1638  World Tango Festival.

Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 11:49:08 -0400
From: A Coleman <gurps_npc@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: World Tango Festival.

I am attending the World Tango Festival in Buenos Aires this october.
I am having a hard time trying to decide which teachers to take. They all
are of course great dancers.

I would love to hear from people that have taken clasess from them. I want
dancers opinions of the them as tango teachers, not as dancers. I am more
interested in hearing X teachs Y very well, rather than a straight X is
great.

Juan Carlos Copes
Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau
Marma and Carlos Rivarola
Milena Plebs and Ezequiel Farfaro
Aurora Lzbiz and Jorge Firpo
Kely and Facundo Posadas
Graciela Gonzalez and Paulo Araujo
Claudia Codega and Esteban Moreno
Gachi Fernandez and Sergio Cortazzo
Delphine Robin and Orlando Coco Dias
Geraldine Rojas and Javier Rodriguez
Eduardo Cappussi and Mariana Flores

Thank you.

Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 01:29:57 +0900
From: astrid <astrid@RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Subject: Re: World Tango Festival.

I wrote about Milena and Ezequiel a while ago, and also about Gloria and
Eduardo, you can find it in the archive, or I can forward it to you..
I took lessons with Gachi and Sergio in Tokyo four years ago, and, unless
they have changed, I would not recommend them. Gachi seemed in a bad mood
and was a real bitch sometimes, giving us looks of contempt and imitating
women's mistakes in a grotesque way to show them that this was no good. One
just felt humiliated around her as a beginner, sometimes. Sergio was quiet
and did not say much.
A friend of mine,when I complained about Gachi's behaviour to her,
commented:"This is because they are not milongueros. They do not really want
to teach the tango to people, they do not enjoy seeing people learning the
dance."
When they taught boleos, they brought in broomsticks or something, about
80cm long, and the man had to hold one up in the horizontal in front of his
chest, the woman had to hold on to it with both hands and he was supposed to
lead boleos that way. I was a beginner, and managed to do the boleo practise
against the wall, but how to follow that broomstick lead, remained a
complete mystery to me. It felt hard, difficult to balance and uncomfortable
too. The men frequently jerked the broomstick out of position, too, as he
was just using his hands for the lead.
Half a year later I met a man in class, who led a boleo the usual way
(without telling me), and I just found myself doing my first boleo, the
natural way.
I don't think, I would have ever figured it out with the help of that
broomstick.
Having said that, their show was great, and Gachi's ecstatic facial
expression during the demo is a great act. But as teachers- no thanks, not
again.

Carlos Copes will probably teach you his 8cb plus alpha routine. Nice
combination,but you have to do exactly what he says, no variations allowed.
A nice memory,as he will enter history as the father of stage tango,kind of,
but not all that helpful, I found.


Astrid

> I would love to hear from people that have taken clasess from them. I

want

> dancers opinions of the them as tango teachers, not as dancers. I am

more

> interested in hearing X teachs Y very well, rather than a straight X is
> great.
>
> Juan Carlos Copes
> Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau
> Marma and Carlos Rivarola
> Milena Plebs and Ezequiel Farfaro
> Aurora Lzbiz and Jorge Firpo
> Kely and Facundo Posadas
> Graciela Gonzalez and Paulo Araujo
> Claudia Codega and Esteban Moreno
> *Gachi Fernandez and Sergio Cortazzo

Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 10:44:51 -0700
From: Barbara Garvey <barbara@TANGOBAR-PRODUCTIONS.COM>
Subject: Re: World Tango Festival.

I recommend absolutely Graciela Gonzalez and Paulo Araujo for technique and
Gloria and Eduardo for clarity and organization of classes. Copes, although
the most famous and prestigious, teaches choreography -- it's like
you were rehearsing for a show.
Barbara Garvey


----- Original Message -----

Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 9:29 AM
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] World Tango Festival.

> I wrote about Milena and Ezequiel a while ago, and also about Gloria and
> Eduardo, you can find it in the archive, or I can forward it to you..
> I took lessons with Gachi and Sergio in Tokyo four years ago, and, unless
> they have changed, I would not recommend them. Gachi seemed in a bad mood
> and was a real bitch sometimes, giving us looks of contempt and imitating
> women's mistakes in a grotesque way to show them that this was no good.

