Hi All,

It’s Milonga week – check out the details below for our monthly Milonga this Saturday (22nd).

Thanks to everyone who came to Aldo and Ana Lia’s final classes, performances and leaving party on Monday. But do not fear that just because they have left us that your Mondays will be missing great Tango teachers, because Beatriz starts back with us this Monday (24th) – see below for more details.

Lost and found – did anyone leave two pairs of (ladies) shoes behind, in a green bag, at the workshops in Shorts a week and a half ago? If so, see me.

More details of all these events are listed below this email

1. Weekly classes – now with Beatriz from Monday 24th May
2. Practica on Thursdays.
3. Monthly Milonga – this Saturday 22nd May
4. YouTube clip
5. Membership of BATS – please take minute to read the detail below
6. Non-BATS events

Feel free to forward this on to anyone else who you think might be interested. In fact, it’s only by keeping the numbers up that we can afford to bring professional teachers to you, so please have a good hard think if there are any family, friends, or colleagues who you could persuade along. If you want removed from this circulation, just let me know.

Thanks,


Alan
Honorary Secretary
Belfast Argentine Tango Society
http://www.tangoinbelfast.org



1. Weekly classes – now with Beatriz from Monday 24th May
Beatriz will be taking our Monday classes from now until the end of June. Most of you will remember her from the autumn classes she did for us last year – and what a methodical teacher she is. You can find out more about her at her website: http://beatanguera.weebly.com

Classes will be the normal format:
Beginners 7.00 – 8.30pm
Practice 8.30 – 8.45pm
Improvers 8.45 – 10.15pm
Practice 10.15– 10.30pm

Cost - £7 for one class, £10 for both (Student/Concession: £5/£8 – please show ID).

Usual venue details: the main upstairs hall of City Church, 12-24 University Avenue (on the left as you head down the Avenue away from Botanic - there's a large white church, then City Church is a red brick building a few doors further, opposite the Spar). The hall is above the “Common Grounds" café, but enter through the double doors round the corner – ring the bell if closed. Here's a link to a map:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en ... 2,0.017381


2. Practica on every Thursday.
What is a Practica? It’s an informal event somewhere between a proper class and a formal Milonga. There is no structured tuition, but dancing with others and discovering for yourselves how steps work (or how they don’t) really adds to the tuition we get in class. Plus, you can always ask others for advice, as unlike in class or at a Milonga, there’s nothing to say you can’t stop mid-flow on the dance floor to debate a point.

The venue is “The West” (although the name is not on the front of the building) on the Falls Road. It has a good floor, with plenty of seating/socialising area in the bar. There is a dedicated car park behind it (either go in the back door and up one flight or walk round to the front door on the main road to get in – in the front door and just round to the right).

You can drop in/out of the Practica anytime, there’s no fixed “start”, but we’ll be there from 8pm-10pm+ on Thursdays. Price £2.

The attached link to Google maps shows it (and the car park behind it), but if you drive up the Donegal Road (from the Broadway roundabout at the Park Centre on the Westlink) towards the Falls Road, then turn right onto the Falls Road (city bound) then it is about 200 yards on the right, between La Salle Park and La Salle Drive. If you turn into La Salle Drive, the car park can be accessed from it.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?source ... b4653&z=21


3. Monthly Milonga – Saturday 22nd May
Our monthly Milonga is this Saturday the 22nd and will again be held in Belfast Rowing Club, Lockview Road, Stranmillis (which is just before Belfast Boat Club, the one with all the tennis courts). It will be from 9pm to 12+ and the price is a mere £5. Everyone is welcome, no matter how many or few classes you have had. Come along and enjoy the music and try out what you’ve learnt in class.

