passionate day with Tango Siempre

Over a week since our anniversary big do and Valentine's Day Tea Dance with the totally amazing Tango Siempre! There was a tremendous amount of work in the preparation for the event especially the catering arrangements which turned out to be just us! Cakes of all sizes from tiny cup cakes to big layered sponges were turned out furiously and even the scones were made at home in the Aga in the morning, to make sure they were at their very freshest best for the afternoon tea with cream and raspberry jam.

Fortunately we had opted for a later performance slot from Tango Siempre, with Dj Andreas Wichter taking the helm from opening time of 3pm until we stopped for tea around 5'ish, with the big band striking up in brilliant form afterwards.

Wow, were they worth it? The energy from their intense playing entranced virtually everyone to come on to the dance floor to tango. Even some people who had never danced tango before in their lives chanced themselves to the swirling tide of tangueros . Magnificent seems a too simple word to describe their music. All I know is I danced to virtually every song they played and it was like a perfect dream, over too soon..

Come back to Malvern soon Tango Siempre! We don't even need the excuse of Valentine's Day, just come back and play ..

Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com

after the ball....

This should have been posted after the Salon tango event on 14th November... somehow it was put aside....

After the ball is over, we can reflect on the weekend that has now passed by. Life has returned to normal, we had our regular monday class although as our guest teachers had flu we actually ended up doing a practica instead- which in some ways was no bad thing.
The salon workshops with Andreas Wichter on saturday were undoubtedly excellent making us aware of our posture, think about the embrace, and components of tango movements including 4 variations on the cross. For us mere mortals trying to lead these it was quite challenging , but he did emphasise the need to practice, and "do our homework"
I wonder how may people do go home and actually practice?

Sometimes.

But back to the glamour we shared during the "Salon" on the Saturday night. We had invited dancers to dress the part in 30's and 40's attire, to enjoy the golden age music..We didn't expect Fred and Ginger to arrive though, or the wartime RAF officer, a lady in a mink stole over 1930's black lace dress, another in a 1940's print dress with blue snood covering her hair, nor a young glamorous couple in evening dress and tuxedo, straight from Hollywood perhaps. I do hope those pictures come out, it was such a beautiful scene at the Feathers Hotel. Candles flickered on the walls and chandeliers gently twinkled. The floor was smooth and immaculate. Darkness outside the windows cockooned the select party in the ball room. Some couples sipped champagne, the perfect accompaniment to the delicate canapes. An evening to remember fondly.




Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com

sublime, ultimate, perfect: can we have it?

Sometimes I wonder why on earth do I try to organize tango events? I have this idea, I imagine the perfect tango in almost surreal surroundings. But what is a perfect tango? I remember last winter hearing one of the girls discuss after the Hereford Ball as "not having had the sublime tango" which seems to sum up an approximation of what we all may be hoping for. The event we're organizing next weekend at the glorious location of the Feathers Hotel, Ledbury, HR8 1DS, a famous Elizabethan coaching inn, is one of my little "projects." Here is a chance to immerse yourself in some undisputed luxury, you can even take refuge in the spa, maybe swim a gentle length or two of the pool, after some very civilized salon tango workshops, before the evening's event. The Salon de Tango at 8pm will be an exclusive affair with exquisite canapes hand made by the Feathers Chefs, including such delicacies as lime & ginger marinated tiger prawns, or quails egg spinach & saffron mayonnaise croustade...But also take the time to dress for your fantasy in romantic and stylish 30's and 40's attire and truly escape to a bygone era of the golden age of Argentine tango. We opted to keep to the theme of this era totally and engaged Andreas Wichter to take charge of the music, so we can be sure of authentic beautiful tango music. So there we are, we've set the scene we hope and now all we need are the dancers with the right frame of mind to create the sublime, ultimate or perfect tango. I have the dress waiting and the champagne is always on ice.

Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com

let them eat cake....

A few weeks to plan "the new term" and getting things organized for Malvern's first ever tango festival? The idea seemed almost too sensible, but fortunate in retrospect, as it has turned out there really is a tremendous amount to do!
But, we have danced in Bristol with Eduardo, and another time at Tango West's new venue under the exacting eye of Andreas Wichter...a beautiful vals workshop.....then later up in Birmingham to Lloyd and Sandra's tango club...a great milonga class as it happened...
How good it is to go to some really good classes as a tango pupil ...and we look forward to some of their future visits to "Tango Malvern"....in the autumn!!

In the meantime, The "Tango Fiesta" takes shape...workshops all planned, Iyengar yoga scheduled first thing...lots of dancing from morning till the early hours! and for those looking for alternative entertainment,(?) just up the hill at "The Chase Inn" I have just discovered there will be a 3 day beer festival...perhaps the ideal sortie for the men when their partners are involved in "the specifically for followers workshop" (!) and perhaps then vice-versa!! everything in moderation though!

Perhaps slightly less risky, just round the corner from our Fiesta venue (Colwall Village hall) there is a sweet little cafe called the " Bonne bouche" my friend Mhari told me about it, consequently we obviously had to sample their wares of course..so you know where you'll find us when the call for tea and cake is overpowering!! Isn't tango wonderful, it teaches you so much.. to connect with yourself and others and live life to the full.... that coconut cake was very good indeed....




Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com

conflicting emotions on the tango front

sorry folks, I haven't been out of the country exactly, although I may've been out my mind with worry for some days which has affected my writing... Tango has been good in lots of ways, but one of my enduring life companions and hill walking friend has been rather unwell...the time when I usually reflect on my tango experiences has not happened, due to this very handsome chap hurting his back and not being able to climb the hills with me! I've really missed his completely positive non-judgmental nature he has, always bouncing along with unbounded enthusiasm for life...I think he may be on the mend, but I have to be patient, and in the meantime get back to the mission..
I had a truly inspirational day on saturday, when I went down to Devon to attend a workshop on the cross with Andreas Wichter and friends. The train journey down there was a pleasure anyway, passing by the sunlit sea through Dawlish and Teignmouth, and the day provided me with much needed extra detail and understanding to this often underrated tango "move"...loads to practice on now, thank you Andreas for such excellent tuition!
Last night at Tango Malvern we had a very good class with Ricardo Peixoto and Su Parc from Warwick Tango. Connectivity, posture and embrace all came up in this down to earth but constructive class. And when they danced for us at the end, all eyes were drawn to them, with their natural elegance and sense of playfulness, beautiful tango indeed. .
In the meantime, this handsome Irish chap, is lying flat out in his bed, no walks for him yet sadly.....




Tango Malvern web site is http://www.tangomalvern.com