Hidden Treasure at the Sydney Tango Salon Festival

I missed Sunday night at the Festival because a friend I don't see often enough was in town. Big Mistake! Because I also missed the performance by Dante Sanchez and Angelica Avalos. Since like most of my tango friends I didn't know them - I had no idea what I was missing until I watched a few Youtube videos. But fate has played into the hands of those Sydneysiders who like me missed out - because their Melbourne visit has been cancelled at the last minute and they are now staying in Sydney.
They will be doing workshops with Mauricio of Ruedisima this Saturday in Newcastle and next weekend they will be doing workshops and performing around Sydney (details below.
Dante Sanchez was World Tango Salon Champion in 2007 - and you can see why. His footwork is simple and beautiful and worth watching just for the lápices (which translates as pencils and is used to describe the circular motion on the floor with the toe or inside edge of one foot while maintaining balance on the other foot). I say no more... just enjoy - and maybe you too will plan to do a workshop with this couple while they are in town.

(Aside: the older couple sitting on the right of screen as the dancing starts are Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau).

Note: workshop information has been removed. AT

Two very different nights of tango music

Here we are into our fifth day of the Sydney Salon Tango Festival - and I'm writing this for those who have missed out for one reason or another! It would take too long if I wrote about the classes - so I am concentrating on the milongas.
Tonight the Milonga will be held at the South Sydney Juniors club in Kingsford as it has been for the last two nights. A vast area never before used by the tango organisers of Sydney it is reminiscent of Club Sunderland (for those who've been there) with a lower roof - or an aircraft hanger! But it has a huge floor, a stage for the musicians and plenty of space for tables. The organisers have done a wonderful job of making the space work and mixing the tables of people from different parts of the world. And the food has been outstanding - for those who like to enjoy a little sustenance while dancing. In fact the food at last night's Gala Milonga was excellent - and plenty of it. Given that Sydney Festivals in the past (not organised by this group) have been renowned for their meanness when it comes to food or supper, I know that quite few folk were surprised and pleased.
The dance floor is a slightly strange shape - almost an L - which means that sometimes dancers end up in a dead end - and the line of dance which should be in at least 3 rows is haphazard at times - but Sydney is known for finding line of dance something incomprehensible.
Which brings me to the music. The DJ's on the first 3 nights were world-class. Just about all the tandas began with  'I want to get up and dance now' music (what has been described as 5-star music) and it created a fabulous vibe where the floor was always crowded.  On Friday night the Joaquín Amenábar quintet played with a passion and understanding of tango music for dancers that is rarely seen in Sydney milongas. Sadly last night it was not so wonderful.
The DJing too had much wanting. Not until after 11 was a Milonga tanda played!  and there was only 2 waltz tandas - maybe there were more in the hour from 1 to 2, but exhausted, I had left by then. Some of the tango would have sounded fabulous in a supper club or concert hall but it was definitely not dancing music. At one stage I was dancing with a teacher and even he commented that it was not easy to dance to! Last night there were 2 DJs, but I can't put it down to that as the first DJ has a huge amount of experience and frankly IMHO should know better! It was a real downer on what was otherwise a great night.
The Sydney Salon Tango Festival has a page on the DJs for the curious.
The highlight of the night was the performances by the visiting Maestros. Each couple danced three pieces beginning with Lorena and Fabián. Lorena, one-time partner of the late Osvaldo Zotto, is outstanding - her smooth elegant footwork something to be admired but never aspired to (realistically by me). Fabián too has a mastery that looks effortless. (There's an interview and video clip on TangoAustralia). Sebastián and Andrea Reyero are amazingly dexterous. Last year Sebastián's brother Gabriel danced with the fastest and cleverest footwork ever seen in Sydney. Then Javier and Andrea Missé performed with a softer elegance.
More performances to come for those yet to attend. I find it disappointing that these great dancers only arrive at the milongas when it comes time to perform (usually around midnight). The community would certainly appreciate their presence for longer - but this is no doubt how they do it in BA, so who am I to comment?