Second Annoucement for the "Total Tango Immersion" Event in San Francisco.
(Note: this event unrelated to the Peninsula Tango Society, or any
milongas in Los Altos, CA.)
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DonnaMite Productions, and the Producers, Dancers, and Musicians of the
stage show Tango Dreams, bring you an announcement of a very special and
unique Tango event in San Francisco:
" TOTAL TANGO IMMERSION "
Classes, Live Music, Dance Demonstrations, Milonga, and Reception
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Sunday, March 25, 2001 1 - 9 pm The Verdi Club, San Francisco
This unique event is a collaborative effort showcasing the very excellent
talents of the directors, performers and musicians of the exciting new
tango spectacular, Tango Dreams - conceived, directed, and danced by
international stars Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo - in conjunction with
the efforts of several of our local dancers and event organizers, Donna
Sotiropoulis and Victor Meneses.
San Francisco's event features a genuinely all-star classic tango "orquesta
tipica", direct from Buenos Aires, a quartet of some of Argentina's most
accomplished and renowned new-generation tango musicians. (See below, for
brief biographies of these outstanding musicians.)
This combination of Classes, Concert, Demonstrations, and Milonga, will be
a preview for the show Tango Dreams, which presented to very favorable
acclaim in Miami last year, and which will open in Los Angeles during the
period March 26 - April 6. (Two pairs of tickets to the L.A. production
will be drawn and awarded, after a drawing, to holders of tickets purchased
on or before March 22 (the regular Mariposa Tango Club milonga at the
Verdi).
The Tango Dreams musicians will come from Argentina for this Los Angeles
production, and, in anticipation of the opening in Los Angeles, will
combine with Fernanda and Guillermo in San Francisco to offer a special
mixture of Classes, a Concert, dance Demonstrations, and Milonga - danced
to the live music of one of the most eclectic and dynamic young quartets
playing tango in Argentina, or anywhere around the world.
The event will take place on Sunday, March 25th, at one of San Francisco's
oldest and most popular tango venues - and the one with the largest dance
floor - the Verdi Club. If you have been wanting to dance tango to superb
live music, see Fernanda and Guillermo perform again, introduce friends to
the essense of tango through a great beginner's class and tango concert, or
take a class on musicality from the master dancers themselves, this
all-afternoon and evening event is for you.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1:00 pm - 2:30 Beginning Tango Class with Leslie Gordon
This opening class is intended for the very first time tango student as
well as other beginning or intermediate dancers. Instructor Leslie Gordon
teaches a non-traditional, intuitive and movement-based method that has
every student taking both the role of the leader and the follower, rather
than the more traditional "Now you try it" style of the typical dance
class. From the first moment, through a mindful series of movement
exercises, the student is encouraged to sense the body's axis, the balance,
the rotation, and the relationship of lead and follow, often with eyes
closed. Leslie's motto is: "If it's not fun, don't do it", and her
classes have been lots of fun.
2:30 - 4:00 Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo will give a special class
entitled, "Musicality in Tango". San Francisco dancers have already
enjoyed workshops by this friendly and accessible couple over the past
several years. This class will express their rich experience putting the
musicality of tango into one's own dancing. (Brief dance biographies,
below.)
4:00 - 4:30 General dancing begins, to Victor Meneses' recorded music, as
the Tango Dreams Orchestra prepares for it's debut with San Francisco's
tango community and dancers.
4:30 - 5:00 The Orchestra opens the live music segment of Total Tango
Immersion with their first set, an opportunity for everyone to dance and
warm up in anticipation of the three demonstration dances which will be
presented by Fernanda and Guillermo - indisputably two of the most exciting
tango dancers in the world today. Anyone who has seen them knows how
spectacular they are. Anyone who hasn't yet seen them will soon be their
fans.
5:00 - 5:30 General dancing to recorded music
5:30 - 6:15 The Milonga begins, with everyone dancing to the second of the
three sets that will be played by the Tango Dreams Orchestra.
6:15 - 6:45 Break, and more dancing with recorded music.
6:45 - 7:15 The Milonga continues with the third live set by the
orchestra, again with dancing for everyone on the Verdi's large dance floor.
