Which UK/European festivals/marathons/encuentros would you recommend?

tangobro said:
I've started looking at https://tangocat.net/
I'm looking for European festivals with workshops. Should be in an area where the dominant language is either English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or French (in that order). If Italian or French, it should be in an area that's "touristy" enough to have some English. A venue where the workshops & milongas are close to each other, and within a short walk from housing accommodations. Recommendations?
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So I decided on Portugal & booked 2 festivals:
1 in Porto https://www.festivaltangoporto.com/en
1 in Lisbon https://030tango.com/event/lisbon-tango-festival-2023/

Unfortunately, due to a last minute health emergency, I missed Porto. People who went said it was great.

https://youtu.be/dvvI_HDf674

I loved Lisbon. I missed the Fado performances at the beginning of the festival, but I always enjoy dancing to the La Juan D'Arienzo Orchestra.

youtu.be

Argentine Tango music: La Juan D'Arienzo @ Lisbon Tango Festival '23 - Paciencia

Orquesta Tipica La Juan D'Arienzo, with singer Fernando Rodas plays their rendition of "Paciencia" for dancers @ the Lisbon Tango Festival 2023 held at th...
youtu.be youtu.be

Other New Yorkers there complained about the lack of AC & electric fans in a venue with 1000 people, but I left my jacket on the chair & got by with the old school method
Lisbon fest fan.jpg
 
I will absolutely try to fit into my schedule La Locura in Innsbruck first weekend of May. All live groups/ orchestras. Every person I spoke to there go year after year. And those who weee there the fist time said they’d definitely go back.

I went to Ostertango in Basel over Easter and thought it was just a tad too big, on the other hand the level of dancing was top and the best dancing of my life took place there. I will go again next year but maybe only for two days. You can get day tickets.

I’ve heard great things about Teplice in August. Near Prague. I plan to go this coming August.
 
tangobro said:
I loved Lisbon. I missed the Fado performances at the beginning of the festival, but I always enjoy dancing to the La Juan D'Arienzo Orchestra.
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I loved the afternoon milongas the most; are they still at the old location? (Pics below) I saw last year that it was shifted to an outdoor location with a large tarpaulin.IMG_20190530_184615_HDR.jpgIMG_20190530_192427_HDR.jpg
 
After ten years of abstinence (for orthopedic reasons) I signed up for a weekend again: Is any of you by chance also taking part in the Balloon Tango Marathon in Wuppertal?
 
opendoor said:
After ten years of abstinence (for orthopedic reasons) I signed up for a weekend again: Is any of you by chance also taking part in the Balloon Tango Marathon in Wuppertal?
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I'm still wavering and don't know if I have time.The location is a cradle of tango in Germany, but for me it is more the location of the regular milonga there than of a marathon.
 
Just back from a major combined marathon and festival: Ostertango in Basel and here’s my report.

It’s huge.
You can definitely disappear in the masses. I briefly came across people I knew from elsewhere, promised a dance, and then never crossed paths with them again, and other faces I saw over and over. Dancing is non-stop from 3pm till about 5am in mostly 2 large rooms, and day passes are available, so that might explain it.

No pre-registration required!
A big plus. Day passes available or whole event passes for 5 days. You just show up and pay 50 franks or euros in cash and you are in. Well, expensive.

No role balance.
A HUUUUGE plus for both followers and leaders in MY opinion. I showed up alone and not once did I see the situation of a bunch of ladies ironing seats because there weren’t enough guys to dance with. If seated for a while it was from sore feet from too much dancing. I spoke to a few solo guys about this and they told me that they like to not have the pressure from follower friends to have to register together. Another admitted reluctantly that part of the appeal is that more unattached ladies are present. Hm. He also said it doesn’t feel as ingrown and insular as encuentros.

The dancing is top notch.
People come from far, and it’s a very international crowd. It’s the second year I’m there and both times the best dancing of my life took place.

DJ’s are top notch.

The fact that workshops are available with the biggest names you can imagine is an afterthought. For those who don’t care about the masters’ performances, the other hall is still open simultaneously.

Live music of a mix of genres.

Nice city for a bit of wandering around. Free public transport included in hotel costs.

Expensive city for meals and hotels, but bargains can be found.

Central location for both rail connections and a discount airline hub.

If I can manage to be in Europe next year in April, I’ll definitely be back. It was their 25th anniversary this year, and the organizers know what they are doing.
 
Miradamiranda said:
No role balance.
A HUUUUGE plus for both followers and leaders in MY opinion. I showed up alone and not once did I see the situation of a bunch of ladies ironing seats because there weren’t enough guys to dance with. If seated for a while it was from sore feet from too much dancing. I spoke to a few solo guys about this and they told me that they like to not have the pressure from follower friends to have to register together. Another admitted reluctantly that part of the appeal is that more unattached ladies are present. Hm. He also said it doesn’t feel as ingrown and insular as encuentros.
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Interesting.

I should be going to the Tango Intermezzo in Copenhagen, which is in May, and they don't role balance either. If anyone has been before and has any advice to impart upon me, do share :)

One of the main reasons I booked it is because they have 3 orchestras playing live over the course of the weekend. I think there are still tickets left if anyone fancies it
 
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