the very special price? You'll have to call the Studio. It's so special that I'm not allowed to publish it online. Just call 239-592-7737 and ask Jeff, Brian or Damaris, and they'll tell you the special price, and they can book your first appointment with me. The best time to reach them and not get their voicemail is between noon and 2 PM. If you prefer you can call me directly: Helaine 239-776-6535.

Why don't you call now, and book your special introductory package, before you overdo the holiday dining and don't want to get out of your chair? ;) And I'll tell you what: if you just CALL by December 31, 2008 to book your intro lessons, I'll add to the package a special gift from me - something you can take home with you that will make you dream about dancing tango for weeks or months on end.

Happy holidays, everyone!

RSVP for today's Tango Open House in Naples

Here's a fun way to let me know whether you're attending the free Tango Open House this evening, and whether or now you want to stay informed about Tango in Naples:

http://www.askdatabase.com/campaigns/?a=46763&c=&b=6813

This Monday do something different

Monday the 22nd, will you go straight home after work to wrap presents?

Consider another option: I'm inviting you, and anyone you'd like to bring, to have a glass of wine with me and perhaps your first taste of Argentine Tango. This could mean participating in the free demo lesson, or just watching the video, listening to the music, asking me some questions, and observing the lesson. It's not necessary to come with a partner, even if you do want to take the lesson.

Whether you've always wanted to dance Argentine Tango because of its elegant sensuality and restrained passionality, or because you love the music - or you have no intension of ever setting foot on a dance floor, the exercises we'll do in the intro lesson are sure to be fun, and you might gain some insights about improving your stability and balance when you move.

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Here are the details:

Monday, December 22, 2008 5:30-7:30 PM

Tango Open House with Helaine Treitman

Enjoy a glass of wine, free introductory lesson and music of Tango's Golden Age.

Free admission. Bring friends.

Fred Astaire Dance Studio (Goodlette and Pine Ridge, next to Sweetbay)

Ask about our Holiday "Tango Lesson" Gift Certificates.

Info - Helaine 239-776-6535 htreitman@gmail.com

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