One

> just felt humiliated around her as a beginner, sometimes. Sergio was quiet
> and did not say much.
> A friend of mine,when I complained about Gachi's behaviour to her,
> commented:"This is because they are not milongueros. They do not really

want

> to teach the tango to people, they do not enjoy seeing people learning the
> dance."
> When they taught boleos, they brought in broomsticks or something, about
> 80cm long, and the man had to hold one up in the horizontal in front of

his

> chest, the woman had to hold on to it with both hands and he was supposed

to

> lead boleos that way. I was a beginner, and managed to do the boleo

practise

> against the wall, but how to follow that broomstick lead, remained a
> complete mystery to me. It felt hard, difficult to balance and

uncomfortable

> too. The men frequently jerked the broomstick out of position, too, as he
> was just using his hands for the lead.
> Half a year later I met a man in class, who led a boleo the usual way
> (without telling me), and I just found myself doing my first boleo, the
> natural way.
> I don't think, I would have ever figured it out with the help of that
> broomstick.
> Having said that, their show was great, and Gachi's ecstatic facial
> expression during the demo is a great act. But as teachers- no thanks, not
> again.
>
> Carlos Copes will probably teach you his 8cb plus alpha routine. Nice
> combination,but you have to do exactly what he says, no variations

allowed.

> A nice memory,as he will enter history as the father of stage tango,kind

of,

> but not all that helpful, I found.
>
>
> Astrid
>
> > I would love to hear from people that have taken clasess from them. I
> want
> > dancers opinions of the them as tango teachers, not as dancers. I am
> more
> > interested in hearing X teachs Y very well, rather than a straight X is
> > great.
> >
> > Juan Carlos Copes
> > Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau
> > Marma and Carlos Rivarola
> > Milena Plebs and Ezequiel Farfaro
> > Aurora Lzbiz and Jorge Firpo
> > Kely and Facundo Posadas
> > Graciela Gonzalez and Paulo Araujo
> > Claudia Codega and Esteban Moreno
> > *Gachi Fernandez and Sergio Cortazzo
>

Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 14:08:05 -0400
From: John Gleeson <jgleeson@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Subject: Re: World Tango Festival.

My wife and I have taken a workshop with Eduardo and
Gloria. Wonderful and very personable dancers. But we
have mixed feelings about their teaching.

We enjoyed the older-style Tango section - the older Tangos
were explained very clearly and they allowed time for
practice and questions.

We also took a Milonga class with them - the basic "steps"
were easy to follow but we had trouble following them in
the Traspie section - they took the approach of "now follow
me doing this" with no explanation and by the time that we
had got it worked out, they were moving on to the next
variation.

We haven't taken the Tango workshop with them, so we
are not able to comment.

We have taken workshops and private classes with Facundo y
Kely in the Milonga - wonderful dancers, teachers, and people
too. They know how to communicate and to teach, and we would
highly recommend them. You can walk away from their work-
shop/classes with a level of confidence that you would be able
to dance the Milonga - even if just the basic steps to begin with.

John G.










They were wonderfl for

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: astrid <astrid@RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
> To: <TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 9:29 AM
> Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] World Tango Festival.
>
>
> > I wrote about Milena and Ezequiel a while ago, and also about Gloria and
> > Eduardo, you can find it in the archive, or I can forward it to you..
> > I took lessons with Gachi and Sergio in Tokyo four years ago, and, unless
> > they have changed, I would not recommend them. Gachi seemed in a bad mood
> > and was a real bitch sometimes, giving us looks of contempt and imitating
> > women's mistakes in a grotesque way to show them that this was no good.
> One
> > just felt humiliated around her as a beginner, sometimes. Sergio was quiet
> > and did not say much.
> > A friend of mine,when I complained about Gachi's behaviour to her,
> > commented:"This is because they are not milongueros. They do not really
> want
> > to teach the tango to people, they do not enjoy seeing people learning the
> > dance."
> > When they taught boleos, they brought in broomsticks or something, about
> > 80cm long, and the man had to hold one up in the horizontal in front of
> his
> > chest, the woman had to hold on to it with both hands and he was supposed
> to
> > lead boleos that way. I was a beginner, and managed to do the boleo
> practise
> > against the wall, but how to follow that broomstick lead, remained a
> > complete mystery to me. It felt hard, difficult to balance and
> uncomfortable
> > too. The men frequently jerked the broomstick out of position, too, as he
> > was just using his hands for the lead.
> > Half a year later I met a man in class, who led a boleo the usual way
> > (without telling me), and I just found myself doing my first boleo, the
> > natural way.
> > I don't think, I would have ever figured it out with the help of that
> > broomstick.
> > Having said that, their show was great, and Gachi's ecstatic facial
> > expression during the demo is a great act. But as teachers- no thanks, not
> > again.
> >
> > Carlos Copes will probably teach you his 8cb plus alpha routine. Nice
> > combination,but you have to do exactly what he says, no variations
> allowed.
> > A nice memory,as he will enter history as the father of stage tango,kind
> of,
> > but not all that helpful, I found.
> >
> >
> > Astrid
> >
> > > I would love to hear from people that have taken clasess from them. I
> > want
> > > dancers opinions of the them as tango teachers, not as dancers. I am
> > more
> > > interested in hearing X teachs Y very well, rather than a straight X is
> > > great.
> > >
> > > Juan Carlos Copes
> > > Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau
> > > Marma and Carlos Rivarola
> > > Milena Plebs and Ezequiel Farfaro
> > > Aurora Lzbiz and Jorge Firpo
> > > Kely and Facundo Posadas
> > > Graciela Gonzalez and Paulo Araujo
> > > Claudia Codega and Esteban Moreno
> > > *Gachi Fernandez and Sergio Cortazzo
> >
>
>
>

Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 14:21:15 -0400
From: Louis Bourbonnais <louis.bourbonnais@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: World tango Festival

Hi,

I have seen and heard of many of those teacher. I will talk only from the one I know:

Juan Carlos Copes: is a mythic figure in stage tango. Supposed to be very great on stage. But not so good to teach to every one. He is a =
choregrapher, and this is also his style of teaching.

Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau. They are also a "mythic" couple. I have seen them many times, and have follow a lot of course with them. They =
are very human and plesant. Giving personnal correction, and instead of showing systematicly complex moves, they look at the class and adapt =
their content to the group. They can give a feeling of the history of tango. They like clean work and have teached to many good dancer today. =
The idea is not to learn "figure" but to give a feeling of music and as good way of leading and be on the music. They have a lot of expression =
in show, nice old style, they love tango.

Marma and Carlos Rivarola. Never been in class with them. Are supposed to be very good teacher, very clean. Heard a lot of good thought about =
him.

Milena Plebs and Ezequiel Farfaro: Good dancer, very fluid. I have heard that some people have difficulty in their class. But I don't have direct =
contact with them.

Aurora Lubiz and Jorge Firpo: One of the very important couple in the renaissance of tango since the bad period in Buenos Aires. They knows a =
lot, technicly and historicly. Technics class are very good. Aurora is a very good and human teacher. Firpo is very precise. I liked their class. =
I have worked with them over 30h, and as special teacher group for 8h. Close to Antonio Todaro style.

Kely and Facundo Posadas. Don't know much about them. have seen them on video. Cool for the candombe style. They didn't impress me in tango. But =
I've heard that class with them is very pleasant.

Graciela Gonzalez and Paulo Araujo. Supposed to be one of the greatest teacher actually living. She is not so impressiv in show (as I've =
heard), but everybody (including Jorge Firpo) say that she is a very good teacher. I have rarely heard so many good thought about someone.

Claudia Codega and Esteban Moreno. Don't know.

Gachi Fernandez and Sergio Cortazzo. Don't know.

Delphine Robin and Orlando Coco Dias. You can see him in the movie "tango Bar". I know someone who has worked with them, but don't know how =
they are in class.

Geraldine Rojas and Javier Rodriguez. They are supposed to be WONDERFUL in show. I do not remember of what people say about them in class. But I =
remember that they are incredible in show. They are very young, come from the Eduardo and Gloria school.

Eduardo Cappussi and Mariana Flores. Don't know are they are in class. Have heard good tought. Very funny and cool in show! A fresh and funny =
style in contrast to the often all-dramatic tango.


Hope this will help you,


Sincerly,

Louis,
from Montreal

Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 21:39:48 -0500
From: Bibi Wong <bibibwong@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: World Tango Festival.

A Coleman

Among the ones I took classes with, I will pick Aurora Lubiz and Jorge
Firpo, on Milonga in particular. Systematic technique for the ladies when
they split the class into followers and leaders. For the guys, (in US) I
think Jorge might use teach "follow me" for the guys side because he was shy
in explaining theories in English. I hold great respect for them as they
demonstrate the value of well being and total fitness, which encouraged me
to keep myself fit and balanced.

I was in Bs As when the festival was on, although I was not part of the
group, I saw them leading the group to attend the local milongas for some
nights, but I did not see other faculties come along. I think being
enthusiastic about the students' dance scene is an admirable quality, albeit
the fact that they hold certain titles with the festival.

I also enjoy the teaching from Paulo Araujo on all types of dance and agree
with other list members that Graciela appears to receive golden reputation
for teaching the followers' part.

I have seen Robin & Dias and Rojas & Rodriguez performed, but I am not sure
about their teaching techniques.

I am sure the festival will ensure that english translation is provided, as
some of them may not teach in English such as Graciela, Paulo, Rojas and
etc.

I wonder which female co instructor Coper will be teaching with. He is a
great dancer, but my experience was that I enjoyed more with other
faculties, some of them were not teaching at this year's festival.

The Arquimbaus and Posadases are great teachers who know the history well
and possess their unique styles. But the typical rushed schedule of tango
festivals will not be the ideal format for them to pass on their knowledge
effectively.

Asides from learning from the maestro, it would be great to hear so many
live bands. Color Tango performs frequently there and in US, but hearing
Los Cosas de al Lao perform would be a treat to me.

Bibi