Jango

Come Learn to Tango Baaaby!

2010-05-21T12:13:38Z

Come Learn to Tango Baby!

Hello there!

The last few months have been a bit of a whirlwind, but now finally based back in London, I’m hoping you can come and learn some Tango with us! We’re kicking off next Saturday 29^th with workshops for beginner and more advanced dancers, we’re guest teaching at the Dome and elsewhere, so hope to see you there.

Also there is a really interesting workshop happening THIS Sunday for more advanced dancers, with my friends Jenny and Andrew, so check out the details below…

Lastly, I’m on and off the stage over the next month… if you feel like an injection of culture in your life, check out performances I’m involved in either around

Leeds, http://www.slanjayvahdanza.com/en/productions/current-events-info

Ipswich http://www.pulsefringe.com/1661/whats-on/pulse-double-bill.html

London, http://www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=11289

Hope to see you either in class or in the theatre!!!

image by Caroline True

Scroll down to read about:

1 Tango Workshop Twickenham Sat 29^th with Monica and Amir

2 Performance in Ipswich

3 Almost Colgadas and Interesting Boleos Tango Workshop THIS SUNDAY!

4 Guest Teaching at ‘The Dome’

5 Looking for Space!!!

Tango Workshop Twickenham Next Weekend with Monica and Amir!

Saturday 29^th of May, St Mary´s Church Hall, Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NJ

Two hours for beg/int and two for int/adv, there’s something here for everyone!

12-2pm: Beg/Int focusing on the most important foundation of tango, building connection, confidence and competence on the dance floor! We will cover useful sequences for covering the social dance floor and changing direction…

2.30-4.30pm: Int/Avd – In this workshop we will focus on getting up close and personal - great social sequences that you can do in ‘close embrace’ – perfect for crowded dance floors and for those times you want to really dance ‘as one’.

£15 for one workshop or £25 for both.

You can pay on the day but you need to book in advance so drop me an email amir@jango.co.uk or call 07881 622 909.

2. Performing ‘Entangled’ at Ipswich Pulse Fringe Festival!!!

After the success of Entangled in London, we’ve been invited to perform an extended version at Ipswich’s Fringe Festival on the main stage at the New Wolsey Theatre…. ‘Entangled’ is a choreography made together with Tara Pilbrow, a contemporary and tango dancer from Paris, mixing Tango, Swing and Contemporary dance into a beautiful modern love story! You can see more information on the show at www.amirgiles.com and book tickets at

http://www.pulsefringe.com/1661/whats-on/pulse-double-bill.html

3. Almost Colgadas and Unusual Boleos with Jenny Sayer and Andrew Burt THIS Sunday the 23^rd of May, The Room, 33 Holcombe Rd, Tottenham Hale, N17 9AS

The first part of this workshop will focus on how to lead and follow different types of boleo through a variety of exercises specifically designed to provide you with strong technique and increased understanding of the dance structure. The second part of this workshop will show leaders how to play with the followers free leg in imaginative and innovative ways on and off axis. Followers you will learn how to enable the leg to remain free even when moving through unusual positions.

For more info you can call Jenny on 07868435427, otherwise there is no need to book, and you don’t need a partner, so get there if you can!

4. Guest Teaching at ‘The Dome’ Mon 7^th and Wed 9^th of June

Monica and I will be leading the Practica at the Dome on Mon 7^th of June, and taking the pre-milonga class on Wed 9^th. If you want to come and check out one of London’s leading milongas, it will be a great chance to do so with some familiar faces… or if you’re already a regular, we look forward to seeing you there!

More info on dancing at the Dome is here:

http://www.zerohouruk.com/

5. Looking for Space!

As you’ve probably noticed I’m spending more time choreographing my own work, and forming a performance company. What we need more than anything to support our work is cheap or free space to rehearse during the day. If you know of any possibilities, or organizations that may be interested in supporting such commendable artistic endeavors, you know what to do!

Also, we’re currently looking for a space available in the evenings to teach from, beautiful, central, and not expensive. If you are a miracle worker, or have a suggestion for such a space, please let me know!

All the best!

