About seven years ago I met at El Mundo del Tango a very bright and colorful character, Mr. Steve Manchester, chef and
dancer.
His spirit was energetic and cheerful, his soul was generous, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Steve had the greatest gifts:
love for life, people, and Tango!
For many years Steve came to El Mundo del Tango almost every Saturday, even though he lived in Orange County.
Saturday mornings in his tiny kitchen Steve cooked wonderful dishes trying to do his best for all people who came to the
evening's Milongas.
Also, Steve brought incredible cakes for celebrating birthdays. We liked to sit at the same table with Steve and Estrella, and took
turns in dance and talk.
Barbara and Lee Sobo organized a special Milonga at El Mundo del Tango to celebrate Steve's marriage to charming Estrella.
Steve worked all his life with charities. He was active in Crystal Cathedral, loved to cook and feed homeless.
But dance was his passion, which began about 62 years ago. It would be a special exciting book if we could publish all his
amazing life and dance stories.
Steve learned different dances in different places, even in Hollywood, where he tried "to make a run for the movies."
He said to me: "I worked out of the Arthur Prince Studio on La Brea, learning tap with Arthur Prince and among the ballet
teachers was Madame Najinska.
Once Steve described to me his first dance experience.
It was in the forties, while watching Movie Shorts, he began to dance Cuban Rumba in an aisle: "Movie Shorts were little movies
usually about 15 to 20 minutes, that played between feature films!"
After the Army in 1946, he was encouraged to take the teacher's training class at the Arthur Murray Studio in San Diego. Later,
he began to teach at the Hotel Del Coronado Studio.
"No one in San Diego knew how to Tango, and the course was just a few steps printed on a sheet of paper. I read the description
and taught my teacher. So we both learned at the same time.
In the summer of 1946, Arthur and Katherine Murray came into the Coronado Studio and talked about the Tango. They had
visited Argentina, but they could not even describe Tango, or show what it was.
However, I give Arthur and Katherine credit for developing the "American Tango", which is still done pretty much the same way
today."
Then Steve laughed: "Many times ladies would run across the room to ask me to save the tango for them. I thought I was pretty
hot stuff, because no one else there could do it. That was until I learned what Argentine Tango really was. " His open mind,
curiosity and desire to learn kept him young and brought to him happiness, which he brought in turn to all of us.
Steve started his adventure with San Diego Tango when about fifteen years ago he read an ad in the "Voz del Tango" that
Barbara Bardrick was looking for a partner.
Steve drove to her home, where was the first studio, and met Master Simard: "Ive showed me more in about two minutes than I
had gotten in the year before," said Steve.
Like many other people, Steve felt that El Mundo del Tango was his family. He brought some food for Milongas, and it became
his contribution to the success of the studio.
"I liked to think it transformed a simple dance evening into a real party". However, Steve said that his biggest input was not the
food. "I always tried to dance at least once each evening with each new person that I would see sitting alone. It was my fun, and I
know it helped encourage a lot of the present group of dancers."
Once Steve emphasized his philosophy and what he felt about the spirit of Tango.
"Suppose you bought an expensive bottle of good champagne, chilled it perfectly, and opened the bottle for a drink with a
special person. You pop the cork, and pour the champagne into a water glass filled with shaved ice, and then top it with some tap
water and stir vigorously. The bubbles are gone; the romance is gone; the sparkle is gone. You are no longer drinking
Champagne.
Why would anyone do this same thing with Tango? It is Champagne! It has sparkle! It has bubbles! It is dramatic and
stimulating. Use the sparkle and enjoy the feeling and the effect it can produce. Tango has a life of it's own. Drink Deep! Enjoy. I
enjoy my tango immensely."
Steve and Estrella supported many people, and participated in our first shows. We always experienced a very special celebration
of life, love and Tango when Mr. Steve Manchester and his smiling, charming wife Estrella came to El Mundo del Tango. They
brought some special sparkles of Champagne to all of us there and everywhere he went...
Steve died on May 30, 2008.
But the good memory about this bright person, Steve Manchester, will live forever in our hearts.
dancer.
His spirit was energetic and cheerful, his soul was generous, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Steve had the greatest gifts:
love for life, people, and Tango!
