Two unique learning opportunities and a new performance video

The snow came and went, but tango continues. I hope you've been enjoying your dancing (and life beyond dancing). Here's the latest 'skinny'.

I have two unique learning opportunities to announce, coming up very soon:
The first is a 6 week course for those who are interested in developing their tango skills through gaining some practical teaching experience.

The second is a workshop on flying and lifting movements in tango.

I also have a little video of my latest performance in London, which I thought you might enjoy watching. Read on for the link.

For those wanting to take their first steps in tango, or deepen their understanding of the basics which underpin the rest of the dance, the next 6 week Argentine Tango Fundamentals course starts on Monday 18th Feb. Details here: http://www.tangolingua.com/courses/argentine-tango-fundamentals

For those nearing the end of their first 6 weeks and wondering what comes next, your learning will continue on the Monday sessions, as you reinforce the fundamental technique, adding confidence and playful possibilities with practice - repetition is the key to really 'getting it'.

Additionally you are also invited to the Wed sessions where we focus on more of the modern elements of tango, including leg wraps, shared axis movements and other wonderful things :)

Workshops

On Sunday 17th Feb, there will be a workshop on flying and lifting movements in tango. Here you have the rare opportunity to discover how these beautiful movements work - while performing them with safety, smoothness and elegance.

The workshop will be held in Southampton at StudioSo, 1-5pm. You do not need a partner to book. Places limited to 12 people only. For full details and booking please see: http://www.tangolingua.com/workshops/southampton/introduction-to-aerial-technique



For anyone who will be in London or fancies traveling I'm running another workshop with Liz Bayley on Sunday 10th February, 2-5pm (followed by a 1 hour practica) in Highbury & Islington. This one is titled 'Playful Barridas for him and her'. For full details and booking see: http://www.tangolingua.com/workshops/london/10th-feb-tango-magic

Special courses

As detailed in the previous newsletter, I'll be running a very unique 6 week tango course starting on 12th Feb. It's based on the idea that - with the right kind of approach - helping someone else to learn something helps you to learn what you're teaching even better, as well as leading to more knowledge being shared and ultimately everyone becoming more of the dancer they want to be. Places are limited.

The course is an introduction to tango teaching, with role-play and fundamental technique review. It's aimed at anyone who has been tangoing regularly for at least 8 months and thinks they might enjoy getting some practical teaching experience. If you're curious about it, please check out: http://www.tangolingua.com/courses/intro-to-tango-teaching-roleplay-and-fundamentals-review

Performance video

On Saturday January 26th, I was in London taking part in the Wellcome Collection's final 'Rhythm is a Dancer' series event with Liz Bayley. (Details here: http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/events/lets-get-physical.aspx) This involved being a part of a panel discussion of professional dancers and performers, and giving a tango demonstration to the audience. It was great fun, and I managed to get hold of a little clip of our improvised tango performance, which you can see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0teyEsLRs


Do you like it?


Shoes:  A few students have asked about what shoes to wear for tango. Essentially if it doesn't mark the floor, is comfortable and allows you to pivot easily then it's fine. Generally any sole that isn't rubber will allow you to pivot, e.g. leather, suede or plastic. If you want something specifically for dancing, then you can go online for the cheapest prices (google 'dance shoes'). If you want to buy from a local shop, there's a dancewear shop in Woolston (http://www.roynondancewear.co.uk/) where I got my very first pair. I wear ballroom practice shoes, jazz trainers and ballet pumps and they all work pretty well. You can also get a shoe that has a great fit and feel and then buy a suede sole to stick on from a cobbler. For followers I'd recommend having both a pair of flats and heals, ideally. I hope that helps :)

Can't afford lessons? Finally, I know that times are hard for many people with the present economic conditions. If you'd really love to come to more lessons but can't afford it, send me an email to see if we can come to an arrangement, e.g. a skill swap.

New Year tango news, good things to come.

Happy New Year! I hope you're well, enjoyed some time relaxing with friends and family and are already successfully working off the mince pies (if perhaps you over-indulged, like I did). Read on for the first Tango Lingua update of the year..

In brief

Monday sessions have resumed. A big welcome to all the new beginners! For existing students, remember this is also a mixed class, so you're welcome to come too.

