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This week at Tango Lounge, catch a milonga class with two awesome teachers: Avik Basu from Ann Arbor, and Maria Elena Ybarra from Arg/NY.
8.30pm class included with admission:
- MILONGA: FAST AND FLOW intermediate and up, with Avik and Maria Elena
- intermediate with Jennifer
- beginners with Paul
Performance with Avik and sometime between 11.30 and midnight
DJ Tine
NYC TANGUEROS SANDY RELIEF this week:
Lounge participates with a $3 suggested donation which will go straight into the Sandy kitty at the door and from there to help local communities struggling in the hurricane's aftermath; if you can spare more, that would be marvelous.
For each $3 increment you are able to donate at Lounge, you will get a raffle ticket. Prizes are being donated and will include classes, books on tango, other goodies.
Most NY milongas participate: please do what you can. Thank you!
More about our guest artists
AVIK BASU
Avik began his tango journey in 2002 and since then has danced, DJ'd, and performed all over North America. He sees tango not only as an accessible art form but also as a way to discover and improve upon oneself. He is devoted to sharing it and his instruction over the better part of the last decade has been instrumental in developing the Ann Arbor tango community.
Avik specializes in teaching social tango emphasizing connection, musicality, and improvisation. He has come to be known for his clear explanations which expose the core of any tango idea whether it be about movement or musicality. In addition to his regular classes in Ann Arbor, he has taught all over North America and beyond. Some of the more interesting tango adventures he's been on include two month-long immersions in Buenos Aires, DJing Monday night at Salon Canning, teaching tango to a Bollywood actress in Mumbai, India, and touring the U.S. with tango band Trio Folias. Through it all, he continues to have a vivid memory of what it was like to start learning this challenging dance and this aids his teaching in a profound way.
An eternal tango student, Avik has taken classes from dancers in many tango traditions. The teachers who have left their mark most clearly are Gustavo Naveira, Susana Miller, Alex Krebs, and Robin Thomas. And in great measure, he has been guided by his experiences with his many talented students.
To hear some of Avik's thoughts about tango, listen to his radio interview on WCBN-FM Ann Arbor.
MARIA ELENA YBARRA
Maria was born in the province of Chaco, Argentina. With more than a decade of experience dancing and teaching tango, she has become recognized as one of the top female tango dancers in the NYC area, and has taught locally, as well as in Buenos Aires. She is noted for her attention to detail and her exquisite technique.
Join Daniel Raphael and Jennifer Wesnousky for their class and performance at Tango Lounge this Friday. Daniel has one foot on the plane back to Rio, so catch him this weekend before it's too late!
8.30pm Classes included with admission:
Intermediate and up with Daniel and Jennifer
Beginners with Paul
Performance around midnight
DJ/host Tine
DANIEL RAPHAEL
Daniel has been working as a professional dancer and instructor for more than fourteen years, training both individuals and groups and conducting workshops in Brazil, Europe and the United States. He has performed many different dance styles for television and stage including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary Dance, Flamenco, Latin rhythms, Brazilian dances and Tango, his specialty. He has spent the last few years meticulously researching the process of teaching Tango and the training of new dance professionals. He has developed a personal teaching method based on strong body awareness and concepts and techniques from the fields of psychology and holistic therapies. His teaching method is committed to the development of self-confidence and focuses on integral health regardless of age. This commitment is based on his own successful training in Ballet (Classic, Modern and Contemporary), Alexander Technique, Yoga, Bioenergetics Therapy and Ayurvedic Massage. At the end of 2009, Daniel began incorporating modern techniques from the field of Somatic movement such as Feldenkrais and Topf Technique to continue his search for the most pleasant and healthy way of dancing. Daniel’s vast experience allows him to embrace Tango’s many aspects, from the old Canyengue style to the contemporary Tango Nuevo. After living in NY for three years, where he made a considerable impact with his expertise and progressive technique, Daniel joined the Midnight Tango show in the West End, London, which came to be one of the most successful musicals in the UK in 2012.
