Once a year, the Vancouver Island Tango community puts on a gala event.
Three days of workshops conducted by Buenos Aires professionals Cynty and Toto, covering everything from beginner instruction to dancing in time with musical phrasing. An event made for driving to different venues all over the southern end of Vancouver Island.
Highlighting a gala dinner at the Union Club (a venerable elegant historic building downtown Victoria adjacent to the famous Empress Hotel), the Argentinean visitors performed Show Tango and - surprise - Chacarera. The Club's Chef had thoughtfully combined a surprising selection of Argentine dishes, fluffy empanadas not being the least of the scrumptious choices.
Toto, apart from dancing and teaching Tango, is also qualified as a Circus Artist. He had just finished a stint in Las Vegas where he was part of a daring high wire act at magical Cirque de Soleil.Opening dance was reserved for a special dancer, a beautiful First Nations woman hailing originally from Gitxaala, a small native village in BC. She was dressed in earth coloured silky clothing, adorned with Salish Nation motifs, her dress embellished with long eagle feathers. The lovely dancer descends from the Eagle tribe. Her dance partner, albeit, was a full blooded Scotsman - sans Kilt and Sporran tonight.
Another proof, why Tango was declared a UNESCO Heritage dance - it is definitely multicultural and multinational and danced to the same music all over the globe...
Four days of dancing in various venues provided definitely a great means to practise one's ochos, giros and sacadas. However, the one and only Chacarera lesson (popular Argentinean folk dance) put an end to swinging my booty. The obligatory 'zapateos', stamping of feet, met with a serious revolt of my lower limbs.
 |
| Festive dining room at the Union Club downtown Victoria |
 |
| Transported into another realm... |
 |
| Dancing at the Union Club |
 |
| Crofton Community Hall wind up Milonga |
 |
| Souvenirs of Buenos Aires....elegant high heeled shoes and tango pants |