7:15 - 9 pm More dancing to the sounds of the Golden Era by Maestro
Victor Meneses.
Cost for all activities, 1 - 9 pm: $45 in advance, $55 at the door.
For those who cannot attend the first half of the event (class by Leslie,
"Musicality" workshop by Fernanda and Guillermo), you may elect to purchase
your ticket for just the Milonga (demonstration dances and three sets of
live music), starting at 4:30 pm and lasting until 9 pm. For this half of
the program, doors open at 4 pm. - $35.
Those who purchase their tickets on or before March 22 will be eligible to
win two pairs of tickets to the full Tango Dreams production, opening in
Los Angeles (March 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 at the Alex Theater, and April 4, 6
at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza).
For tickets, call either Donna: (650) 938-3261; or: Victor Meneses:
415-239-7002; or: you may purchase tickets at the Verdi Club on Thurdays.
The flyer for this event can be seen at: www.sfdonnamite.com
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Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo:
These young, dynamic, and marvelous dancers are already favorites of the
San Francisco Tango scene.
Fernanda trained in ballet with the First Youth Ballet of Buenos Aires,
received a scholarship to the world-famous Teatro Colon, and has been
performing nationally and internationally ever since. Guillermo made his
debut in 1982 under the direction of Argentina's renowned tango master Juan
Carlos Copes. Among numerous other accomplishments, he has danced with
Forever Tango on Broadway, in London, and on the U.S. tour.
As one of the most exciting young couples in tango, they have already been
featured in the dance companies of "Tango Vivo", and "Tangoing", as well as
the Sony production, "Tango Magic". As instructors, they have been
favorites at such events as the International Congress in Buenos Aires, the
U.S.T. Congress in Miami, Nora's Tango Weeks, and International Festivals
in London, Tel Aviv, and cities all over the world.
In September 1999, the couple competed in the I.D.O. Ballroom World
Championship in Miami, and earned the title of World Champions in the
Argentine Tango Division.
Christian Zarate (piano):
Although only 25 years old, Christian Zarate is considered one of
Argentina's greatest young talents. After a classical training and
performance career, Christian has entered the ranks of the foremost active
tango composers, arrangers and performers. He has played all the famous
tango houses of Buenos Aires, arranged the score for Carlos Saura's film
"Tango", and has been the pianist for "Tango Argentino" on Broadway, in
addition to scores of foreign tours and performances. Currently, he is
pianist and arranger for one of Argentina's most prestigious tango
orchestras, Color Tango, in addition to having his own sextet.
Horacio Romo (Bandoneon):
Since 9 years of age, Horacio has been playing bandoneon, certainly one of
the most difficult of all instruments to master. Just a few of his
accomplishments include: participation in Argentina's Tango National
Orchestra, Francisco Canaro's Orchestra, and nearly a decade with the Color
Tango Orchestra. Overseas, he has traveled and played music for some of
Latin America's greatest: Roberto Goyeneche, Julian Plaza, Berlingieri,
Horacio Salgan, Antonio Agri, Julio Iglesias, and others, in addition to
the Dance Company Tango Argentino in New York.
Pablo Agri (violin):
Son of the famous Antonio Agri, Pablo was soon playing with Argentina's
National Radio Youth Orchestra, the Tango Orchestra of the City of Buenos
Aires, and the Colon Theatre Orchestra. He, too, has been a member of the
well-known Color Tango Orchestra, touring with them internationally in 1995
and 1997, as well as playing alongside such luminaries as Horacio Salgan,
Nestor Marconi, Mosalini, Plaza, Berlingieri, and many other national and
international tango and classical orchestras. In 1999-2000, he was First
Violin of the Broadway production of the show Tango Argentino.
Roberto Tormo (contrabass):
Roberto began his musical studies at the National Academy of Music in
Buenos Aires. Between 1984 and 1992, he pursued his knowledge and skill
with the contrabass in several of Paris' most admired Conservatories.
Classical work was interposed with diverse opportunities playing electric
bass for folkloric singers and Brazilian jazz groups. During many European
and international tours in the late 1980s and throughout the 90s, he has
come to be known as one of tango's most eclectic and accomplished
contrabass players.
