DC Tango Exchange [Sept 22-25] - Who is coming? Blog
Burcal - Richmond, VA
Tango...a different way of living. it is an addiction, once you feel it, you can`t forget it, and you will want to keep listening and dancing it.Burcal
Burcal - Richmond, VA
Tango...a different way of living. it is an addiction, once you feel it, you can`t forget it, and you will want to keep listening and dancing it.Burcal
Cindy - MD
Steel Magnolia, Hospice Chaplain, Mother, sister Daughter, scholar, healer and tanguera. I speak fluent German, English and have a smattering of Spanish , Muskogee, Koine Greek and Ancient Hebrew.Cindy
Jodie - Austin, TX
Hello!I will be in D.C. this week for a conference and would love to come dance with you all at the Friday night milonga. I was not aware of the Exchange happening before I made my travel plans, so I'm not in D.C. for the rest of the weekend, unfortunately. I'm an intermediate-level tango dancer from Austin, TX. I've been dancing tango about 2 years and other dances all of my life. I know that, here in Austin, we also host folk when they're in from out of town to dance. If that is part of the D.C. tango culture, could you please put me in touch with someone who might be willing to host me for Friday night? If not, I'll get a hotel, but it would be more fun to make that connection with local tanguero/as. Could you please send the information about the
Friday night milonga?
Thanks so much, and I'm looking forward to dancing with you all!
Jodie Smith
Maria - Washington, DC
Almost 4 years ago now, I took my first tango lessons. I fell quickly in love with the dance and the music as I started to learn it, but a crazy work schedule pushed me away from it for about 2 years. Even if far from the classes and the milongas, something inside me deeply missed the dance, the intensity of its experience and the sense of life that it my first tango steps had already given me. So I came back to it, about 18 months ago, decided to commit to learn it well, and enjoy it even more, and haven't left since. The world that opened in front of me goes so far beyond what I had expected that I can only be thankful for having found it.Maria
Vijay - Washington, DC
I was first introduced to tango about three years ago, and have taken lessons, and danced tango off and on. Recently I was bitten by the tango bug again, and have intensified my search to progress further along the path!Vijay
Victoria - Washington, DC
I have really loved tango music for a long time. Started to take dance classes only recently so that I can dance to the music one day. The topic about different types of tango music (modern, old, etc.) sounds very interesting....Victoria
Mary Noel - VA
I have been an athlete most of my life, enjoying solo sports of swimming and single sculling, but i have never experienced motion in such an exquiste way as when I encountered the partner connection that infuses life into Tango.Mary Noel
Charles - PA
After being spoiled with the tango scene in the DC area for my undergraduate education, I am now right the center on Pennsylvania at Penn State University for graduate studies. I help out with the small scene we have up there when I am able.I have a love for trying new things, listening to interesting music, being social, and being active. Tango is one of the very few activities I have come across that combines all these elements. (Capoeira does a nice job of combining these things as well)
Charles
Linda - Washington, DC
Found tango 7 years ago. To me is a part of my life, like breathing. Just moved from Florida to DC in order to enjoy your tango community!Linda
Andres - Washington, DC
I am an Uruguayan muchacho who was brought up by parents who loved tango to the point of obsession. I was turned off by so much tango in my youth and adolescence. I learned later my stepfather had lived in NYC with Piazola among one of his roomates adn understood his passion a bit more..I have reconnected with tango in DC over the past ten years and have learned to love it again..especially it's uruguayan (totally uruguayan) milomga and tango negro... tango mixed with Candombe another pure uruguayan thing..I feel the need to represent uruguay in tango since most people think of it that it is almost purely Portenio, something us uruguayan's have abit of an isse with. I have to travel on th e23 and 24 but will be here on the 25.
See you then,
Andres
Constantino & Susan - VA
Looking forward to attending the exchange on Sunday. We've been teaching and performing in the DC area for the past 9 years.Constantino & Susan
Sarah - Washington, DC
I found my way to my first tango class last spring. What an amazing experience it has been. I am fascinated by the complexities of the dancing, the dynamics of a single dance, of a milonga, the human interaction... As a novice, I'm excited to learn and observe more of this tango culture during the exchange. As a dancer and a certified movement analyst I am also very curious to learn from other participants about the different techniques, individual preferences, and the somewhat unspoken tango etiquette.Can't wait!
