"The exquisite feeling of connection, the Zen-like trance that can develop, has been called a Tango Moment. But that hardly does justice as a description. It must be experienced to be truly appreciated."- Jay Rabe

It's been a very positive month for PATIO de TANGO with the opening of our new Practica in a great dance studio. Our students are really making use of it, and we have already noticed an improvement in their social dancing! It’ also popular with Tango aficionados due to the mirrors, floor and acoustics.

We have some more events to look forward in this and coming months. In the 2nd weekend of September, Pedro and Sophia head off to the Byron Bay Tango Festival. Quite a few Sydney tango aficionados will be going too, as will Hugo and Valentina, living up to their title of the “tango twins”! Edgard is off again to Alice Springs to run some more workshops. In their absence, Alankar Karol and Linda Skrgatic are kindly running an outdoor milonga at the Bondi Beach Festival of Winds. We know they will do a great job and we encourage Sydney aficionados to support this event. For details of these events and more, please read on…

Next dates for your Sydney Calendar:

Sunday, 10th September, 4pm - 6pm: Open Air Milonga @ Bondi Beach Pavilion

September 20th, 22nd & 23rd: Tango demonstration by Pedro and Sophia and instructors from Step Up Dance Studio at the Sydney Central Plaza, Pitt St (in front of food hall under Myers). Daily shows from 12.30pm - 1.30pm.

Sunday, 1st October 12.15pm - 1.20pm: Open Air Milonga @ Darling Harbour Aqua Shell

	Adrian & Alejandra

Tuesday, 31/10/06 - Sunday, 5/11/06: Roberto Herrera & Tamara Bisceglia workshops

What’s happening out of Sydney:

Byron Bay Tango Festival: 8 - 10 September (featuring Adrian Veredice and Alejandra Hobert)

Adrian Veredice and Alejandra Hobert workshops - organised by Siempre Tango: Adelaide - 12 - 15 October please visit www.siempretango.net.au

Aerolineas Argentinas International Tango Congress of New Zealand (Incorporating the NZ Tango Championship) 19 - 23 October 2006

Featuring international artists: Roberto Herrera & Tamara Bisceglia, Damian Esell & Nancy Louzan, Cecilia Gonzales & Donato Juarez.

- 4 Nights of Milongas (social dancing)
- 3 Days of Intensive workshops designed for all levels
- The NZ Tango Championship
- Spectacular Gala Dinner & Show
- Stunning performances by International guests

For more information visit www.tangoenz.co.nz

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS . . .

Opening of new Sunday classes and Practica @ Step Up Dance Studio
Classes at 'Step Up'                                                Photos: Anamorphic Photographer

4th August - Performance by Hugo (“el Gato”) Valdez and Andrea Monti at Rose Bay Saturday Milonga

Photos: Anamorphic Photographer

	Pedro & Sophia

9th August – Introductory Tango lesson and demonstration for UNSW students on campus

11 – 12th August: Performing at Sydney Central Plaza, Pitt St, City. Demonstration by Salsa, Ballroom, Krump and Tango teachers (Sophia and Pedro) of Step Up Dance Studio. For more about this great dance studio and teachers click here.

An invitation to dancers to demonstrate the beauty of Tango to the uninitiated . . .

OUTDOOR MILONGA - Sunday, 10^th September
4 - 6pm, Bondi Beach Pavilion Forecourt

Organised as part of the Festival of Winds. A FREE event. Come as you are, enjoy a Tango in front of beautiful Bondi Beach!

The Festival runs from 11am – 4pm on Sunday 10th September. It’s Australian’s largest and most exciting kite flying festival, it’s a day packed full of visual treats, multicultural entertainment and foods, workshops, rides, kite displays, dance displays, activities for kids, and activities for adults. For more on the Festival click here.

There will also be a FREE Introduction to Tango workshop (time not yet specified) starting some time between 2 - 2.30pm. A great opportunity for your friends and family to taste the Tango. The instructors are Alankar Karol and Linda Skrgatic.

OUTDOOR MILONGA - Sunday, 1^st October
Aqua Shell, Darling Harbour, 12.15 - 1.20pm

All Tango afficianados are warmly invited to dance at the Milonga, in addition to solo performances by the PATIO de TANGO instructors and invited performers. A requirement for dancing at the Milonga is that you follow the dress code: wear red, black or combination thereof, and Tango shoes. The organisers have requested that all performers be dressed elegantly, jeans and casual clothing is not acceptable.

The Darling Harbour Fiesta, held over the October long weekend, is a vibrant and exciting cultural event, being one of Australia's largest celebration of Latin American music and culture. Darling Harbour pulsates to the rhythm, flamboyance, and sexiness that is Latin America. Fiesta runs over four nights and three days. The event features more than 480 performers who each add their own spice to the captivating blend of Hispanic music and dance from around the world. More info here.

