Feb. 29, Mar. 1 and 2 ~ Tango Workshops and Performances with Gato Valdez and Andrea Monti from Buenos Aires return to Chicago for only 3 days and nights plus an incredible evening, on Sat., March 1, with Melina Brufman & Claudio Gonzalez. Gato’s masculine intensity and Andrea’s endless, flashing legs will delight us as we marvel at and learn from their exquisite Argentine Tango expertise during a weekend of workshops & performances. Gato and Andrea, again sponsored by WindyCityTango, Unlimited, will showcase at milongas on Friday and Saturday nights, teach a pre-milonga class on Friday and 6 workshops on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Gato and Andrea are masters of the extremes of Argentine tango – they exemplify traditional salon dancing in their teaching yet perform with drama!!! This handsome couple exudes virility and sophistication (you won’t believe Andrea’s legs!!!). Gato and Andrea’s warm and FUN personalities emanate beyond their consummate professional personas. They have been dancing refined and distinguished "Tango Salón" together since 1998. Highly regarded in Buenos Aires, a growing worldwide reputation not only for their elegance, technique and musicality, but also for their “caminar a tierra” … Gato and Andrea are true representatives of the typical tango “porteño”, adapted with contemporary flair. As tango teachers, Gato and Andrea’s method is based on their techniques of posture, balance, axes, weight changes, rhythm and - the especially important - tango walk, making emphasis on interpretation of the music and encouraging students to express their own feelings while dancing … to dance with emotion! To begin the weekend, Gato and Andrea will teach a pre-milonga class and showcase during milonga Nuestro Tango at the Latvian Community Center (4146 N Elston Ave @ Hamlin). A pre-milonga class, for ALL levels of dancers at a special price of $15 (separate from milonga $15 entry), will introduce or re-aquaint Gato and Andrea to Chicago dancers. “Alternative Camidas: various possibilities for walking – pausing, musicality, half turns, navigation, changing embrace, etc.” will be taught from 7:45–9:00p; milonga Nuestro Tango will be danced from 9:00p–1:00+a. There will not be a free fundamentals class on Feb. 29. Gato and Andrea also will perform on Sat., March 1 with Melina Brufman and Claudio Gonzalez, direct from the Broadway show "Forever Tango", in a Tango Eclectique extravagant milonga at Metropolis Ballroom (6 S Vail, Arlington Hts., IL 60005 - www.metropolisballroom.com). The show will begin at 9:00p (doors open at 8:30p);, entry is $36 (single seats) or $46 (seats at table ringing the stage) – more information is available at www.chicagotangoshows.com. Enjoy the sensational evening of “Love, Passion, and Tango…” with live music provided by Damian Rivero (grandson of legendary Tango voice, Edmundo Rivero), vocals; Agustin Alvarez, guitar; and, from Alma de Tango, Mary Martel, piano. A special milonga, with Guest DJ Carlos Favre, will follow the performances. Food will be available for purchase and a cash bar will be open throughout the evening. Tickets are on sale at ticketweb.com or from Phoebe; seating is limited. You can watch a recent Melina and Claudio performance in Washington DC at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmJrGrfeiGU. Workshops: on Sat., March 1 and Sun., March 2, Gato and Andrea will teach six 1½ hour intermediate and advanced Argentine Tango workshops. Saturday, March 1 workshops will be at Tango Life (601 N Western Ave, Chicago 60612): 12:00noon–1:30p “Technique and Adornos: walks, pivots and ochos, turns”; 2:15–3:45 p “Tango I: sacadas and barridas, double and half time, combinations”; and, 4:00–5:30 p, “Vals I: cross system, double time, turns, changes of front”. Sunday, March 2 workshops will be at Café Duvall (2257 W 23rd Pl, Chicago 60608): 1:00–2:30p, “Milonga: syncopation with complex combinations”; 2:45–4:15 p, “Tango II: double turns with entradas, stops and voleos”; and, 4:30–6:00p, “Vals II: combinations with syncopation and displacements”. Followed by “Opposites Attract” practica, hostessed by Phoebe J Grant and Jacqueline Cahill – at a specially delayed time 6:00–8:00p, guided by Gato and Andrea. Workshop Pricing: Remember, as always with WCT, your price per workshop goes down the more workshops you take: 1 workshop without reservation - $30 (or, with reservation AND pre-paid - $29); 2 workshops with advance reservation - $59 ($57 - if pre-paid); 3 - $87 ($84); 4 - $114 ($110); 5 - $140 ($135); 6 - $165 $155); and, including Friday’s pre-milonga class, ALL for $180. Not only are additional WCT discounts available if you travel more than 60 miles (1-way) to study with Gato & Andrea (ask Phoebe for details), but also you now can pay via PayPal® (send payment to [email protected])! The fine print: We strongly recommend respect for the level designated for each class/workshop. Please allow at least 15 minutes before class to check in, register, and warm up. We will encourage rotation of partners, but you are allowed to stay with your own partner as long as you choose. A partner is NOT required, but it is recommended to pre-register for all classes / workshops so we can better balance lead vs. follow. WCT together with Gato and Andrea reserve the right to change any class/workshop title or level or to cancel without adequate attendance. Reserve YOUR private lesson time!! Gato & Andrea will be in Chicago for only 3 days and nights. Although they want to give each student as much time as possible, time is limited. Remember, WCT offers a $10/hour MAX discount for each hour of private lessons with Gato & Andrea for a PAID workshop (Friday pre-milonga class does not qualify). Also, a minimum 24 hour notice to Phoebe or Gato & Andrea is required to cancel a private lesson – or you pay the full fee. Please note, private lesson rates do not include the cost of studio space (if necessary); however, there is no added charge for lessons at P.J. Grant’s home studio (2800N/3600W). Furthermore, “privacy” or transportation time to your location will be billed at the applicable hourly rate. For questions, details, to pre-register or to schedule private lessons, contact Phoebe J. Grant at 312-60TANGO (312-608-2646 text messages welcome) or [email protected] (direct email to cell phone) or, for tango business, to [email protected] (allow 24 hours for response from this address). Gato Valdez and Andrea Monti’s visit to Chicago is a WindyCityTango, Unlimited Event 2008
