and now it's gone. I'm so happy I was there! It was wonderful. 5 wonderful nights in New York, 3 days of classes, 4 classes a day, dancing on the Staten Island Ferry on Thursday followed by a practica and so much more. Though not part of the festival, Wednesday night's Spice milonga was held on a barge tied to a dock on the Hudson River. Classes begin Friday morning. There was a lunch time talk Friday about Gardel and one on Saturday dealing with the music of tango.
Friday night was an elegant Black and White Ball where 99.9% of the attendees were dressed formally. There were many performances that night but really stood out was Ronen Khayat and Alicia Saia (I hope I did justice to their names.) They danced a tango that made the ice in my drink melt!! It just wasn't figures. It was heat, fire and passion. Rebecca Shulman and Constatine Rueger danced a tango filled with humor. Also Diego and Carolina danced. Then there were classes on Saturday. Saturday night, not part of the package, I went to the Tango Mujer milonga. Why is it called Tango Mujer milonga? Because 2/3 of the company were at the milonga. I was fortunate to dance with 1/2 the company. What a thrill!! Then there were classes on Sunday. You can see all the classes you missed by looking at their web page www.celebratetango.com. One class I mention. "Creative Interleading" with Virginia Kelly. This is the third time she has taught this class at the festival and the third time I took it. What a treat!! This is a class that would appeal to women. I've read so many times of women who complain that classes revolve around the men. This class revolved around the woman. Virginia showed how followers can grap opportunities not to hijack the lead but to give the man something to think about. I was selected to illustrate. We stepped side for salida and then I felt her leg wrapped around mine. She got my attention. Then she displaced my foot, not the other way around. She then showed the class how to open their minds on paradas, using either foot and either side of the foot. If you think your tango is stale, TAKE THIS CLASS! After Virginia's class, onto the Il Campanello Restaurant for a supper milonga and performances. I don't remember all the names but I do remember Junior and Mariella. I could go on but I'm not. Unlike other tango festivals where you're cooped up in the hotel for meals, classes, milongas; that wasn't the case here in New York. The promoters Gayatri Martin and Lucille Krasne wanted the participants to savor the taste of New York. There was a photography crew and a journalist from a German tango magazine taking in the entire festival. I congratulate Gayatri, Lucille, and the numerous volunteers, such as Cindy, who worked behind the scenes, behind the registration desk, etc making this festival truly wonderful. I can hardly wait for next year's. I have a whole year to work on the figures I was taught -- but can't do yet. Michael Ditkoff Washington, DC
