"No one can dance Tango like any other person. We all feel it, hear it, interpret it differently. Our bodies are different. I have always compared it to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Actors have been interpreting this character for 400 years using the exact same words, and still, no two are the same.” - Johanna (source: http://blog.joegrohens.com/tango)

Dear Tango Friend,

It’s the season for remembrance and gratitude, and we sincerely thank all our Tango friends for their enthusiasm and support over the year. You add warmth and good energy to our events and inspire us on our Tango journey. We wish you Happy Holidays and the very best of the season.

Tango has taken us on the road quite a bit over the past few months . . .

Buenos Aires

a	Pedro with Javier & Andres

In October and November we spent five beautiful Tango packed weeks in Buenos Aires. The highlights of the trip were dancing in our favourite Milongas: El Beso, Salon Canning and Cachirulo.

We met up with some great Villa Urquiza style teachers - Javier Rodriguez, Andres Laza Moreno (aka “bichy”) and Samantha Dispari (sister of Geraldine Rojas, Julio & Corina Balmaceda, and Maxi Cristiani & Maricel Giacomini. Our favourite performance at a Milonga was by Paula Rubin & Mariano Galeano.

Us with Andres and Samantha

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We caught up with our friends Fabián Peralta and Virginia Pandolfi – when they performed at Salon Canning and for coffee and Tango at La Viruta. They send muchos besos to their Tango friends in Australia.

We attended a CD launch concert by the Tango singer Fabián Rodriguez in which our Tango friend from Sydney Jacinta McPhillamy performed (violin) at an upmarket venue in Palermo Soho. The legendary Tango singer Susana Rinaldi made an impromptu speech in support of Fabián. Well done Jacinta, you made Australia proud!

a	Jacinta & Sophia at Café Velma

You can hear Fabián singing in this Youtube link (Jacinta is not in this).

We also visited the 'Los Horneros' foster home in Moreno, which receives funding from Sociedad Para Los Niños (Milonga Para Los Niños). More details below.

Auckland
Prior to BA, we spent a few days in Auckland for the NZ Tango Congress which featured Javier Rodriquez & Andrea Misse. They ran a great series of workshops and their performances, as well as those from the Tango group Corporacion Tango, were most enjoyable to watch. All credit to the Congress organiser Cecilia Bale.

Sydney
We enjoyed catching up with our tango friends from Sydney and interstate at the PATIO de TANGO Christmas Milonga at Club Rose Bay on 1 Dec.

Improvisation by Sophia and Pedro

Left to right: Best Shoes - Sarita. Sophia with 'best dressed' winners - Catherine Zealand and Michelle Browning | Natalia Varakina also gets a best dressed award. Photos: Sydney Moore

Adelaide
One week after arriving back in Sydney we headed off to Adelaide to teach and perform. It was the second time we had been invited by Tango organisation 'Siempre Tango', and we enjoyed catching up with this friendly and talented group of people.

Photos: Siempre Tango

"Just wanted to again thank you for your generous, spirited teaching at the workshops, beautiful performance and for your enthusiastic presence at our Milongas." - Mark Stojani, President of Siempre Tango.

Boxing Day Outdoor Milonga
Wednesday, 26 December | 7pm - 12am
Café Hernandez Restaurant, 1 Burton St., Darlinghurst
(just metres away from Oxford St. and not to be confused with their smaller Café in Kings Cross)

Back by popular demand! Last year's Boxing Day Milonga at Café Hernandez was voted by many aficionados as our best Milonga of the year; so make sure you don't miss out this year!

Photo: David Allison

It's a FREE Milonga hosted by PATIO de TANGO and made possible by the hospitality of the Hernandez family. Choose from the Latin inspired dinner menu or you may just like to have a drink or a snack. It's also a great place for coffee and sangria. All reasonably priced.

Program
7pm - 8.30pm: Latin / Tango music for dining.
8.30pm: DJ Pedro opens the Outdoor Milonga in the beautiful courtyard for dancing in front of Café Hernandez. (The surface is Tango shoe friendly! Provisions will be made in the event of wet weather to ensure there is room for indoor dancing.)