Back in Sydney by popular demand . . .
"The Maestro of Maestros - Gentleman of Tango"
ROBERTO HERRERA with his new partner TAMARA BISCEGLIA

Interstate Tangueros are warmly invited. Treat yourself to some great workshops, performances and social dancing in the vibrant Tango scene of Sydney! Let us know if you’re interested in billeting.

Roberto and Tamara will perform and run a series of Tango workshops from 31st October to 5th November (details below), in association with NicNac Theatre.

They have wonderful chemistry and it is a joy to watch them dance together. What makes Roberto unique is that not only is he an astonishingly elegant and dynamic performer, he also genuinely loves Tango as a social dance form. “Roberto’s style is elegance, elegance, elegance, lots of feeling and awareness of the music and one's partner above all.” (Gabriella Marino, Rome). All the fortunate women who danced with him last year at our milongas commented on the wonderful feeling he transmitted to his partners. He is a highly technical and sensitive and dedicated teacher and makes sure he attends to everyone in the workshop as much as possible.

Roberto’s Bio . . .
Roberto Herrera is universally admired for his work as a dancer, choreographer and teacher of Tango. He has also taught or influenced many of the young tango stars of today. Roberto studied with Pepito Avellaneda and Antonio Todaro and he is considered a true representative of Todaro's style of dance.

Since the early 80s, Roberto has been dancing all over the world, in famous tango companies as Tango Pasión and the Broadway revival of Tango Argentino. He was the artistic director of El Querandi Tango Show in Buenos Aires. Together with Vanina Bilous, he formed the solo dancing couple of the Osvaldo Pugliese orchestra, during the last years of Pugliese’s life.

Roberto is an extremely versatile dancer who interprets with great respect for both the most traditional and most innovative tango styles. He is a perfectionist who analyses every detail and pays much attention to the aesthetics of each perfectly timed movement.

Tamara’s Bio . . .
Tamara’s early formation was at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires. She then won a three-year scholarship at the School of American Ballet of New York. From 1998 to the year 2000 she was part of the prestigious New York City Ballet and in 2005 she entered the Ballet MERCOSUR next to Maximiliano Guerra. In 2004 she also toured China with the show "Tanguera".

This year Tamara has already performed and taught with Roberto at five International Tango festivals in Greece, Paris, Lisbon, Genoa and Rome!

Workshop Approach . . .

During their classes, emphasis is placed on technique, musicality, and the development of your own natural style in order to be able to lead clearly and follow with confidence, to achieve the ultimate aim of the dance, i.e. the three-way connection between each partner and the music.

All of the workshops will be geared towards dancing well in a social setting, particularly in the milongas of Buenos Aires. The emphasis will be on elegance, connection and musicality, the qualities Roberto is famous for.

They will be an excellent preparation for competitors in the Salon category of the Australian National Tango Championships in April 2007. Roberto has been judging the World Tango Championship in Buenos Aires for the past 3 years. He is thus well qualified to ensure that all moves taught will be within the Championship guidelines for the Salon category, and thus highly appropriate for dancing within the confined spaces of Buenos Aires milongas. Hot off the press - as advised by Robert Herrera, next year's Championship will introduce the Milonga Salon category!

Workshop Schedule . . .

Tuesday 31st October: ROSE BAY Workshop 1: 6.45pm – 8pm Playing with Tango, creativity and improvisation, dialogue between the bodies (ADVANCED)

Wednesday 1st November DARLINGHURST Workshop 2: 7pm – 8.30pm: Clarity of roles, musicality, understanding of followers and leaders (ALL LEVELS)

Thursday 2nd November: DARLINGHURST Workshop 3: 7pm – 8.30pm: Breathing Tango: pauses feeling the moment (ALL LEVELS)

Saturday: 4th November: DARLINGHURST Workshop 4: 11am – 12.30pm: Barridas, close to the floor sacadas and enrosques - whilst maintaining unbroken but flexible embrace. (ADVANCED)

Saturday 4th November: DARLINGHURST Workshop 5: 1.15pm – 2.45pm: Sequence Transformation according to different musical tempos and styles (ADVANCED)

Sunday 5th November: CITY DANCE CENTRE Workshop 6: 1.30pm – 3pm: Milonga Technique (ADVANCED)

Sunday 5th November: Step Up Dance Studio, City. Workshop 7: 3:30pm – 5pm: "Compadre" movements: tricks, walks, picardia, zaraza, i.e. solutions for every situation (Tango & Milonga) (ADVANCED)

Sunday 5th November: CITY Workshop 8: 7pm – 8:30pm: The keys to great social tango dancing in Buenos Aires
Roberto discusses his experiences of judging the World Tango Championship; what the judges look for, what makes a couple stand out etc - in relation to the Salon Tango category. This will be followed by a simulated selection round of Australian National Tango Championship where couples improvise to 3 songs. Based on his observations from the simulation, Roberto will provide instruction most relevant and useful to participants. Roberto will give each couple feedback on their performance with ratings based on the Championship categories and guidelines.