Sarah
Marion - MD
I am a physician researcher whose work is rather 'left-brained'. Tango brings out my 'right brain' and I love it.Marion
Mark - Baltimore, MD
It's been four years since I first experienced the intoxicating strains of Pugliese in the BA Tango Lounge in DC, now a fond memory. Tango for me is a quartet that consists of my partner, the music, myself and the other couples on the dance floor. When I'm learning, I seek to attain new familiarity with movement so that I might eventually be able to interpret the music and interact with the other members of the quartet simultaneously and effortlessly. The music is very important to me -- how it sounds, how it's organized -- how simple it needs to be for some to dance -- how complex for others to be inspired. I have DJed in the DC / Baltimore / Philadelphia area for the past three years at venues including the Argentine Embassy, the DC Tango Marathon and the Temple University Monster Milonga. I look forward to co-moderating some of my favorite tango topics at the DC Tango Exchange.Welcome!
Mark
Shanetta - Washington, DC
I'm glad DC is hosting a tango exchange event. This will be a special time in DC tango history. I look forward to participating in this opportunity and to reconnecting with my home tango community.See you all soon!
Shanetta
Emily - Washington, DC
A few years ago, I fell in love with tango for its emphasis on connection and musicality, two aspects of partner dancing I put on the top of my list. I enjoy attending all the wonderful milongas that DC has to offer, and am looking forward to moderating at the DCTX.See you soon!
Emily
Crista - Washington DC
Greetings!My name is Crista and I'm excited to participate in the first annual DC Tango exchange. I've been dancing on and off for about five years. At first I was drawn to tango by the incredible music... but lately find that I enjoy the social aspect just as much. I'm looking forward to this exciting community building experience.
Crista
Dan - NC
I was first exposed to Argentine Tango some ten years ago. At the time, I was doing Jazz and Hip-Hop - just for the joy of movement and self-expression. I had just started to explore social dancing (ballroom, swing and a little salsa). One evening, one of my ballroom instructors dared to stray from the prescribed curriculum and offered a one hour class in Argentine Tango. I knew immediately this was the dance for me.Tango, real Tango, offered everything that I sought in my dancing – freedom of movement, of expression, simplicity and sophistication, rhythm, melody and above all – connection. I so look forward to this Tango Exchange the chance to share what Tango means to me and to hear and learn from others who may be on a similar or a different journey.
Recuerdos,
Dan
Tanguero@nc.rr.com
Jong - MD
I was active tanguero in DC.I took 3 years break.I just find out how much I love tango.Jong
Melissa - MD
Hello, all.I started dancing Argentine Tango about 1 year ago, and feel in love with it immediately. I've been dancing AT at Alliance Dance Institute since January. I've also love dancing ballroom/latin/swing and some salsa, as well. I've never been to a tango exchange/festival/congress before.
I'm excited and a bit nervous, but definitely looking forward to it.
Melissa
Viviana & Isidoro - Washington, DC
WE are very happy to be able to participate with all the TANGO LOVERS who will come to town .Be parts of this new and exiting experience.Isidoro and I, Viviana ,are both from Buenos Aires and been around tango in the Washington DC Area for many years. We dance tango , teach it ,and organize events like many others because we love it . We love to dance, we love to be around friends and most of all:\"have a good time\", Tango brings us closer to our roots. We are very happy to be part of Tango Exchange!
see you there........nos vemos
Viviana and Isidoro
Wayne - MD
I have danced Country Western, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Salsa, and some Ballroom. The nuevo style of Argentine Tango is the most complex and exciting dance form that I have tried.Wayne
Tim - Spokane, WA
I have been a lifelong artist and athlete and stopped dancing years ago. The first time I saw Argentine tango was at the Folklife festival in Seattle and I was hooked. I walked away saying "I have to learn how to dance like that." I have pursued it since. Argentine tango offers endless possibilities for creativity and learning through connecting with your partner, movement and the the intrepretation of the music.Tim
Alyson - Spokane, WA
Experiencing the passion of tango has enriched my life immeasurably...my husband and I are headed to Buenos Aires shortly to immerse ourselves more...To me one of the most intriguing aspects of tango is that it guarantees lifelong learning opportunities.Alyson
Juliana - VA
I'm a complete beginner,who has always wanted to learn to tango.I love to move to music but use the term dancincg loosely!Juliana
Claudia - Washington, DC
This is Claudia Gargiulo, Argentinean Tango Singer. I've lived in Silver Spring for the past few years but I grew up in Argentina. My parents used to dance tango at every single party or family event at home; moreover, I had to listen tango music early morning every Sunday because my father liked to play his tango records over and over rather than go to church. If he were a religious person, perhaps I would had slept later on Sundays.In short, tango wasn't "cool" enough for me at that time. I preferred my Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stone records. Some time later, when I became a professional singer and started traveling around Europe, I realized that tango music was a huge part of my personal identity, that I loved it! So I started singing it, and was actually surprised that I already knew dozens of tangos! By this time, my father had passed on and I dedicated my first tango concert to him. Ever since, I have been a tango singer, performing in Argentina, Europe and USA. Most recently I received an award for Best Singer at the New York International Tango Competition.
