BYRON BAY TANGO FESTIVAL 2022
FESTIVAL PROGRAM | SEPTEMBER 2 - 4, 2022
All events at Byron Bay Community Centre, 69 Jonson Street
Friday 2nd September Byron Bay Community Centre
Afternoon
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01:00 pm Registration in Foyer of Community Centre
02:00 - 05:00 pm Informal milonga in Main Auditorium DJ TBA
Evening
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06:00 pm Drinks Bar Opens
07:30 - midnight Welcome Milonga with DJ Stephan (NZ) and live music by the Mendoza Tango Quartet with Solange Lipcin (singer)
Saturday 3rd September Byron Bay Community Centre
Morning
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09:30 am Registration in Foyer
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10:00 - 12:30 pm Immersion class 1 with Leo and Carolina [Red pass]
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10:00 - 01:00 pm Informal milonga DJ TBA
Morning
Afternoon
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01:30 - 02:30 pm Workshop 1 [Blue pass]
02:00 - 05:00 pm Informal milonga in Balcony Room DJ Stephan (NZ)
04:00 - 05:30 pm Piazzolla Concert by Mendoza Quartet and Friends [Not included in festival passes. Purchase online or at door]
Evening
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06:00 pm Drinks Bar Opens
08:00 - midnight Festival Milonga with DJ Han (Bris), live music by Tango Orquesta Tipica and performances by Leo Di Cocco and Carolina Giannini
Sunday 4th September Byron Bay Community Centre
Morning
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10:00 - 12:30 pm Immersion class 2 with Leo and Carolina
10:00 - 01:00 pm Informal milonga in Balcony Room DJ Esther
Afternoon
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01:30 - 02:30 pm Workshop 2 [Blue pass]
02:00 - 05:00 pm Informal milonga in Balcony Room DJ TBA
03:30 - 05:00 pm Guided practica with Carolina and Leo [Red pass]
Evening
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06:00 pm Drinks Bar Opens
07:30 - midnight Farewell Milonga with DJ Alex (Sydney).
Festival Registration. All events are at the Byron Community Centre, found in Jonson Street, Byron Bay. The registration desk will be open from 1pm on Friday 2nd September.
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Immersion Class. Please note that the immersion class is for experienced dancers. As a rule of thumb, at least 3 years of regular weekly dancing and attending classes, workshops and practicas.
The festival is centred on a group of dance couples who commit to a weekend of intense learning with internationally recognized instructors. This year Leonel Di Cocco and Carolina Giannini will lead the immersion classes, consisting of 2x2.5hr “seminars”, plus a guided practica. The structure of each seminar will be fluid and interactive to maximise learning and retention. The following brief descriptions are given by Carolina & Leo:
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Seminar 1: Theme is “Fundamental concepts of body language”.
We will work through perceptual exercises.1st part body listening; 2nd part technique.
At the end of the seminar we will be able to: Manage a better dialogue in social dance: Boost our technique to the next level.
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Seminar 2: Theme is “Pivots and sacadas”.
1st part We will investigate and understand the importance of the pivot in tango.
2nd part We will deepen our understanding of the structure and the right time to create and execute a Sacada.
At the end of the seminar we will be able to:Understand the body language to communicate a pivot: Use the conceptual tools to create a Sacada.
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Guided Practica.
To consolidate our learning, Carolina and Leo will be present at a guided practica on Sunday afternoon. It will be an open forum to clarify what was covered in class as well as practical help for couples.
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Tango Workshops. These workshops are designed to extend and deepen the skill of dancers in a specific subject matter. Require at least 18 months of tango; not suitable for those with basic skills only.
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Workshop 1: “Barridas”.
We will play with the various structures of barridas and understand where they can best be inserted into our dancing. At the end of the workshop we will be able to: Dance applying barridas for both roles.
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Workshop 2: “Dynamics of movement”.
How can a sequence in the same musical piece look and feel different depending of the speed we decide to give? Working on a sequence we will create different effects through the choice of movement dynamics. At the end of the seminar we will be able to: Apply different dynamic flows in your dance; use techniques to manage speeds properly.
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Milongas. A series of five morning and afternoon informal milongas are held in the Balcony room, each with a different guest DJs. There is formal milonga each evening with DJs Alex Nodelman (Sydney), Stephan Resch (NZ) and Chris Han (Brisbane). Live music on Friday and Saturday by The Mendoza Tango Quartet, guests musicians and singer Solange Lipcin.
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Private Lessons. Leo and Carolina will be available for private lessons from Thursday 1st to Monday 5th September. Costings are for one teacher (couple or single) or for two teachers (couple or single). Email or sms for bookings: c.sernia@gmail.com; (+61)413348186
Special Events. Since 2016 the Festival has hosted a concert highlighting a critical aspect of the music of Astor Piazzolla. This year, the Mendoza Tango Quartet and friends will feature excerpts from the opera Maria de Buenos Aires as well as other Piazzolla favourites.
This event is open to the general public and entry is not included in the festival passes. Tickets should be available at door or book beforehand at the Byron Bay Community Centre.