Wednesday sessions resume this evening, 8pm, upstairs at the Slug and Lettuce. (See http://www.tangolingua.com/find-us for map)

Workshops and more coming up soon!

For those who I couldn't see in Dec, and any others interested, I now have some space to take new private lesson bookings.

2012 review

Let me first say what a thoroughly enjoyable occasion the Xmas social was, thanks to everyone to made it along! It was great to have the opportunity to get to know each other a bit better.

Of course for some who came, it was the first ever milonga attended, so a big congratulations there for diving in and having fun!

Which brings me to the Xmas special sessions - a chance to try some dynamic nuevo tango movements. It seems that those who came really enjoyed it, so if you'd like more of that sort of thing (with the usual breakdown of technique - of course) let me know.

As for the rest of the year, well, it was rather eventful on the tango front. One of the clear highlights of my whole year has been the pleasure I've had teaching everyone, and seeing much progress in your dancing.

As a tango school, Tango Lingua is still young, beginning in 2010, and I feel I've grown along with my students since then. 2012 was the year professional performances and even a bit of film work started coming in, which was quite exciting for me. I was also very happy to do some traveling again to further develop my own skills, at the teachers training event with Homer and Cristina Ladas in Holland.

In 2012 I started offering afternoon workshops in Southampton, which I've got some very positive feedback about (so you can look forward to more of those in the months to come), as well as in London.

Towards the end of the year there was an unfortunate and unplanned series of venue changes, sometimes a new venue each week (and not always with such a great floor)... Well since November things have been settled, I'm extremely relieved to say!

Currently we have two lovely venues. On Mondays the StudioSo dance studio, and on Wednesdays upstairs at the Slug and Lettuce (see http://www.tangolingua.com/find-us for a map). Both offer a fantastic space to learn and dance. So if you've not come for a while because you found the constant venue changes last year a bit much, but you're still interested in learning tango, come and check out our beautiful new venues!

Lift sharing to milongas (social dances) often makes the journey so much more doable, so I set up an editable map to help students and dancers do just that:
The map tool, with a simple guide to using it, can be viewed here: http://goo.gl/maps/eu6rT and the link to be a collaborator (i.e. add your details and make use of it), once you're signed in to your Google account is:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=203369741653538269829.0004cddae1db464233973
If you have any problems with it let me know! If everyone who has asked me about it so far, added their details it would be a well populated page, so do please put yourself on the map!

Lastly, towards the end of the year I set in motion a plan to evolve the Tango Lingua approach to teaching and learning tango.. more of that later.

Workshops

Following on from the success of last year's 'Technique Booster' workshop series, I'm planning on the next one for the 3rd weekend of February (16th, 17th). Now, as several people have asked about it before, I'd like to put the idea out there of making this a 2 day event, where we'd run both Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1-5pm. If you like the sound of that, let me know now. Otherwise it will be the usual single afternoon workshop (day TBC).

For anyone who will be in London or fancies traveling I'm running another tango workshop with Liz Bayley on Sunday 10th February, 2-5pm (followed by a 1 hour practica) in Highbury & Islington. For full details and booking see: http://www.tangolingua.com/workshops/london/10th-feb-tango-magic

A new way of teaching and learning tango

Back in December I fielded the idea of offering the opportunity for students to develop their tango learning, by also assisting in teaching elements of tango to other students.

From my martial arts background this was the model for each club. E.g orange belts taught the white belts, greens taught the oranges, blues the purples, and so on, while the sensei supervised, organized the content of the class, made corrections to each group and did demos. It actually worked extremely well (and most likely has done for centuries). When you teach something, with an attitude of sincerely wanting to pass on understanding in the best way you can, you re-learn what you're teaching, thus deepening your knowledge.

It's not about having to be a master to teach, it's about sharing what knowledge you do have, and helping yourself by helping others.

Since Dec I've had a range of feedback, most of it very positive, but also some concerns. The concerns as I understood them centered around, on the one hand being afraid of being in the spot light and taking on some of the responsibility of a teacher (when you came to learn in the first place!), or not knowing where to begin. On the other, some students have had experiences in other tango schools where students tried to teach them or a friend something and it resulted in confusion, frustration, upset or a loss of confidence - which obviously I'd like to avoid here!