We invite IMPROVISED PERFORMANCES from aficionados (please let Sophia know if you'd like to perform).

Dress code: Black and Red !

Café Hernandez has organised a special dinner deal for Tango lovers and friends:
1. Two single tapas plates+ bread+ glass of sangria/wine - $30
2. One single tapas plate+ paella+ glass of sangria/wine - $40
(indicate if you are vegetarian or any food allergies) Children under 12: $10

Bookings
To assist Café Hernandez with ordering and catering for the event bookings are required by 21st December. Booking will reserve your place in a venue where seating is limited.

Booking requires pre-payment of any of the above meal options. We would prefer that you make payments direct to Cafe Hernandez by Visa or Mastercard (ph: 02 9380 9006) or you can pay in person at the Café.

Otherwise, you can make cash and cheque payments direct to Sophia or Pedro. NO mailed cheques and NO bank deposits please. Cheques are to be made out to Café Hernandez only.

Payments are non refundable but transferable for others to attend in your place.

Sunset Milonga by the Beach
Sunday, January 20  | 5pm – 8pm
Bondi Beach Pavilion Forecourt, Queen Elizabeth Drive

FREE Open Air event hosted by PATIO de TANGO in front of the big white building at the Beach. Dance floor is Tango shoe friendly. Bring your friends; spectators are welcome. Dress code: Dancers to wear Black & Red !

SPECIAL TANGO CLASSES OVER DECEMBER & JANUARY

INTERMEDIATE
Spanish Club, 88 Liverpool Street, City on Thursdays
Dates: January 10, 17, 24, 31
6.30pm – 7.30pm: Musicality
7.30pm – 8.30pm: Combinations using ochos, giros and cross
Note that each class will be distinct and different. You can attend as few or as many as you like.
Minimum requirement for attendance is Intermediate level. Higher level students will also benefit from attending.
Rate: $18 - one class, $30 - two classes on the same night. You can stay for the Practilonga for half price ($5) with class. Practilonga runs from 8.30pm – 11pm.

a	Sima Oertli with Fabián Peralta Photo: Sydney Moore

INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED
Club Rose Bay on Tuesdays
Theme: ”Muy Porteňos” (very Argentine) moves, combinations & adornos from Bs As
Dates: December 18, January 8, 15, 22, 29
Time: 7pm – 8pm
Rate: $25 casual or $20 per class if at least five classes purchased.
All rates include free entry to Rose Bay Tuesday Milonga
Please contact Sophia to book your place in our courses and classes or for more information.

PRIVATE LESSONS
We are available for private lessons over the December and January period.

SIX WEEK TANGO COURSES
Our next term of six week courses for Beginners, Intermediate & Intermediate / Advanced starts in the first week of February 2008 in Bondi, Rose Bay, Darlinghurst and the CBD. Full details on our website **Early bird rate ends on January 29.

"I don’t know how I lived when Tango wasn’t in my life." - Sima Oertli

SOCIEDAD PARA LOS NIÑOS

The October Milonga Para Los Niños co-organised by Patio de Tango and Entre Amigos raised over US$2300 for 'Los Horneros' Foster Home. During our stay in Buenos Aires we visited 'Los Horneros', which is based in the suburb of Moreno in the provinces of Buenos Aires.

It was a great experience to meet the people who live at Horneros, especially Elisa Giminez (Horneros’ Secretary) who runs the place and has lived there for many years. Her care and devotion to everyone living at the Centre is inspirational.

Having visited the centre we are even more committed to continuing our support with the Milonga Para Los Niños tradition.

Pics from 'Los Horneros'. Elisa is in the middle photo. Note the Tango mural painted by the residents.

MILONGUEANDO IN BUENOS AIRES | Feb 11 - 18, 2008

Milongueros from Buenos Aires and from Tango communities around the world will gather together to share their passion for this magic dance, its music, its origins and its present state.

