Program
Tango in the Spring 2010 presents a full program of quality social dancing over four days — Friday night to Monday afternoon — for when you just want to dance! Like the very successful 2008 event, our dancing program features four milongas, and a practica – all with quality music DJ’d by some of the best tango DJs from across Australia. Dance with new partners, and catch up with your tango friends who you made at Tango in the Spring 2008, dance till you drop!
There’s other social activities as well, including a presentation marking the bicentennial celebrations of Argentina and many other Latin American nations (with drinks and snacks courtesy of the embassy!), and an asado lunch to connect with the tango lovers from other states while fuelling yourself for more dancing.
We’d love it if you can join us for all four days of course, so hopefully this program will tempt you. Check out our lineup of events on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Or you can download and print a summary version: program.
Friday, 1 October: welcome, lecture, and milonga
1) Welcome Reception 7-8pm (with ambassador’s talk at 7.15 –7.45pm)
St John’s Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid
“Argentina: Bicentenary of the land of tango.”
We will start with a celebration of Argentina’s 200th anniversary of independence, marked by a lecture (in English) from his Excellency Pedro Villagra Delgado, Ambassador of Argentina. The year 2010 is a very special year for many nations in Latin America, including Argentina – the bicentennial anniversary of independence from Spanish colonisation. We mark this occasion by hosting a special lecture by his Excellency Pedro Villagra Delgado, Ambassador of Argentina.
We all love tango, and many of us feel a connection with Argentina through our love for tango. Are you curious about the making of Argentina? Then, this lecture is exactly for you! The Ambassador will take us on a fascinating historical journey through stories of past and present, from the independence movement in 200 years ago to Argentina in 2010.
This is followed by a welcome drink and empanada snacks sponsored by the Embassy of Argentina. What a way to start a glorious weekend of tango indulgence!
2) Friday Milonga 8-12pm
St John’s Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid $20 DJ: Jarny Choi — more about Jarny here
Our welcome milonga will give everyone a warm welcome to spring in Canberra (and if the weather doesn’t co-operate, we’ll just dance!). We will run a bar at the venue, so wine will be available for purchase. There will also be some free Argentine wine and snacks provided by the Argentine Embassy from 8-8.30.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
3) Asado lunch — optional extra $22 12-2pm
St John’s Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid (venue map)
After you dance the night away on Friday, you’ll need a big sleep-in followed by a lovely meal with your tango friends! Just crawl out of your bed and come out! Local Asado man José will be providing us with an authentic Asado (Argentine barbecue). It is a great opportunity to meet and socialise with other dancers. Great range of meat (as an Asado should be), salad, and bread for only $22! Vegetarian option available. Book by 17 September (they have to order the beef ribs from a specialist butcher).
4) Playtime at two: Tango Social Club of Canberra practica 2–4pm
St John’s Hall, Constitution Ave, DJ: Michael Hayes — more about Michael here
After you nourish yourself, more dancing! Every Saturday the Tango Social Club of Canberra runs a practica: a get-together to practice tango. There is no lesson, but the emphasis is on learning and practising. The music will be in tandas, with a variety of the top classic tangos, valses and milongas for dancing. It’s an informal learning environment — use it how you like!
5) Tango til two: Saturday milonga 8.30pm – 2am
Italo Australia Club, Cnr National Cct and Franklin St, Forrest $20 DJ: Nadim Sawaya — more about Nadim here
The Saturday night milonga is at that classic multicultural venue – the Italian Club. Chinese restaurant and Oz/Italian bistro on site, and close to both Kingston and Manuka where there are plenty of other restaurants. Big parquet dance floor, full bar. And it runs through till 2am – no pumpkins!
Sunday, 3 October 2010
You’ll need to sleep in on Sunday morning, or see some of the sights of Canberra.
6) Special something on Sunday: Tango at NewActon with Los Jovenes del Tango (Free, 2-4pm)
If you’re not still asleep, or at Floriade, or a gallery, then we have a little Sunday afternoon special: a performance by Canberra tango ensemble Los Jovenes del Tango.
We are in partnership with boutique Diamant Hotel in NewActon for this event, and Los Jovenes del Tango will play in their funky hotel lobby. It’ll be pretty intimate (maybe we can fit 40 people in there?), but there will a tiny space for a bit of dancing. The Diamant Lounge Bar is adjacent, so you can listen from there as well. There is a good cafe at NewActon, and Parlour WIne Room will be open. So, come out and enjoy lunch or a drink, plus some tango in New Acton.
7) Tango til two –the sequel: Sunday milonga 8.30pm – 2am
Italo Australia Club, Cnr National Cct and Franklin St, Forrest $20 DJ: Pat Petronio — more about Pat here
Another big night time milonga, music by Pat, so stay the night and don’t miss this opportunity to dance with people from all over Australia.
Monday, 4 October 2010
8 ) Tango at two: Monday afternoon milonga 2–6pm
Bogong Theatre, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Ave, $20 DJ: Tim (Chanop) Silpa-Anan — more about Tim here
* we may change the venue for this milonga depending on booking numbers.
One final fling before you have to leave Canberra (its a public holiday here, so all the locals will be there) — so come and join us for our Monday afternoon milonga to chill out, relax and squeeze in a few more tandas. Like all afternoon milongas, it’ll be ideal for hanging out with old – or new – friends. Plenty of time for you to catch flights home later in the evening.
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