Newbie-Advice and holiday.

Hi Nervous newbie here!
I have recently started classes in AT, and this Saturdays class will be number 6. Initially our idea was to learn a routine for our up coming wedding in february.

But that was before AT, now AT is becoming addictive which has surprised me the most, as my dancing history comprises of throwing some very dodgy shapes at assorted illegal raves and clubs around Manchester in the late 80s.

We would really like the opportunity to improve our skills on an intensive course and combine a holiday, I have researched Argentina, but that seems somewhat daunting for a beginner. Do any of you regulars have any tips for a holiday destination.
(If someone suggests Manhattan, My OH will be over the moon!)

Hi DKLS!

When I started I went on holiday with Dance Holidays. They usually do a holiday that coincides with the Granada Tango Festival in Spain. Great fun, and you do your classes in a lovely monastery building. But that's March.

I'll just check their website ... hmmm they only seem to be doing holidays to BsAs for the rest of the year (apart from a weekend break in Barcelona).

They USED to do a holiday that coincided with the Sitges tango festival (near Barcelona). That's July. But I cant find any details for that now.Perhaps someone else does it? Anyway that used to be a lovely seaside / swimming pool holiday with some tango lessons thrown in. The festival is still running so maybe that's a possibility.

It might be worth looking at a yahoo group called tango-uk. There are a number of promoters on that who have done cruise holidays (Egypt/ Med/ Caribbean). The mailing list is also one of the main sources for information on weekenders.

I assume you are not thinking of England. Otherwise I'd suggest Devon (Tango Oblivion), the Tango BootCamp in Brighton or the Tango intensive courses in the New Forest (tangouk.co.uk).

As far as BA or even Manhattan are concerned : you can of course fix up your own holiday. Im sure there are lots of people here who will be happy to give you advice if that's the way you want to go.

Dance matrix do holidays also - e.g.
https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20120318071511/http://www.dancematrix.com:80/ba2009.htm

Hope that helps.

Hi,

As someone else mentioned I would recommend the TangoUK intensive events in the New Forest to start with. The New Forest would be a great mini-break destination, it's beautiful. Then if you get on well with Steve who teaches those, he also runs a week's holiday to Italy in September and more advanced intensive events to move onto. I find Steve an excellent teacher and event organiser and regularly attend his events - people travel a long way to dance at Bramshaw.

https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20100201210658/http://www.tangouk.co.uk:80/toolkit.htm
https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20111220194103/http://www.tango.uk.com:80/holidays.htm

Blue

Yes I would second that - I have been to a lot of Steve's events and I live in Kent! Wonderful weekends. If you want some recommendations on places to stay PM me.

Thanks for the friendly welcome its always a bit odd joining an established forum, especially when what I know about AT could be written on the back of a stamp, Thanks for the tips and links, I will have a mooch at them all and let the boss decide. Big thanks for the PMs as well.

Hi DKL, I'm a nervous nooby too!! I'm worried what my friends will think of this!

Welcome to DF, DKLS74 and Kaspar Hauser.


DKLS74, check out this blog, it's by a British expat living in Buenos Aires, she actually has an eBook out about doing what your asking about. She's also a good friend. Check it out: Sallycat's blog

Kaspar Hauser, don't worry about what your friends will think of this. Rather, look forward to the things you stand to learn.

DKLS74 said:

Hi Nervous newbie here!
I have recently started classes in AT, and this Saturdays class will be number 6. Initially our idea was to learn a routine for our up coming wedding in february. <SNIP>

(If someone suggests Manhattan, My OH will be over the moon!)

Click to expand...

Manhattan? Celebrate tango week nyc - July 19 - 26, 2009. Will include some free classes as well as regular workshops.
www dot celebratetango dot com

Kaspar Hauser said:

Hi DKL, I'm a nervous nooby too!! I'm worried what my friends will think of this!

Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry what other people think of you, the friends I have told about my new passion seem completely disinterested apart from 1 or 2.

I did worry that people would laugh at me at the dance class, but that worry hasn't materialised, whilst most in the class "have got it" there is a few like me who are still struggling. I have avoided dancing for over 15 years, since my raving days which was not dancing in any form!


But that is part of the attraction for me, I don't find AT easy, unlike most things in my working and personal life which I do find easy.

Paradise = Tango Valley

I'm going to Croatia this summer, 11 days of beach and sun followed by 1 week of glorious tango with Ines & Constantin plus beach and sun. Ahhhh ...can't wait.

Wherever you go, have fun and enjoy indulging your new found passion - it just keeps getting better and better.

JonD said:

Paradise = Tango Valley

I'm going to Croatia this summer, 11 days of beach and sun followed by 1 week of glorious tango with Ines & Constantin plus beach and sun. Ahhhh ...can't wait.

Wherever you go, have fun and enjoy indulging your new found passion - it just keeps getting better and better.

Click to expand...

OK Im a shade of green .... you dont have to rub it in Jon!

Was going to recommend Tango Valley, but do they actually do beginner workshops? It looks like everything is 1 year + experience.

Captain Jep said:

Was going to recommend Tango Valley, but do they actually do beginner workshops? It looks like everything is 1 year + experience.

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You're right, I hadn't noticed that there are no "level A" weeks on this year's programme. Over the last few years Peggy & Vincent have organised weeks aimed at beginners so it'll be worth looking at next year's programme when it is published sometime in January.

But wait - by that time DKLS74 will have been dancing for a year and the problem won't exist!