2992  El Encuentro

Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:32:25 -0500
From: BALITHOMAS@AOL.COM
Subject: El Encuentro

Dear Friends and fellow Tangueros from So. California:

As you have probably already heard, after five long and successful years at
the same locale, b El Encuentrob , the Saturday Night Milonga, is, yes, moving!
Even though we will be physically moving a short distance away (we will still be in Sherman Oaks), it is a huge step for us and for Tango here in Los
Angeles: for the first time, our communities will have a dedicated milonga/studio
where the priority will be the practice of Tango.

The opportunity to open a b Tango placeb would not be possible without your
sustained support and encouragement over the years. And as organizers, we are
deeply grateful and honored for your loyalty, commitment and passion you so
eloquently express every Saturday night. Without you there would not be any b El
Encuentrob , or this wonderful chance to help Tango achieve a higher profile. It
has been a long-time dream of ours to have a home for Tango in our City, and
all of you have made that possible.

But we are going to need every bit of that magic and energy you bring to the
dance floor at every milonga, to help us make this new venture a continued
success.

The new b El Encuentrob is part of a greater vision to take Tango to a more
prominent level of recognition, and an exciting new page in its history in LA.
Collectively we have proven that Tango is no passing fad, neither a quaint
historic dance, nor a curious relic to be taken up by the eccentric. No, Tango is
very vibrant, alive and well. But its very nature, complex and emotional, can
also make it very intimidating to the uninitiated, and open to wild
misrepresentation. So we believe, that to move Tango as a social and performance art
phenomenon from its fervent fan base to a broader audience, we will have to
raise its awareness beyond ourselves. For that we need to have more people
practicing it, teaching it, and performing it, and doing it better and better. The
new b El Encuentrob hopes to be a catalyst for that change.

And our goals go beyond having a great Milonga for all to enjoy. We aim not
only to establish a central resource center for the learning of not just Tango,
the dance, but also promote the understanding of its music, its history and
its culture. To that end we are forming a Foundation to encourage and support
many different efforts including conducting regular classes with recognized
local teachers, holding workshops with renowned visiting masters, present special
performances and concert evenings, create strong cultural liaisons with the
City, establish a scholarship fund, etc. All with the goal to disseminate this
most heartfelt form of personal _expression.

We are convinced this is the right move for Tango to take its place among the
great cultural, social and artistically significant activities of Los
Angeles.

Tango may always be an underground pursuit in Los Angeles (amen for that!).
It just doesn't have to be a secret anymore. Won't you help us spread the word?

And welcome to a new chapter of Tango in LA. Welcome all to the the new b El Encuentrob !!!

Julie, Barbara, Angel, Alexis