WHY WOULD YOU CONSIDER AN EXOTIC TANGO VACATION?
Exotic Tango Vacations were created and developed as a way to offer dancers
the gift of travel, as well as delightfully indulging their passion for
tango. They are for people who love Argentine tango, who enjoy learning
about new cultures, folks who are open to new experiences. Our clients love
travel, and tend to be curious as to ³what¹s next?² even if it sometimes
invlolves the gratifying risk of hiking thru lava tubes in Hawai¹i, or
boarding a small plane to wander through the ancient jungle ruins of Tikal
in Guatemala.
THE DIFFERENCE:
LARGE tango ³congresos², festivals, or annual weekends, are attended by
200-600 people. They tend to have several tango shows or exhibitions, and 8
hours a day of class followed by milongas attended by hundreds.
They are most often in large, newer hotels, and the emphasis is dancing
many hours of class with several different teachers. These large events
offer a huge menu of tango electives. Registrants tend to come from
different large cities, and those groups tend to stick together. The time is
for tango, tango, and more tango; to watch it, learn it, dance it, and be
exhausted from it by the time you close your eyes, from 6AM till 10:00AM.
They are great to attend for complete inundation of Argentine tango, and for
having many different partners of all levels.
CRUISES are good for those who choose a controlled environment, easy
access to food, and the convenience of easy access to the cocktail lounge or
pool. We question whether a cruise is necessarily travel, as one usually
gets off the boat only once or twice at a foreign port for only a few hours
ETV offers what we feel is a more valuable way to receive treasured
memories for what you are paying.
VALUE is the core of ETVs; our vacations are at least 20% less
expensive than other travel options. For example, the current package we are
offering to South Africa is $1,000 less than any other comparable package
for Africa on the internet. $175 a day is the average cost of an ETV This
usually includes many meals, fine lodging, bus tours, activities, three
hours of class each day, a milonga each night, and the best tango
instructors.
Since the value and success of our trips is based on results of positive
feeling, fulfillment, and belonging, these are hard to measure. ETVs that
take place in some countries have free events for locals, and offer
scholarships. Discounts are always given to the locals of any community, and
fundraiser shows take place when invited by the community. The bottom line
is not financial.
THE IDEA of Exotic Tango Vacations is to enjoy, surprise, delight,
taste, tempt, and requite. The philosophy is that by discovering and
learning together, we become more intimate friends, and have fulfillment
that cannot happen alone; as in tango. The extraordinary connection that we
experience thru tango repeats itself with one another during ³ordinary²
activities on the trip. More opportunity to ³kin ye², say the Scots!
Kindness and respect are natural results.
POLITICS: When foreigners, especially North Americans, travel and
relate with this attitude, we think that possibly more is done to promote
world peace than many letters to one¹s president.
THE LOCATIONS we choose to visit are unusual ones of great beauty,
culture, and interest. Our accommodations are everything from monasteries in
Italy, to a 15th century Chateau in France, to Haciendas in Mexico. We try
and find unusual places that have a space to dance, or one nearby.
OUR WISH is that by the end of each trip, you (including teachers)
feel full, relaxed, restored, and loved. We wish that you feel at least 80%
satisfied with your improvement in tango skills. We wish that your
experience be so fulfilling and excellent, that you will attend many more
Exotic Tango Vacations! And we wish that you share your great experiences
with your friends.
ETVs ARE INTIMATE, and one should expect to receive individual attention
from the teachers, and from each other. The milongas are small, and the
teachers join in to participate with dancing. Because they are small,
participants tend to want to meet each other, and spend time among those
from other cities and countries. We encourage participants to use these
experiences for new friendships, and expand out from their ³home group². The
open sharing, laughter, and creativity common to friendly groups is a unique
experience of ETV vacations and a very popular attraction to our events.
COUPLES get lots of time to be with each other and do ³their own thing² if
they choose. Classes are timed so they will not interfere with other
possibilities of recreation.
Everyone has options for how they spend their time, after all, it is your
vacation.
WE DANCE in class about three hours a day, have practicas and milongas most
nights, and explore different activities together; or some spend some
delicious solitary time during the day. Usually all levels are offered,
although some trips are especially for beginners, or for interm/advanced
students.
PEOPLE attending the vacations appreciate the intimacy of small groups, with
friendly, outgoing people, curious about new places, cultures, and
"happenings." I like to offer experiences with the local people, unusual
settings, and lots of friendship time with the teachers.
The TEACHERS we employ are excellent professionals with international
reputations as masters of their craft. They are chosen because of their
endearing personal qualities, as well as their remarkable teaching skills.
They look forward to being invited to our events, and to the special
experience of being a part of these trips. They enjoy being with the group,
and like to take a vacation from ³always being the teacher.² They are fun to
be with, easy to be around, and it is a joy to work and play with them. They
need and take their own space, and teach as many private lessons as they
wish, as it is their vacation as well.
LARGE EVENTS:
At this date, ETV has put on one LARGE festival only; the INTERNATIONAL
³TANGO FIESTA² IN MEXICO, in San Miguel de Allende. Because of size, the
festival cannot give as much personal attention to each student, but
individual interest groups are available to explore aspects of Mexican
culture.
As we do on the small ETV¹s, the festival has activities like
joining the ³estudiantinos² for a night serenading houses from the streets,
while sampling Mexican tequila, visiting ghost mining towns for a milonga
and picnic, Spanish classes, Mexican cooking classes, swimming in hot
springs, etc.
WHAT WAS MISSING?
Was the only thing missing from your last vacation tango? Is your perfect
ending to a day of abundant pleasure to purge your soul with Pugliese? Do
you want to celebrate and giggle before turning in, but there is no one to
grab for the traspie in the last milonga?
If you are a person who loves Argentine Tango, loves to travel, and
to have exciting new experiences; these trips are for you!
For a good write up from a participant, see Frank Howard¹s page of
www.tangomendocino.com <http://www.tangomendocino.com/>
For more comments on trips, write to me, and I will send them many comments
from several participants.
kiki...@earthlink.net, Christina Johnson, President of Exotic Tango
Vacations, LLC
Webpage: www.beyondtango.com <http://www.beyondtango.com/>