Whether competing in the competition or not, this workshop will be useful to anyone planning to tango in Buenos Aires. (ALL LEVELS)

Farewell Party and Practica CITY 8:45pm - 11pm.

VENUES
ROSE BAY: Rose Bay RSL, New South Head Rd, Cnr. Vickery Ave
CITY: Step Up Dance Studio, 160 Castlereagh St (between Market and Park Sts) City Dance Centre: 161 Castlereagh St (across road from Step Up)
DARLINGHURST: St Johns Church Hall, 120 Darlinghurst Rd (5 mins from Kings Cross Station)

LEVELS
ALL LEVELS - pre-requisite: tango social dance experience and understanding of Tango fundamentals
ADVANCED - 2 years experience minimum

• Each workshop will be limited to the first 20 couples who register with payment
• If you don’t have a partner please still register and we will do our best to match you up with a partner

RATES PER WORKSHOPS
Early bird – paid in full by 24/10/06
6 - 8 workshops $40 (early bird rate), $45 (normal rate)
2 - 5 workshops $45 (early bird rate), $50 (normal rate)
1 workshop $50 (early bird rate), $55 (normal rate)

PAYMENT / TRANSFER POLICY
Any workshop/s purchased after 24/10/06 will be based on the normal rate, and previous workshops purchased will not be considered in the rate calculation.

All payments for workshops and events are non refundable after 24/10/06. Tickets to Milongas are transferable to other people.

PERFORMANCES
Tuesday, 31st October: Rose Bay RSL - “ Welcome Milonga” for Roberto and Tamara – featuring an improvised Tango display by Roberto and Tamara. Cover Charge: $15.-

Saturday, 4th November: Rose Bay RSL - Saturday Milonga - Features a spectacular show by Roberto and Tamara. Cover Charge: $23.-

Please let us know if you'd like us to email you more detailed information about the content and rates of workshops. We can also give you contacts for accommodation, details on where the workshops are etc.

In the meantime, you can find out more about Roberto on his website: www.robertoherreratango.com.ar

3rd Australian National Tango Championship 2007 . . .

The organisers have secured the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on Easter Sunday 8th April 2007. This is much bigger than the Studio where it was held last year, and accommodates 1500+ people!

Selection rounds leading to the Finals will be held at a variety of Sydney milongas in the month leading up to the Finals. For more information on the guidelines and criteria visit www.tangochampionship.com.au This contains details for the June 2006 event and it expected that the guidelines and processes will remain the same in 2007, with the addition of a Milonga Salon category. The organisers will release more details in October.

In Memory of James Hall . . .

James with his wife Sandra had been learning Tango with PATIO de TANGO at Darlinghurst over the past year. We have just received the news of his passing from their close friend Margaret Beale:

“Jim died on the tennis court - he was winning at the time - and although it came as a dreadful shock to Sandra and friends, it really was the best way for him to go. Jim had been editor of The Australian and The Bulletin and various other papers and was very highly regarded by any journalist or writer who knew him. There have been several glowing obituaries to him - the last one in the Herald on Monday, and the one in The Australian last week was headed 'Farewell to a gentle pessimist'. You can read the article at www.theaustralian.news.com.au

The music Sandra chose for leaving the chapel at the funeral was Tango music.

His inspiration for learning Tango came from an incident whilst holidaying with Sandra at Italy’s Amalfi Coast. In the article “Footloose in Ravello” published in the Australian (11/3/06) he writes “The hotel owner turns out to be an appealing pianist…playing everything from As Time Goes By to O Sole Mio. He also plays a mean tango, which leads our all-dancing, all-singing Canadian economist to prove to my wife that she, too, could tango. At the end he carries her off the floor to cheers and applause from our group and now she wants to sign up for lessons.”

James was as the Australian article describes “a thoroughly honourable man”. We will remember him with affection.

PRACTICA – all welcome

Step Up Dance Studio, Lvl 1, 160 Castlereagh St, Sydney City
7pm – 11pm (Entry $10)
Complimentary tea, coffee and nibbles. Doors open at 6.45pm – 7pm, 7.45pm – 8pm. Outside of these times call us on the mobile so we can let you in.

