"How do you explain this passion for tango in countries with cultures so different from Argentine culture? - Tango expresses a universal feeling; it is a dance and it is a music that transmits human emotions. And the world is shrinking, distances and cultural differences don't matter anymore. During the first international tango contest held recently in Buenos Aires, one of the best dancers was German. And in Spain, at a Flamenco competition, the winner was Japanese. The world is shrinking, cultures are melting." - Robert Duvall

Yes, the universal aspect of Tango becomes more apparent as a growing number of amazing dancers from all over the world are visiting our Milongas.

Our news this month? Firstly, we have a new venue for our Fundamentals 1 course - we will be teaching at the Alliance Française centre in Clarence St, CBD. From 27 March onwards we cease teaching at Paddington on Saturdays (last day is 11 March). From 2nd April we will be running Fundamentals 2 and Intermediate / Advanced classes at El Beso Tango Bar on Sundays (as of 26/3 no more Fundamentals 1 at El Beso). More details below.

The other news is that MARIANA DRAGONE direct from Argentina and JAIMES FRIEDGEN direct from Seattle (one of the leading Tango communities in the United States) are coming to Australia! They will be teaching and performing in Sydney from 24th – 30th March. They will only be able to visit Sydney due to their busy schedule of engagements overseas.

Jaimes is one of the most popular teachers in the international tango scene today, and is well respected for his creativity, musicality and deep insight into the inner workings of the dance.

Versatile, Jaimes has studied with a wide variety of instructors; from Osvaldo Zotto to Mariano "Chicho" Frumboli. He has danced all his life and has an extensive background in movement, including gymnastics, and other types of dancing (break-dancing, hip-hop, ballroom). Jaimes is able to break down the most complex aspects of tango in an innovative and effective teaching style.

He is driven to be a full time tango teacher by his love of watching people continually grow and blossom through their exploration of tango, and feels very fortunate to be a part of that process. He is also a dynamic performer, and has brought much inspiration to dancers everywhere through his near-manic energy and absolute love of the dance.

For more information on Jaimes visit www.freetango.net

Mariana Dragone has extensive experience as a Tango teacher and performer. She performed for five years with Pedro" El Indio" Benavente in Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo. She has appeared on stage with Carlos Gavito, Leòn Gieco, Mercedes Sosa and Víctor Heredia, among others. She has performed and/or taught in France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the U.S.A., Japan and China. For the past four years she has been specializing in workshops for women's technique. She has a warm personality, and is divine to dance with. You can see her dancing and interviewed with Carlos Gavito in December Final Edit @ National Geographic Magazine

Workshops will occur on Friday night 24/3, during the weekend (2 per day) and on Monday night 27/3. They will perform on Sunday night 26/3 at El Beso Tango Bar and at Rose Bay RSL on Tuesday 28/3. The main show will be on Sunday night.

Places will be limited and preference will be given to people registering with a partner, so as to ensure balanced number of leaders and followers.

If you don’t have a partner to register with, we will keep a list of people without partners for matching purposes. Rotation of partners will be encouraged but not compulsory.

More details will soon be on our website. To register your interest for these workshops contact us 

	Mel and Alvaro at El Beso

Level 2, City of Sydney RSL building
565 George Street (near Liverpool Street)
Sydney City

This is the venue for our city Fundamentals 1 & 2 lessons at 6pm and 7pm respectively. Remember that from 2nd April onwards we will be running Fundamentals 2 at 6pm and Intermediate / Advanced classes at 7pm.

The lessons are followed by a Milonga from 8pm – 11.30pm. Cover charge is $10 or free with lesson (normal lesson rates and discounts apply)

Parking? Sundays are easier than most nights for parking in the city. You can park for a flat rate of $9 at the Cinema City Carpark on Kent Street (near Liverpool Street).

	Cambalache photo: Paul Warren

Next El Beso events . . .

26/2/06  Cambalache performs
$15 or $5 surcharge on top of lesson rate

12/3/06  Glamour dance shoes
on display for purchase

26/3/06  Tango show by Jaimes & Mariana! (more details out soon)

ROSE BAY MILONGAS                                 [top of page]

	Mariana tangoing at Rose Bay photo: M. Rosenzveig

All our Tuesday and Saturday Milongas are at the Rose Bay RSL on New South Head Road (corner Vickery Ave). For information on how to get there by public transport visit:
www.131500.info/newJourney.asp

TUESDAY MILONGAS - every Tuesday
6.45pm: Intermediate / Advanced Tango lesson
7.45pm – 11pm: Milonga

Entry is $10 or $20 for Intermediate/Advanced lesson and Milonga. Rates may vary with special events.

Upcoming special events . . .
28/3/06: Jaimes Friedgen & Mariana Dragone - farewell party - (more details out soon)

SATURDAY MILONGAS
1st Saturday of each month from 8.30pm – 1am, following a complimentary "Intro to Tango" lesson at 7.30pm. Entry is $15. Rates may vary with special events.

Next Saturdays . . .  4 March 06, 1 April 06

There's something special planned for both Milongas - details out soon!