Scott - Washington, DC
Greetings Tango fans,For the past 3-4 months I've been a regular attendee at Arnaud's Beg/Int class at the Chevy Chase Ballroom on Sundays at 6pm. I've already droped other social obligations so I can spend more time with the Tango - so this Exchange comes at a good time for me.
See you there...
Scott
John - KY
Argentine tango can help catalyze the connections between our bodies, minds, spirits and the environment -- potentially a remembering of our holistic membership in one family.John
Alexandra - Washington, DC
Hello,I started learning to dance the tango at the beginning of the year and am now thoroughly addicted. I recommend the Capital Tangueros website at http://www.geocities.com/capitaltangueros/ for information on tango events in the DC area.
Alexandra
Carina Rosario Losano - Washington, DC
Hola!!!I am from Buenos Aires. I choregraph tango for Hollywood super stars and major brands like PepsiCola or Hsbc. I perform, dance and teach Tango on a regular basis around the world. Here is my bio. Tango is my strengh. At the DC Tango Exchange, let's exhange :-). It will be important for me to hear from you.
Besos,
Carina
Natalia - Washington, DC
Dear Exchangeros!I am from Argentina and really care about Tango, dancing it, teaching it. Tango has been great to me and I look forward to share it back. From a woman perspective, I will be moderating the first topic about what we love/hate about it. I see there is much ado during these three days.
Ciao, ciao,
Natalia
www.tango101.com
Murat and Michele - New York, NY
Hello,We are now in Hawaii at the tango festival, but we already looking forward to the DC Tango Exchange in September. As moderators, we are willing to share discussions about being musical as dancers and teaching musicallity as instructors. Also we want to approach with you a new topic of "tango for foreigners" like us: what it means for us, what we can do, what we can not do because of we are not argentinian. Michelle from hawaii i am from Turkey teaching tango in NY city and in states the cultural dance of argentina. (we have a lot of inputs for this topic)
A great idea this exchange,
Murat
http://www.muraterdemsel.com/
Abhay - Washington DC
Hi,I look forward to seeing everybody at the DC tango exchange. The program looks really interesting. It has the right balance of tango and social activities. From a beginner/advanced beginner's perspective, I think I will learn a lot by dancing, of coruse, but also by discussing the finer aspects of Tango with people who know much more about it than I do. I have been a regular at Meze and the Josephine Butler center over the past couple of months, but I think that there is so much more that I can and need to learn. The Tango exchange provides just the right opportunity!
Abhay
Audrey - Washington, DC
I grew up surrounded by classical music, and was always drawn to the rich, layered and nostalgia (yes and the melancholy) of Tango. It moved me so much and I longed to learn about its origins, what is speaks and how it sings such stories. I lived in Buenos Aires for about 6 months, and viewed Tango with so much respect, I didn't take advantage of learning as much as I could while I was there, instead I wanted to learn about the context of Tango, Argentina, Buenos Aires. I started dancing, but was so enchanted by Buenos Aires and who I came to know there, that Tango was a part of the mystique. I fell completely in love with it for that very richness and depth.I returned to Washington, and began dancing more, and then left Washington again for work and did not dance where I was - but Tango accompanied me as a soundtrack, as a secret conversation. My problem is that I love it so much I still wonder how I will become as good as I wish to be - but with dedication, technical practice and learning- exchange! I am very excited to be able to come to this event, because I view each person as having something to bring to all of us, just as our individual perspectives bring something as well. I truly look forward to it, just as I look forward to dancing Tango and coming to understand it's depth as I grow in life.