Firstly, if you decide you'd like to try this, clear guidance will be given and you will start very gently. In fact I plan to run special coaching sessions for those who want to take part in this. I've already had about half a dozen express interest, so if you can confirm that to me ASAP then I'll go ahead and organize things. My belief is that these sessions will help avoid the potential pitfalls of a more distributed teaching and learning model, while maximizing the benefits for everyone.

What will the special coaching sessions involve you ask? (Cue evil laughter "mwahahahaaaa"). Well... a mixture of role play, practicing teaching the rest of the group different elements of tango, giving each other constructive feedback, focused revision of basic technique so you can reliably and clearly pass it on, as well as dance it, along with exploring how different approaches and attitudes to teaching affect the learning outcomes.

It will be fun, challenging and priced to be affordable for anyone who is interested. It will most likely be organized as a 6 week course on a Tuesday evening, but that's subject to change. The sessions will be open to anyone who has completed a Tango Lingua beginner course, or otherwise been coming to lessons regularly for a few months.

Other news

On Saturday afternoon, January 26th, I've been invited by the Wellcome Collection in London once again to perform in their 'Rhythm is a Dancer' series with Liz Bayley. The last one was a great success, and they asked us back for the finale event!
Details here: http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/events/lets-get-physical.aspx

If you're interested in coming, it's free, but you need to book now (see above link).

Re the Tango Tone-Up classes, due to other work commitments I'm having to put them on hold for now, as fun as they've been. I'm really sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking forward to them continuing. I hope to return to the concept again in the future. Meanwhile if you want to join me for some exercise you're welcome along to the Southampton Body Weight Training group meetups in the Common, where we meet to do a full body workout on the bars :) Ask me in class if the want more info on that.


Enjoy your dancing, take care, and I hope to see you soon,
Joe

Xmas social, special Xmas tango lessons, new widget for milonga lift sharing, performance and other news

I hope you're well. It's another packed newsletter this time, so you may like to read it over a tea :)

Xmas social and special Xmas lessons

First to mention is the Tango Lingua Xmas social, this Friday, tomorrow, 7th Dec. For those who are coming regularly to lessons the date was fixed a while ago. I just wanted to post this out for anyone who perhaps hasn't been for a while and would like to join us.

Table is booked for 12, from 6pm but more are welcome! We'll be heading out for a buffet meal at 'The Real China' in Eastleigh, then moving on for some social dancing at Chilworth Hall (Milonga Melodia) for around 8:30pm.

You are warmly invited to join us! Come when you can, but if you get there too late either I or Claudia might have eaten all the tasty food by then (just warning you).

The Real China,
Units L5/6, Swan Centre,
Eastleigh SO50 5FX
02380 617518   £12.95 per person I believe.
(3 minutes walk from Eastleigh train station)

Milonga Melodia,
Chilworth Hall,
Chilworth Road, SO16 7JZ

If anyone wants to come with me I'll be catching the train from Southampton Central at 17:35pm. Chaira and Andrea (and possibly also Dawn and John - not too sure as I'd drunk some port at the time it was discussed) have kindly offered to give people lifts to and back from the milonga (Hannah can also give lifts to the milonga). If there is a group left over, a taxi between 4 will be fairly cheep.

If you're stuck, give me a call.


On to the special Xmas tango lesson menu:
The last 3 sessions of the year will have a special, fun theme - a cool tango movement or concept to enjoy dancing and possibly raise an eye at the milongas with. While quite probably unfamiliar to you, each movement will be carefully taught so you'll really understand and experience how to have fun with it.

Last Monday we did reverse step-overs into a suspended turn resolving in a leg wrap. Nice :) Next Monday you can look forward to something else equally, if not more, cool. These are open classes, everyone welcome! (For the usual price of £8)

The last lesson this year will be on 17 Dec. Back on the 7th Jan.

The Wed sessions at the Slug & Lettuce will resume in the new year.

