You have seen the intimacy of the Argentine Tango, the intertwining of the dancers as they glide across the floor in one of the most disciplined of dances.
Now you can try it, too.
The passion, allure and artistry of the Argentine Tango is the centerpiece of Embrace Tango Marathon Weekend, a three-day celebration of the dance Sept. 26-28 in Hallandale Beach.
Organized by the U.S. Tango Foundation in Miami, a nonprofit devoted to growing and promoting the art form, Embrace Tango Marathon Weekend will sashay to Broward County for the second time in its three-year run. The foundation is trying to grow the Argentine Tango movement in Broward by offering free tickets to two of the weekend’s events to Broward residents with a special discount code, says Sofi Kaufmann, a volunteer board member and artistic director of the U.S. Tango Foundation.
“It’s a weekend full of live music, and of professional dancers showcasing their choreographies and dances, and giving workshops,” says Kaufmann, of Davie.The event is for anyone interested in Tango, from those who want to perfect their moves, to beginners who want to learn and to spectators who would like to see acclaimed dancers and experience the music. There will be vendors, live music, DJs, food and dancing until the wee hours.
“Everybody can learn from the workshops and from the social dances,” says Kaufmann, who was born in Uruguay and was raised with Tango. She will perform and teach classes during the weekend.
The Hallandale Beach location is strategic because it is accessible to all points in South Florida, from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade.The venue has a capacity of about 250, says Kaufmann.
The Argentine Tango, or authentic Tango, is different from Ballroom Tango in the ways the dancers move, she says.
“The connection and the communication among the dancers is much deeper, and the power of improvisation is also deeper,” says Kaufmann. “It’s like learning a language.You learn the words, you learn the grammar, and then from there, basically you can create your own artwork. The possibilities to create your own style within the style to express yourself and communicate with the partner is much greater than just learning choreography for Ballroom Tango.”
The event attracts a mix of local dancers and musicians, as well as internationally acclaimed dancers Celina Rotundo and Hugo Patyn from Dallas, and 2017 World Tango Champions Magdalena Gutierrez and German Ballejo, who are touring the U.S. and are making an appearance.
“Tango is healing. It gives a place to all who fall in love with it. A place and space to make friends, heal the soul, and get to know oneself in a profound way,” says Rotundo, who founded the International Tango Femme Team to empower women to dance as leads. “But at the same time, it teaches us how to truly connect with others.”
Embrace Tango is called a “marathon edition” to make sure dancers know to expect a lot of music, throughout the day and into the night, says Kaufmann. “Some people are coming from Orlando and Tampa, and they can come and have a full weekend of dance.”
Joe Ferreira of Boca Raton, who is originally from Rio de Janeiro, has two decades of dance experience and has performed at stages across America. He and Kaufmann will teach a fundamentals class at Embrace Tango.
“The speed in which someone takes to learn the first Tango steps varies, because if the practitioner already has dance expertise from other dances, they will internalize the Tango foundation quicker, while if someone never danced before will face more skills to be worked on like balance, embrace and rotations,” he says.
Ferreira, who has danced since he was a child, said what he finds captivating about Argentine Tango is the dialogue it creates.
“Because Tango is a dance of connection and synchronicity, the joy of having a very enjoyable ‘conversation’ with another Tango dancer is unique,” he says.
The U.S. Tango Foundation has worked with seniors, incarcerated individuals and even elementary school kids, teaching them about the cultures and intricacies of the dance. The programs rely on donations and volunteers.
“The kids learned not only how to dance, but most importantly, by doing so, they learned to respect each other. They learned to work with each other, and they learned different values that help them also in the day-to-day at schools,” says Kaufmann.
Embrace Tango, which aims to spread awareness of the culture of Tango, is supported by a grant from the Broward Cultural Division.
“It’s not only a dance, a music form,” says Kaufmann. “It’s a way to communicate, to interact with each other, to respect each other. A lot of values are connected to the way we feel Argentine Tango while dancing.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: U.S. Tango Foundation’s Embrace Tango Marathon Weekend
WHERE: Friday, Sept. 26 preview at Estudio 35, 134 1st. Ave., Hallandale Beach; Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28 at VK Dance Arena, 3129 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach
WHEN: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26; 1:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 27; and 1:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 28
TICKETS: $100 to $330, advance pass packages; $15 to $45, a-la-carte pricing. Free entry for Broward residents with code “Broward” for either the 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 “Saturday Gala Milonga” with live music, food, dance and performance, or the 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 “Sunday Milonga” with a tango class, dance and show.
INFORMATION: 305-613-4995, kaufsofi@gmail.com, ustangofoundation@outlook.com or https://ustangofoundation.org
In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
Overtown Performing Arts Center
Sept 28, 2024
Photo By AJ Shorter Photography
