FROM: Christina Johnson, President of Exotic Tango Vacations, LLC, See:
www.beyondtango.com. Email: [email protected].
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
“what’s next?” even if it sometimes invlolves the gratifying risk of
hiking thru lava tubes in Hawai’i, or boarding a small plane to wander
through the ancient jungle ruins of Tikal in Guatemala.
THE DIFFERENCE:
LARGE tango “congresos”, 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. 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.
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 “ordinary” activities on the trip. More
opportunity to “kin ye”, say the Scots! Kindness and respect are
natural results.
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 “home group”. COUPLES get lots of time to be with each
other and do “their own thing” 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 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
“TANGO FIESTA” 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.
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!
