Detail from "LargeTango" by Lesley Mitchell
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For more information:
Kelly Ray
tanguero@verizon.net
(215) 574-9555
or
Lesley Mitchell
tanguera@verizon.net
(215) 629-2344

About Kelly and Lesley

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Tango, as danced in Buenos Aires, the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina, is an elegant, sensual and intensely connected dance experience. It's been a worldwide favorite for decades, and today is riding a new wave of popularity across the generations. We'll show you its simplicity - and its complexity. You may have seen it on Broadway, but you can do it too.

Classes

New and ongoing classes at the Buttonwood Street Studio and at the University City Arts League.

Argentine Tango at Buttonwood Studio, 1315 Buttonwood Street, Philadelphia:
Tango I, Saturdays 3 - 4:20 pm. New class begins May 31.
Tango I (Fundamentals) Tuesdays 6:30 pm, drop in classes, ongoing
Tango II and III, Sundays 4 -5:20 pm. April 27 - June 22; no class May 11.
Tango II (Variations) Tuesdays 7:30 pm, drop in classes, ongoing
Tango IV, Mondays 7:45 - 9:05 pm, ongoing (by permission of instructor, talk to us if interested!)

Argentine Tango at University City Arts League, 4226 Spruce Street, Philadelphia:
Tango I, Fridays 7 - 8:20 pm. May 30 - August 1. 8-week session. No partners needed.
Contact Kelly & Lesley with questions, or call 215 382 7811 to register.

Argentine Tango at Salsita Studio, 1624 South St., Philadelphia:
Tango I, Thursdays 7:30-9. New series starts June 5.

You are always welcome to drop into any scheduled class for a preview. Private lessons are available in three Philadelphia locations with Kelly or Lesley for individual attention to accelerate your learning!

Ongoing Argentine Tango Practica at Buttonwood Studio, with preceding drop-in classes on Tuesdays, Buttonwood Street Studio.
6:30 pm: Tango Fundamentals class (for beginners or for review)
7:30 pm: Tango Variations class (some experience needed)
8:30 to 11 pm: Open Practica (with help from us if you want it. Plenty of individual attention is available.)

Drop in for one class or take a discounted package! Prices (drop-in rate):
$10 per class, $17 for both classes. $15 one class & practica; $7 practica alone; $20 both classes and practica. Dance, learn & socialize! Light refreshments provided.

Tango I - Beginner

Fridays 7 - 8:20. May 30-Aug. 1

UCAL
Tango I - Beginner

Saturdays 3-4:20. Begins May 31

BSStudio
Tango I - Beginner

Thursdays7:30-9. June 5

Salsita Studio
Tango Fundamentals - For Beginners or for ReviewTuesdays 6:30-7:30 pm - ongoing BSStudio
Tango II and III - Beginner-Intermediate

Sundays 4-5:20. April 27-June 22.

BSStudio
Tango Variations (Tango II) - Some experience neededTuesdays 7:30-8:30 pm - ongoing BSStudio
Tango IV - Advanced *Mondays 7:45-9:05 pm (Kelly or Lesley) - ongoing. BSStudio
Tango Practica - All levelsTuesdays 8:30-11pm (Kelly and Lesley) - ongoing BSStudio

*Advanced classes are by invitation of the instructor.

UCAL: 4226 Spruce St, Philadelphia (215) 382-7811 (to register for UCAL classes only)
BSStudio: 1315 Buttonwood St, Philadelphia (215) 574-9555 or (215) 629-2344 (to register for Buttonwood Street Studio classes or for all other information)

Private lessons:
Consider arranging small classes tailored to your specific needs. You and a group of friends can find a time that suits you, what aspect you want to concentrate on. Small classes give you lots of individual attention. You can do one lesson or a series, rotate partners or not. Our affordable prices vary according to number of people in class. Examples:
$75/hour for 1 or 2 people
$90/hour for 4 people
$115/hour for 6 people
Lesson packages for 1 or 2 people:
3 hours $200
5 hours $300
11 hours $600.
Private lessons are available at UCAL and the CC Studio. You can arrange for us to videotape your private lessons.