Amir

07881 622 909

amir@jango.co.uk

Shows and Shenanigans!

2010-04-29T14:42:33Z

Shows and Shenanigans!

End of April News, 2010

There are some great shows and festivals coming up, so check out the dates and see what you can get to! I had this crazy dream last night I was in ancient Athens by the sea where everything was larger than life, the fish were huge, with amazing colours, jumping above the surface of a river that ran through the city, where everyone was really friendly and loved having a visitor from the future. Everywhere there was a sense of space, freshness, bold, big and beautiful. So if you get a chance you should go back in time to my imaginary ancient Athens. If you can’t, then the following shows and events are going to be just as good!:

Crazy Joana

Premier 1^st of May at Seven Arts Centre, with further dates around Yorkshire

This is the show I’ve been in Leeds rehearsing in since mid-Feb. It combines contemporary dance, film projection and a great score with really imaginative and theatrical staging. So if you’re in Yorkshire in May make sure you come check it out!

www.slanjayvahdanza.com

Tango Rojo Festival of Tango and Arts

12-16^th of May, London!

This is a fascinating and unique festival in that it combines dancing, music, art and film, and Tara and I will be performing on the ‘Alternative Milonga’ night on Friday the 14^th of May. The night will include two short films, an exhibition, live orchestra and lots of dancing! The beautiful website for the whole festival is here:

http://www.tangorojo.eu/programme.html

Tango Workshop West London

Saturday 29^th of May, St Mary´s Church Hall, Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NJ

Two hours for beg/int and two for int/adv, there’s something here for everyone!

12-2pm: Beg/Int - focusing on the most important foundation of tango, building connection, confidence and competence on the dance floor!

2.30-4.30pm: Int/Avd – Some great social sequences that you can do in ‘close embrace’ – perfect for crowded dance floors and for those times you want to really dance ‘as one’.

£15 for one workshop or £25 for both.

You can pay on the day but you need to book in advance so drop me an email amir@jango.co.uk or call 07881 622 909.

It will be great to see some of you dancing after I’ve had a long break from teaching out in West London! If you're unsure as to which workshop to do, drop me a line!

Other News:

Since February I’ve been rehearsing in Leeds for ‘Crazy Joanna’ but from May I’m back in London, looking forward to the shows coming up and doing some more teaching. June’s going to be a busy month as well, with ‘Entangled’ at the Pulse Fringe Festival in Ipswich, and then back with the Royal Opera to do ‘Carmen’ again in London – plus we’re doing more teaching at the Dome, so there’s lots more news to come!

Hope to see you soon, share any crazy dreams!

Amir

07881 622 909

amir@jango.co.uk

Followers Technique Workshop this Coming Sunday!

2010-04-12T10:44:43Z

12.4.10

Hey There!

Last weekend we had the second of our Jango Workshops in Penge, London, really well attended and a fantastic group of enthusiastic dancers – so more workshops are planned for the near future. This is a great oppertunity for people near or in London to get some more Jango going. I’ll let you know when the dates are set. I’m working with a dance company in Leeds until the end of this month, (www.slanjayvahdanza.com) but I’m back in London in May when we’ll also be running some Tango workshops, and have a couple of special performances planned too!

More on that soon, in the mean time, this coming Sunday Monica is running the last of her Follower Technique workshops, so don’t miss out! You don’t have to have made it to the other classes to come to this one… here’s a quick note from her:

Follower's technique - Boleos, Volcadas and Colgadas with Monica Lopez

Throughout the class we will work on exercises and tips to improve:

· Posture, balance and connection with the leader.

· Dissociation, counter-rotation and releasing the free leg.

· Embellishments for each movement, the importance of the music.

We will first cover the essential tango elements (walking, ochos and giros), with exercises specifically designed to provide you with strong technique and increased understanding of the follower's role. In the second part of the class we will focus on boleos, volcadas and colgadas in depth, improving the way we manage our bodies to feel more confident and comfortable during these movements.

This is the last of these workshops that I will be teaching looking the fundamentals of tango from the follower's perspective. You don’t have to have come to any of the previous workshops to take this one though.

Please bring comfortable clothing and socks or soft shoes as well as your tango shoes.