Workshops

A big thank you to everyone who came to the Dec 1st Technique Booster workshop! This one we really started to go deeply into the process of moving easily together in close-embrace, for that delicious 'broadband' connection vs. dial-up (you had to be there).

It was a pleasure for me to see everyone finding their way through this beautiful part of tango. I'm also glad the bottle of Tawny Port and Xmas cake went down well (thought it might)! (But don't expect the same at the next one ;) ) There will be another workshop most likely in late January, date TBC.

For anyone in the London area, I'm running a workshop with Liz Bayleythis Saturday afternoon, 4-7pm in Highbury & Islington. For full details and booking see: http://www.tangolingua. com/workshops/london/8th-dec- 2012-tango-magic

Your own tango lift share map!

I've put together a little map tool for you. It's for anyone who would like to either find or offer a lift to milongas. On the one hand it's a small detail in a night out dancing, but on the other it's one of those things that can mean you don't go. Maybe you can't justify the cost of driving on your own, or perhaps you don't want to inconvenience anyone by asking for a lift?

The truth is there are lots of benefits to lift sharing, tango related ones too, so I thought I'd try and help that become a little easier and more organized for our local tango community.

The map tool can be view here: http://goo.gl/maps/eu6rT  and the link to be a collaborator (i.e. add your details and make use of it), once you're signed in to your Google account is: 
http://maps.google.com/maps/ ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid= 203369741653538269829. 0004cddae1db464233973

If you have any problems with that link let me know!


It's super simple to use. Put your marker on it and see who's near you or lies along the tango routes you'd like to travel.

You do need a Google account to make edits (it's free, quick and easy to set up if you don't already have one). All the details are explained on the page, and if you per chance get stuck please let me know.

I really want to make this easy to use and your feedback would help!

Your tango development (do you feel you're stagnating? or being left behind?)

Let's say you've been coming to tango classes for a few months or more. How can you assess your progress and which classes are right for you?

Of course what progress means to you will depend on your goals, but I'd like to offer a suggestion and also say something about how the 2 group classes are organized.

The suggestion, for those who are in any way concerned about progress, is to take an active role in your tango development. This means considering what your goals are, and what you'd like to learn more of or about. What do you want from your tango?

If you pass that info onto me, then not only can I help to tailor my input to you more effectively, but you'll also have a clearer way of assessing your progress - according to your goals.

As for the 2 weekly group classes, currently Mondays focus on 'core technique' (with the exception of the Xmas special sessions) for walking and connecting in the embrace, working with a vocabulary of forward, side, back, ochos, crosses and basic decorations.

While beginners come to this class, it can also be considered an advanced class in that I will give you as much detailed input to refine your core technique (thus enabling everything else in tango) as I think will help you.

Wednesdays currently focus on more of the modern dance aspects and influences of tango, including shared axis, free leg movements, ganchos and other adventurous and in some ways more challenging movements. This is also an open class, but the level of challenge starts at a higher point.

The Monday and Wednesday classes are designed to be complementary for those who attend both.

Finally, for anyone who might be concerned about picking things up slowly, I'd like to say that it's not a race and there is no judging panel. I try hard to tailor the class content to suit a wide range of experience and skill. I also believe there are distinct learning benefits for everyone with such a mixed class, that would be hard to get with a class where everyone had the same experience. The key thing is that you enjoy your learning.

A new way of teaching and learning tango

This is one I've been thinking about for quite a while now. In a nutshell it's about offering the opportunity for students to develop their tango learning, by also assisting in teaching elements of tango to other students.

From my martial arts background this was the model for each club (e.g orange belts taught the white belts, greens taught the oranges, blues the purples, and so on, while the sensei supervised, organized the content of the class, made corrections to each group and did demos). It actually worked extremely well. When you teach something you re-learn what you're teaching, thus deepening your knowledge. Yet I don't know of it being used in the UK tango community.

It's not about having to be a master to teach, it's about sharing what knowledge you do have, and helping yourself by helping others. This model is what I'd like to try a little of in my Tango School. It certainly wouldn't be obligatory, and there wouldn't be belts as such (can you imagine!). Rather it's an opportunity for those who are interested. I'd love your feedback on the idea!

