Chicago Tango Week is an annual Argentine Tango Festival held on July 2-5 that attracts hundreds of dancers from US, Canada, Mexico and Europe every year. Chicago Tango Week will be celebrating its eighth year of success in 2015. In addition to intensive beginner programs, registrants can take advantage of the following:
Redwood Tango Ensemble: Live music is back at CTW! Redwood Tango Ensemble from San Francisco will perform at the Friday milonga. They will play in tandas with cortinas, just the way we are used to DJ music in milongas. The orchestra arranges music similar to that of the Golden Age, so you will dance to traditional music played the traditional way. This is the second appearance of Redwood at CTW.
Screening of the documentary “Pichuco”: Martin Turnes’s award winning documentary ‘Pichuco’ will be screened on Friday before the milonga. It is about the work of Aníbal Troilo, the legendary musician, composer and orchestra conductor. He was a key figure in the ‘Golden Age’ of tango and his contribution to the evolution of the music in the 1940’s was unparalleled. No milonga is complete without the music of Troilo’s orchestra. Ticket: $10, not part of any pass, can be bought with a pass or paid at the door.
CTW Top City Challenge: All online registered participants from the city with the highest representation at CTW 2015 will get a free pass to Hernán’s music history & DJ seminar. Participants from the Toronto community won the contest in 2014 and will receive 10% off any pass at CTW 2015. If you are already registered; connect with your fellow dancers and encourage them to join you. Make the trip as a group. You can create an event on Facebook to invite your friends, RSVP/post on our event page, share the festival trailer; there are so many ways to spread the word. Maybe your city will win the prize.
Mingling Moments: To facilitate mingling, there will be get-togethers at the new hotel Starbucks on Thursday and Sunday, and at the Benchmark on Friday and Saturday before the first workshop. Please see the schedule for times. Organizers will also facilitate participants meeting for dinner after the last workshop each day.
Morning stretch and warmup: Free stretching and warmup classes with Leila Jamshidi will be offered on Saturday and Sunday. These classes are designed to help you relieve tight and sore muscles after a long night of dancing. You will also be physically refreshed for a day of workshops. Leila is a certified Pilates instructor in Ann Arbor and has over a decade of experience. She brings attention to detail and a lot of fun in her classes. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.
Massage therapist: Ada Zerhouni will be at the festival all four days offering massage to rejuvenate you. There is a full schedule, so your tired feet will thank you after a nice massage.
New Vendors: All clothing offered in 2015 will be from boutique one-person companies and most of the items are hand-made as well. You will purchase clothes from the designers who produce them in limited quantities.
After-festival party: On Sunday night; Gözde, Shafqat and the teachers will throw an after-festival party right after the milonga, ending the festival on a high note.
