Tango Festivals/holidays/weekends we're interested in or have been to

[Tango Newbie]

Well, for me (and my girlfriend) it's about distance. I'm assuming most milongas are at least 3 or 4 hours long (and longer), so if a festival is having more than one milonga, travel time is a consideration that greatly diminishes as the benefit of attending (milongas and workshops) increases.

As far as 'how long' an individual milonga is scheduled, it doesn't matter as much to me as it does my girlfriend, since she has no more than about 3 hours dancing in her (feet), so most milongas satisfy us.

In my journey into the world of tango, my GF and I aren't really interested in traveling very far for just a milonga. Since we live in Southern CA, there are lots of milongas available to us within a 15 mile radius, so we're not interested in traveling very far just for tango. However, years ago my GF lived in a remote area along the coast in Northern CA and would travel quite a distance for tango (both milongas and classes).

We do, however, look at cities we're visiting to see if they have tango during those days. We're going to Phoenix later this month and will be attending a milonga there (that we're hoping is still happening despite a big tango festival that same day in Tucson). Also, we're heading to Scotland and Ireland the end of May through the beginning of June and have about 4 milongas lined up. That said, we're not traveling there just for tango, just adding it to our plans.

 

[Bailango]

Well, for me (and my girlfriend) it's about distance. I'm assuming most milongas are at least 3 or 4 hours long (and longer), so if a festival is having more than one milonga, travel time is a consideration that greatly diminishes as the benefit of attending (milongas and workshops) increases.

As far as 'how long' an individual milonga is scheduled, it doesn't matter as much to me as it does my girlfriend, since she has no more than about 3 hours dancing in her (feet), so most milongas satisfy us.

In my journey into the world of tango, my GF and I aren't really interested in traveling very far for just a milonga. Since we live in Southern CA, there are lots of milongas available to us within a 15 mile radius, so we're not interested in traveling very far just for tango. However, years ago my GF lived in a remote area along the coast in Northern CA and would travel quite a distance for tango (both milongas and classes).

We do, however, look at cities we're visiting to see if they have tango during those days. We're going to Phoenix later this month and will be attending a milonga there (that we're hoping is still happening despite a big tango festival that same day in Tucson). Also, we're heading to Scotland and Ireland the end of May through the beginning of June and have about 4 milongas lined up. That said, we're not traveling there just for tango, just adding it to our plans.

My question was about traveling for the festivals . Not for the milongas

 

[Naddrin Kentlar]

If I need to travel under 500km then three day marathon is ok (2 day milonga 4-5 hrs and 3 night milonga 7-8 hours)
If I need to travel more or fly, then only three days is too little.

 

[TTanguero]

For me, it's about quality as well as quantity. For example, The Feast is in Devon, which is 5-6 hours from London – but it's an amazing festival. Super-friendly, great floorcraft, no wannabe performers, just lovely musical dance. I'll go there every chance I get.

It also depends a little on whether it's a city I like – so I'm more likely to go to a festival in Hamburg than Paris, for example.

But in general, I'd say that any travelling over 1-2 hours requires two milongas a day for three days.

 

[opendoor]

..seeking information on Tango festivals, marathons.. weekend on 22nd April..

Sorry, I can't give you advice on such a short notice. But I ask you, why are you looking for festivals or marathons?

a) Isn't it also exciting to explore the normal tango scene in a city?

b) I've only been to a tango festival, once. But I would always recommend the format of tango vacations, instead.

I have attached the links of two German providers of such trips. English people are always welcome and language is usually not a problem. If you need translations, be free to PM me.

I like tango vacations because it's the perfect combination of education and relaxation. You also get to know interesting people because you spend some time together. I can recommend La Gomera and Crete. But you have to hurry up, Gomera really is sought after, and it's paradise ! I've been a regular at both, Gomera and Crete for years.