Other news

Next Thursday 13th Dec, I've been invited by the Wellcome Collection in London to perform for their Move Your Soul event (part of their Rhythm is a Dancer collection), with Liz Bayley. Details here: http://www. wellcomecollection.org/whats- on/events/move-your-soul.aspx

If you're interested in coming there will be audience participation...

Also of note, on the 24/25th November the 3rd Tango Teachers Symposium took place in London and was a great success by all accounts! Thanks to Anthony Howell for kindly hosting this event. The next one will be back in Southampton early in the new year!


Finally for those currently focusing on their fitness, you may like to try my new Tango Tone-Up classes :)




Enjoy your dancing, take care, and I hope to see you soon,
Joe

ps. I have limited slots available for private lessons again now until 21st Dec, and then again from the new year.

Strange but true story, how to get toned the fun and sexy way, xmas social, new dance studio and the last workshop

Here's a little true story involving a large number of police. I couldn't make this stuff up. Last Monday when I arrived at Mavericks to meet students I found the place surrounded by police, including a van and at least 3 cars; which came as something of a surprise.

They claimed it was some kind of break in, which seemed odd given the number of them. I don't know the details of what happened at Mavericks, but fortunately as far as the tango went, StudioSo down the road was available. Phew!

It's a beautiful new bespoke dance studio, and I'm very pleased to say I was able to secure StudioSo for the Monday session from now on!

As for the police, well I tried to talk the officer in charge into taking tango lessons, and while he was kind enough to take the address to pass on to any of my students arriving later, when I suggested he take some lessons I'm sure I saw fear flash across his face... But it's given me the idea that one day yet I may start the Hampshire Constabulary Tango Club. Doesn't it have a ring to it?

Thanks to everyone who walked down the cold street with me on the night to the new venue!

Here's a picture of the StudioSo dance studio, where the Monday lesson will be held from now:



The Wednesday classes continue upstairs at the Slug and Lettuce. Seewww.tangolingua.com/find-us for full addresses and a map.

Read through to the end for an announcement of a brand new type of fitness orientated tango class I'm starting on 20th November - 'Tango Tone-Up'...

Xmas events!
 

First up, many of you have expressed interest in having an Xmas meal and dance, so here's the plan for the Tango Lingua Xmas social:

Xmas Buffet at the Tiger Lilly Restaurant in Bedford place (buffet menu: http://www.the-tiger-lilly.com/UserFiles/Files/p_aC5Lyb.jpg), meet there around 6pm
Head on to Milonga Liso at Pilands (http://milongaliso.blogspot.co.uk/) for around 8 or 8:30pm

Date: either Thursday 6th Dec or Thursday 20th Dec.

It's going to be great fun, so please come and join us!

Action required! If you'd like to come, it's important that you let me know which dates you can make, 6th and/or 20th Dec, asap. Then I can book the restaurant and give them an idea of numbers.


Workshop Saturday 1st December
The next Technique Booster workshop will be held on Saturday 1st December, 1-5:30pm at Povey's Dance Centre.

As usual there will be a lot of careful attention and fun focused on technique and how to use it in the your social tango dancing. The theme for this workshop will be 'simple, elegant tango in close embrace'. 

For those with experience, expect to add smoothness and finesse to your style. For those who've just finished a beginner course, this is your chance to cement the basics and experience how they can be refined for even more beautiful dancing.

For more info and pre-booking see:
http://www.tangolingua.com/workshops/southampton-1st-dec-technique-booster-tango-workshop

(Note that it's a Saturday this time, rather than the usual Sunday.)

For an idea of what to expect from the experience, check out the testimonials page:
http://www.tangolingua.com/testimonials


Tango Tone-Up
What would happen if you combined the sexiness and style of tango with effective and fun exercise for toning and body conditioning? 

Well, you'd get something like what I'm launching on Tuesday evening, 20th November: Tango Tone-Up - Get toned the fun and sexy way!

It's a brand new class, combining my long-time passions for tango and fitness. I'm really excited about it and hope that you'll come along for the FREE taster session (and of course come back for more if you enjoy it).

The first session is absolutely free and suitable for complete novices. So why not bring some friends with you?

