I attended a workshop on meditation this weekend and was reminded once again how much the Argentine tango is a form of meditation as much as it is a dance. More than the steps, the tango enables us to use the movements and the music to practice mindfulness -  the state of awareness in the moment, and allowing oneself to live inside that moment. It is challenging to dance tango if one is always thinking about what is going to happen next or regretting the last step that didn't work out. Every step and pivot has it's own life that must be experienced and savored. On Sunday, the facilitator spoke about the "elasticity of time", how our perceptions of time can vary according to our interpretation of experiences. How a bad experience can be perceived as lasting a long time. And a good experience flies by!  But in tango, mindfulness of beautiful moments can extend the duration of these in our perception, providing for gloriously sensual dancing. We can stretch out moments if we listen carefully to the music and allow ourselves not to rush to the next step, thus deepening our experience of a single movement or pause.

In tango, a moment is a world!

Tangueros!!

Alexandra Baldaque and Fernando Jorge are on their way to South Africa!!

They are one of Europe's top tango couples, having won the European Tango Salon Championships in 2011, judged by tango greats such as Fabian Peralta.

Founding members of the Argentine Tango International Academy and pioneers of tango festivals in Portugal, they have also represented Portugal in six finals of the World Tango Championships in Buenos Aires over the last ten years. They have also been invited to perform at prestigious milongas in Buenos Aires such as Salon Canning and Sunderland.


Please see the programme below. Places are limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment!

Please note that the class for "all levels" will build up in complexity, allowing students to benefit from practice at their level.

Tuesday 25th February: Tango Salon Essential Technique- 8- 9:30 pm- R140- all levels

Wednesday 26th February: Turns (giros) and Sacadas - Study of the system balance and of the organic dissociation, adapted to the different musical moments 28th - 8- 9:30 pm R140 (all levels)

Friday 28 February:Premilonga lesson: Vals Criollo, musicality and sequences to the dance floor - Different attitude in the Vals style and musical approach. Sequences to Vals 7:15- 8:30 pm R110 (Milonga Africana at iKhaya Lodge R50) (all levels) (Yippeeee!!!! I love vals!)

Saturday 1 March: Barridas (sweeps) sequences 2 - 3:30 pm - R140 (all levels)

Saturday 1 March: Complex Figures for Tango Salon 4- 5:30 pm- R140 (intermediate- advanced)

Sunday 2 March: Milonga Lisa and with Traspié - Different ways of dancing the Milonga. Study of the “lead” to a clear conduct. Adapted figures to each one of the styles - 3 - 4:30 pm pm R140 (all levels)

Sunday 2 March: Lápis and Blocks - how and when to start and to end a lápis. The sensuality of a block. Blocks to the right and to the left. 5 - 6:30 pm (R140).

Please arrange private lessons with Rachael.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!!! Pay for 4 lessons besides the premilonga lesson before 14 February and get a 15% discount.
All workshops except premilonga lesson will be at the Observatory Community Centre.

Tango Abrazos!
Rachael
082 255 7829