For many years Steve came to El Mundo del Tango almost every Saturday, even though he lived in Orange County.
Saturday mornings in his tiny kitchen Steve cooked wonderful dishes trying to do his best for all people who came to the
evening's Milongas.
Also, Steve brought incredible cakes for celebrating birthdays. We liked to sit at the same table with Steve and Estrella, and took
turns in dance and talk.
Barbara and Lee Sobo organized a special Milonga at El Mundo del Tango to celebrate Steve's marriage to charming Estrella.
Steve worked all his life with charities. He was active in Crystal Cathedral, loved to cook and feed homeless.
But dance was his passion, which began about 62 years ago. It would be a special exciting book if we could publish all his
amazing life and dance stories.
Steve learned different dances in different places, even in Hollywood, where he tried "to make a run for the movies."
He said to me: "I worked out of the Arthur Prince Studio on La Brea, learning tap with Arthur Prince and among the ballet
teachers was Madame Najinska.
Once Steve described to me his first dance experience.
It was in the forties, while watching Movie Shorts, he began to dance Cuban Rumba in an aisle: "Movie Shorts were little movies
usually about 15 to 20 minutes, that played between feature films!"
After the Army in 1946, he was encouraged to take the teacher's training class at the Arthur Murray Studio in San Diego. Later,
he began to teach at the Hotel Del Coronado Studio.
"No one in San Diego knew how to Tango, and the course was just a few steps printed on a sheet of paper. I read the description
and taught my teacher. So we both learned at the same time.
In the summer of 1946, Arthur and Katherine Murray came into the Coronado Studio and talked about the Tango. They had
visited Argentina, but they could not even describe Tango, or show what it was.
However, I give Arthur and Katherine credit for developing the "American Tango", which is still done pretty much the same way
today."
Then Steve laughed: "Many times ladies would run across the room to ask me to save the tango for them. I thought I was pretty
hot stuff, because no one else there could do it. That was until I learned what Argentine Tango really was. " His open mind,
curiosity and desire to learn kept him young and brought to him happiness, which he brought in turn to all of us.
Steve started his adventure with San Diego Tango when about fifteen years ago he read an ad in the "Voz del Tango" that
Barbara Bardrick was looking for a partner.
Steve drove to her home, where was the first studio, and met Master Simard: "Ive showed me more in about two minutes than I
had gotten in the year before," said Steve.
Like many other people, Steve felt that El Mundo del Tango was his family. He brought some food for Milongas, and it became
his contribution to the success of the studio.
"I liked to think it transformed a simple dance evening into a real party". However, Steve said that his biggest input was not the
food. "I always tried to dance at least once each evening with each new person that I would see sitting alone. It was my fun, and I
know it helped encourage a lot of the present group of dancers."
Once Steve emphasized his philosophy and what he felt about the spirit of Tango.
"Suppose you bought an expensive bottle of good champagne, chilled it perfectly, and opened the bottle for a drink with a
special person. You pop the cork, and pour the champagne into a water glass filled with shaved ice, and then top it with some tap
water and stir vigorously. The bubbles are gone; the romance is gone; the sparkle is gone. You are no longer drinking
Champagne.
Why would anyone do this same thing with Tango? It is Champagne! It has sparkle! It has bubbles! It is dramatic and
stimulating. Use the sparkle and enjoy the feeling and the effect it can produce. Tango has a life of it's own. Drink Deep! Enjoy. I
enjoy my tango immensely."
Steve and Estrella supported many people, and participated in our first shows. We always experienced a very special celebration
of life, love and Tango when Mr. Steve Manchester and his smiling, charming wife Estrella came to El Mundo del Tango. They
brought some special sparkles of Champagne to all of us there and everywhere he went...
Steve died on May 30, 2008.
But the good memory about this bright person, Steve Manchester, will live forever in our hearts.
"Tango is Champagne"
Steve Manchester - Dancer and Chef.
Tribute By Elena
Steve Manchester - Dancer and Chef.
Tribute By Elena
At El Mundo Del Tango, 2001-2004
Elena, Victor, Estrella, Steve, Ive
Elena, Victor, Estrella, Steve, Ive
Tango Caminito School Show. Fallbrook-04
Elena & Victor. Steve & Estrella
Elena & Victor. Steve & Estrella