-Audrey
Adina - San Francisco, CA
Hi everyone!I'm originally from San Francisco, but have recently moved to the Baltimore/DC area. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones in this dynamic tango community. See you at the Exchange!
Adina
Anna - Washington DC
Hello all,Lately I’ve been mostly a lindy hop dancer, though I have also done salsa, merengue, balboa, blues, west coast swing, etc. I’ve never been to a Tango exchange and I’m looking forward to it.
Take care,
Anna
Maximiliano - Washington DC
Hello Friends:
I was glad to hear about the tango exchange. I would be glad to help and support this event.
Good Luck !!!!!!
Maximiliano Gonzalez
Argentine Tango Dance Instructor - Tango Singer. (443-794-1139)o:p>
Malevo Tango Essentials - Tango Store Online - www.tangoessentials.com - 1-(877)-486-1753
Riccardo - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I started dancing A. Tango in the US about 5 years ago and never looked
back. I went through many a workshop and the format of this exchange thing sounds
refreshing and intriguing. I won't be able to make it to DC this time
(although I know some friends will be there), but I'm looking forward to
reading the comments!
Who knows, we might soon follow your example here in Amsterdam too...
Cheers,
Riccardo
Mel - Washington, DC
I had a chance to visit many tango communities around the world and have
yet to find a dancer who would not spent 1/2 the night (weekday usually)
discussing tango's many intricacies and arguing at length about styles or
music. Let's be honest, how many non-initiated friends have you lost at
this over the years? What's wrong with you tangueros?! So of course I'm
signing up! So glad this is happening here in DC too, and very much
looking forward to spending a wonderful weekend with fellow tango nerds.
I'll make sure to gather my best tango tales, my teaching anecdotes, good
music, and 3 pairs of shoes.
Kudos to the organizers,
Melanie
Elodie - Washington, DC
Hello all,I’m French and have discovered tango here in DC. Since my first contact with this unforgettable dance, 6 month ago at Meze, I have to say that every moment of dance in milonga as well as in class is delightful. Tango has allowed me to feel more self-confident, to find a way to express a true passion, and to share connections with people. Beside that, it makes you live intense moments and keeps you always challenging yourself, at least in the beginning! That’s what I like in tango.
So let’s share our passion altogether during the tango exchange in Washington. Hope to see you all there.
Bises,
Elodie
Dima - Washington, DC
Exchange, Exchange :-))I am really looking forward to exchanging experiences and ideas. This will help us to rejuvenate the tango excitement in our community and make DC a very popular destination for experimental crowd.
Cheers,
Dima
Daniela and Luis - New York, NY
Hello everyone!We are Daniela and Luis, from New York City and Buenos Aires. We are both going to be in New York City starting in the end of August and are looking forward to the Washington DC Tango Exchange. It'll be great to share some of the ideas we've been exploring in our dance and also see what everyone else is up to.
Cheers,
Daniela and Luis
Luis started dancing tango in 1994 and became a professional dancer in 1997. He studied with Los Dinzel, Gabriel Angio and Natalia Games, Carlos Rivarola, Geraldine Rojas and Javier Rodriguez, Osvaldo and Miguel Zotto, Chicho Frumboli and Eugenia Parilla, Pablo Villaraza and Dana Frigoli, among others. He has worked as a tango instructor, trainer, performer and choreographer in Argentina, Brazil and Europe, including performances at the prestigious Teatro Colon and more recently at the Festival Cambalache, both in Buenos Aires.
Daniela started dancing tango in San Francisco, in 1999. Since 2003, she has performed in theater, milongas and other events in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston and New York City, including a participation in the play "Hablo, Diablo," at Makor Theater in New York City. She has studied with Valencia Batiuk, Melina Brufman and more extensively with Mariela Franganillo.
In July of this year, Daniela and Luis started their joint work performing in the show "Tango Historias," in Warsaw, which was also Luis's direction debut. Luis's and Daniela's dance is characterized by a keen sense of musicality and sophisticated development of dynamics. In their dance as well as teaching, they emphasize pursuit of self-expression, feeling and freedom through development of body awareness and natural movement.
More information about Daniela and Luis can be found at www.luisbianchi.com.
Romina - Washington, DC
Hola,
I'm from Buenos Aires and grew up surrounded by Tango. However, it wasn't until a year ago that I started dancing and became so passionate about it. Today Tango is part of me and I see this Exchange as an opportunity to share it and to learn how others feel about it. I will be happy to be part of the first DC Tango Exchange and to help in any way I can to achieve its goal: unite the tango community.
