281 Portland TangoFest/ Portland tango scene
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 12:19:11 -0800
From: Dan Boccia <redfox@ALASKA.NET>
Subject: Portland TangoFest/ Portland tango scene
Clay asked earlier if we had any feedback on the Tangofest that just wrapped
up in Portland, Oregon (US). I really want to let folks on the list know
that the TangoFest is a diverse, quality event for people who dance ANY
style, of any ability. It brings the whole spectrum of tango together into
one event and it's really a wonderful experience. The instructors all do a
very nice job and the organization is excellent. I had a wonderful time.
The community of Portland has a tremendously cohesive, high quality tango
scene. The DJs there play wonderful music, they have many dedicated
instructors, and the level of dancing I experience there is high, and more
importantly, just plain enjoyable and really worthwhile. Of utmost
importance, the floorcraft, from raw beginners to the more seasoned dancers,
is overall very good (regardless of style) - a reflection of the local
instructors and their vision of the dance. I don't have many problems with
navigation there. This combination of good music and good navigation allows
me to get fully in a groove and have some really amazing dances. The men
and women there take care of each other on the dance floor and are aware
that their own experience has to be compatible with everyone else's on the
floor to allow the entire crowd to have a great night of dancing. Everyone
there makes me feel really welcome. There's some real magic happening in
that town.
At the conclusion of a really great lesson Wednesday night (not part of the
TangoFest), Cacho Dante gave Portland a really special, passionately raving
review. He had tears in his eyes when he gathered us around to give his
compliments to Portland. He complimented the DJs, the instructors, and the
dancers, men and women. He said he had a wonderful time dancing and
instructing there and that he had some truly great dances. The look in his
eye and the tone of his voice told me very clearly that he really meant it.
It was a touching moment from a man who's experienced a lot of tango in a
lot of places. After that a bunch of us kept dancing and it was really
tough to leave the room.....Cacho was one of the last ones out the door!
Thank you, everyone in Portland, for your warmth, enthusiasm, and great
energy.
Dan
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 14:30:04 EDT
From: Digest Polly McBride <ATANGO2@AOL.COM>
Subject: Portland Tango
Hello All,
At any given milonga here in Portland there are 100 to 150 folks interacting
with skill and enthusiasm on and off the floor.
Social and dance skills run the gamut, as in any large seasoned community.
Having been involved in introducing tango to the area in 1992, it's been a
privilege to watch the dance thrive, complete with its myriad of pleasures and
imperfections, (including good nights and bad nights.)
Tango is treasured in Portland, and our milonga etiquette has developed in
sync with our dance skills. We hope you will visit us!
Polly McBride
atango2@aol.com
All">http://members.aol.com/atango2">All Things Argentine Tango
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 15:25:25 -0700
From: claybird@TELEPORT.COM
Subject: Portland TangoFest
Dear TangoFest Survivors:
HELP! If you were at the Portland TangoFest, I'd sure like to get your response/evaluations/suggestions/what-you-liked/what-you-didn't-like/ =
etc etc. It helps in our planning for next year. In particular, tell us what you thought of the teachers, DJ's, venues, milongas, =
organization, etc.
To help jog your memory, there were:
26 teachers (Miriam & Hugo, Cacho & Barbara, Juan Manuel Nieto, Chelsea Eng, Patricio & Eva, Jorge Nel & Deena, Brigitta Winkler, Anne-Sophie & =
Pablo, Brooke Burdett, Felipe & Kat, Eduardo & kikki, Homer & Cristina, Marcelo Solis, Paulo Araujo, Carina Losano, Rebecca Shulman, and Jaimes =
& Rachel),
7 DJs (Dan Boccia, Robin Thomas, Jo Ann Palubinskas, John Isley, Alex Krebs, and Jaimes Friedgen),
6 venues (Viscount Ballroom, Ankeny Street Studio, Norse Hall, Emerald Ballroom in the Tiffany Center, Fez Ballroom, and Berretin Dance =
Studio),
7 milongas (Opening, Black & White, La Milonga Rosa, Grande, Fez, Dinner, and Sunrise),
2 orchestras (Tango Pa'Milongueros on Saturday and Conjunto Berretin on Sunday)
4 supervised practicas (Wed, Thu, Fri, & Sat),
500-600 participants (too numerous to list!)
ALSO, if you video taped either the Friday or Saturday performances, I would like you to send me a copy (see address below). I'm already =
getting requests from the instructors for a copy, and I'll take what you send, compile it, and forward a copy to the performers. (BTW, does =
anyone have contact information for the Portland cable access videographer that was there?)
FINALLY, I will be sharing your response with the Portland Tango Community thru their dedicated tango discussion list. IF YOU DO NOT =
WANT YOUR INFORMATION SHARED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL.
OH, and one more thing, thank you so much for being there.
Clay
Clay: claybird@teleport.com
Sue: balibree@yahoo.com
Phone: (206) 729-7268
Address: Clay Nelson, 1340 N 79th St Apt 101, Seattle, WA 98103
Web: www.claysdancestudio.com
