Dancing to the Music @ Tangofest

Too often I hear complaints from dancers who have taken classes with visiting teachers, that soon after the classes, they have forgotten how to execute the impressive new figures which were taught.

Call me a tango fundamentalist, but a most refreshing aspect of the recent Aus International Tangofest in Sydney was the focus on the music and practical strategies for interpreting it. Workshops with Cristina Sosa & Daniel Nacucchio, and bandoneonista Joaquin Amenabar were scheduled to promote an indepth understanding of their material. Joaquin's sequence of classes built upon each other (Tango rhythm, Melodic rhythm, Syncopation and offbeat in tango music, etc.) and participants left feeling not only enlightened, but visibly excited by the insights and the possibilities opened to them in the dance. Sadly, I was only able to buy his book and DVD Tango. Let's dance to the music , because many of his classes ran concurrently with those of Cristina & Daniel.

However, Cristina and Daniel did not disappoint. Wisely, they structured most of their classes in blocks, so that the musicality class entitled "Composition & improvisation" lasted 4.5 hours + hour break. This immersion allowed us to examine closely a few different tangos from orchestras such as D'Arienzo, Di Sarli and Troilo. Focus was on the influence of various instruments (bandoneon, piano, violin) at different points of the tango. So we worked on how those segments could be danced in a way that was in harmony with the music - thus allowing the body to join the orchestra.

Cristina Sosa and Daniel Nacucchio are a couple to watch - inspiring, knowledgable, methodical & approachable teachers and stunning performers. No wonder they have collected a number of significant awards: World Tango Championship (Tango Salon), Metropolitan Tango Championship (Tango Salon), Metropolitan Tango Championship (Milonga) and the Japan Open (Tango Salon). Here they are performing at Sin Rumbo one of our favourite traditional milongas. They are also a delight to watch dancing socially - understated and elegant.

What a treat it was to have five nights of milongas with a selection of great traditional music, as well as memorable performances by Joaquin Amenabar and Sydney's Fuego Lento. The photo below was taken on Saturday night at Marrickville.

Pat.