Tango Bajo with Cecilia Gonzalez and Albano Goldenberg

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Posted 2016-11-07 by Donna Sue Robson ⇒ follow

Sat 12 Nov 2016 - Sun 13 Nov 2016

Cecilia Gonzalez and Albano Goldenberg, Argentine Tango maestros who travel the world performing and conducting small-group workshops from Tango clubs and schools, are currently on their Australasian tour. In Melbourne from 11th-15th of November, they are proudly hosted by Tango Bajo, a Tango studio renowned for hand-picking Argentinean talent and bringing premier teachers to Australia.

Canberra fell in love with Cecilia and Albano in late October and Tango in the Tropics were their Darwin hosts last weekend. After Melbourne, Cecilia and Albano head to Sydney for more workshops and performances at Pablito's. They are acclaimed world-wide as both teachers and performers: spreading the love of Tango throughout Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and the USA. Albano has just finished a series of workshops in Toronto and Cecilia has come to Australia direct from her teaching tour of New Zealand.

Cecilia has taught at Tango festivals and congresses around the world and is a member of the teaching faculty of Argentine International Tango Congress (C.I.T.A), which is held annually in Buenos Aires. As a dancer, she is known for her long-lines and flawless subtlety, never over-playing 'adornos' or compromising 'the follow'. Her core strength and integrity conditions her for sudden or creative changes of direction and she appears weightless: her dancing has a melodic flow and her follow is active-responsive. More so, what fascinates me and inspires me to learn from Cecilia is her dignified energy: she has an empowered wisdom. She is a dancer who not only has 20 years of professional touring and teaching experience to her name, but is an Argentinean who clearly understands her role as a strong woman, an artist, and a follow. Cecilia shines and bedazzles: her sensuality draws the lead into a shared space that is Tango harmony.

Albano is equally as intriguing: born in Mendoza, he exudes Argentinean authenticity and already has an international teaching pedigree. He conserves energy which makes his dancing smooth. He allows the music to lead him and supports his partner in such a way that understates his own role, or rather makes him 'the gentleman'. His magic is to impart masculine grace with ego in-check. The layers of Albano's dancing are seamless: he knows that it is not just the highlights and lowlights that make this 'dance of life' memorable - it is what you do with the in-between moments that are the real building blocks to living and loving. You don't get to this level of awareness overnight: Albano has studied with distinguished maestros Carlos Gavito, Sabrina and Rubén Veliz, Guillermina Quiroga, 'el Pibe' Avellaneda, Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne, Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Mariano 'Chicho' Frúmboli and Juana Sepúlveda and Pablo Verón. He has also worked as a teacher at the Escuela Carlos Copello as well as at Julio Balmacedo and Corina de la Rosa's 'Zarasa' Studio.

Cecilia has been coming to Melbourne for over 10 years and as a teacher, is she humble and generous and yet is direct and demanding when her students want to be challenged. A brilliant improviser herself, Cecilia teaches subtle nuance, technical craftsmanship and layers to partnership connection. Technically, weight change and core integrity can be taught and need to be conditioned, however by observing and experiencing Cecilia's physical mastery in a workshop scenario can show you what is required and is a great the opportunity to see 'grace in action' broken down so that your own dancing may excel.

This is the first time that Cecilia has travelled to Australia with Albano Goldenberg. Like Cecilia, Albano envelopes the music and honours its precise, crisp non-strict tempo, weaving it into lead-sequences by picking the right moment to change direction or to instigate drama. When international dancers of the calibre of Cecilia and Albano visit home shores, seize the opportunity to learn from them: they have a complete relationship with Tango- it is their lifeblood and they share insights and lessons generously.

If you are an intermediate or advanced dancer, you may also consider private lessons with either Cecilia or Albano on 11th, 14th or 15th. Private lessons cost $115.00 and operate from German Tivoli Club, 291 Dandenong Rd, Windsor (near Williams Rd).

The Workshop Program

Cecilia and Albano present six workshops, each running for 1.5 hours. It is recommended that you have a partner for these workshops simply because a lot of couples choose not to rotate and singles can be disadvantaged. However, it is not essential: it is likely that there will be other single dancers enrolled and Cecilia and Albano will always do their best to help out should assistance be required and ratios uneven. Tango Bajo does strive to balance numbers and to create the best learning environment for all students and dancers.

The Saturday workshop program that has been primarily designed for intermediates, includes:

11.30-1.00pm Art of Walking and Small Turns (Beginners/Intermediates)
Mechanics, technique and how to apply it on the dancefloor

1.30pm – 3pm Changes of Direction (Intermediate)
Understanding and enjoying this dynamic movement

3.30pm – 5pm Turns, Structure and Technique (Intermediate/Advanced)
Different ways to enter and exit turns, and tips on how to execute them comfortably

The Sunday workshop program has been designed for intermediates and advanced dancers. It starts at 12 and runs through until 5.30pm.

12noon – 1.30pm Circular Open Steps
Revisiting open steps in a circular motion

2pm – 3.30pm Barridas for Men and Women
Starting them from different positions from turns and stops

4pm – 5.30pm Rebounds
Playing with rebounds and counter movements creating dynamics

There is time between workshops to check out Tango dancewear from Melbourne retailers and those who import from Buenos Aires and other global Tango-fashion hot-spots. On Saturday, merchandise from Regina Tango Clothing and Tango Moments will be on show; and on Sunday, JHeart Clothing and InStep Shoes join the fashion array.

To Book your Place in the Workshops

Single workshops are $38, or $35 per workshop if you book two or more. There are also packages available that combine workshops and the 'La Mision' Milonga. These early bird deals need to be booked and paid for before Thursday 10th November. Call or SMS 'Meg' on 0419 826 061 or email [email protected]. When registering, include names, roles (i.e., whether you are a leader or follower) and a contact number. Bookings are secured on receipt of full payment. Melbourne workshops are held at Arthur Murray, Level 1, Suite 2, 136-138 Martin Street, Brighton.

Tango Bajo is owned and operated by Bill Jarman. Originally from New Zealand, Bill has over 20 years of experience as both teacher, choreographer and performer in many dance styles. Since 1990, his prime passion has been Argentine Tango. Bill offers and promotes professional tuition at Tango Bajo and hand-picks maestros from Argentina to run high-quality, inter-active workshops that assist Melbourne dancers and adds vibrancy to the Tango cultural community. Bill can provide follow-up tutelage after Cecilia and Albano's have left our shores. He is a qualified tertiary dance teacher with a well-earned international reputation.

After Cecilia and Albano's Melbourne tour, which is punctuated by their performances at 'La Mision', Marvellous Margarita Memorial Milonga on Saturday 12th, Pablito's in Sydney becomes their new host. Their workshop program can also be enjoyed in the harbour city: Cecilia and Albano's Sydney season runs from 18th-22nd of November.