Dear Tango Friends, The labor Day Milonguero festival is fast upon us. This is your final notice. Excitement builds!
"MILONGUERO" means to honor the style of the older, traditional dancers of Argentina This is the rhythmic, heart-to-heart tango you find in the afternoon milongas of central Buenos Aires. Please: - Respect the other dancers and line of dance, - Neither race around, nor hold up the lanes, fit-in steady with the crowd - Merge courteously, into the outer lane like on a highway - Move into the second lane in to permit new dancers onto the floor - Don't zig-zag across lanes. - Friday will be crowded, use special care! - Many fine dancers will attend, so try out someone new! Please pay attention to a few last minute details and changes. The latest schedule at: - http://www.tango.org - http://www.tango.org/labo5sched.pdf (0) The Doubletree Hotel block of rooms has been filled. You can STILL get the festival rate if you call 303-321-333, and ASK FOR THE LOCAL RESERVATION DESK. Identify yourself as a Tangofest participant. (1) Teachers and classes have been changed around a little and titles have been enhanced. Please refer to the schedule for titles and times: 4 classes by Christopher & Caroline (San Francisco) 3 classes by Robert Vidort (Buenos Aires) 3 classes by Jennifer & Robin (New York) 3 classes by Robert & Barbara (Portland & Atlanta) 2 classes by Avik & Yelena (Ann Arbor) 2 classes by Ramu Pyreddy (Ann Arbor) 1 class by Liz Haight (Santa Fe) To highlight one teacher, this festival features a special Milonguero dancer from Buenos Aires, Ricardo Vidort, who has been dancing over 50 years. To make his classes more special, please note that Ricardo's classes will be called "Modeling/Shadowing: the Tango of Ricardo Vidort". Ricardo will show how to move to a particular orchestra; then the students will try to imitate. We'll rotate through different orchestras. (2) Private Lessons are available with any of the featured or visiting teachers. Preference for privates goes first to festival pass holders. For lessons with Ricardo Vidort, contact [email protected] (3) You may upgrade from Milonga pass to Gold Pass or add classes upon arrival. The classes are the best way to meet numerous people and arrange dances for later in the day. Many 5 & 8 year dancers, and many local teachers from around the country are taking the classes, which means that three levels of class will each have good attendance: Adv- Intermed ASSUMES you already know milonguero vocabulary and are reasonably practiced at it. Advanced ASSUMES much experience with milonguero or numerous visits to Buenos Aires or Crowded Festivals. Please honor your own level. THIS festival does not have so many people putting themselves too high. (4) "Traditional Buenos Aires Style Milonga" on Saturday This is something new we are trying. In order to facilitate the "Cabeceo" or "the eye game", the seating will be arranged so women and men are in different sections. (Couples and non-players will be seated in their own section). Instead of walking up to the tables and asking for a dance, try to snag a dance from across the room. Gentlemen, please escort your partners back to their seat at the end of a tanda; Ladies, please accept a dance with a nod or a wink or a smile. This is for FUN! Nobody is forced to play the game. On Sunday, you may sit where you wish, but I suspect many people will choose the men's and women's sections. (5) Weather is expected to be warm-hot in the afternoon and warm-cool at night. If it storms, then it could get a bit cooler, but this is the most pleasant/predictable time of year for pleasant, sunny days. Colorado is more casual than New York or LA. Only the Saturday Milonga is labeled "elegant", and you may choose comfort over high- style for many of the other milongas. (6) Friday night and Sunday evening events are away from the hotel. If you have a car, please swing by the hotel at 9:30 - 10:30 on Friday or 5:30 - 6:30 on Sunday. If you don't have a car, please BE PROACTIVE about asking around for a ride. Maybe you have to take a taxi to get to an event, but you can certainly catch a ride with someone to return. The hotel has a free shuttle to downtown Denver, but they don't run very late. use it to go to dinner, then walk to the Mercury Cafe. In year's past, the little rental car booth in the hotel has had $10/day deals on Friday. (7) Things to do. See links on my page or http://www.5280.com for best restaurants. Taste of Colorado is a big food & crafts festival Fri - Mon of Labor Day weekend on the SE side of downtown Denver. (8) Other local events. See the appropriate website for additional local tango events: - Tues TC Practice: http://www.tangocolorado.org - Wed Tom Stermitz Advanced Classes: http://www.tango.org - Wed - Mon Tango House Activities: http://www.thetangohouse.com - Fri & Sat Performance: AIResTANGO: http://www.danceoftheheart.com/ airestango_premiere.htm Tom Stermitz http://www.tango.org 2525 Birch St Denver, CO 80207
