Weekend Tango Workshops
Today's Date: 25 Jul 2008
The weekly classes are complemented by weekend workshops with visiting professional teachers, run by the ETS. Teachers that have visited in since 1998 include David and Biljana from London; Biki and Muzaffer from Utrecht; Claudia and Esteban from BsAs; Martina, Bennie and Dries, from Amsterdam; Eric Jorissen from Nijmegen; Zoraida Fontclara from BsAs; Nestor and Patricia from BsAs; Yvonne Meissner, Amsterdam, Eduardo Aguire from BsAs, Pedro Andrade from Brussels, Julio Mendez from BsAs; Rodolfo Aguerrido and Miho Omaki; Alex Krebs from Portland USA; Fabián Salas and Carolina del Riviero; Oliver Koch and Marisa van Andel from Brussels; Damián Esell and Nancy Louzán from BsAs; Mariano 'Chico' Frumboli and Eugenia Parilla; and Gustavo Naviera and Gisele-Anne; Homer from San Francisco; Guillermina Quiroga; Jean-Sebastian Rampazi from Paris; and Carlos Gavito. We recently ran a weekend of music for dancers with Joaqu’n Amenábar. (Archives of previous workshops).
Many of these teachers are regular visitors every year, so if you missed a workshop, just be patient!
Booking and partners
We need to balance the numbers of followers and leaders in workshops and classes, so that nobody has to sit out. To help us do this, please book your place early. We will do our best to match numbers. If you book with a partner, you will definitely be able to take the workshop/class, as long as you book before all the places are filled. You are welcome to take a chance, but if you book late, or just turn up on the day, you may find you are unable to take the class. If you can only turn up on the day, to better ensure a place, arrive early. Sometimes we ask people to bookin couples, especially for the more advanced classes, since getting the mostout of the depends on dancing with someone your own level.
Choosing your level
Improver
At least one term of classes. You can navigate the dance floor and execute a range of walking, ochos and turns confidently. You may still require to learn steps by doing step-by-step with the teacher. You still need to improve your technique and repertoire and concentrate on dancing to the music and on the connection with your partner. These classes are also suitable for more advanced dancers.
Intermediate
At least 2 years experience of weekly classes and dancing or 1 year of classes and workshop and intensive practice. You are familiar with all the basic tango steps (walking, ochos, turns, barridas, boleos, sacadas, ganchos) and are starting to improvise your dance, concentrating on musicality and connection with your partner. You can understand steps by watching and then working them out with your partner, requiring only the finer details to be explained by the teacher.
Advanced
At least 3-4 years intensive classes, workshops and practice. You should be fluent and comfortable with all tango steps, and are concerned with developing your dancing through improvisation, musicality and connection with your partner, allowing the teachers to explore the possibilities of these relationships. Often the level will be higher, and you should make sure that you are going to have someone of your own level to do the class with. Generally we ask that people book in couples for these workshops.
Bear in mind some teachers require you to know the basics of their particular style for intermediate and advanced levels. As a general rule, if you don't know a teacher, it is always worth going to the improver class to get used to their style and technique. We do not have exams or tests to determine which level you should take. However if you are unsure, please ask Jessie, Ricardo, Jenny or Monica, or whoever your regular teacher is to advise you on which class to take - too hard, and you will struggle, too easy and you will be bored. Also if the class involves changing partners it is better to be with people at a similar level to yourself. (see Group Privates below)
Even if you are an experienced dancer, the more basic level workshops will remind you of basic technical tips and help correct bad habits, and refresh the fundamental style, technique and terminology used by the teachers.
Group Private Class
Most weekends with visiting teachers,two of the teaching sessions can be booked as a group private class. This enables you to take a class with friends in order to learn in a more intimate atmosphere, with lots of personal attention, but at a lower cost than personal private classes. Other benefits include the teachers working with the group, so that you can learn from watching and analysising each other. Groups can be from 2-10 people, dividing the fixed cost between the participants. Classes will programmed in the usual venue and times arranged for the whole workshop. Private group classes must be booked and a deposit paid before the classes are advertised to the public, normally 2 months before the workshop.
