Fourth Annual
Close Embrace Tango Fiesta
Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
November 8-11, 2007
Urbana - Champaign, IL
Sponsored by the Tango Society of Central Illinois
All activities at: Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W Stoughton, Urbana IL
Instructors & DJs* |
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Hsueh-tze Lee
(Boston) |
Christopher Nassopoulos* & Caroline Peattie (San Francisco) |
Maximiliano Gluzman (Buenos Aires) & Heather Whitehead# (Ann Arbor) #: not pictured |
Ramu Pyreddy* (Washington DC) |
Ron Weigel* & Susana Vazquez Weigel (Urbana) |
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In 2004, 2005, & 2006, there were over 100 attendees from
IL, MO, IA, WI, IN, MI & beyond at our Close Embrace Tango Fiestas.
View photos of previous Close Embrace Tango Fiestas: 2006 2005 2004
View programs of previous Close Embrace Tango Fiestas: 2006 2005 2004
2004
2005
2006
PROGRAM
Within each time period, workshops are arranged in order of increasing complexity of movements used,
but not in order of the importance of the content.
The 'Fundamentals' Track is for advanced dancers desiring to improve their technique,
instructors interested in curriculum development, as well as dancers new to tango in close embrace.
Workshops associated with the 'Fundamentals' Track are marked with (*) & (**).
For newcomers to tango in close embrace, these workshops are best taken in sequence throughout the weekend.
Nov 8
Early Bird Workshop: Hsueh-tze "Conversations: Overtones & Undertones"
Nov 9REGISTRATION & Warm-up
"Enjoying the Crowd: Tools for Leaders & Followers"
Nov 10REGISTRATION & Warm-up
"Enhancing Technique: Relaxation, Posture, Embrace & Fluid Movement"BREAK (Refreshments - Soft drinks & snacks)
"In and out of Parallel & Cross Systems: True Improvisation that Followers Enjoy"
Nov 11
"Tango Biomechanics: Storing and Releasing Energy In The Body"BREAK (Refreshments - Soft drinks & snacks)
"Improvisation: Technique of Combining Elements of the Dance"
"Connection, velocity & energy of turns in tight spaces"Presentation & Discussion: Hostess: Susana
"Susana Pial Tango" Documentary Film on Milonga Life in Buenos AiresREGISTRATION
To receive Discounts Passes below, Advance Registration form (Download PDF)
with payment (checks only, written to "Tango Society of Central Illinois")
must be received by Friday November 2, 2007
(Mail to: Tango Society of Central Illinois, PO Box 1054, Urbana IL 61803-1054).
Those registering as students will be asked to show a current University/College ID at the registration table.
Does not include Thursday Workshop
Thursday
Workshop
Limited to 15 Men & 15 Women (Advance Registration Required)
NOT included in Weekend Pass
Priority given to those purchasing the Weekend Pass
Pass
Sat A/V Presentations + Fri & Sat Milongas
Pass Plus
Sunday Brunch + Sunday Pizza Party
Plus Pass
2 A-V Presentations (Sat & Sun) + DJ Workshop +
Sunday Brunch + Sunday Pizza Party
Note: Some Workshops may not be available at the door, due to lack of space. It is advisable to register in advance.
Event Regular Student Info Friday Night Workshop includes subsequent milonga Friday Night Fundamentals Workshop(*) (*) Fundamentals workshop + subsequent milonga Friday Night Milonga Saturday or Sunday
Afternoon WorkshopCost per Individual Dance Workshop Saturday or Sunday Afternoon Saturday Night
A-V Presentation
Audio-visual Presentation with Ramu; includes subsequent Milonga Saturday Night Milonga Sunday Brunch & Milonga Sunday DJ Workshop Includes Sunday Brunch Sunday Pizza Party /
A-V Presentation / Closing Milonga
Instructor Biographies
Hsueh-tze Lee, known for her musicality and innovative approach, is a North American pioneer of Argentine Tango since 1990. She has taught throughout the United States and internationally in Halifax, Vancouver, San Miguel de Allende, Singapore and Buenos Aires. Drawing inspiration from milongueros of Buenos Aires over many extended visits, Hsueh-tze blends both traditional and novel qualities in her close embrace tango. Students describe her workshops as a journey of insightful discoveries, where she integrates knowledge from her life-long experience in dance, her skills in both leading and following, and her expertise in physiology and biomechanics. Hsueh-tze holds a doctorate in Physiology from Harvard University and won a teaching award as a Harvard Teaching Fellow. She teaches tango as a richly textured interchange between partners, spanning a range from sublime subtlety to powerful intensity. Her students are widely appreciated for their musical dynamics and exquisite connection.Christopher Nassopoulos & Caroline Peattie, known for their musicality and dynamic movement, are two of the best-known close-embrace instructors of Argentine tango in the United States. They are specialists in teaching pure lead and follow and clear and uncomplicated walking. Christopher was first introduced to Argentine tango in 1993, and made numerous trips to Buenos Aires to study and learn the social traditions of the milongas there. Caroline taught many forms of movement and danced salsa for almost a decade before being lured to the tango in 1997, and joined Christopher as his teaching partner two years later. They have been invited to teach in more than 20 cities across the country. With strong backgrounds in yoga, pilates, and martial arts, and a multitude of athletic skills between them, these energetic instructors fill their classes with contagious humor and a relaxed atmosphere to create positive and upbeat class experiences. Skilled yet unpretentious, Christopher and Caroline have the incisive ability to analyze movement and help improve a student’s technique on even the most subtle levels. In addition, both Christopher and Caroline lead and follow, giving them further insight into the technique of and relationship between the two roles. They give their students the building blocks they need to create their own improvisational dance, using the beauty of the music and the embrace of their partner as their ultimate guide.