Where: The Room, 33 Holcombe Rd, Tottenham Hale, N17 9AS

When: 3-6pm Sunday 18th April

Cost: £30

To book please contact me on 07736299220 or by email at myanezlopez@gmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Monica

Women's Tango Technique Workshop this Sunday!

2010-03-15T22:08:43Z

Good day to you kind people!

I’m currently in Leeds, working with a dance company here rehearsing a show that will premier on the 1^st of May. But Monica is still in London, and this weekend she is running a workshop especially for tango dancing ladies, together with a special guest!

These workshops are vital for women who want to feel confident and stylish whilst dancing, and most importantly, feel liberated by the self expression Monica teaches followers to contribute to the dance:

Follower's technique with Monica Lopez and guest teacher MAIA URQUIOLA:

ASSOCIATIONS AND DISSOCIATIONS

Where: The Room, 33 Holcombe Rd, Tottenham Hale, N17 9AS

When: 3-6pm Sunday 21st March

Cost: £30

To book please contact Monica on 07736299220 or by email at myanezlopez@gmail.com

In this class we are extremely pleased to welcome back to London the wonderful tango dancer and teacher Maia Urquiola. Maia is a committed leader and follower of tango.. She has been teaching since 2006 in cities such as Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Montreal and of course London. Her influences include Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Pablo Inza, Pablo Villarraza and Dana Frigoli, Maria Mondino and Ismael Ludman, Sebastian de la Vallina.

The first past of the workshop will focus on crucial relationships that exist between different parts of our body. This is the key to make our dance more comfortable and clear. In the second half of the workshop we will work on several exercises to understand and improve the dissociation of our central axis, allowing effortless pivots, a strong connection with your partner, and close embrace dancing.

Most importantly, you will explore how to express and develop your personality in the dance.

Through out the workshop we will maintain an awareness of:

· Posture and balance.

· Connection with the leader.

· The importance of the music.

Bring comfortable clothing and socks or soft shoes as well as your tango shoes.

Workshops, Performances and Events!

2010-02-02T15:08:39Z

Tango, Jango and Contemporary Dance!

February 2010

Yo!

There’s lots to tell you about again – (performances, workshops, events etc) but first I need to tell you about a contract I’ve just taken on. From the 15^th of February until the end of April I’ll be based in Leeds, joining the Slanjayvah Danza Company in their production of a new piece called ‘Crazy Joanna’.

More details on performances and stuff later, but in the meantime this means that:

Thursday Tango classes are suspended until May

If you want a private lesson then get in touch before Feb 15^th!

Thanks to all of you who made it to the Tango classes – it was a great group and we hope to see you all again when I’m back in London and Monica returns from Buenos Aires… In the meantime, you can catch some more Jango and Tango from me at the Metropolis Weekender in Manchester. Check out www.jiveaddiction.com for more info.

Scroll down to read about:

Reviews and feedback on ‘Entangled
Jango Workshop this coming Sunday
Guest Teaching at ‘The Dome’ Wed 10^th of Feb
Women’s Tango Technique Workshop with Monica
Weekly Tango Classes suspended until May

1. Reviews and Feedback on Entangled

On the 18^th of this month Tara and I performed the new choreography ‘Entangled’ at the Robin Howard Theatre at The Place. Many of you came to support us, and feedback has been highly positive, so thankyou!

Here is an extract of a review:

Tango and Vivaldi might on the surface appear unlikely bedfellows. But as Amir Giles and Tara Pilbrow smouldered through a selection of baroque flicks in the aptly-titled duet Entangled, they looked like a marriage made in heaven…

Perfectly in tune with each other, emotionally and physically, the dancers skilfully sketched the story of an amorous encounter from chance flirtation to melancholy afterglow.

… Entangledcouldn't help but get under your skin: we didn't know where the dancers ended and the lovers began.

- Kieth Watson (Dance reviewer for the Metro)

Future plans include a repeat performance at the Pulse festival, and I’ll let you know further plans as they develop!

