As of November 17 2007 we are engaged to be married. We met in July 2006 through our dear friend Peter Manianis (dance performer and instructor). Patricia was attending Peter's salsa class at the time. She also joined my tango class in August, after observing one session, and the tango bug got her very quickly. We started dating on November 13 of the same year. I felt incredibly lucky to run into this amazing lady -- classy, smart, gorgeous, caring, and all that combined with a talent for tango! What more could I have hoped for.
Early in 2007 Patricia became my show partner, and we delivered our first performance in February. More than 30 performances later our one-year anniversary as a couple was coming up. We decided to celebrate with our closest family members at the Copper Room, Harrison Hot Springs Resort. The Jones Boys were playing, food and service were excellent, the Maitre'd agreed to play an Argentine tango for us. And as it happens in tango, one thing led to another, as you will see in the following video...
A tango proposal Streaming video
Download [Quicktime format] (66MB)
Download [Windows Media format] (89MB)
Portal a Tango performed on October 23rd at the Latin Vox premiere presented by award-winning director Terry Costa from Mirateca Artist Management. This show took place at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre and marked our first collaboration with The Tryptich - a very promising local band. Their sound is very unique and rich, featuring distinctive vocals, powerful rhythms and Indie flavor to top it up.
We had a good time with The Tryptich preparing for the show. Jandrett Mendoza - vocalist and band leader, demonstrates versatility and unique musical interpretation in her singing. Jandrett also danced a tango sequence as an intro to one of the songs. We were amazed to see how quickly she picked up the tango moves we taught her. The whole band felt like a family during our work together: Luis Mirazo on guitar, Jeffrey Ingham on piano and violin, Tony Maygoli bass, Miguel Benavides on drums, and Luis Miguel Henao on percussion.
The show also featured local artists "Poema Flamenco" with Karen Michelle Pitkethly - flamenco dancer, Luis Gutierrez - musician and salsa dancer/instructor, Patrick Ernst - violinist, Peter Mole - guitarist, Alex Alegria - singer/musician, Alida Annicchiarico - singer, Alberto Gonzalez - salsa dancer.
Seeing the emergence of The Tryptch is even more exciting because they are local. We will see this group go a long way. Their interpretation of tango in their composition Tango Candango is unique and very catchy. According to Luis Mirazo we may well hear more tango tunes from The Tryptich. Also special thanks to Alex Alegria for providing rehearsal space, Hana Benveniste for photography, Lorita for video, Shai for exquisite charm, and The Cultch for hosting the event.
Thank you very much Bobbi and Patricia for your visit at our studio,and for your amazing performance at the Latin American Film Festival.
You are our favorite Tango dancers and we hope to have you in our radio show again soon.
-- Joaquin Ernesto director of Romantic tango Radio Show.
Live Stream -- ROMANTICTANGO -- 102.7 FM COOP RADIO -- Mondays 9am
Our one-year anniversary of collaboration with Mexico Vivo Dance Group was marked with this year's JDRF Fundraiser at Swaangard Stadium in June.
Working with Mexico Vivo has been a lot of fun. The members are enthusiastic and inspired. The music is so happy, it puts a smile on your face. The cosumes are fantastic, plentiful in colours, representing many of Mexico's regions and times in history.
Maria Hillmer, the group's director is a very fine lady with a passion for dance, music, and choreography. Her heart is in it, and her dedication inspires anyone who works with her. In showtimes, Maria is often accompanied by three gentlemen - her spouse Bob Hillmer (sound tech), and her sons Peter, and John (performers). The group works hard practicing several times a week to prepare to deliver excellence in their performances. The excited reactions and applause from our audiences have been the greatest reward we could get for all the practice times.
So far we have done more than 40 collaborative shows and are looking forward to many more.
VIVO MEXICO VIVO!
We completed our photo sessions with Hana Benveniste last weekend. It has been fun to work with her. Hana was reliable, easy going, flexible and accommodating. She has a particular interest in photographing dancers and demonstrates excellent talent for capturing motion. Hana was very creative in her suggestions and resourceful in synchronizing with the environment.
We would definitely use her services again, and would recommend her to others.
To see more of Hana Beveniste's photos, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/in_motion/
All good things eventually come to an end, and so the 5th VLAFF closed last night at Vancouver International Film Centre.
The festival opened on September 5 with the very charming Mexican film DRAMA/MEX. We had the pleasure to meet Producer and cast member Miriana Moro. She shared with us a very interesting detail about the cast -- most of them were friends from film school. The movie shows Acapulco in a different light. Instead of the glamorous sections and resorts, we get to see what seems like a teenager's everyday life. The story is engaging, humorous, and sociological study in itself.
The feature presentation on the closing night was from Argentina -- Luna de Avellaneda. This one is a gem. It opens with the scene of a milonga at a social club. One lady steals the milonga -- the music stops, and she holds everyone's attention. See the movie to find out how she does it. As the story progresses, we get to know the characters involved in the social club. Just then we find out that the very existence of the club is threatened by bureaucracy. Along with this problem a love story evolves, and we follow several characters into the drama of their lives. The entire experience is all too real and very touching.