For full info, booking and a very special offer, see:
http://www.tangolingua.com/tango-tone-up


Socials
This Saturday 3rd Nov, some of us are heading to TLC's Moulin rouge milonga. Please come and join us for a fun evening out of dancing!
It's £10 entry, which includes a buffet. 8pm-midnight. If you want to meet there or a bit beforehand let me know :)
For full details see:
http://www.tracieslatinclub.co.uk/Events.htm#Milonga


Finally, the weekly classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings will continue until Wednesday 19th Dec. For the timetable see:
http://www.tangolingua.com/tango-lessons/class-timetable

Continuing your tango learning on Mondays and Wednesdays

The grand tour of venues in Southampton to hold a tango lesson continues. With any luck the journey is at a happy rest for a while with the current venues: Mavericks on Mondays and the Slug and Lettuce on Wednesdays.

In both cases the floor is pretty decent, and the space much more private than with the previous venue, so fingers crossed! See www.tangolingua.com/find- us for full addresses and a map.
 

Continuing your Leaning

Firstly, well done to the recent Argentine Tango Fundamentals course graduates! The next course starts this Monday, 15th Oct. Remember, if you bring a friend, you get a free lesson! Full details and booking here: http://www.tangolingua.com/courses/argentine-tango-fundamentals

Now, the main topic of this post is how to continue your tango learning while attending the weekly classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

If you've been coming regularly on a Monday for a while now, then you'll know that the feedback and variations you get are different from the what the new beginners get. The aim being that you continue to be challenged.

From now on different content will be given in a more organized fashion. The group will be split into parts at different points in the lesson, with one group being introduced to the basics, while the other group(s) are given more challenging and stimulating variations and practice of the fundamentals.

Each lesson will have specific material for students of different experience levels. The idea is that even experienced dancers will feel that their tango has developed over the course of the 6 weeks.

So if you'd like to continue your tango learning, you are invited to continue to attend the Tango Fundamentals course held on the Monday sessions.

The same concept will apply to the Wednesday classes, which focus on more advanced tango concepts.

Lastly on this topic, making a habit of asking questions is a great way to increase your learning.

Workshops

Thanks to all those who came to the Technique Booster workshop in Sept and made it such a fun occasion! The next one is being planned for the end of Oct or the beginning of Nov. If you'd like to spend the afternoon developing and refining your tango, getting in depth with the technique and spending enough time practicing for it to begin to sink into your body, then this is your chance!

If you'd like to attend the next Technique Booster afternoon workshop, please reply to this email with:
a) your preference for day (Sat, or Sun afternoon)
b) the tango topic(s) you'd most like to work on.

Thanks!

Enjoy your dancing, take care, and I hope to see you soon,

Joe

Last minute venue change for 3rd Sept

Last night I was contacted by the Maple Leaf club and informed the venue was now mysteriously closed and all bookings cancelled... which puts them off the Xmas card list. But all was not lost!

I've spent the last 24 hours hunting for an alternative for tonight. Luckily I found one about an hour ago. I really hope if you're planning to come to the class tonight (and/or later for the social dancing) that you check your email or find this post before leaving later!

The venue for tonight (Argentine Tango Fundamentals course, and mixed level class), 3rd Sept, is:

Shirely Parish Hall,
St James Road (just on the corner of Colebrook Ave, a stones throw from the St James church)
Shirley,
Southampton, SO15 5LW

See here for a map: http://goo.gl/0U2ab

The times are unchanged, 8-9:15pm for lesson, followed by social dancing. And yes, I will still bring cake as promised!

Please do not go to the Maple Leaf Club tonight, the lesson is moved to Shirley Parish Hall. 

Also due to a lack of venue, this Wednesday class is currently cancelled, but if I can find a venue in time, I'll post a notice on the Tango Lingua FB page and the www.tangolingua.com website, so if you'd like to come that class be sure to check those links.

However, for next week, 10th Sept, I've arranged for the Monday and Wednesday classes to continue at: La Margherita Restaurant Bar
1 Town Quay
Southampton SO14 2AQ

If it works out well this could be our regular venue. Fingers crossed.

Well, that's it. Sorry again for any inconvenience. If you have any trouble finding the place tonight, just give me a call.