2. Jango Workshop in London, Penge, This Sunday

Its been a long while since we’ve had an beg/int level Jango workshop in London, so come and join in this coming Sunday if you’ve been waiting your chance! Its organized by Mjs Just Love to Dance and you can get all the info and saucy pictures at:

http://www.mjsjustlovetodance.co.uk

3. Guest Teaching at ‘The Dome’ Wed 10^th Feb

I’ve been invited to guest teach at the pre-milonga class next Wednesday, at The Dome. This is one of London’s oldest and largest milongas, so worth checking out even if you can’t make that date. You can check out all the info here:

http://www.zerohouruk.com/

4. Women’s Tango Technique with Monica

Where: The Room, 33 Holcombe Rd, Tottenham Hale, N17 9AS

When: 3-6pm Sunday 7th February

Cost: £30

To book please contact me on 07736299220 or by email at myanezlopez@gmail.com

This will be the first of 3 workshops looking at the fundamentals of tango from the follower's perspective. In this class we will be examining linear movements (caminata and linear boleos) and circular movements (ochos, giros and circular boleos) in depth, with exercises specifically designed to provide you with strong technique and increased understanding of the follower's role.

During the class we will focus on improving:

· Good posture, balance and connection with the leader.

· Dissociation, counter-rotation and releasing the free leg.

· Long and fluid versus sharp and short embellishments, the importance of the music.

Please bring comfortable clothing and socks or soft shoes as well as your tango shoes.

5. Thursday Tango Class Suspended Until May

As mentioned above, our Thursday class will be suspended until I get back from Leeds and Monica gets back from Buenos Aires!

Often I get asked who else I would recommend – so here is my answer! Try Hiba and Rene, at www.tango-fever.com

Take care!!!

Amir

07881 622 909

amir@jango.co.uk

Theatre Performance, Classes and Best Wishes!!!

2010-01-06T11:14:10Z

Theatre Performance, Classes and Best Wishes!!!

January 2010

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great time, a lovely Christ Mass and all those other things. I’m really looking forward to the coming year, with lots of exciting things planned! This month we’re premiering a 20 minute choreography at the Place, restarting our Thursday tango classes, teaching at Rock Bottoms, Swinging the Blues and resuming private lessons!

On a less exciting note Jenny Sayer (who many of you have taken Jango and Tango classes with) is shortly leaving for the USA then Buenos Aires, so opportunities to learn from her will be far more rare. So grab this last chance coming up.

Other than that I hope you can make it to the theatre or a class, and hope you get to do lots of great dancing this year, see things that inspire you, and share time with people you respect, enjoy and like the smell of.

All the best!

Amir

amir@jango.co.uk

07881 622 909

Scroll down to read about:

1. Amir & Tara perform at the Robin Howard Theatre

2. Tango Classes Resume THIS Thursday

3. Women’s Technique Class with Jenny Sayer

4. Spaces at Rock Bottoms this weekend!

1. Come See Us in the West End!

This will be the premier of a new 20 minute choreography drawing on many influences and the result of several month’s work. If you were wondering why you haven’t seen me perform any choreographies lately its because all the creative energy has been spent on this baby! Its part of a season of new work at The Place, every evening showing three dance companies. You can follow updates and see any videos uploaded at www.fusiondance.co.uk

To book tickets contact the place website, on the phone or in person:

The Place: Robin Howard Dance Theatre

17 Dukes Road, London WC1H 9PY

Tickets and Information: 0207 121 1100

www.theplace.org.uk

8pm, Monday 18^th January 2010

Tickets between £5 and £15

2. Tango Classes Resume This Thursday!

I’m back teaching with Monica from this Thursday, the 7^th of January! Classes continue with a special focus on connection, close embrace, and useful steps for the dance floor! Hope you can make it…

7.30pm Beg

8.30pm Int

£10 or £15 for both classes.

