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ABOUT ARGENTINE TANGO
Argentine Tango is not the tango you see in Ballroom Championship dancing on TV, nor is it what you might have learned in a Ballroom tango class. Rather, it's the social partner dance that is practiced in clubs in Buenos Aires and all over the world, with an emphasis on the relationship between you, your partner, and the music. It is more sensuous and more intimate than other derivative forms of tango. The movie The Tango Lesson has good examples of both club style and stage Tango. Many ballroom dancers (ourselves among them), once introduced to Argentine Tango, have forsaken the study of other dances to focus solely on this exhilarating, romantic, and intensely passionate dance: the Tango.
MONTHLY MILONGA IN POINT ARENAHosted by Walter & Raquel
Tango at 215 Main is a once-a-month milonga at "215 Main", a beer and wine bar across from the Arena Theater in Point Arena, CA.
Scheduled for one Friday of every month, 8 to 11 pm. Next milonga date TBA.
FREE except for the purchase of a drink (non-alcoholic drinks are available).
A Yelp review of the "215 Main" bar: http://www.yelp.com/biz/215-main-point-arena
UPCOMING EVENTS ...
A list of workshops, festivals, and other special events occurring in roughly the western third of North America.
May 2013:
- Denver Memorial Day Tango Festival, Thurs-Mon, May 23-27, 2013:
The 13th annual Memorial Day tango festival "by dancers, for dancers" in Denver, CO: denvertangofestival.com
June 2013:
- Cecilia Gonzales at Pomegranate Studio, Mon-Wed, June 17-19, 2013:
World renowned tango teacher Cecilia Gonzales returns to Pomegranate Studio to teach a 1.5 hour workshop on Tuesday, June 18, at 7 pm for "experienced beginners" through "intermediate and advanced dancers". $25 (plus minimal floor fee). Limited to 18 dancers, gender balanced; first come, first served. A practica will follow (included in workshop price). Cecilia is also available for private lessons Monday through Wednesday. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Susan at upnupnco@sonic.net. Pomegranate Studio is in Point Arena, CA. (No website available.)
- Burning Tango, Fri-Sun, June 28-30, 2013:
Back for its second year, the popular Burning Tango event will again be held in McCloud, OR: claysdancestudio.com
July 2013:
- Nora's Tango Weekend, Thurs-Sun, July 4-7, 2013:
The 16th annual Tango Weekend Festival hosted by Nora Dinzelbacher, featuring world class tango masters from Argentina; at the San Mateo Marriott Hotel, in San Mateo, CA: tangoweek.com/index.html
- Seattle TangoMagic, Thu-Mon, July 11-15, 2013:
Held on the beautiful Univ. of Washington campus, includes an outdoor salmon bake and milonga; Seattle, WA: seattletangomagic.com
- Gustavo Naveira & Giselle Anne Seminars, Fri-Sun, July 12-14 2013:
"Yunta Brava" seminar with Donato y Carolina and Fernando y Ariadna, in Boulder, CO: gustavoygiselle.com (scroll down page about half way to see announcement)
- Summer Milonguero Encuentro with Liz & Masami, Fri-Sun, July 12-14, 2013:
Casa Tango of Salida, CO, offers a Summer Milonguero Encuentro, three days of workshops and milongas with guest instructors Liz Haight and Masami Hirokawa from Santa Fe, NM. Limited, gender balanced enrollment: in Salida, CO: casatangosalida.com
August 2013:
- NEW! Redwood Tango Ensemble Trio, Sat, Aug 10, 2013:
The Redwood Tango Ensemble Trio (bandoneon, piano, & violin) plays their new music and old favorites, one night only, 9 pm to midnight, at the Redwood Cafe, 8240 Old Redwood Highway, in Cotati, CA: redwoodtango.com
- Denver Labor Day Tango Festival, Exact dates not yet available; over Labor Day weekend, August-September 2013:
The annual Labor Day tango festival "by dancers, for dancers" in Denver, CO: denvertangofestival.com
September 2013:
- Tucson Tango Fall Festival, Thu-Sun, September 19-22, 2013:
The Tucson Tango Fall Festival is "all about world-class social dancing, instruction, live music and the Argentine Tango experience." QTango of Albuquerque, NM, provides live music and maestros perform on Sat. night. In Tucson, AZ: tucsontangofallfest.com
October 2013:
- Boulder Tango Festival with Gustavo & Giselle Anne, Fri-Sun, Oct 4-6, 2013:
A 3 day festival hosted by Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne with other guest instructors; classes, performance, milongas and more; in Boulder, CO: gustavoygiselle.com
- Portland Tangofest, Wed-Mon, Oct 9-14, 2013:
Clay Nelson's original week-long tango festival, still one of the best; in Portland, OR: portlandtangofest.com
- Red Carpet Tango Festival, Thu-Sun, Oct 10-13, 2013:
Four days of dancing, 4 sets of well-known Argentine instructors; workshops designed with "the utmost in personalized and immersive experience in mind"; dedicated to the memory of Anibal Troilo; in Las Vegas, NV: redcarpettangofestival.com/
- "Tango Turns Ten" with Gustavo & Giselle Anne, Fri-Sun, Oct 25-27, 2013:
Tango Turns, Inc. of southern California celebrates their tenth anniversary with 3 days of seminars, performance and milongas featuring Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne; in Santa Barbara, CA: tangomilonga.biz
For more information on tango events in the San Francisco bay area and other major US cities, visit the excellent and comprehensive Tango Mango website at tangomango.org.
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THE TEMPTATION TO TANGO
By Irene D. Thomas and Larry M. Sawyer
Two of Tango Mendocino's resident milongueros have written a fascinating book about the attraction of tango and what it's like to learn this complex and engaging dance.
A unique feature of this book is that it includes both a man's and a woman's point of view. Irene's essays give newcomers an idea of what they will encounter, both physically and emotionally, in the process of learning this dance; advanced dancers will recognize themselves and the experiences she describes. Larry's short stories offer vignettes of the tango experience from a variety of perspectives and add an extra dimension that enhances the reader's understanding of the alluring world of tango.
Part essay, part memoir, part history, part fiction, The Temptation To Tango appeals to experienced dancers, beginners just starting their tango journey, those who aren't yet sure if tango is for them, and those who are simply curious about why this dance is so compelling to so many.
Excerpts from the book are available online. Visit their website, http://TheTemptationToTango.com, for more information and to order your copy.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF LEAD AND FOLLOW ROLES
Leaders:
Some may say that Leading is the more challenging role in tango, because from a kaleidoscope of options, continuous split-second decisions require pleasing a partner, interpreting the music, maintaining safety & direction, and uniquely expressing oneself.
Followers:
Some may say that Following is the more challenging role in tango, because it requires near-psychic sensitivity which must be slightly subdued, while making continuous accurate split-second responses to match a partner, enhance the music, maintain balance, and uniquely express oneself.
With thanks to Polly McBride of Portland, OR -- from her (now defunct) All Things Argentine Tango website.
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TANGO DANCE ETIQUETTE
Here is an informative explanation of the etiquette of the Tango. This is especially good information for new dancers who haven't yet had much experience at milongas or Tango dance workshops, with lots of good general tips plus specific advice for leaders and for followers. More experienced milongueros probably know much of this already, but it's still a good review.
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WHERE DO WE DANCE?
Here are maps and driving directions to tango venues on the Mendocino coast:
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