How does a young woman, who hears but cannot speak, end up as the director, choreographer, and premiere danseuse for a world famous school and dance company for (believe it or not) deaf and mute dancers?

Our heroine, Lynette Barker, is blessed with parents who are wealthy, successful actors, a fine home and servants. Unfortunately, when she is found to be mute, her mother denies her existence and her father sees her as "broken" and, blind to her needs, leaves her in the care of the servants.

It was left to Lynette to find her own way and, with the loving support of the housekeeper, and butler, and two deaf friends whom she had found signing in the park, she was able to enter a school for the deaf and begin to joyfully live and learn as she had always wished.

Lynette's father, Belton Barker, a renowned actor, busied himself with his career and his wife and not only never saw what was going on in his daughter's life, but managed to continually block her from doing what she needed to do.

The ongoing struggle is devastating for Lynette and the last battle with her father - and her mother who tries to kill her - leaves her in the hospital in full pscyhologist retreat. Her father, finally realizing his culpability and fearful for her life, finally listens to the servants, teachers, and friends, who have kept a round-the-clock vigil at the hospital and begins to see who his daughter really is - a whole, quite wonderful person - and plans to help her develop the life she wants. Lynette is so angry with him that she will not accept anything from him directly but he remembers that at the sound of any music Lynette has danced since she could walk so he arranges for a young woman, who has found a way to teach the deaf to dance, to teach in Lynette's school and thus begins her career.

Lynette finally discovers that it was her father who made all this possible for her and they become reconciled.

Having found a way to do what she loves most, Lynette trains hard and learns to be a dancer and choreographer and finally, along with her two friends, Dan as Business Manager (and later husband), and Elsie as costumer, opens a school of dance and a dance company for deaf and mute dancers.

With the addition of other dancers and teachers, the school/dance company becomes an unprecedented success and because of their unusual focus and teaching methods they become internationally known. Where they go from here is an open question.

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You are invited to tango, the world's most sensual and intimate dance, through the stories and memoirs of two American tangueros. The Temptation to Tango: Journeys of Intimacy and Desire will take you where no other book on tango ever has. Short fictional pieces enter the world of tango through the dancer's eyes, heart, and skin; expository pieces provide background with lively accounts of tango's history and evolution, of personal experiences learning to tango, and of the pleasures and challenges of adding tango to our own lives. Alternating fiction and non-fiction the way we have is the only way to capture the multiple voices of tango. Ours is not a "how-to" manual or an historical treatise, but a tour of the erotic steam of crowded late night dance floors as well as the frightening challenges to body and heart.

The Temptation to Tango: Journeys of Intimacy and Desire is divided into four parts: "The Lure", "The Reality", "The Challenge" and "The Reward". First, we explore tango's romantic allure, mysterious origins, and exotic dark side. The first short story is about a Catholic priest whose hidden life of tango is exposed. Next, we focus on why tango is so hard to learn; the stresses on the body and inner-world of emotion. We investigate the cultural issues around dominance and submission. Six more short stories tell tales of couples and singles who take-on the tango with very different goals and results. Even after mastery of the dance, challenges abound: the tango scene and how to fit into it, the intimacy factor and how far to take it, and the impact on established relationships. What one can get from persevering along the arduous tango trail is sensual and emotional fulfillment, rewards frequently lacking in our society.

You are invited to tango, the world's most sensual and intimate dance, through the stories and memoirs of two American tangueros. The Temptation to Tango: Journeys of Intimacy and Desire will take you where no other book on tango ever has. Short fictional pieces enter the world of tango through the dancer's eyes, heart, and skin; expository pieces provide background with lively accounts of tango's history and evolution, of personal experiences learning to tango, and of the pleasures and challenges of adding tango to our own lives. Alternating fiction and non-fiction the way we have is the only way to capture the multiple voices of tango. Ours is not a "how-to" manual or an historical treatise, but a tour of the erotic steam of crowded late night dance floors as well as the frightening challenges to body and heart.

The Temptation to Tango: Journeys of Intimacy and Desire is divided into four parts: "The Lure", "The Reality", "The Challenge" and "The Reward". First, we explore tango's romantic allure, mysterious origins, and exotic dark side. The first short story is about a Catholic priest whose hidden life of tango is exposed. Next, we focus on why tango is so hard to learn; the stresses on the body and inner-world of emotion. We investigate the cultural issues around dominance and submission. Six more short stories tell tales of couples and singles who take-on the tango with very different goals and results. Even after mastery of the dance, challenges abound: the tango scene and how to fit into it, the intimacy factor and how far to take it, and the impact on established relationships. What one can get from persevering along the arduous tango trail is sensual and emotional fulfillment, rewards frequently lacking in our society.

