Temperatures to rise with tango festival

Salsa dancing has ­become a sensation in Bermuda so it’s not all that surprising that tango is hot on its heels.

The island is set to host its first ever tango festival at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and the calibre of dancers coming to perform is world class. Coming to the island are five master Argentine tango instructors who will lead a weekend of intense dance workshops, performances, and nightly ‘milongas’ or tango social dancing.

Tango is known to be one of the most intense and passionate of all dance styles. It is described as “a dance that expresses most of the emotions that might exist between a man and woman — passion, excitement, love, romance, ­tenderness, sadness, anger…and even silliness”.

The master instructors visiting are Eduardo Saucedo and Marisa Quiroga, Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barionuevo and Angle Coria.

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Argentinean tango is growing in popularity around the world thanks to such films as Sally Porter’s, The Tango Lesson, Carlos Saura’s, Tango, Robert ­Duval’s film, Assassination Tango and Juan Carlos Copes Broadway success, Argentine Tango. Most recently Dancing with the Stars and Super Stars of Dance have captured the hearts of young and old and compelled them to take that first step onto the ballroom floor as ballroom dancing and Argentinian tango have no age restriction.

The plan for a tango festival has been in the works for over a year and is the brainchild of Boston-based dancer Leslie Shane. One of the aims is to attract visitors to Bermuda and the event is being heavily marketed in the U.S. East Coast. She has produced the show along with Bermuda salsa group SalsaMania Productions.

The main event is scheduled for Saturday, September 4 at 9pm — a Professional Showcase featuring local talent from the Sabor Dance School and the visiting master instructors.

“It has been my dream for years to hold a tango festival in Bermuda. I have been talking to the Premier about it in his role as Minister of Tourism, I was introduced to the director of Tourism Billy Griffiths and I have been talking to Travis Gilbert (of BermudaSalsa.com).

“This is very different to (the salsa festival) Mambo Nights. It is based on tango festivals which are conducted around the world. The goal for Bermuda is to ­establish it as a venue for ­future tango festivals, to bring new visitors to the ­island and to establish a local tango community.

“There is a group of ­people who travel the world to see these festivals and they come from all walks of life. One of the things I love about Argentinian tango is that there is no age restriction to it. It is very passionate, I would say more so than salsa. What I like about the instructors is their passion, they are not intimidating to students, they encourage you. Beginners will feel very ­welcome.”

Traditionally a ballroom dancer, Ms Shane got into tango after watching the movie Tango Times Two and has been hooked ever since. She started dancing with a company called Solo Tango and began studying the dance.  She has travelled to Argentina several times.

She added: “There are so many phenomenal dancers out there. The music is ­seductive and sexy and once it gets into your blood, that’s it.

“If this works I’d like to bring in more master ­instructors as well as a full Argentinian orchestra.”

Argentinian dancer, instructor and choreographer Miriam Larici ­performed in Bermuda at a convention three years ago. She and her dance partner Leonardo Barionevo won the first prize in the Super Stars of Dance televised dance competition aired on NBC last year.

Ms Larici said of the ­routine, which will be performed at the festival: “We mix traditional tango with an acrobatic style. It is a very theatrical style of ­tango. It is more entertaining but it still keeps its roots. We have a story behind it — it is mostly about the relationship between men and women. He tries to conquer her and she says yes and no and yes and no. It is very strong and very sensual and romantic.

For more information on Bermuda’s Argentine Tango Festival visit www.bermudasalsa.com or contact Teresa Whitter at 799 6616. Tickets for the Professional Showcase are $30 and can be purchased at Brown & Co., iStore, and www.BDATix.com.