[Tango-L] Germans teaching Argentine tango in the USA

[Keith]

 Janis,

 If you have the opportununity to learn from Argentines, I would agree that it's crazy
 to learn Tango from Germans.

 However, if you live in America and only have access to American teachers, then what
 other choices do you have? I've never met Detlef and Melina or any of the American
 teachers. But, from the Internet, it's very easy to check on the qualiity of
 professional Tango dancers. 

 There's no doubt in my mind that Argentines are, by far, the very best. But, from
 what I've seen and IMHO, Detlef and Melina are better than any of the Americans. So,
 if you can't go to Argentina and you can't get Argentines to come to you, importing
 Europeans would appear to be the 3rd best choice.

 Keith, HK

On Tue Sep  4  1:40 , "Janis Kenyon"  sent:

>Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 11:08:57 +0200
>From: Melina Sedo & Detlef Engel tango at tangodesalon.de>
>Subject: [Tango-A] Dtelef & Melina: US-Tour February/March 08
>We would like to inform you about our upcoming tour to the USA 
>14 - 17 February: Valentango Festival Portland
>23/24 February:  Workshops in Pittsburgh (PATangoS )
>29 February - 2 March: Milonguero Festival in Champain Urbana
>3 - 14 March: Classes in New York (Empire Dance Studio)
>15/16 March: Workshops in Philadelphia (Tango Hug)
>There are still some free slots in our schedule, especially during
>the weeks and after our stay in Philadelphia. 
>
>
>Am I the only person who thinks this is crazy?
>There are dozens of Argentines teaching in the USA in addition to hundreds
>of Americans who teach.
>Why are they organizing classes for Germans?
>Is it because these Germans travel at their own expense on tourist visas?
>Or because there is so much money to be made from weekend workshop and
>festivals?
>What can you get from a German couple in two days that you haven't already
>learned from Argentines or Americans?
>
>Most Argentine professionals who teach regularly in the US are smart enough
>to know they need a work permit and P-3 visa to be working legally.  There
>are some there now, however, who are working on tourist visas.  But then,
>the organizers never ask to see their passports.  Instead, they look the
>other way and laugh all the way to the bank.
>
>I know that Ray Barbosa, a lawyer, went through the visa process this year
>when he invited Tete and Sylvia and others to teach at his festival in
>Chicago.  They wouldn't have been able to enter the country without the
>proper work visa after a nine-year absence.  Lydia Henson applies annually
>for visas for all those teaching at her Miami festival, otherwise El Flaco
>Dany would never have entered the USA.  The visa process takes about six
>months.  Any citizen in the US can petition for the work permit after
>gathering all the required documentation.
>
>Twelve years ago I learned that any foreigner working in the US is required
>to have the appropriate visa in their passport before entering the country.
>I had to obtain visas for those teaching at my festival in a short time
>frame.
>All visas were issued and everyone worked legally for one week.
>
>Tours have been cancelled because organizers thought that teachers would be
>able to obtain a tourist visa.  Then the US Consulate denied the request.
>Once a tourist visa is denied, it is in the records and never can be
>obtained.
>
>
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