Flamenco is an increasingly popular and widespread artform. Theatre shows for modern Flamenco stars are no longer considered unusual or even groundbreaking, they are mainstream. Great Flamenco guitar legends such as Paco de Lucia are sought out and watched by non Flamenco audiences. There are many new and exciting stars of Flamenco and the uptake of classes is proof of its rising popularity with schools not only in major cities, but also in the shires. Many of the Flamenco legends from the early days of the restoration have seen their own children grow up and go on to become stars in their own right. This gives us the unique opportunity to absorb the wealth of experience and knowledge of modern dance performers and teachers from Flamenco dynasties. Adults and children can learn at any time and it’s never too late to start learning to dance. Whatever you need, Flamenco can offer you something exciting. Popularised in film and literature, the passion and sheer energy in Flamenco has struck a chord with new followers in the UK and around the world. Not only is Flamenco a whole art form in itself , but it has joined other Latin dances such as Salsa and Tango as a great way to enjoy dancing, to stay fit and meet friends. There has never been a better time to learn Flamenco, so start dancing!

Eileen Kramer spent her childhood listening to the kookaburras and sailing along the coast of Australia. Dwelling on this island continent, it was not surprising that the rest of the world rarely visibly manifested itself through the window of Eileen's existence. A creative, magical spirit from the beginning, young Eileen left school at an early age, finding a course that enabled her to go her own way.

Eileen's life was changed in 1939 when she attended a performance of the Bodenwieser Dance Company in Sydney, opening the door for her world travels and her remarkable journey through life. The dance company taught its dancers more than just dance. Through Madame Bodenwieser, Eileen absorbed European culture – appreciation of music, art, architecture, politics – in other words, the dance company brought about a life-changing way of thinking.

Eileen's journeys to India, Australia, Paris and the United States have influenced her dances and have blended a wonderful intermingling of styles. She carries with her a spiritual "dilly bag" filled with ideas and images she has gathered from her world travels. Lyrical, expressive, and always creatively imaginative, Eileen Kramer's choreography, costumes, and philosophy have proven an inspiration to all those around her. This lovely book chronicles Eileen's life with tales of her travels, experiences, and escapades, as we watch her dancing lightly through the years.

"La misma noche que empezé a bailar tango, mi vida cambió de una manera tan dramática, que no pude dormir. Me obsecioné con saber porqué este baile me hacía sentir de una manera tan balanceada y feliz. Escribí algunas notas, las cuales luego se volvieron un diario, el cual con el tiempo se convirtió en este libro. El Tao del Tango es mi viaje íntimo y personal de auto-descubrimiento y transformación, aplicando las lecciones que aprendí a travez del Tango a mi vida diaria. Lecciones que se aplican tanto a los hombres como a las mujeres.

Descubrí que la felicidad de este abrazo exquisito se puede llevar más alla de la pista."

También disponible en inglés en http://www.trafford.com/00-0074.

Visite el sitio web del autor en www.taooftango.com.

How does a young woman, who hears but cannot speak, end up as the director, choreographer, and premiere danseuse for a world famous school and dance company for (believe it or not) deaf and mute dancers?

Our heroine, Lynette Barker, is blessed with parents who are wealthy, successful actors, a fine home and servants. Unfortunately, when she is found to be mute, her mother denies her existence and her father sees her as "broken" and, blind to her needs, leaves her in the care of the servants.

It was left to Lynette to find her own way and, with the loving support of the housekeeper, and butler, and two deaf friends whom she had found signing in the park, she was able to enter a school for the deaf and begin to joyfully live and learn as she had always wished.

Lynette's father, Belton Barker, a renowned actor, busied himself with his career and his wife and not only never saw what was going on in his daughter's life, but managed to continually block her from doing what she needed to do.

The ongoing struggle is devastating for Lynette and the last battle with her father - and her mother who tries to kill her - leaves her in the hospital in full pscyhologist retreat. Her father, finally realizing his culpability and fearful for her life, finally listens to the servants, teachers, and friends, who have kept a round-the-clock vigil at the hospital and begins to see who his daughter really is - a whole, quite wonderful person - and plans to help her develop the life she wants. Lynette is so angry with him that she will not accept anything from him directly but he remembers that at the sound of any music Lynette has danced since she could walk so he arranges for a young woman, who has found a way to teach the deaf to dance, to teach in Lynette's school and thus begins her career.

Lynette finally discovers that it was her father who made all this possible for her and they become reconciled.

Having found a way to do what she loves most, Lynette trains hard and learns to be a dancer and choreographer and finally, along with her two friends, Dan as Business Manager (and later husband), and Elsie as costumer, opens a school of dance and a dance company for deaf and mute dancers.

With the addition of other dancers and teachers, the school/dance company becomes an unprecedented success and because of their unusual focus and teaching methods they become internationally known. Where they go from here is an open question.

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