Central Tango Milonguero Festival
Feburary 29 - March 2, 2008

Alicia Pons is a resident of Buenos Aires, a familiar face at the milongas there and a preferred partner of the milongueros. She teaches weekly classes in Congreso and, for several years, has had successful teaching tours in the US. Alicia brings a unique perspective to teaching tango, the role of the woman as an active contributor to the tango partnership in the social dance style. Connection and communication between partners are at the core of Alicia's teaching. Prior to teaching tango, Alicia was trained in classical dance and performed in some of Buenos Aires' well known theaters, including the Colon, the Coliseo, and the Alvear. Her primary early influences in tango were Cecilia Gonzalez and Pedro 'Tete' Rusconi. For several years Alicia taught and performed tango with Cacho Dante. Alicia is recognized as one of the most prominent and influential female instructors of the tango milonguero traveling in the US.

Robert Hauk has been dancing tango for over 12 years. He has spent significant time in the milongas of Buenos Aires and has earned the respect of the milongueros. He has studied extensively with Susana Miller for over 10 years and is recognized as one of the leading American instructors of the tango milonguero, having been invited repeatedly to teach at tango festivals and workshop weekends throughout the US. His teaching success is evident in his impact on the growth of his home tango community – Portland, Oregon – one of the largest and most highly skilled tango communities in the US. Robert's expertise in teaching is in making his extensive knowledge of tango accessible to students. The practical material you learn in his classes is readily transferred to the milonga dance floor. Many tango students who have studied with Robert have noticed their social tango skills improve significantly in a short time. This is why he is invited repeatedly to teach in the same communities. Robert is also an excellent DJ, knowing how to judge the flow of energy and emotions throughout the course of a milonga and apply the right music to the moment. Thus is why Robert is also a regular invited DJ at tango festivals.

Melina Sedó & Detlef Engel teach and dance traditional tango de salón, as it has been danced in Buenos Aires since the 1940s, which they interpret in a very personal and modern way. Their dance captivates through its intimate embrace, playful musicality and an almost puristic elegance: a sensual interplay of man and woman without cliché or superficial effect. Thus, their tango is newly created in every single moment, and does not just express the music, but genuine feeling. A speciality of theirs is the milonga con traspié, something they conceive of as a dance very much on its own, requiring and facilitating specific body mechanics and small-scale dynamics. The tango vals they interpret with verve and rhythmic variety. At the core of their lessons, which are always geared towards improvisational capability, are intensive body work and analysis of tango´s structures. But „technical“ understanding is just a means to concentrate better on the essential: developing one´s own style and relishing the embrace in unison with the music. Detlef and Melina also work as organizers: their events in the Saarland region of Germany have become a fixture of local tango culture and have inspired visitors from near and far. Melina and Detlef also teach and perform worldwide wherever people want to tango with sense and sensitivity.

PRIVATE LESSONS

A limited number of private lessons for singles or couples are available with festival 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 Monday February 25.

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 Center

Parking

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.

 

For more information:
Contact us by e-mail or
phone: 1-217-328-1311