Dear Tangueros and (especially) Aspiring Tangueros,
This weekend Alberto Paz and Valorie Hart, professional tango instructors
from California, will be coming to town to offer workshops and lesson in
Argentine tango at the White Street Arts Center. Champaign-Urbana rarely has
the opportunity to have professional tango instructors visit, so don't miss
this opportunity. If the expected enthusiasm for increasing our expertise in
tango is demonstrated, we hope to continue to offer workshops and lessons in
tango. Don't miss this opportunity. Register now (by contacting Joe Grohens,
as indicated below). The workshops are filling up quickly. There are also a
few slots still available for private lessons.
Also be sure to attend our inaugural milonga (social dance) on Saturday
night from 8-11 PM at the Philips Recreation Center. Admission is $3. The
Philips Recreation Center is located at Springfield and McCullough in
Urbana, on the north side of the street (about 3 blocks east of Lincoln, 3
blocks west of Race - it's shown on the Yellow Pages map). The entrance and
parking lot are aroiund the corner on Stoughton (one block north of
Springfield). The Philips Center has a beautiful floor for dancing.
Note: We will be having monthly milongas at the Philips Center on the 2nd
Saturday of the month.
I have heard various excuses for not attending this workshop, none of which
are valid. For example:
(1) 'I already know a lot of dances. Why add Argentine tango?'
Argentine tango is like no other dance I have ever danced, and I know about
20 or so different dances. The music is powerful and moving. There is a
close connection between partners and delicate communication that is like no
other dance. There is beauty in the movements and expressiveness that is
truly unique. Argentine tango can deliver one from the boring mediocrity of
mundance daily existence, ignite romance, drive one towards personal
excellence, and provide a raison d'etre that delivers one from a
meaningless, directionless existence. (Fellow tangueros would concur.)
(2) 'When am I ever going to dance tango'?
There are practicas (practice sessions) every Sunday from 7-9 PM at the
White Street Arts Center. The Regent Ballroom has 1/2 hour of tango
(sometimes more) before salsa dances, which occur about once a month. As
mentioned above, we will be having monthly milongas the the Philips Center.
As the expected population explosion in local tangueros occurs, organizers
of ballroom dances will have no other option but to include Argentine tango
in their programs.
(3) 'If there are several months between workshops, I won't have a chance to
learn more tango and I'll forget what I know.'
Coming to our weekly practicas will help you retain what you have learned.
We are also going through this learning process together, so we often help
each other. There are also classes given regularly by group members at
various locations around town, and there is a monthly lesson in Bloomington.
There are even private lessons available locally.
(4) 'I can't find a partner.'
Since I have heard this from numerous men and women, there must be numerous
people seeking partners. The best solution for this is to come to the
workshop, practicas, milongas and lessons and find that sought after
partner. As our group grows, there will be even more people with the same
desire. Although Argentine tango can reach its greatest beauty when dancing
with that right partner, dancing with numerous partners also helps you
improve so that you will be a desirable tanguero or tanguera when that right
partner comes along. At our practicas and milongas we do a lot of mingling,
exchanging partners. We are a very friendly group.
(5) 'I don't like ballroom tango. Why should I learn Argentine tango?'
Argentine tango has only a slight resemblance to ballroom tango. Whereas
ballroom (particularly international style) tango is done in a quick
marching style devoid of romance, Argentine tango is a slower and more
romantic dance.
Okay, enough proselytizing. Just show up and dance!
Detailed info below.
>Return-Path: <owner-dancing-discuss-l@POSTOFFICE.CSO.UIUC.EDU>
>Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 03:51:45 -0500
>Reply-To: Joe Grohens <joe@WOLFRAM.COM>
>Sender: University of Illinois -- Dancing Illini
> <DANCING-DISCUSS-L@POSTOFFICE.CSO.UIUC.EDU>
>From: Joe Grohens <joe@WOLFRAM.COM>
>Subject: Visiting Argentine Tango Teachers
>Comments: To: dancing@uiuc.edu
>Comments: cc: cu-tango@egroups.com
>To: DANCING-DISCUSS-L@POSTOFFICE.CSO.UIUC.EDU
>
>Dear Tango dancers,
>
>Something absolutely great is in store for us! These are two people
>that I respect a lot, and I highly recommend these workshops.
>
>Joe
>
>
>
>
>===o0o==========o0o========o0o===
>
>ARGENTINE TANGO WORKSHOPS
>With Alberto and Valorie
>
>Friday-Sunday, Nov 12-14, 1999
>
>===o0o==========o0o========o0o===
>
>At:
>
>White Street Arts Center
>304 1/2 East White Street
>Champaign, IL 61820
>(ph) 217-359-1862
>
>
>White Street Arts Center is proud to welcome Argentine Tango Master
>Instructors Alberto Paz (the TangoMan) and Valorie Hart (La Mariposa) of
>Planet Tango, Sunnyvale, CA.
>
>Alberto and Valorie are well-known for their smooth, creative and
>elegant improvisational dancing style, their enthusiasm and patience,
>and their knowledge of Argentine Tango. They are continuously invited
>to all the major tango communities in addition to the ones they
>have helped establish and nurture across the U.S.
>
>
>________________________________
>[W1] DANCE TANGO TONITE
>FRIDAY Nov. 12, 7:30-9:00 PM
>A workshop designed for those wishing to dance Argentine Tango for
>the first time. Also recommended for dancers wishing to understand
>the concept of improvisation, and for teachers and prospective
>teachers interested in learning the methodology used by old masters
>in Buenos Aires. Men and women are drilled with movements that
>emphasize posture, balance and musicality. A series of useful
>figures provide the bases for understanding displacements on the
>line of dance, changes of direction, and stationary patterns.
>
>________________________________
>[W2] ALL LEVELS ARGENTINE TANGO CLUB STYLE
>SATURDAY Nov. 13, 1:00-2:30 PM
>A workshop focusing on the rhythm of Tango and the ability to
>improvise on a crowded dance floor. A must for those who find
>it difficult listening and dancing to the music. The only way to
>dance in the clubs of downtown Buenos Aires.
>
>________________________________
>[W3] ALL LEVELS ARGENTINE TANGO FLOORCRAFT
>SATURDAY Nov. 13, 3:00-4:30 PM
>A workshop designed for all levels of experience. Men and women
>will learn technical aspects of balance, posture and body alignment.
>The techniques taught in this workshop will allow women to dance
>with confidence with any and every man, and will help men develop
>the confidence and finesse to communicate with any and every woman
>on the dance floor. Women are sensitized to recognize and respond
>to La marca. (La marca is sometimes loosely translated as "lead";
>it is a sophisticated two-way communication unique to Argentine
>Tango.) Men are taught how to use La marca. Building on the concepts
>of the "mark and response" and the structure of the turns, men and
>women will understand the building blocks for Tango improvisation.
>
>________________________________
>[W4] CLUB STYLE VALS CRUZADO
>SUNDAY Nov. 14, 5:00-7:00 PM
>(Sunday Practice Session follows at 7:00-9:00 PM)
>
>The rhythm of the vals is used to develop figures and patterns for dancing
>in a crowded floor. This is the "creole" version of the traditional
>ballrom vals adopted by the Argentine orchestras at a time when they wanted
>to appeal to the middle and upper class. It is a very popular dance
>complementary to the Tango at the milongas in Buenos Aires.
>
>________________________________
>TUITION:
>Each class is $25 per person.
>
>Discounts--
>. Pay in advance and each class costs only $20.
>. Three workshops paid in advance: only $50.
>. All four workshops (6.5 hours of expert instruction!) in advance: only $60.
>
>A limited number of private lessons are available at $60 per hour for
>one or two persons. Make your reservations soon.
>
>REGISTRATION:
>To register for group and private classes with Valorie and Alberto
>call JOE GROHENS at 217-328-1008, or send email to joe@wolfram.com.
>
>Make checks payable to PLANET TANGO, and mail to
>
> Tango Workshop
> White Street Arts Center
> P.O. Box 664
> Urbana, IL 61803
>
>The White Street Arts Center is a non-profit organization.
>
>
>**************************
>
>SPECIAL SATURDAY NIGHT PUBLIC DANCE
>
>In honor of Alberto and Valorie, The Tango Society of Central Illinois
>will host a Milonga (Tango Social Dance) at Phillips Recreation Center.
>
>Alberto and Valorie will give a Tango exhibition.
>
>Saturday
>8-11 pm
>
>Phillips Recreation Center
>505 W. Stoughton
>Urbana
>
>Admission: $3.00
>
>Proceeds from the dance will go to a fund to help the
>park district purchase the "Tango" sculpture in Meadowbrook Park.
>
>
>**************************
>About Alberto and Valorie
>
>Alberto grew up in the streets of Buenos Aires, and Valorie is an
>American. Alberto is also a writer, historian and lecturer on
>Argentine Tango. Valorie is an artist who possesses a natural
>sensitivity for the Argentine Tango, the music, the dance and its
>culture. They publish El Firulete, The Argentine Tango Magazine.
>
>Alberto and Valorie teach the time-honored craft of improvisation as
>it is socially practiced in clubs and salons of Buenos Aires. Accordingly,
>they encourage both new and experienced dancers to work together in
>classes and workshops, to learn to dance on the spur of the moment,
>to follow the music rather than prescribed steps, and to create
>their own patterns and figures from a set of simple, basic templates.
>
>Visit their Planet Tango web site at, http://www.hooked.net/~tangoman
>
>
Ronald M. Weigel, Ph.D.
Professor
Division of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
2001 S Lincoln Avenue
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61802 USA
phone: (217)-244-1365
messages: (217)-333-2449
FAX: (217)-244-7421
e-mail: weigel@uiuc.edu
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