New venue, giro workshop, new timetable, and the possibility of cake...

Hello!

I hope you're well and have been enjoying some of the belated summer. Here's the low-down on Tango Lingua happenings in the next few weeks.

New Core Skills 1 course

The next course starts on 3rd September. If you want to revise or clarify the basics of tango, including walking and pivoting, or if you're a complete beginner, this is the course for you. More details and booking here:
http://www.tangolingua.com/courses/argentine-tango-fundamentals

Coming to the end of the Core Skills 1 course, and want to save serious money on future lessons? Then consider taking out a subscription: http://www.tangolingua.com/tango-lessons/tango-dance-class-subscriptions

Mini Milongas - After each lesson, until 11pm there will be social dancing, with some nice lighting, and biscuits. Everyone is welcome, especially recent beginners! The music will be a mix of classic tango, neuvo and alternative. Price: £4, or free if you come for the class.

Technique Booster Workshop 26th August

Thanks everyone who came to the previous workshop in July and made it such fun! The next Technique Booster workshop will be held on Sunday afternoon August 26th, just over a week from now. This one will focus on the giro, with variations in timing, order of steps, speed, continuous turns, progression along the line of dance, and more.

For recent beginners and those not familar with the giro, it is a series of steps where the follower steps around the leader, or where leader and follower step around each other. For you this will be an introduction to this beautiful, classic tango movement.

For more experienced dancers this will be an opportunity to polish your technique and explore some interesting, fresh and dynamic variations. As always, we get deep down into the technique side of things, and how to make it look and feel beautiful in the dance.

Just £24 for the whole afternoon workshop! For full details and to book now (you must pre-book to attend) see:
http://www.tangolingua.com/workshops/southampton-26th-aug

New Venue!

I'm very excited to announce that Tango Lingua will be relocating, from 3rd Sept. From September all group lessons (and maybe the workshops too) will be held at:

The Maple Leaf club,
16-22 The Polygon, Southampton SO15 2BN
(map http://goo.gl/xDviK)

This newly refurbished venue is right in the centre of Southampton, it has a beautiful wooden dance floor and a rather stylish interior and bar. It even has disco lights :) Oh, and it should be a little easier to park too, for those who drive.

Lessons will remain at the same time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-9:15pm, with the mini-milonga until 11pm.

I hope that you'll come and help me celebrate the move on 3rd September! There might even be some cake...

New class timetable and socials

It was great to see so many people come to see Lisa off at her leaving do on 25th July. It was a fine night and she is missed. I think she's having fun though, and has found a wonderful apartment, with dance floor (living room) and a swimming pool, while she continues to search for a tango club.

Since now there is a milonga at the end of each class, this is the twice weekly social. So do come along to catch up, chew the fat - even if you've not been for ages - and maybe do some dancing too!

Class changes: Over the last month or so I've been experimenting with the lesson format, and the Monday lessons are now 'mixed level', meaning all experience levels join in the class, along with the beginners. This has the advantage of allowing the beginners to learn with more experienced dancers. The more experienced dancers get to polish the basics while at the same time being given more challenging variations and refinements. So far it's working pretty well. That's the Monday lesson 8-9:15pm.

On Wednesdays, I've been covering more advanced movements and concepts, and teaching in a style slightly more orientated towards those who are serious about learning tango to a high level, i.e. more practice drills, more repetition, and stricter and more precise attention to technique. So if that sounds like the kind of class you might enjoy, come down on the Wed. It's still mixed level and open to everyone, but expect to be pushed harder than on a Monday.

One way of looking at it is that the Mondays start at a basic level, with more advanced material given to those who are ready, while the Wednesday classes start at an advanced level, with more basic material given to those who need it. Any questions, just ask!

Training opportunity: Finally, I'd like to put on some special classes for those interested in becoming trainee teachers of beginner students. These will be primarily focused on sharing some methods and concepts I've found helpful in my teaching of the basics, along with some technique training. It will be hard work, but rewarding and fun for those who want to go in this direction. It's aimed at those dancing tango for at least 6 months and dancing regularly in the milongas. If you're interested or know someone who might be, let me know.


Take care, and I hope to see you soon,
Joe