Tango in the Close-Embrace
(Estilo Milonguero)

with ROBERT HAUK
June 7 & 8, 2008

The focus in all of these classes will be on the body mechanics of the movements. [SCROLL DOWN for a VIDEO and WORKSHOP DETAILS.] Tango is walking, and all of the situations we encounter in figures are also walking. By studying walking in many situations we can discover the principles of many families of figures. Rather than learning canned figures we will learn how to construct figures in the moment. This leads to greater freedom on the dance floor, both for navigation and improvisation, which are closely linked. The dancer is set free to find their own personal dance rather than to just imitate their teachers.

Robert Hauk and Alicia Pons (Buenos Aires) giving a demonstration at Chicago's recent Miloguero festival.

Saturday, June 7
Location: Mascall Dance at St Paul’s Church, 1140 Jervis (one blk north of Davie St., West End)
Parking: You'll find 2-hour street parking or a convenient $7/day Parkade beside the Davie Street Super Valu.
Click here for a map and street shots of the venue and parkade.

1:00 pm—Tango is Walking. This class will explore the fundamentals of posture, walking and embrace. Everything in tango is walking and we return again and again to work on our walking. We will develop a language of body mechanics that we will use in all of the classes. This class is an all levels class, the focus is on improving our walking and it is where I develop ideas that will be important to all the rest of the classes.

2:45 pm—Check Step Turns. The check step turns are fundamental building blocks for dancing in crowded spaces. They open options for turns at any time and they are the entry to many more complex figures. This class is also good for all levels. The movements might be familiar to dancers with more experience but they will be presented in a novel way that opens many possibilities for improvisation.

4:30 pm—Walking in Crossed Feet. This class is another exploration of walking and we will learn more details about walking. We will develop back ochos and some very compact walking turns.


Sunday, June 8
Location: Academie Duello, 422 Richards Street, 2nd Floor (at W. Hastings St., Downtown). Map.

1:00 pm—Developing Combinations. This class will put together material from the previous three classes and develop more complex possibilities. The focus will be on using the transitions from and to crossed feet. These will be used as building blocks to create more complex figures.

2:45 pm—Continued Turns. This class will extend the material developed in the Check Step Turns class, developing more possibilities for navigating and improvisation.

4:30 pm—Walking Backwards to go Forward. This class will explore situations where the leader walks backward and the follower walks forward. We will develop some very elegant walking combinations that navigate very well and feel great.

PRICES: $20 per workshop in advance/ $25 per workshop at the door
$100 weekend package (6 classes), must be purchased in advance
30% discount with a valid student card

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CANCELLED -Saturday, June 7 - Robert will NOT be attending Liberatango Milonga, as the event has been CANCELLED.

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 8, Robert will attend Francis and Emiko’s EL CENTRO Practica at Academie Duello, 422 Richards, 2nd Floor (at W. Hastings). The event begins an hour early and includes a POTLUCK DINNER 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. [see below]

Argentine Tango with Francis & Emiko --REGULAR SCHEDULE

On SUNDAYS (ongoing), we host an open weekly practica from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. at El Centro Argentine Tango Dancing, located at Academie Duello, 422 Richards, Second Floor (at Hastings). Traditional music. No partner required. Refreshments served. $8 drop-in, $50 for 10 visits (no expiry, non-transferable), $5 drop-in for students (with student I.D.).

You will find street parking and several nearby Parkades. I recommend Pender & Seymour Parking as it costs $5 for the evening and you can cut through the hotel driveway straight to the Academie Duello entrance at 422 Richards. Avoid the parking at the Westin hotel, it's overpriced. Buses, Seabus and the Skytrain are all within a block. Click here to view a map.

Click here see photos of the building and its entrance. The studio is on the second floor.

On MONDAYS (ongoing), we have a regular intermediate class at 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm at The Atrium, 237 E. 4th Avenue. This is for dancers already comfortable walking in the close embrace. $18 drop-in/ $60 4-wk session. Please confirm in advance.

On WEDNESDAYS (ongoing), we're teaching absolute beginners and dancers of all levels who wish to refine their fundamental skills, at 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm, at La Salle, 1839 Commercial Drive (between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues). $18 drop-in/ $60 4-wk session. No partner required.

On THURSDAYS (May 1 through to June 12, summer closure begins June 13), we host a supervised practica for dancers of all levels at 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, at Edam Performing Arts Society, 303 East 8th Avenue (just east of Main). $10 drop-in.

FORTHCOMING WORKSHOPS

June 7 and 8: Robert Hauk from Portland

August 2 and 3: Hzueh-Tze Lee from Boston

October 11 and 12: Susana Miller from Buenos Aires

Abel Peralta and Lilian Godoy, masters of the milonguero style, dancing at Maipu 444, Buenos Aires.