JENNIFER WESNOUSKY
Born and raised in California, Jennifer Wesnousky trained in gymnastics, ballet and jazz throughout her childhood, performing as a member of both the San Luis Jazz dancers and the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. After graduating from U.C.L.A. and working and studying in Los Angeles, Spain and Argentina, her pursuit of careers in the international music industry/live entertainment promotions and Spanish translation brought her to New York, where, she chanced upon Argentine tango after a ten-year dance hiatus. Enamored, she studied extensively with top tango masters at home and in Buenos Aires, where she traveled annually. Her most influential instructors have included Diego Di Falco, Pablo Pugliese and Mariela Franganillo, with whom she choreographed a children’s tango project for the New York City Center. As a performer, Jennifer has danced at locations and events as diverse as Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing, Joan Lunden’s Camp Reveille, the New York Tango Festival, Latina Magazine’s Poet’s Den and in the independent film, “ParAmor.” She also appeared with the all-female tango ensemble,“Tango por Ellas,” at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden and in numerous stage productions such as the renowned Turkish musical, “Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyasi,” at the Beacon Theatre, Valeria Solomonoff’s “Tango por Ellos,” which won the Latin ACE Award 2010 for Best Choreography, and “Borges and Piazzolla Tango” at the Thalia Spanish Theater. Jennifer was also chosen by Madonna’s choreographer to perform at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project which Madonna hosted at the Roseland Ballroom. As a teacher at Paul Pellicoro’s Dancesport, Jennifer is passionate about taking her students to the next level. She has also been a guest instructor and performer in several of the United States and in Israel. Most recently, Jennifer was able to combine her live entertainment industry and performance backgrounds to co-produce, direct, co-choreograph and perform in the original productions, “Mientras TANGO” and “MIENTRAS TANGO 2012” which, along with the renowned Octavio Brunetti Tango Quintet,” played to packed houses at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center.
The hurricane cleaned out all our ghoulish decorations; no more Darkness, indeed we have Light, Music, Food, Drinks, everything!
Hope you will join us for some great dancing after being cooped up all week.
DJ Tine Herreman
Complementary classes 8.30pm
intermediate with Jennifer
beginners with Paul
This week come cheer for London's first performance in NYC! London will be dancing with the elegant Katherine Gorsuch.
8.30pm classes included with admission:
Upper level with Katherine
Intermediates with Jennifer
Beginners with Paul
Midnight performance with London and Katherine
DJ Tine
About our guest artists...
London Hong is surely one of New York's most avid social dancers. He has studied with Orlando Reyes, Maria Elena Ybarra, Robin Thomas, Oliver Kolker and Thomas Howlin. With a little help from his training in martial arts, London aims for elegance and precision in his dance, and looks for the intersection between musicality and connection with his partner. London performed recently with the Dodo Orchestra, and with Katherine Gorsuch at the Yale Tango Club milonga. Look out for this young talent coming to a milonga near you!
Katherine Gorsuch's hybrid expression of movement is derived from the many dance influences in her life. She received her formal dance training at Ballet Hispanico, where she was a member of the Jr. Ensemble. At 18, she began dancing tango in New York City. She initially partnered with Robin Thomas and has most recently worked and performed with Felipe Martinez, Adam Hoopengardner, and Oliver Kolker. Katherine has taught across the US, and in Europe. Dancing in Europe, Buenos Aires, and across the United States has contributed to Katherine's inspirational musicality and connection. She brings a youthful energy and sweet madness to the dance floor.
This week Lounge welcomes MOMO SMITT from Portland OR. Momo will teach the upper level class on Musicality and perform around midnight with Tine. Seriously.
Midnightish performance by Momo and Tine
DJ Tine
Classes 8.30pm included with admission:
Upper level with Momo Smitt on Musicality
Intermediate with Jennifer
Beginners with Paul
More about Momo....
Momo Smitt started teaching argentine tango through the tango club at Southern Oregon University in January of 2010 - since then he has traveled to over 40 festivals studying, teaching, DJing and rapping about tango. In February of 2011, he released his first concept album (and 9th overall) titled "Tango World" a 17 track tribute to his love for the dance. As a teacher and social dancer, he focuses on connection and musicality. His newest project is co-organizing "Connect 2012" a tango festival where every workshop is focused on connection or musicality. The fest falls on thanksgiving weekend where Momo will be teaching along with Felipe Martinez and Jenna Rohrbacher. For more information visit www.ashlandtangofestival.com
This week at Tango Lounge, join Mong-Lan from Buenos Aires (performing with Stefan from NY) and guest DJ Ramu Pyreddy from DC.