For more information about demonstrations & performances at your events, or group and private lessons, call Kelly or Lesley at (215) 574-9555 or (215) 629-2344.

Milongas
(Argentine Tango Parties)

Friday Night Milonga
Everybody is welcome to this friendly, diverse, international group: singles, couples, beginners, as well as experienced dancers. We provide a get-started mini-lesson at 9:15 to first time dancers. Every Friday night 9 pm to 12 am at the University City Arts League, 4226 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Admission $10, or $8 for full-time students with ID and current UCAL members. No partners needed. Please wear smooth-soled shoes. Philadelphia's original and longest-running tango dance!

La Milonga en Casa
Each 3rd Sunday we welcome everyone to dine and dance at the 1315 Buttonwood Street Studio for our potluck dinner and Argentine Tango Dance. For dinner at 7:00 pm, bring a main dish, side dish, appetizer, dessert, wine, or sponsor someone else's efforts. Dancing 8:30-11:30. $10 admission ($8 for full-time students). The food theme changes every month. At the Buttonwood Street Studio, 1315 Buttonwood Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Special Events

 

Friday, June 20: Friday Night Milonga with live music by Mandrágora Tango
Hosted by Kelly & Lesley in collaboration with Elizabeth Seyler & Rob Connaire. Note special venue! The Friday UCAL Milonga moves for one night only to the dramatic Conwell Dance Theatre, Temple University, 1801 No. Broad Street, Philadelphia. Map. Please note: Conwell Hall entrance closes at 11:45 pm. Afterwards, call Rob (617-957-9300) or Kelly (267-255-6677) to be let in..
8 - 9 pm. Beginners lesson
9 - 9:30 pm. Presentation by E. Seyler: "The Tango Philadelphia Story" - excerpts from her dissertation-in-progress about the Philadelphia Tango Community, describing our history, who dances, and what Tango means to us. Special tidbit: What Dancers Seek in Tango Partners.
9:30 pm - 2 am. Dancing. Special guest musicians, vintage tango film footage, dance demo, excellent refreshments
$15 General admission. $10 Temple University community; $12 Full time students from other institutions.

PARKING CHOICES:
1. Park on the street near the intersection of Montgomery and North Broad. The campus will be empty, so finding parking should be easy. As always in the city, remember to put valuables out of sight or in your trunk.

2. Park in Liacouras Garage on 15th Street (runs South only) between Montgomery and Cecil B. Moore. Garage is $10 per car and CLOSES AT 2AM SHARP! It's a 2-block walk to the milonga with excellent security. Ask the garage attendant for a campus map or follow balloons and directional signs.

About Mandrágora Tango: Led by bandoneón and accordion player Bob Barnes, Mandrágora Tango is a collective of tango musicians working the national tango circuit. Based in Minneapolis, they have a fresh, engaging, danceable sound. Their repertoire ranges from classic tangos with a touch of the
Mandrágora DNA, to their own unique, very danceable arrangements.
Listen to Mandrágora Tango at www.mandragoratango.com

About the Conwell Dance Theater: Located on Temple University's main campus in Conwell Hall, 5th floor, at 1801 North Broad St, Philadelphia, PA. There is free on-street parking in the area with paid parking in a Temple University lot also available. Conwell Dance Theater is one block north of SEPTA's Cecil B. Moore (Temple) stop on the Broad St line, and four blocks West of the regional rail Temple stop. For a Temple U campus map, go to http://www.temple.edu/maps/index.htm and click on Main Campus. Conwell is number 14 on the corner of Broad and Montgomery.

