Only 2 couple places are available
The Story of the Tango Tangk
In June 2004, four years after we started Tango UK, Debbie and I organised our first weekend of workshops with visiting teachers at Bramshaw. The event was the solution to a need - our dance community needed better, more authentic training and inspiration than could be provided by local teachers. But in order to afford the costs of the fees and travel of international teachers, we needed more participants to share the costs and a bigger venue to accommodate the larger numbers.
So we planned a weekend event when people could travel from outside the area. The accommodation was solved with the discovery of Bramshaw village hall with its sprung maple floor and kitchen. The international teachers were engaged on the recommendations of other dancers and organisers. The participants had to be numerous enough to make the weekend affordable, but not so large that the teachers would be unable to spend time with every student. The weekend was intended to be a total immersion in all things Argentine tango, and so we called it a Tango Tank. To make the name unique (for search engines) we spelled the Tank with a "G" to make TANGO TANGK.
In 2023, nineteen years and 91 presentations of the event later, the Tango Tangk still follows a similar format. We have refined the schedule and now limit the number of student to 18 (max) couples to make a very effective learning environment.
The visiting teachers are all known to be highly experienced educators, beautifully expressive performers and gregarious socialisers with lots of energy. As they are the centre of our tango universe for the weekend, they need to be accessible and communicative, both on and off the dance floor. As organisers we know that we have found the "best of the best teaching talent" when you ask us to feature visiting couples again and their repeat appearances sell out within weeks of booking opening - even for events taking place up to 14 months later!
It was going to be called a Tango Tank - an event to immerse yourself in all things Argentine tango. Then we got 'arty' and played with using the Tang from Tango and replaced the O with a K to make Tangk.
On a technical note, back in 2004 when this all started "Tango Tangk" was a unique name that we knew would help us get found on Google searches.
Tangks take place at our venue in the New Forest. We have the use of two halls, one we have a lease on, the other we hire for events. Both have excellent floors.
If you are thinking of joining us and will be travelling a distance, here is a link to local B&Bs so you can plan staying over.
(1) With over 80 of these events under our belts, and a process of continually making refinements and improvements based on feedback from maestros and students we think the event now represents the vision we had of it back in 2004.
(2) Visiting maestros from around the world say it is unique event. They love working with the same small group over a weekend. It allows them to deliver dance content that is not possible with 90 minute sessions or larger groups.
Sample only - the detail/timings may change slightly on the day:
Saturday
10:15 • Doors open
10:30 - 12:00 • Workshop 1
12:00 - 12:15 • Coffee
12:15 - 13:15 • Practica and private lessons
13:15 - 14:15 • Lunch (Please BYO)
14:15 - 15:45 • Workshop 2
15:45 - 16:00 • Tea break
16:00 - 17:00 • Practica and private lessons
Time to chill and get ready for the evening milonga. Staying over? Here is a list of B&Bs
20:00 - midnight • Milonga with demo
Sunday
10:15 • Doors open
10:30 - 12:00 • Workshop 3
12:00 - 12:15 • Coffee
12:15 - 13:15 • Practica and private lessons
13:15 - 14:15 • Lunch (Please BYO)
14:15 - 15:45 • Workshop 4
15:45 - 16:00 • Tea break and farewells
Tango Tangks attract accomplished dancers as we have a reputation for providing a high level of technique. If we don't know dancers when they book, we find out what they feel they have achieved to make sure they can get the most out of a Tangk.
In the workshops, all dancers work with the partner they booked with. Maestros may suggest a few, short, changes of partner. These are optional.
The calibre of the teaching couples we bring to Bramshaw plus the small size of group means that maestros can spend 1:1 time all participants and provide individual tips and refinements regardless of level.
Dancers are free to change partners and share ideas and experience in the four sessions set aside for deliberate, focussed practice during the weekend.
The Tango Tangk limits bookings to 18 couples.
We have found over the years that this faciliates the best learning environment in our 150 square metre venue.
With this relatively small group, maestros can get to spend individual time with each couple during each of the four 90 minute sessions.
When Debbie and I were attending regular workshops in the early 2000s we were often disappointed by the lack of management of students levels and by classes spoilt by registering too many students. From the start we wanted Tango Tangks to offer dance level consideration and effective class sizes.
Booking is made online via PayPal using your credit card. We have used this method for 14 years and found it to be reliable. If you don't want to pay online, please email us or call or text us for an alternative method.
Tango Tangks cost £125pp. We reserve your places with a booking deposit of £25pp (£50). We engage maestros with associated travel and visa costs on the basis of these reservations so if you cancel we can only refund your deposit if a replacement can be found. The balance of £100pp (£200) is requested by email 30 days before the event date.
Steve is a visual artist and performer who engages students with a rich mix of visuals, games, exercises and live music examples.
He assumes no previous knowledge of music of any kind. Ideas are presented in plain english with no reference to musical theory. He delivers classes with a simple educational goal: "To dance with a musical connection we need to explore ways of moving our bodies as though we were silently playing them like a musical instrument".
He will help you replace functional, mechanical steps with gestured and expressionate dance movement that is inspired by music.
There are two workshop sessions of two hours each, one either side of lunch. We have a short break for refreshment etc half way through each session.
The days starts at 11am and finishes at 4pm.
No, the workshop assumes absolutely NO previous musical training. Steve believes that everyone is by nature musical. All we need is the vision and encouragement to set it free.
The dance is the music. It informs and inspires our movement. It provides a conduit for both dancers to creatively share improvised dance movement.
But Argentine tango is not the music of our lifetime. Musicality will improve your understanding of this genre from Argentina.
If you are able to hear that every tango, every orchestra is unique in it's style and sound, you will be able to make every dance unique in it's style and movement.
You will be working with a lifelong musician who can reveal the beauty of this music. Most dancers struggle with getting to know the music. Steve will fast-track this process so you can engage with this music with passion and understanding.
Booking is made online via PayPal using your credit card. We have used this method for 14 years and found it to be reliable.
If you don't want to pay online, please email us or call or text us for an alternative method.
The days costs £40 for 4 hours of group tuition plus a break for lunch (BYO).