The detailed workshop, milonga and performance schedule for the 2006 International Chicago Tango Festival – which begins in less than 1 week - has been posted to www.chicagotangofest.com/festivalupdates.php. In separate postings today, we have listed many attractive airfares to Chicago still available for arrival on August 25 or 26, 2006 as well as additional information on the registration for the festival, including individual workshops. The 2006 International Chicago Tango Festival features instructors from around the world, including Fernanda Ghi & Guillermo Merlo (Argentina), Andrea Misse & Javier Rodriguez (Argentina), Nancy Louzan & Damian Esell (Argentina), Lorena Gasse & Ariel Barrionuevo (Argentina), Paulo Araujo (Brazil) & Phoebe J. Grant (Chicago), Natalie Brateli & Pino Dangiola (Greece and Sweden), and Eugenia Parilla (Argentina) & Somer Surgit (Turkey/Chicago). In addition to the National Uruguayan Gala Dinner Show on Friday, August 25 (6:30-8:30 pm) at the Knickerbocker Hotel (163 E. Walton Place, Chicago), the International Chicago Tango Festival is producing a theater performance “Dance of the Eternal”. This original production will showcase the visiting international teachers as well as several local Argentine tango instructors. “Dance of the Eternal” will be presented on Saturday evening, August 26, beginning at 7:30 pm at the Chicago Theater for the Performing Arts (777 North Green St., off Chicago Ave. just west of Halstead St.), 312.327.2040. A second performance may be added on Sunday, August 27 (also at 7:30 pm) if adequate interest is received. The International Chicago Tango Festival will host 4 milongas – one each night beginning on Thursday, August 25, including 2 all night opportunities for dancing! All milongas will feature live music with guest DJs in between sets. The Thursday and Friday milongas will be danced in the Crystal Ballroom at the Knickerbocker Hotel (163 E. Walton Place); Thursday’s milonga will be from 9:00 pm until 3:00 am. Friday’s milonga, co-hosted by Nuestro Tango, Inc., will begin at 10:00 pm after the National Uruguayan Gala Dinner Show, and will continue until 6:00 am. (Please note there will be NO last Friday of the month milonga at The Latvian Community Center for this month only.) The Saturday all night milonga, following the theater performance of “Dance of the Eternal”, will be in the two ballrooms at the American Tango Institute (325 N. Hoyne at Carroll) from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. The Sunday Farewell milonga will be at the HotHouse (31 E. Balbo Ave) from 8:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Live music at the milongas will be provided by Chicago’s own Orchestra Bohemia, orchestrated by master Uruguayan bandoneonist Gerardo Perez and six other musicians and, on Sunday night at the HotHouse, by Chicago’s Tiempo Tango, organized by flutist Julie Koiden. DJs for the milongas include: Jackie Ling Wong of the Berkshires (when she’s not traveling as DJ/instructor or to BsAs …), and Avik Basu and Vijay Namasivayam – both from Ann Arbor and well known around the country for their music selections, plus Chicago based DJs for the opening milonga. Registration - With six days until festival opening on Thursday, August 24, we still are receiving registrations, although some groups are nearly full with attendees from all over the world! You can register on line at the website or, for further information please contact: Pam Bosack, Registration Coordinator at [email protected] / 847-962-1879 or Babette Klein at [email protected] / 312-771-1226. Volunteers - Festival organizers still are welcoming volunteers for various duties. If you’d like to be involved, contact our Volunteer Organizer - Mary Jane Oliver at [email protected] / 708-358-4117. Vendors - The International Chicago Tango Festival will feature many vendors of tango shoes, clothes, art and other tango related merchandise. The booths will be open at the Knickerbocker Hotel during the Fest. If you have products you would like to offer for sale to festival participants, contact the Vendor Coordinator, Shelia Lonergen at [email protected] / 847-266-9881. Videotaping - The taping of workshops as well as the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night shows will NOT be permitted. DVDs of the workshops and other Fest events will be on sale at the end of the festival. Parking - We have secured a special parking rate for Fest participants at The Standard Parking garage (253 E. Delaware) for rate for 12-24 hours is $21. There will be no problem in taking your car out Saturday night for the stage performance and the milonga at ATI and later returning it to the garage on Sunday morning. You must identify yourself as a participant in the International Chicago Tango Fest.