It will include multi-level classes by Argentina's best milonguero-style teachers in addition to some of the city's greatest old milongueros, and milongas with exhibitions, live music, the city's greatest DJs.

There will be a variety of conferences with well-known personalities from the Buenos Aires Tango scene, to develop an understanding of Tango's history, music and culture. The venue is the exquisite Mansion Dandi in San Telmo.

The event is organised by Antoinette Wilson, a kiwi aficionado now based in Buenos Aires who tangoed for a short time in Sydney before migrating to Argentina. She is an excellent organiser and you can expect this to be a top notch event. More info here.

Milongas in Rose Bay
Club Rose Bay, New South Head Road (cnr. Vickery Ave) Rose Bay

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Photo: Moshe Rosenzveig

For anyone passionate about Tango...
with focus on the music of the Golden Era.

Tuesday Milongas
7pm: Intermediate/Advanced lesson
8pm - 11pm: Milonga

Cover charge only $12
Casual lesson rate: $25 (includes Milonga)
Free entry for Milonga for enrolled students (Int/Adv only)

Saturday Milongas
on the "first Saturday of every month".

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Photo: Moshe Rosenzveig

8pm: Introductory Beginners Lesson
(FREE with cover charge)

9pm - 1am: Milonga | Lucky door prize

Cover charge: $18 (Incl. Introductory Tango Lesson at 8pm. Suitable for Complete Beginners and anyone who wants to review the Fundamentals.)

Next dates:
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Saturday, 2 February 2008

PRACTILONGA on Thursdays at the Spanish Club
8.30pm – 11pm, 88 Liverpool St, City
Closed over December. Resumes on 10 January.

Some of our Spanish Club regulars.

A popular hang-out for students who want to practice their Tango, and for aficionados wanting a casual and relaxed night of social dancing. Music is arranged in tandas and cortinas with a predominance of Golden Era songs.

Cover charge: $10 or $5 surcharge on normal lesson rates.

Beginners lesson at 6.30pm, Intermediate lesson at 7.30pm

Flat rate parking of $8 is available at the Cinema City Car Park in Kent Street, when your parking ticket is endorsed by the Spanish Club.

AUSTRALIAN TANGO CHAMPIONSHIP & FESTIVAL
Sydney, 24 - 27 April 2008

Finals & Semi Finals, Workshops, Milongas – the Tango event of the year for tango lovers across Australia!

For more information on the Australian Tango Championship & Festival visit www.tangochampionship.com.au

	Give the Gift of Tango this Christmas ! - Six week Beginners Tango Course for one - $100 - Six week Beginners Tango Course for two - $200 - Private Tango Lesson for one - $70 - Private Tango Lesson for two - $80
Tango CDs - traditional and Nuevo direct from Buenos Aires... 1 Tango CD $29; 2 Tango CDs $50 Contact us to arrange your purchase.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jQvoAFdJ7AY – Wonderful footage of Geraldine Rojas and Javier Rodriguez dancing socially at the Milonga Porteno Bailarin

We found an interesting blog http://blog.joegrohens.com/tango which includes the following tidings . . .

"Why do I have a preference for dancing with the men of Buenos Aires? It’s not because they know fancy steps that they learned from a well-known teacher, and it’s not because they lead perfect turns. It’s because they dance WITH ME.

They’re not dancing with me to see how well I follow, to test me, to show off, to see if I’m good enough - they are dancing with me to dance with me. They find me, they find where I am in the music, they somehow magically understand where my centre of gravity is and take good care of me on the dance floor."

A milonguero’s thought provoking view on Tango... "The Tango and Trapeze Acts" - article by Cacho Dante, a respected Tango teacher and milonguero from Buenos Aires: http://allseattletango.com/read/cd3.asdf

Showing another side to Tango in Buenos Aires . . .
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8YEyiMYHBOE

   As always and until we dance,
     un abrazo tanguero from...

P.S. For more Tango information please visit our website; and to check out what we've been up to recently, have a look through some of our past Newsletters...     March/April   June/July   August   September   October/November

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