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July 18, 2006

NYC Tango Festival Premieres New Concert Performance

12 Tango Dancers, A 7-Piece Tango Orchestra, 1 Fantastic After-Party

I Tango, a contemporary Argentine tango show featuring the live orchestra Color Tango De Roberto Alvarez and a final night post-performance Milonga (Tango Party) inaugurating the newly renovated Judson Church. The biggest NYC tango celebration of the year.

Tango Dancers: Guillermina Quiroga, Natalia Hills, Junior Cervilla, Cesar Coelho, Rosa Collantes, Gloria & Eduardo Arquimbau, Francisco Forquera, Beverly Durand, Soldedad Rivero, Angel Garcia Clemente & Claudio Villagra.

New York City (PRWEB) July 17, 2006 -- The Argentine Tango Society, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Argentine culture, presents the New York premiere of I Tango, a show in which 12 acclaimed Argentine tango dancers perform with the legendary 7-piece Argentine tango orchestra Color Tango de Roberto Alvarez. I Tango will be at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts July 25th, 26th, and 27th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $38 and $48, with a limited number of $60 and $70 tickets available. The higher-priced tickets include admission to the post-performance Argentine Milonga (tango party), an evening of social tango with the orchestra and cast, at the Judson Memorial Church on July 27th (9pm to 3am).

Under the artistic direction of Alicia Cruzado (former choreographer and dancer in such shows as Tango Passion, Tango Mundo, and Tango Fusion, and resident tango teacher at the Argentine Counsulate), I Tango breaks from the clichés so often showcased in tango productions. “This show is not about tango’s history; it is about interpretations of tango,” Ms. Cruzado says. “It is a search for the essence of tango…for what is personal.”

The creative process for this piece is certainly as contemporary as it gets. Ms. Cruzado chose six tango couples (seen in such productions as Forever Tango, Tango Por Dos, Tango Argentino, and Carlos Saura’s film Tango) and gave a simple direction: ‘Take this music and challenge yourselves; move into places in tango that you don’t usually go...’ The dancers did much of this work in separate cities, separate countries, communicating with Ms. Cruzado through emails, videos, and occasional phone conversations before coming together and fusing the results in the creation of I Tango.

The live music of the Tango Orchestra Color Tango de Roberto Alvarez is also a rare treat for US audiences. Led by Roberto Alvarez, the bandoneonist of the late tango icon Osvaldo Pugliese, this Orchestra -- comprised of a piano, 2 violins, 2 bandeneons, a bass, and a keyboard -- displays a mastery of the complex musica tipica in style of Pugliese. Considered among the top three dance Orchestras in the world today, on their last trip to the US their shows were sold out.

The post-performance milonga, organized for the Argentine Tango Society by Daniel Carpi, the founder of NYC’s oldest public Argentine milonga (La Belle Epoque), inaugurates the return of dance to the newly renovated Judson Church on Washington Square Park. Breaking the usual barrier between audience and performers, the public is invited to be a part of this evening, to step inside the NY/Argentine tango world, and join the cast in the biggest tango celebration of the year. A beginner tango class is offered to get newcomers started, followed by an evening of guest performances and authentic social tango with the live Color Tango de Roberto Alvarez keeping the party going into the early morning hours. "When you step into the milonga you will feel you have stepped into Buenos Aires," says Joe Fish, president of The Argentine Tango Society.

***The show also features a special guest performance by The American Ballroom Theater Youth Performance Company -- perhaps best known as the kids from the movie “Mad Hot Ballroom.”

Tango Dancers: Guillermina Quiroga, Natalia Hills, Junior Cervilla, Cesar Coelho, Rosa Collantes, Gloria & Eduardo Arquimbau, Francisco Forquera, Beverly Durand, Soldedad Rivero, Angel Garcia Clemente & Claudio Villagra.

For additional information on I Tango or to schedule interviews, contact Daniel Carpi at 212-924-7077 or visit http://www.itangoshow.com.

NOTE: For listings the following information is suggested

The Argentine Tango Society Presents:
I TANGO
(Featuring 12 acclaimed dancers & Color Tango Orchestra)

July 25th, 26th, and 27th at 7:30 pm

At NYU - Skirball Center for The Performing Arts
566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Sq South)

Tickets: $38 and $48
Online: http://www.skirballcenter.org
Box office: 566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Sq South)
Ticket Central: 212-279-4200

Special: a limited number of $60 and $70 tickets available. The higher-priced tickets include admission to the post-performance Argentine Milonga (tango-party), an evening of social tango with the orchestra and cast. Judson Church (55 Washington Sq South) on July 27th (9pm to 3am)

Posted by joegrohens at July 18, 2006 12:26 AM

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