To find it, get to the roundabout on the Stranmillis Road, in front of Stranmillis College and take the exit that is Lockview Road, which takes you past the Cutters Wharf pub. On the left just after the Cutters are two linked car parks, drive into the second one and go two thirds of the way up, where you should see a gate on the left with “Belfast Rowing Club” on it. You can’t drive in, just park there (there’s plenty of parking) and use the pedestrian gate (if you see tennis courts, you’ve gone too far, that’s Belfast Boat Club!). We are in the double storey building; go up the stairs immediately on the left when you go in – follow the music..... Here’s a link to a map, although the “A” mark isn’t in the right place – it shows the entrance to the car park rather than the building itself.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 8&t=h&z=16

A few notes about this venue:
• As none of us drink enough, it is not worth them putting on a bar – so please bring you own.
• Smokers – the venue is a sports club with a no-smoking policy. If you must smoke (outside) please do not throw your butts on the ground – dispose of them carefully.
• Please refrain from putting talc on the floor.


4. YouTube Clip
Here’s another clip from our friends Monica and Nestor Castillo – teachers who were in Ireland a couple of years ago, and who will hopefully be back with us soon. Last year they won the Campeones Metropolitanos de Tango Salon 2009. This performance is in La Confiteria Ideal, Buenos Aires, only about a week ago. They are dancing to “El Lloron” by Hugo Diaz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKU6WFDG ... ture=email


5. Membership of BATS
In case any of you don’t realise, the Belfast Argentine Tango Society (BATS) is run by a Committee, who are all unpaid volunteers. The classes and Milongas organised by BATS are run on a not for personal profit basis. After paying for venues and teachers, any excess monies go back into the pot to alleviate those weeks when there is a loss, and to build a fund to allow us to put on special events. The Society is constituted such that the Committee is elected by the members, so each year we ask students of the classes to join the Society (although there is no compulsion to if you don’t want to).

It does not cost you anything (if you have taken a class) and it does not place any burden on you to do anything, but it does give you the right to attend our Annual General Meeting to voice any views you have about the running of the Society and to vote in the election of the Committee. It also entitles you to stand for the Committee should you so wish. If you want to join, just fill in one of the forms that are available in class (NOTE: if you joined last year, you still need to renew your membership each year, by filling in a form).


6. Non-BATS events

A. Edinburgh International Tango Festival 28th-31st May 2010I have flyers available in class, or go here: http://www.eitf.org.uk

B. Tangofiesta (Julian and Kristina) are bringing the famous Geraldine Rojas, with partner Ezequiel Paludi to Dublin in early July (1st and 2nd) for workshops (1st) and a Grand Ball (2nd). More details here:
http://www.tangofiestadublin.ie

C. Nikos’ Classes:
Crescent Art Centre
Class day: Friday (course will run for 7 weeks, from Friday May 14th, to Friday June 25th)
Venue: Crescent Art Centre, 2-4 University Rd. Belfast, BT7 1NH
Beginners: 19:30 - 20:45
Improvers: 20:45 - 22:00
For info about enrollment please contact Crescent Art Centre at 028 9024 2338.
Any queries please contact me at nikoskyr@hotmail.com or 0789 059 2015

Spring Term classes at Queen's PEC:
Classes will commence on the week beginning 19th April and the program has as follows:
Tuesday 20:15 - 21:45 Beginners Tango Salon, QUB PEC
Friday 17:45 - 19:15 Improvers Tango Salon, QUB PEC
The first Tuesday class will take place on Tuesday 20/4 and the first Friday class on Friday 23/4. The whole cycle will last 8 weeks. Even though there won't be any description as to the level of the two classes at Queen's registration forms, the beginners will be on Tuesday and the improvers on Friday. Students are encouraged to enroll with a partner at Improvers level to ensure a better instruction and teaching quality, even though singles will be taken care of in the best way as well.

For a registration form and info about fees please contact Sean McQuade at Queen's University. Any other queries about the level or material taught in the classes please contact Nikos on 0789 059 2015 or email me at nikoskyr@hotmail.com

D. SalsaBelfast Windsor Tango Night – Saturday 5th June
Piret will be taking the lead in this all night Tango event – more details here nearer the time: http://salsabelfast.com/groups/summary.php?g=1

E. Tango Pasión is on in the Grand Canal Theatre Dublin – October 18th-23rd
This famous show is coming to Dublin in the autumn. See http://www.grandcanaltheatre.ie for more information. Maybe we should book a bus to take us all down ……