Hope to see all then!
Romina
Ronald - San Luis Obispo, CA
Started dancing in Denver(about 1999), just moved to San Luis Obispo, CA. Will be in the area on business during this event.Ronald
Alex - Washington, DC
Everyone has personal reasons to dance and to study tango. I do it for a pure fun of doing it. It is a very surprising dance. It may turn out completely differently depending on who with, when and where you are dancing it. It is all about improvisation yet it always keeps its identity intact. It incorporates almost unlimited variety of musical styles yet they all are immediately recognizable as tango. And, besides, it is an evolving art form that we all advancing forward. It makes my life much more interesting. This is the reason why I dance it a lot, occasionally teach it and run a weekly milonga. And this is exactly why I am now spending whatever time I have to help creating a DC Tango Exchange. I hope you all will join us. At the end of the day, tango is a very communal art. It has started on the streets of Buenos Aires by people who cared to spend time with their neighbors. I would like to resurrect this tradition in Washington. I also want to make it cool. I hope to see all of you at the Exchange and look forward to your ideas and suggestions. Keep dancing, there is no such a thing as too much tango!
Cheers, Alex
Rodrigo and Gisela - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hello all of you!This exchange is a very new and exciting concept to us here in Paris. Rodrigo and I have booked our dates for a US tour, and plan to make it to DC. We will be delighted to participate and we would love to moderate the topics about international tango and traveling, and the one about when your personality takes over, can that be possible? Here is our brief resume. I have just registered us.
love,
Gisela & Rodrigo
Rodrigo Rufino and Gisela Passi are both young argentine tango dancers and teachers from Buenos Aires. Rodrigo began dancing tango and learning the tango codes with old milongueros at the age of twelve, he made his first show in Buenos Aires at the age of fourteen and his first tango tour to Japan at the age of eighteen. In 2003, Rodrigo joined his elegance, precise technique and experience to Gisela’s musicality, freshness and sensitive style. Some of their masters were Rodolfo Cieri, Pepito Avellaneda, Miguel Angel Zotto and Milena Plebs, Roberto Herrera and Vanina Bilous, Nito and Elba, Guillermina Quiroga, Aurora Lubiz and Natacha Poberaj. They have performed in Argentina, France, Italy, Spain, Ukraine; they have been invited to show and teach the traditional tango in the Warsaw international tango festival 2006 and after Washington and New York they will give regular lessons in Paris and workshops in France and other European countries.
Welcome to the DC Tango Exchange Blog !!!
Hello Everyone,This is a blog where all the DCTX participants and moderators are invited to introduce themselves openly. An exchange before the exchange!
I might as well start :-)
I discovered tango in Paris a while back, but it is only after dancing almost every day in NY that I knew I wouldn't let go. For the last two years, the DC community has been very enthusiastic about new venues and events, so I am glad to present our new brand name SieteTango and its first Tango Exchange weekend.
Grateful to all the contributors and friends, who are daily debating ideas and sharing their connections to make this event of quality, at the least price. Grateful also to the talented out of town visitors for making the trip. It will be one of a kind experience !
See you then,
Arnaud
SieteTango
SieteTango is an organisation of Tango volunteers in the city of Washington DC, who are teaming up to run together successful milongas, practicas and exceptional events. Its role is also to launch new DJs and instructors, to invite performers and photographers, and to promote Argentine Tango through the means of public media.
DCTX hosts and experienced guests:
Rodrigo Rufino Gisela Passi Pablo Fontana Carina Losano Murat Erdemsel Michelle Lamb Luis Bianchi Daniela Farias Arnaud Lucas Natalia Schifini Carlos Gutierrez Mark Longerbeam Jake Spatz Isidoro Levinson Viviana Levinson Julia Schiptsova Constantino Bastidas Susan Reynolds Claudia Gargiulo Bella Albee Crista Cueto Emily Manice Alex Smirnoff Melanie Bacou Audrey Wood Dima Berk Romina Goldszmid Michelle Quinteros
Besides the DC Tango Exchange, MezeTango Lounge on Mondays is our regular hang out to exchange ideas and to relax. Recently, "DC Magazine" has rated the lounge among DC top sexiest place to be this summer!