We were honored to do two tango presentations at the gala after the movie. There we finally met the organizer Victor Martinez in person. Our dear and humorous Eduardo Cristo was there as well, sharing tips with Patricia as she was picking my pockets in one of our routines. We also met the very pleasant festival Coordinator Maria and chatted with her about fashion, belly dance, and dance shows. Joaquin Ernesto was there with exciting news about his Coop Radio show Romantic Tango. I should mention, there was a guy who didn't like my suspenders as well, and felt compelled to tell me about it -- LOUDLY. Well, I suppose that can happen when there's free wine. Everyone seemed to take the wine quite well.
Many thanks to all the organizers and associates of the festival. They have been very pleasant, and accommodating, and great fun to work with in the production of the commercial. Special thanks to Eduardo, Victor, Shawn, Dora, Miguel, Karin, the Billy Bishop Legion Branch, my drycleaner (for fixing my sweat-soaked suit after 5 hours of filming).
VLAFF Commercial with Portal a Tango- streaming video
It has truly been a pleasure to collaborate with Zelia in our gypsy tango project. As a result, she appeared as a guest performer in one of our recent shows.
We met Zelia at a dance show this summer. She had a bellydance performance scheduled shortly after our performance with the Mexico Vivo dance group. Zelia's oriental outfit and very pleasant personality were hard to miss. Her performance was very engaging throughout. She demonstrated an excellent ability to connect with the crowd. We talked about bellydance, tango, our experiences in doing dance shows. Eventually, our gypsy tango project came up and the idea of including bellydance in it. From there everything fell into place easily as all elements seemed to fit the gypsy concept quite naturally. Zelia has been greatto collaborate with . Without doubt, she is a very intuitive performer with much stage experience, enabling her to be creative, to improvise and adapt.
We are looking forward to more collaboration with Zelia in the future.
visit Fire Spirit to see Zelia -- www.firespirit.ca
Romantitango is Vancouver's only radio program dedicated to tango music, every Monday at 9 am on 102.7 fm Coop Radio. It was wonderful to be live witness to Joaquin's contribution to the growth of Argentine Tango in Vancouver. So tune in to hear the magical music and passionate history of tango.
We are back in business! after taking a break in January. It feels great to bring Argentine tango to Lower Mainland audiences again. Showtime is so rewarding -- the feeling of magic in the dancers' hearts, the "zone" in the dancers' minds, capturing an audience and holding their attention, the after-performance buzz, all contributing my ultimate satisfaction.
Our first show of this year was at the Monthly Dance of Vancouver's Dance Club International, organized by Bill McKinnon, and his partner Susan. The experience was very agreeable, right from the start. As I arrived early, at the Hastings/Willingdon RCV Legion, I was greeted by a very sweet lady, pointing out a finger-food buffet and accommodating my request for storage space for my props. Soon after, I met the organizers -- Bill and Susan, who made me wonder if people can possibly be any more welcoming, pleasant and accommodating than those two and their door lady. Before long, my show partner arrived -- the ever so elegant, glamorous and lively Lorie Embleton. Lorie felt at home as she had known Bill and Susan for some time, and was greeted by them as an old friend. We just had enough time to make ourselves comfortable at our reserved table, and get a good impression of the sprung dance-floor, and the big-band orchestra prepping their instruments before entertaining the ballroom and latin dance crowd with their rich tunes.
Before Lorie and I could get nervous or build up the "zone" we were announced, and, ready as always, we emerged with the tunes. We performed two Argentine tango routines, and inevitably, it always happens as showtime commences -- time just seems to stop in my mind. The world shrinks to a bubble, containing only the two of us, the music, the crowd around us, the embrace, and the dance. And another dance. And then it's all over; leaving us with a warm fuzzy feeling in our hearts, and reminding us that this is what makes all the practice time and sweat worth our while --
Live to Tango, Tango to Live!
The good time did not end with our performance at Bill's and Susan's Monthly Dance. Within approximately 15 minutes after the show, I was packed up and rushing out to make it to Marion Van Keken's Tango by the Sea -- open for class and milonga for the first time at the new location.
Admittedly, I had mixed feelings about Tango by the Sea leaving the idyllic and romantic setting of the former Crescent Beach location. The new venue was easy to find and there was lots of parking -- good start. From there it only got better, beyond expectations, in fact. The interior was quite adorable. The colors are warm and comforting. There is a mirror covering the full length of one wall, adding depth to the space. Everyone was engaged in either dancing or socializing, and the atmosphere was very relaxed and pleasing. This definitely is a place you want to come back to, and in the meantime, it leaves a smile on your face when you think about it.
Good choice, Marion, and thank you for this wonderful venue!
Tango by the Sea at new location (originally Posted 1/25/2007)
It is my pleasure to announce that Tango by the Sea is offering classes in a new location close to King George Hwy and 32 Avenue (www.tangobythesea.com). Drop-in tango classes start Saturday, February 3, 2007, at 7:30pm, followed by a milonga at 9pm. Now students can take Saturday classes at Tango by the Sea, and practice between classes at Portal a Tango on Tuesdays.
Tango by the Sea was launched by Marion Van Keken in the Fall of 2006. Now, Victor Muniak, with his partner Negar, will instruct in the new location. In my experience, over the last two years, Victor is an excellent teacher -- smooth and eloquent. He ensures sessions remain focused and fun at the same time. Patricia and I attended a session on January 24 and had a great time with everyone there. It is a delight to see this location contribute the growth of Argentine Tango in White Rock, Delta, Surrey, and Langley.
Patricia plans to attend the February 3 class. I have a performance scheduled that evening, but plan to join you all for the milonga at 9pm.
Looking forward to spending more tango time with you all.