Saturday - Monday, June 28 - 30: Northern Exposure, the VerMontreal TANGO Adventure
Gala Milonga and Workshops with Kelly Ray & Lesley Mitchell. Join the excursion to Burlington VT and Montreal, QC. Organized by Elizabeth Seyler. We're arranging to take a van load of dancers from Philadelphia; let us know if you want to participate.
Saturday, June 28: Gala Milonga with live music in beautiful Shelburne Town Hall. Kelly & Lesley will DJ and demo.
Sunday afternoon, June 29: Workshops with Kelly and Lesley.
Sunday evening, June 29: Dinner, Milonga, and overnight in Montreal, Quebec.
Monday, June 30: Private lessons with Lesley & Kelly available in Burlington.
Monday evening, June 30: Practica.

Events are a la carte. Plenty of time to shop, swim, bike, or lounge under a maple tree. There are limited homestays available for out of town dancers through the Queen City Tango, Burlington's Tango organization. Elizabeth will try to arrange carpooling transportation to & from Montreal and has information about inexpensive overnight lodging there. Contact Elizabeth at eseyler@temple.edu.

Coming:
September 2 - 13, 2008: Buenos Aires No Duerme Tango Tour (Buenos Aires Never Sleeps)
Come to Argentina with us & experience the vibrant Tango scene in the city of its birth. Dance at all the best milongas. Take classes with legendary teachers. See exciting tango stage shows with live music. And, you’ll have expert guided city tours & excursions, guided shopping for tango shoes & clothes, great food and wine.

Included in the Tour Price:
11 nights in a well-located, comfortable hotel
Breakfast every morning
Welcome & good bye dinners
Gala tango stage show & dinner
Special tango class with master teachers
Guides to classes and to milongas every night
Two sightseeing tours with professional guide
Travel insurance, including medical emergency
Day excursion outside Buenos Aires
Spanish/English interpretation services
Airport transfers in Argentina

Tour price $1450 before May 15. $1550 after May 15. Group limited to 15 people. Reserve your place with deposit of $250. We meet you at the airport in BA on September 2.

Dance Tutor lessons! Our Tango Valse 2 online video lessons are now available at DanceTutor.com. From DanceTutor.com:
DanceTutor.com is pleased to announce the opening of Argentine Tango Waltz 2. The site is authored and danced by the popular Philadelphia Argentine tango teaching couple, Kelly Ray and Lesley Mitchell, and sports exciting figures, expertly danced and explained,---13 figures in all plus a demonstration video. Say the authors, "..... a fast, smooth dance that joins the seductive and rhythmic melodies of Argentine tango waltz to the complexities of Argentine tango. Tango vals utilizes almost the same vocabulary as tango, the biggest difference perhaps being that in response to the music the dancers tend to choose more turning steps, and also to choose not to pause as they frequently do in tango...". See www.DanceTutor.com for details:
Argentine Tango Waltz 2 table of contents: www.DanceTutor.com/tw2conten.htm
Argentine Tango Waltz 2 sample page with video: www.DanceTutor.com/tw2-12.htm
Argentine Tango Waltz 2 Authors' Introduction: www.DanceTutor.com/tw2-intro.htm

Be sure to check the tango calendar for the latest news. And don't forget Friday night milongas at the University City Arts League, UCAL!

Philadelphia's Argentine Tango Community

Philadelphia's tango community
See more pictures!

Argentine Tango Links

More Philadelphia area tango information - http://www.tangophiladelphia.com/

Other U.S. cities and regions:
Princeton, NJ - http://www.princeton.edu/~tango/
Washington DC area - http://www.le-tango.com/
San Francisco Bay area - http://www.batango.com/

General Tango Information - National and International:
Reportango Magazine (great where-to-dance listings, general info) -
http://www.reportango.com/reportango.html

A Buenos Aires site (general information) - http://www.abctango.com.ar/
Christian Mensing's great links to tango sites - http://www.inorg.chem.ethz.ch/group/cm/tango_link.html
The Tango Catalog's online web contacts - http://www.thetangocatalogue.com/Links.asp

Our favorite tango music and where to buy it!