Expressions Studios
Linton House
39-51 Highgate Road
London NW5 1RT

www.expressionsstudios.com

3. Women’s Technique Workshop with Jenny Sayer

Colgadas, Volcadas and Boleos

Level: All levels

When: Sunday 10th January 3-6 pm

Where: The Room, 33 Holcombe Rd, Tottenham Hale, N17 9AS

The workshop is £30 for 3hrs- To book email me at Jenny8639@gmail.com

“We will warm up with a series of postural exercises to develop correct alignment in the body, then spend the first part of the workshop working on women’s musicality. We will use the fundamental elements to explore stepping with different qualities and rhythms. We will include decoration drills and look at how we can incorporate adornments smoothly and confidently into our dancing. It is an excellent opportunity to analyse and drill your skills and ask about essential tango elements at a deeper level.

In the second part of this workshop the studio will be divided into four stations; giros, boleos, volcada’s and colgada’s . Each station will be explained and students will rotate through the different areas. This will give students the opportunity to focus on the skills they most need to work on.

This will be the last workshop before I leave for America.”

4. Spaces at Rock Bottoms THIS Weekend!

Tara and I are teaching 6 (SIX!) tango classes this weekend at Rockbottoms. If you want a chance to throw yourself into this dance, there are still a couple of spaces! You obviously also get lots of modern jive classes, late night freestyle, and a friendly bunch of slightly mad but mostly harmless people: www.rockbottoms.com

Jango Workshop Oxford, Tango Class Tonight, Royal Ballet School pic!

2009-11-26T12:01:50Z

Hey!

Just a quick message to show off about one thing, and remind you of two:

1. On Monday we taught at the Royal Ballet School, you can see a picture on their news page:

http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk/news.php?s=1

2. Today, Thursday we continue with our new Tango Class at Expressions Studio, Kentish Town. Linton House, 39-51 Highgate Road, NW5 1RT. 7.30pm Beg, 8.30 Int, £10 or £15 for both…

3. There are still spaces for the Jango Workshop in Oxford this Saturday! We have separate workshops for beginners and intermediates… you can get all the details on venue and booking here: www.jiveplus.co.uk

Hope to see you soon, and questions please get hold of me!

Amir

amir@jango.co.uk

07881 622 909

www.jango.co.uk

New Tango Class Thursdays + Other News!!!

2009-11-12T23:03:37Z

November 2009

Hello!

Long time no email! As many of you know, I started out this year in Buenos Aires up until May, and was in Paris for most of the summer rehearsing a piece that we’ll be presenting at The Place (http://www.theplace.org.uk/theatre) on the 18^th of January. Tickets are cheapest if you book well in advance, so put it in your diary and get them as soon as they are released. The work is a mix of contemporary dance, tango and other partner dance forms, so I’m sure you’ll find it very interesting. Its called ‘Entangled’, and I’m dancing with Tara, a contemporary dancer who lives in Paris, but some of you may have met at a couple of events t his year….

Apart from that, I’ve been lucky enough to be teaching Tango both in Paris and Spain, and next week at the Royal Ballet School! But what I really wanted to tell you about, and hope you can make it to, is:

New Weekly Tango Class Starts Next Thursday!

We’ve finally found the perfect venue to start up a new tango class, walking distance from Kentish Town Tube, spacious and with a perfect floor.

I’ll be teaching with Monica, a popular teacher and an excellent dancer. We’ll be focusing on a mix of detailed technical instruction, along with the all important connection and feeling of the dance.

Hope you can make it, starting this coming Thursday the 19^th of November!

7.30pm Beg

8.30pm Int

£10 or £15 for both classes.

Expressions Studios
Linton House
39-51 Highgate Road
London NW5 1RT

www.expressionsstudios.com

What About Jango?

So as many of you know, this year we’ve kept up some Jango classes at several weekenders and events, but there just haven’t been the weekends available for many workshops! But on the 28th of Nov we'll be in Oxford with Jive Plus, teaching both beg and int level Jango, so there is one last chance this year to get some great connection and footwork into your jive: jiveplus.com

As the name implies, Jango is a fusion of Modern Jive and Tango, so the best route for people interested is to learn some tango. I’ll be running the occasional workshop aimed at people with some of this basic knowledge to understand how the fusion works. But if you’re interested, the best thing is to come along to some tango classes, mine or anyone else’s!

You can check out classes at other weekenders at the website Calendar page, www.jango.co.uk

Amir

amir@jango.co.uk

07881 622 909