[Tango-A] NA-E: Cherry Blossom Milonga, Sunday, 4 April 2010, Washington DC

[Irwin L. Singer]

From: Hitomi Hayashi [mailto:iris20055 at yahoo.com]
Sent: Fri 3/26/2010 7:47 PM
To: Irwin L. Singer
Subject: Free milomga April 4thtango-a

Free Dance Party for celebrating  Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

Milonga Haru Ichiban

Time:  April 4th 2010 - 2:00 to 5:00PM
Location:  Freedom Plaza,  14th Street & Pensylvania Ave nue( use Metro Center subway)
Music & sound system by DJ Mark Sakowski
Bring  comfortable shoes and soft drinks & snacks to share if you please.  [NO ALCOHOL]
Please clean up after yourself.

Featuring mostly traditional Argentine tango music [includes Japanese tango music from the 1930's] plus
Swing, Salsa, ChaCha, Merengue and other rhythms for your enjoyment.
In Japan people have been dancing, singing, drinking, eating, chatting and having fun beneath cherry blossom trees since the 7th century.  According to a Japanese history website, in ancient times when people did not have "year calendars", they believed that an abundant flowering of cherry trees in spring would bring an abundant harvest in autumn. 
We love cherry blossoms very much.  From the south to north - mid March to early May -- "Sakura" Bloom all over Japan. Every small town celebrates and has a festival "SAKURA MATSURI".  It is amazing!
Cherry blossoms are gorgeous but scatter quickly. They symbolize how fleeting life is . . . here today, gone tomorrow. Nothing lasts forever.  Cherry blossoms also symbolize the pure spirit of Japanese ethics . . . "How to live beautifully and how to die beautifully."  Do not have attachments or greed.   [I highly recommend that you see "Last Samurai;"  the story itself wasn't good, but it is a beautiful movie.]
Amateur organizer & dancer Hitomi Hayashi (iris20055 at yahoo.com)