[Tango-L] Tango on New Years

[Phil Seyer]

My main job these days is to throw massive New Years Eve Parties.
It takes month of planning and a huge investment.
I have a question for the list about whether I should have a
"tango room" at one of my parties. I'm going into detail
here so you can better understand my situation.

Traditionally these NYE parties I throw have not involved tango, but
focused mainly on live rock, funk, soul, and R&B bands, DJs,
casino gaming, complimentary drinks, hotel take-overs,
dinner, breakfast for two, and such. I say "hotel take-overs"
because we literally take over the entire hotel. We don't
just rent a room or two.

In 2006 I saw a couple dancing beautiful Argentine tango
while the band played some heavy rock tune. It was really
good Argentine tango and fancinating to watch.

In 207 and 2008 I tried to find some tango dancers to
perform for my parties (I host two of them simultaneously,
one in Sacramento and the other In the Bay Area.) No
luck.

This year I succeeded in booking Johnathan Yamauchi and
Oliva Levitt, two dedicated teachers who dance
and teach the Carlos Gavito style.  The idea is that they will
perform informally in the lobby of the hotel to entertain
the party-goers standing in the huge line waiting to
get in.

Later in the evening, they'll do a tango performance
in the DJ ballroom (which holds about 500 people).

I'm thinking of also using a smaller room as a "tango
room" and playing some authentic Argentine tango
tunes in that room so that people can dance or
watch Argentine tango dancing in that room. The
room will hold, say, 30 to 50 people.

The event will be a huge success without a tango
room. I know that more than 1000 will be in attendance
at the party and that all hotel rooms will sell out.
But I was thinking that another room might just
add to the variety and the offering. We would then
have 3 dance floors as well as poker, roulette,
black jack and craps in another room (not real
gamblling, but complimentary gaming for prizes)..

But is the tango room is a good idea? Will any
tango dancers come?  Is there too much of
a culture clash or will the diversity add to the event?

Please let me know your thoughts.