2nd Sydney International Tango Festival
Bigger and better
10 - 14 May

Features twelve workshops and four Milongas and returns to Sydney the international teachers who were so popular (and mesmerising to watch) at last years Festival: Cecilia Gonzales & Pablo Inza, Anabella Diaj- Hoffman & Mario Consiglieri

Plus: Lucia Mazer (former dance partner of Fabián Salas and Chicho Frumboli) & Ezequiel Farfaro (former dance partner of Milena Plebs)

The feature Milonga will be at Luna Park’s Crystal Ballroom! There’s some great discounted packages if you register before 28 February so don’t delay. More details on the Festival’s official website

Thursday, 16th March, 8.30pm
Cambalache returns to play for Café Carnivale

	Cambalache

Includes Tango display and lesson
The Sound Lounge
Seymour Centre
Cnr City Road & Cleveland Sts, Chippendale

Tickets: $20 / $17 concession / $15 members
120 seat cabaret-style venue
Doors open 7pm. Light meals available. Parking available – parking station on corner of Shepherd St & Cleveland St. For more information visit www.cafecarnivale.com.au

19th January - 2nd March
Bondi Beach Pavilion
Openair amphitheatre
Queen Elizabeth Drive

Tickets are priced at just $10 for pre-purchase online bookers and $14 at the door. Pre-movie performances by DJ’s, musicians and performance artists create a magical 'Bondi' experience. Guests arrive one hour before the main movie to mingle on the pavilion lawns, enjoy the sunset lounging on beanbags with a cool drink or picnic, whilst soaking up the cruisy live music and DJ sets.

Most recently Edgard Alvarez and PATIO de TANGO students performed in the prelude to the showing of Mad Hot Ballroom. Thank you to all involved. For more information including the movie schedule please visit www.bondiopenair.com.au

a

Amazing how many Tango people love chocolate. We’ve had enquiries about the chocolate hearts given out at our Valentines Milonga.

They originated from our favourite chocolate shop in Rose Bay - Perfection Chocolates and Sweets (700 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay). PC & S was established in 1939 by the Kapos family who specialised in quality hand-made chocolates inspired from their European heritage. Passed on to Spiro & Mary Kapos in the 1970s, son John and his wife Eva (who are also getting into Tango!) continue the tradition. Click here for more info.

TANGO LESSONS 2006               [top of page]

	a
	Linda & Alankar

NEXT COURSES . . .

Our next six week courses start in the first week of April. Changes to our courses for the April – May term are:

• New Monday night venue in the city
• No Saturday venue this term.
• Sunday night venue now has Fundamentals 2 and Intermediate/Advanced classes (no Fundamentals 1)

MONDAYS Term: 3/4/06 - 8/5/06 **NEW VENUE**
Alliance Française, 257 Clarence St (near Druitt St), SYDNEY CBD
Fundamentals 1: 6.45pm – 8pm

TUESDAYS Term: 4/4/06 - 9/5/06
ROSE BAY RSL, New South Head Rd
Intermediate - Advanced: 6.45pm – 7.45pm
(followed by social dance until 11pm).

WEDNESDAYS Term: 5/4/06 - 10/5/06
St John’s Church Hall, 120 Darlinghurst Rd, DARLINGHURST
Fundamentals 1: 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Practica for F1 & F2: 7.45pm – 8pm
Fundamentals 2: 8pm – 9pm

THURSDAYS Term: 6/4/06 - 11/5/06
Seagull Room, BONDI BEACH PAVILION, Queen Elizabeth Drive
Fundamentals 1: 7pm – 8pm
Practica for F1 & F2 8pm – 8.15pm
Fundamentals 2: 8.15pm – 9.15pm

SUNDAYS Term: 2/4/06 - 7/5/06
El Beso Tango Bar, Lvl 2, 565 George St (near Liverpool St.), SYDNEY CITY
Fundamentals 2: 6pm – 7pm
Intermediate/Advanced: 7pm – 8pm
Stay for Milonga after until 11.30pm

Our six week courses run continuously through the year back to back.

GIFT CERTIFICATES . . . We have attractive Gift Certificates available for the following: - Six week beginners Tango course for one $100 (early bird rate) - Six week beginners Tango course for two $200 (early bird rate) - Private Tango lesson – one person $70 - Private Tango lesson – two people $80 Tango CDs traditional and Nuevo direct from Buenos Aires 1 Tango CD $29; 2 Tango CDs $50 Contact us to arrange your purchase.

TANGO PAPARAZZI                    [top of page]

South American Festival, 19/2/06
Bondi Beach Pavilion

The Intro Tango lesson followed by a two hour milonga attracted a large turnout of Tango aficionados and those curious about Tango. Big thanks to all of the tangueros who assisted in the lesson.

Alliance Française, 2/2/06
Launch of "In the Realm of the Senses"

Sophia and Pedro performed with Edgard Alvarez, Ingrid Petersen, Megan Currie and Emily Winborne (thank you guys you did a great job!)

Chinese New Year Milonga, 29/1/06
performers and winners of best dressed comp. - Sara Alvarez & Tony Leoni

Open Air Milonga, 8/1/06

photos: Patryk Zadarnowski

Other Highlights

Rose Bay Milonga, 4/2/06
What a great night - 50 people in the Chacarera lesson! Over a 100 people at the Milonga. Such an enthusiasm for the beautiful folkloric dance of Argentina. Thank you Raices dance group for putting on a great show and inspiring us to make Chacarera a regular part of our milongas.

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

P.S. For more information visit our website; and to check out what we've been up to recently, have a look through some of our past Newsletters...
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