Maximiliano Gluzman is a young milonguero who was born, lives and teaches in Buenos Aires. He has spent his tango life in the milongas of Buenos Aires and he has decided to follow the tradition of the old and excellent although many times anonymous- porteño dancers. The tango that he is constantly developing is based, consequently, on the dancers' communication, continuous intimate embrace, musical interpretation and respectful navigation on the dance floor. Tango dancing is for him a great pleasure that can be achieved due to technical mastery, so his work focuses on posture, leading and following and the sense of rhythm. He is an exponent of the purest milonguero style, which means to dance for the dancer's and his or her partner's pleasure rather than to prove the others the things each dancer can do. Maximiliano Gluzman studied with Susana Miller and currently teaches at her school located at El Beso, where he leads lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced groups. He has participated in festivals such as Zurich Tangowoche 2005/06 and Master Tango Sicily and has taught in several locations in Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Maximiliano is one of the organizers of the International Milonguero Meeting that took place in Buenos Aires in February 2007.
Ramu Pyreddy is the founder of the Michigan Argentine Tango Club at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - a community well known for its excellent social dancing skills - where he is actively involved in teaching, organizing, DJing and dancing. He is one of the most knowledgeable and sought after tango DJ's in North America and is a featured DJ at most tango festivals in the US. He teaches tango for the social dance floor with an emphasis on musicality and connection. His teaching and dancing are characterized by a keen musical interpretation, an infectious enthusiasm and a deep love of the music and the dance that is fanatic.
Ron Weigel and Susana Vazquez Weigel have danced tango since 1998, and have been regular instructors for the Tango Society of Central Illinois since 2001. They dance and teach tango in close embrace, as danced in the milongas of Buenos Aires, their primary source and inspiration for interpreting tango. In their teaching they emphasize partner connection, musicality, navigation, and improvisation. Ron also has been the regular DJ for Tango Society of Central Illinois milongas for over 7 years. He draws his knowledge and inspiration for DJ-ing from the great DJs of Buenos Aires milongas.
PRIVATE LESSONSA limited number of private lessons for singles or couples are available with Fiesta instructors. Priority will be given to those purchasing the Weekend Pass. Please contact us (e-mail) to make arrangements for private lessons.
HOUSING
A limited number of spaces are available in the homes of Champaign-Urbana tangueros. First priority will be given to students and those registering for the Weekend Pass. To receive priority in housing assignment, registration must be received by Friday November 2.
There are also numerous hotels in Urbana within a short distance of the workshop site:
- w/in 5 min.
Lincoln Lodge: 403 W University, 217-367-1111
Travelodge: 409 W University. 217-328-3521
Historic Lincoln Hotel: 209 Broadway. 217-384-8800
Hampton Inn: 1200 W University. 217-337-1100
Illini Union: 1401 W Green. 217-333-3030
Akademika Bed & Breakfast: 714 W Michigan. 217-344-2739
Hubert House Bed & Breakfast: 710 W Oregon. 217-367-8793- w/in 10 min.
Holiday Inn: 1001 Killarney. 217-328-7900
Ramada Inn: 902 W Killarney. 217-328-4400
Eastland Suites: 1907 N Cunningham. 217-367-8331
Park Inn: 2408 N Cunningham. 217-344-8000
Sleep Inn: 1908 N Lincoln. 217-367-6000
Super 8: 612 W Killarney. 217-384-8000
Traveler's Inn: 1906 N Cunningham. 217-344-1085
GEOGRAPHY
Maps:
Champaign-Urbana in Midwest
Champaign-Urbana Area
Phillips Recreation CenterParking
Free parking for Fiesta events: Phillips Recreation Center: lot west of the building. Additional free parking is available directly south of this lot, across Springfield Avenue, at the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana.