Update from Milongueando en BA 2010
Update from Milongueando 2010
We have all had a wonderful enriching time over here at the Milongueando festival in Buenos Aires.
It is certainly like no other tango festival I know and has reminded me why I dance the tango. It has been a privilege to meet & dance with so many like minded people. I only hope I can bring back & transmit a fraction of what I have learned and experienced here. It has also been fantastic to see Raul and many others from la Academia again.
Festival Highlights
* A very popular milonga class with Maria
Plazaola & Hugo on drums taking us back
to the African roots and earthy movement
of the dance. The drums were used to help
dancers feel and use the base rhythms of
the milonga.
* Men’s Technique class with Susana Miller More than just technique! Susana transmitted the feeling of the dance and how men can express this in their every step. This was ground breaking for some of the men who attended & I have seen the results of this as I danced with some of them afterwards …..mmmmmm
* Immersion course for beginner/intermediates
with Alicia Pons. This group worked together
intensively throughout the festival. Alicia
has a wonderful ability for communicating
the essence of the tango and encouraging
her students at all levels to embrace their
personality & emotion in the dance.
* Classes with the milongueros! These men are a dying breed & it is very special to be able to meet and work with them first hand. They are first & foremost dancers & creative artists in their expression, musicalty, story telling & floorcraft. The teachers and translators (including Raul) who worked with them did a wonderful job to help pass on their wealth of knowledge. Maria’s tribute to Gavito brought tears to my eyes.
* Talks with 3 Milongueras! Finally a woman’s
perspective from that era. Nelly, Ophelia &
Coco…these 
women were generous with their
experiences and opinions including the change
of traditions in the Milongas over time, the
problem of older men choosing younger women
to dance with, and their favorite dance partner
…..their husbands of course! ;-)
* Performances – For me a close embrace heartfelt performance will always be 10 times more interesting than all the fancy steps in the world. It was great to see these dancers out on the floor & especially the finale by Osvaldo & Coco. They have tango in their souls!
Highlights of the festival are available on DVD
Also available is a new book on the life of Carlos Gavito by Ricardo Plazaola (English Translation available) $20 USD.
Contact: Karen Simon ksimmon@sympatico.ca
By Jennifer Wood, Tango Encanto