"The new venue is great, everyone couldn't stop talking about it. It is has a great vibe to it." Zoki Markovic

"The Sunday Practica at step-up dance studio was fantastic. It was the perfect opportunity to practice everything I had learned i the classes in a relaxed atmosphere. The social aspect is great, being able to meet dancers from other classes and dance with them, as well as chat and hang out! The studio is beautiful, and really feels like the perfect place to tango in, especially when the lights went down at nine! The floor was a dream…I could have danced all night!" Asha Zappa

ROSE BAY MILONGAS . . .

"Thank you for your Tuesday's milongas - I just love them." Herbert De mello

All our Tuesday and Saturday Milongas are at the Rose Bay RSL on New South Head Road (corner Vickery Ave). Bar and Bistro on premises. About info of how to get there by public transport click here.

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

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

SATURDAY MILONGAS
On the 1st Saturday of each month from 8.30pm until 1am, following a complimentary 'Intro to Tango' lesson at 7.30pm. Entry $15 (Rates may vary with special events).

Next Saturday . . .  7^th October - Our 5th Birthday Milonga! Performance by Pedro and Sophia, birthday cake and more...!

TANGO LESSONS . . .

We've just commenced our August - September term of 6 week courses. PATIO de TANGO’s next term of six week courses starts in the first week of October.

Our six week courses run more or less continuously through the year. The course rate is $110 or $100 if paid in full one week prior to the course. The early bird rate for the October - November term is available until 24th September. Click here to book or enquire.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER TERM

SUNDAYS Term: 13/8/06 - 24/9/06
Note: No classes or practica on 10th September
@ Castlereagh Dance Studio
Lvl 2, 149 Castlereagh St (between Market & Park Sts) SYDNEY CITY
Please note that we have relocated from Sydney City RSL (aka El Beso Tango Bar)
Fundamentals 1: 6pm – 7pm
Fundamentals 2: 7pm – 8pm
If doing the class stay for Practica (7pm – 10.30pm) for free.

MONDAYS Term: 14/8/06 - 18/9/06
Alliance Française, 257 Clarence St (near Druitt St), SYDNEY CITY
Fundamentals 1: 6.45pm – 8pm
Fundamentals 2: 7.45pm – 9pm

TUESDAYS Term: 15/8/06 - 19/9/06
@ ROSE BAY RSL, New South Head Rd
Intermediate - Advanced: 6.45pm – 7.45pm
(followed by social dance until 11pm)

WEDNESDAYS Term: 16/8/06 - 20/9/06
@ St John’s Church Hall, 120 Darlinghurst Rd, DARLINGHURST
Fundamentals 1: 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Fundamentals 2: 8pm – 9pm

THURSDAYS Term: 17/8/06 - 21/9/06
@ Seagull Room, Bondi Beach Pavilion
Queen Elizabeth Drive, BONDI BEACH

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER TERM

SUNDAYS Term: 1/10/06 - 12/11/06 Note: No classes on 5th November due to special Workshop. Practica from 8:45pm – 11pm on this date only.
@ Step Up Dance Studio, Lvl 1, 160 Castlereagh St
(between Market & Park Sts), SYDNEY CITY
Fundamentals 1: 7pm – 8pm
Fundamentals 2: 8pm – 9pm
Stay for Practica for half price! (only $5 if doing class)

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MONDAYS Term: 9/10/06 - 13/11/06  Note: public holiday on 2nd October
Alliance Française, 257 Clarence Street (near Druitt St), SYDNEY CBD
Fundamentals 1: 6.45pm – 8pm
Fundamentals 2: 7.45pm – 9pm

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TUESDAYS Term: 3/10/06 - 14/11/06  Note: No classes on 31/10/06 due to special workshop
@ ROSE BAY RSL, New South Head Rd
Intermediate - Advanced: 6.45pm – 7.45pm
(followed by social dance until 11pm).

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WEDNESDAYS Term: 4/10/06 - 15/11/06 Note: No classes on 1/11/06 due to special workshop
@ St John’s Church Hall, 120 Darlinghurst Rd, DARLINGHURST
Fundamentals 1: 6.45pm – 7.45pm
Fundamentals 2: 8pm – 9pm

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THURSDAYS Term: 5/10/06 - 16/11/06 Note: No classes on 2nd October due to special workshop
@ Seagull Room, BONDI BEACH PAVILION, Queen Elizabeth Drive
Fundamentals 1: 7pm – 8.15pm
Fundamentals 2: 8pm – 9.15pm

FOR SALE . . . Beautiful, brand new Neo Tango shoes – funky, open toe, high stiletto, size 9.

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GIFT CERTIFICATES We have attractive gift certificates available for the following:                 - Six week beginners Tango course for one  - $100                 - Six week beginners Tango course for two  - $200                 - 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.

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

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