[Tango-A] NA-C: Chicago’s Summer Sizzles with International Tango Fest - August 21 through August 27, 2008

[PJ Grant]

  The 3rd annual International Chicago Tango Fest begins Thursday, August 21 and, for a week, will bring sizzling hot Argentine Tango to this world class city, at world class venues. The 2008 Fest will offer world class events throughout the City, many of which are open to the public and free. 
  The opening event – “Buenos Aires Night in Chicago” on Thursday, August 21 – will introduce the fourteen Argentine Tango dancers and instructors to Chicago. Set as an outdoor street festival, the social dancing and mingling will begin at 6:00 pm in the Heart of Italy neighborhood at Café Duvall (2257 W 23rd Place at Oakley). With live music provided by the Mandragora Orchestra of Minneapolis MN, this
free milonga (social gathering to dance Tango) is a wonderful opportunity for non-dancers to observe the informal and yet emotional dance. Many local dancers, as well as those from across the country and around the world who are traveling to Chicago for the 2008 International Chicago Tango Fest, will be dancing under the tent and then, later (10:00 pm to 2:00 am) inside Café Duvall to the passionate rhythms of Tango. There will be a cash bar and fabulous grilled food, with an Argentine parialla flavor, for purchase.
  Sponsored by the American Tango Institute (ATI), the 2008 International Chicago Tango Fest, has something for everyone, from tango novices curious about this enticing dance, to experts on the dance floor interested in perfecting their technique. In celebration of the tango, the four days of festivities will be filled with professionally-taught dance workshops at the Palmer House Hilton, the performance of “Tangastic! Tango Argentine” at Symphony Center, live tango concerts, outdoor and indoor dancing and art exhibits.  All of the activities will take place in or near downtown Chicago, shining a light on our Olympics-candidate city to the many festival participants from all over the U.S. and the world. 
  There will be social dances (“milongas”) every night (Thursday through Sunday and the following Wednesday), where participants can show off the new steps they learned during the day and everyone can enjoy the captivating live tango music and watch the dancing. Friday evening’s milonga (9:00 pm–2:00 am) will be a “Masters Dance” at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel (where the 2008 Fest is headquartered). On Saturday evening, the milonga (10:00 pm–3:00 am) in the Palmer House’s Red Lacquer Ballroom will bethemed “Moulin Rouge”, with prizes awarded to the best costumed male and female dancer. The Farewell Milonga (9:00 pm–2:00 am) also will be at the Palmer House.All of the indoor events are air conditioned, so you can be cool while experiencing the HOTTEST dance of the summer – Tango!
  Continuing the tradition of presenting a spectacular, one-time-only tango performance at each International Chicago Tango Fest, the highlight of this year’s performance, “Tangastic! Tango Argentine”, will be at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, showcasing the spectacular dancing of our seven tango couples. Don’t miss this evocative journey through the many feelings and emotions expressed by the tango, from sadness and nostalgia, joy and humor to longing and passion. The “Tangastic” cast features stars of the best tango shows in the world, including the current dance captain of the Broadway show, “Forever Tango” – Jorge Torres plus:
* Guillermo Merlo and Fernanda Ghi (Argentina & Las Vegas);
* Damian Esell and Nancy Louzan (Argentina);
* Eduardo Cappussi and Mariana Flores (Argentina); 
* Roberto Reis and Vanessa Fatauros (Argentina);
* Ariel Barrionuevo and Lorena Gasse (Argentina); and,
* Somer Surgit (Turkey & Chicago) and Maria Blanco (Argentina & Chicago).
  Chicagoalso will be treated to free events – open to and welcoming the public, several with the generous cooperation and support of the City of Chicago:
- Special introductory classes will be offered throughout the 2008 International Chicago Tango Fest for those just getting acquainted with the Tango;
- The welcoming milonga and concert “Buenos Aires in Chicago” on Thursday, August 21st (6:00-10:00 pm) will be hosted by Café Duvall (2257 W 23rd Place);
- A tango concert, lesson and milonga (social dance) at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington Ave) on Friday, August 22 (7:00-8:30 pm);
- On Sunday, August 24 (4:00-7:00 pm) free lessons and a live Tango music concert at Chicago’s Summer Dance in Grant Park will electrify the closing night inthe Spirit of Music Garden;
- Live “Music without Borders” concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Wednesday, August 27 (6:30-8:30 pm) featuring BajoFondo – an exciting blend of electro-tango music; and, 
- The culminating event, also on Wednesday, August 27(beginning at 9:00 pm), a live music concert, again with Mandragora Orchestra, kicking-off Old Town School of Folk Music’s La Peña Series of World Music (4544 N Lincoln Ave) featuring selected guest dancers from the stars of the 2008 International Chicago Tango Fest. 
  Live Tango music for the concerts and milongas will be provided by our featured orchestra, Trio Garufa, from San Francisco as well as Mandragora Tango, from Minneapolis.
  Everyone is welcome to come and experience the passion of the tango dance and its music; ticket prices range from the All-Inclusive Package, that includes seven workshops and the Symphony Center performance, with rates for single dancers or couples, to smaller packages with four workshops or milongas (social dances). Individual workshops (at the Palmer House, Gallery 37 and the Chicago Cultural Center), milongas or tickets to the “Tangastic!” performance range from $25 to $68, depending on the event.  To see the whole
list of prices, please visit www.chicagotangofest.com/prices.
  Tickets are now on sale for “Tangastic!” at Symphony Center (separate from the all-inclusive packages) and can be purchased at Symphony Center, online at cso.orgor by calling 312-294-3000.
  The American Tango Institute (ATI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing educational and therapeutic programs and activities based on Argentine tango. Through our programs we introduce the world of tango, with all its benefits, emotions and history, to the community-at-large. 
American Tango Institute * 325 N. Hoyne, Suite C-404 * Chicago, Illinois 60612
Contact:  Netza Roldan at 312-287-8406, or e-mail, info at americantangtoinstitute.com or alison at chicagotangofest.com
Visit us at: www.chicagotangofest.com