The Art of Dancing in the Milonga with

Vilma Martinez & Alejandro Gée

July 2, 3 and 4, 2010

A comprehensive series of workshops designed to give you the tools necessary for navigating any social dance floor in the world, especially in the crowded milongas of Buenos Aires. Our goal is to teach you the concepts and movements that will make your dancing in the milonga more enjoyable, confident, and elegant. Every dancer interested in the social aspects of Tango will greatly benefit from these classes.

LOCATION: El Centro at SPK, 1134 Kingsway (between Fraser & Knight)

Vancouver, BC, Canada

PRICE: $125 weekend pass (6 classes, milonga and Sunday potluck dinner & practica) or $25/class. 30% discount for students. No partner required.

*The above photo features VILMA and the late milonguero RICARDO VIDORT.

Friday, July 2, 2010

I - FORMING THE COUPLE - 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Role of the leader; role of the follower; posture; the embrace; relaxing within the embrace; feeling your partner.

EL CENTRO MILONGA - 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Included in the weekend package or $10/$7 students at the door.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

II - ESSENTIAL NAVIGATION, TURNS - 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Walking; pausing; turning left; turning right; contrapasos forward and to the sides.

III - DYNAMICS OF THE EMBRACE, MOVEMENT - 2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Walking without losing the embrace; walking at different speeds without losing the music (corridas); contrapasos in the ocho milonguero; salida milonguero; ending turns.

IV - COMPLEX VOCABULARY FOR THE MILONGA 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The concept of the boleo milonguero; the concept of the sacada; following the music with the posture; how to stay relaxed; listening to your partner; navigation and navigation; creating your own resolutions.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

V - BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER - 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Discover how to apply to the milonga what we’ve learned in first four classes. This workshop will include an overview of the “codes” for dancing in the milongas of Buenos Aires; dispelling myths, what is current and what’s not, etc.

VI - MILONGA TRASPIE - 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The syncopated rhythm of Milonga Traspie: Understanding and enjoying its rich musicality, leading and following it.

Potluck & open practica - 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A favourite El Centro tradition, bring some food for the table, relax, enjoy the company of friends and do a little dancing or a review of the weekend’s material. Everyone is welcome, no partner required. Included in the weekend package or $8).

Vilma Martinez: Vilma was born in Buenos Aires at a time when Tango slipped out the door as easily as it came in the window. She studied Tango with Juan Carlos Copes, Gustavo Naveira, Carlos Perez and Pepito Avellaneda (with whom she later went on to teach). For the last 20 years she has been teaching Tango in Argentina at every possible level of expertise.

Vilma also has an extensive background in other dances, including classical, contemporary, jazz, and Argentinean folklore. She was a member of TV Channel 13 Ballet, as well as of Santiago El Chucaro Ayala's Folkloric Ballet (now the National Folkloric Ballet). As a member of the Folkloric Ballet she was both a soloist and first ballerina. She has toured in Argentina, South and Central America, the US, and Spain (where she lived for two years performing in the world famous tango musical, Tanguera).

With great pride she has performed with Juan Carlos Copes and Ricardo Vidort. Vilma was chosen to perform in Teatro Colon in a show, which presented the traditional roots of tango. This show was part of the acclaimed documentary film El Cafe de los Maestros. Presently, she is working on a book based on interviews with Carlos Perez, celebrated representative of the Old School. Her book will explore the spirit of Tango through the trajectory of his life and experiences. Vilma’s style emphasizes musicality, the connection between partners, the embrace, and the techniques necessary to maintain the elegance and essence of the traditional Argentinean tango.

Alejandro Gée: A native of Buenos Aires, Alejandro Gée grew up in a tango family where his involvement in the art began at a very early age. Musicians and dancers are an integral part of the Gée family.

His grandfather Francisco Gée was a Milonguero and musician, who danced and played in his own orchestra until he died at age ninety. Alejandro’s milonguero style is inspired by his grandfather but continues to evolve through influencers such as his best friend and mentor Pedro Sanchez, a well-known milonguero in Buenos Aires. Through Pedro Sanchez, he met Vilma Martinez who further refined his dance style, which emphasizes elegance, musicality, strong connection, dancing for your partner, and expressing that feeling through the music.

Wednesday Practica EVERY WEDNESDAY
SPK, 1134 Kingsway (b/w Fraser & Knight)
9:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. – $8 / $50 for 10 visits / $5 students – no partner necessary

EL CENTRO Milonga EVERY FRIDAY
LOCATION: SPK, 1134 Kingsway (b/w Fraser & Knight)
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. – drop-in class, $15 incl. milonga
9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. – milonga, $10 / $7 students


Lessons with Francis and Emiko WEDNESDAYS — Intermediate Tango Lesson
LOCATION: SPK, 1134 Kingsway (b/w Fraser & Knight)
7:30 to 9:00 p.m., $60/month or $18 drop-in / $20 for lesson and practica

THURSDAYS — Beginner Tango Lesson – NEW SESSION – March 11 to April 29, 2010
LOCATION: Edam, 303 E. 8th Ave. (just east of Main)
8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – $120 or $18 drop-in – no partner necessary

Introducing EL CENTRO at SPK, 1134 Kingsway. These clips are from our first week in our new space.



FOR INFORMATION, contact Francis and Emiko at estudiodetango[AT]yahoo.ca or call 778-995-3155.