-tango-tours https://www.tangotours.de/reisen-2022

-la-milonga https://www.lamilonga-tango.com/tango-reisen/

 

[Tango Newbie]

My question was about traveling for the festivals . Not for the milongas

To clarify, we apply the same principles. If a festival includes ample opportunities for dancing (like a milonga), we're interested, as long as there isn't extensive travel involved. We have plenty of opportunities here in Southern CA, particularly in our local community, so there's really no desire to travel great distances for a festival, unless we combine that travel with doing other things like visiting friends or doing something else (non-tango).

 

[opendoor]

..opportunities for dancing.. we're interested..

There is another reason to go to festivals: the presence of certain teachers.

 

[itwillhappen]

There is another reason to go to festivals: the presence of certain teachers.

"Presence" can have different meanings. I'll put it this way, the teachers are there and they're trying to make money, also with a performance. So if you know good teachers already, then I would strongly recommend a tango vacation and privates with them!

 

[Rabbit]

Sorry, I can't give you advice on such a short notice. But I ask you, why are you looking for festivals or marathons?

a) Isn't it also exciting to explore the normal tango scene in a city

Yes, of course - I got bored of one festival halfway and went to "normal" milongas instead.

 

[itwillhappen]

a) Isn't it also exciting to explore the normal tango scene in a city?
b) I've only been to a tango festival, once. But I would always recommend the format of tango vacations, instead.

I would recommend giving preference to events where you have or only feel some kind of personal connection with the organizers, locally or internationally.
Last year I was at an event where I "just" wanted to visit the city. But I danced a good tanda with an organizer of another event. And I had a good chat with the organizers of another event. Those are two events I want to visit this year. And - by the way - I think I'll also meet @gyb as a DJ.

 

[Tango Newbie]

There is another reason to go to festivals: the presence of certain teachers.

No doubt that's one incentive, but not if it requires a lot of travel expenses. Our home studio hosts a major tango festival every year on NYE, and it attracts many accomplished dancers/teachers, so obviously we don't have to travel for that.

Like has been mentioned, those hosting and teaching at festivals are in it to make money (as are those in local communities), but my GF and I pick and choose wisely on how we spend our discretionary money and use our vacation time (days off), particularly for activities like tango.

There was a day when my GF used to fly to Portland Oregon, Las Vegas, and other cities including BA (3 times) just for their tango and festival, but did so because her friends were doing it (when tango was a bigger part of her life). For many people in tango, it's their sole activity and their entire life revolves around it, but not for us. We're flying to Phoenix in a couple weeks and will squeeze in a milonga there, but Tucson is having a big festival that we might have considered since it's 110 miles from Phoenix, but we have a family event and golf precluding us from going. Even if we didn't have those things, it's unlikely we would have flown specifically to Tucson for their festival, even though it's about an hour flight away from here.

 

[Brummbaer]

So if you know good teachers already, then I would strongly recommend a tango vacation and privates with them!

Yes, we do that now, but I can understand why it seems a good idea to have an overcrowded workshop with certain prestigious teachers. Been there; done that. But it's not about 'new tricks' (we can work through variants of our own), it's about improving what/how you dance and how you interpret it to the music.

The milonga is where you express that. If we go somewhere, then will look for any milongas, but not travelling miles for yet another milonga.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

But in general, I'd say that any travelling over 1-2 hours requires two milongas a day for three days.

Not sure I could do two milongas a day. Well, maybe, depending on the schedule and how much I danced. The problem with many festivals now is the cost.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

But I would always recommend the format of tango vacations, instead.

Sounds nice. How do these differ? Do they include sightseeing or hotel rooms along with a few milongas over a period of a week or two?

 

[ArbeeNYC]

The milonga is where you express that. If we go somewhere, then will look for any milongas, but not travelling miles for yet another milonga.

Personally, I don't especially like the idea of festivals, which pack in milongas day and night over a weekend. Maybe, if it were in a beautiful place where I'd like to spend time, I'd consider it and simply relax and dance during the evening. But flying for three, four, or five hours for a weekend festival? That doesn't interest me very much.