8.30pm classes included with admission:
Beginners with Paul
Intermediate with Jennifer
Upper level with Mong-Lan: "The Secrets of the Tango: Revealed": In my class,we will be working fundamentals such as the tango walk, the ocho, the giro, the voleo; then build up with more complex steps and patterns, in the process, giving you an intelligent way of dancing, understanding and being creative with the tango. Furthermore, we will work on musicality, understanding tango music. The tango above all is a surrender, to the music, to your partner. How do we surrender ourselves, offer ourselves to our partners, surrender ourselves to the music? At the end of the class, you will understand more of the secrets of the tango.
More about our guest artists:
MONG-LAN dances and sings the tango, and puts her heart in each line. Dynamic tango dancer, singer, poet and visual artist visiting from Buenos Aires, Mong-Lan brings 17 years of tango experience, having performed and taught in Argentina, Italy, Thailand, Japan and the U.S. She holds an MFA from the U of Arizona, a Fulbright Fellowship, a Stegner Fellowship from Stanford Univ. Visit: www.monglan.com/tango
Check out her new tango video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aeuPnpzmuU
STEFAN has been dancing tango since 1997, and has performed on many stages, to include with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the Bajofondo Tango band, & at Festivals sponsored by the Argentine Embassy & the United Nations. Website: www.mundi.com/tango
Ramu Pyreddy is one of the most knowledgeable and sought after tango DJ's in North America and is a featured DJ at most tango festivals in the US. His teaching and dancing are characterized by keen musical interpretation, infectious enthusiasm and a deep love of the music and the dance that is fanatic. Ramu Pyreddy was the founder of the Argentine Tango Club at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - a community well known for excellent social dancing skills, and exciting festivals and events.
This week Lounge welcomes new NYC arrival Yaisuri Salamanca and our favorite Brazilian Daniel Raphael!
8.30pm classes included with milonga admission:
Upper level with Yaisuri and Daniel
Intermediates with Jennifer W
Beginners with Paul
DJ Tine
Performance about midnight with Daniel and Yaisuri
More about our stars:
Yaisuri Salamanca is a dancer whose technique captures two dances that characterize Latin music: tango and salsa. She went from world champion in salsa at 2004 to third place in the Argentinian tango world championship at Buenos Aires in 2008. Yaisuri trained in Argentine rhythms at Buenos Aires under masters like Aurora Lubiz, Olga Besio, Guillermina Quiroga, among others. Furthermore, she has training in classical ballet, salsa and traditional folk dances of Colombia. Those styles enrich her tango training, and performing repertory.
Yaisuri, a Colombian dancer, has been a Principal Dancer for the Tango Vivo and Sonde Luz dance companies. She performed in the Argentina Tango championships in both 2007 and 2008, reaching the five top places in both occasions. She also performed in Chicago for the Salsa Festival in 2002 and in Zürich and Puerto Rico for World Salsa Congress 2004. Among her other accomplishments, she was awarded with the first place at the Official National World Tango Championships in Colombia in 2007, and an official distinction for National and International Achievements by the Medellin City Council in Columbia in 2009.
Yaisuri is passionate about teaching, and was until she moved to NYC a staff dancer for Argentine Tango at the Midnight Tango Company in England. She has also been an instructor in Argentine Tango, Salsa and Latin rhythms at Tango Vivo Dance School in Colombia, as well as being a dance workshop instructor all over the world including Rio de Janeiro (2011), Miami (2011), Harvard University (2010) Tango Society of Boston (2010), New York (2009) and in Argentina (2008).
Yaisuri is also currently studying for a Bachelor of Science in Communication Technology in New York, where she also has her own line of Tango Shoes.
Daniel Raphael has been working as a professional dancer and instructor for more than 12 years, training individuals, teaching groups, and conducting workshops in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and in New York City at DanceSport. He has performed many different dance styles for television and stage that include Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary Dance, Flamenco, Latin rhythms, Brazilian dances and Tango, his specialty.
He has spent the last few years meticulously researching a process regarding the teaching of Tango and the preparation of new dance professionals, developing a personal teaching method based on strong body awareness and concepts and techniques from the fields of psychology and holistic therapies.
His teaching method is committed to the development of self-confidence and focuses on integral health regardless of age. This commitment is based on his own successful training in Ballet (Classic, Modern and Contemporary), Alexander Technique, Yoga, Bioenergetics Therapy, and Ayurvedic Massage.
Daniel’s vast experience allows him to embrace Tango's many aspects, from the old Canyengue style to the contemporary Tango Nuevo.
When Daniel is not travelling, he lives in Rio de Janeiro.
