For dancers seeking depth: work on movement technique, inner connection, musicality and creative expression with Agustina Berenstein, international tango educator with over 26 years of experience.
What to expect:
โข Deep technical work โข Musicality and creativity โข Connection from within โข Playful tools to build your unique expression
For both roles โ no partner needed
Coming with a partner is encouraged, but not required.
If youโre attending solo, please let me know so I can ensure role balance.
What to bring: โข Comfortable clothes โข Tango shoes AND socks or flat shoes for warm-ups โข A curious mind and open body!
Public transport access: Travancore venue is accessible via: โข Tram 59 (stop: Flemington Rd/Mt Alexander Rd) โข Train to Newmarket Station (10-min walk) โข Multiple bus lines
WS 5 FLUIDITY | WS 6 POWER, 3 – 4.30 pm Mastering Cross-System & Continuous Motion. We will dive into fluid dynamics for Vals, focusing on the complexity of the cross-system and how to master its mechanics for seamless transitions. Youโll learn how to create continuous movement, combining different elements to achieve a smooth and flowing dance.
Using Spiral Movements & Axis Control: Spiral movements are one of my specialties, and in this section, we will focus on developing strength and precision in both on-axis and off-axis movement. Youโll gain a deeper understanding of how to control spirals, use energy efficiently, and enhance the expressiveness of your tango.Join this intensive session to refine your technique, expand your movement possibilities, and experience a whole new level of dynamic control in your dancing!ย
Tango offers an endless vocabulary of movements, but true mastery lies in how we connect them. This workshop focuses on the art of seamless transitionsโhow to combine structures with fluidity, coherence, and creative expression. Weโll explore how to break down and reassemble familiar sequences, adapt them to the space, and develop greater improvisational freedom while maintaining clarity in the lead and response. Through this process, youโll gain a deeper understanding of structure, making your dance more dynamic, connected, and expressive.
Beyond just following the beat, tango invites us to explore the rich textures and nuances of its music. In this final workshop, weโll focus on interpreting syncopations, double-time accents, and rhythmic variations according to different orchestras. Youโll learn how to adjust your movement quality, timing, and energy to match the emotional depth of each piece, refining your ability to play with contrast and subtlety. By deepening your sensitivity to musical phrasing, youโll bring more expressiveness, sophistication, and spontaneity to your dance.
WS 1 TANGUEDAD – 3 to 4.30 pm | WS 2 ARRASTRE Y CADENCIA 4.30 – 6pm
Discover how to feel at home in your body while dancing tango. This workshop focuses on refining movement quality, improving body awareness, and mastering transitions with ease. Through guided exercises, youโll develop a deeper connection between your body and the music, allowing you to move with greater confidence, adaptability, and expression on the dance floor. Weโll explore how posture, grounding, and breath influence your movement, helping you achieve a more natural and effortless dance. By integrating body mechanics with musicality, youโll enhance your ability to navigate the dance floor fluidly and with assurance.
To deepen our understanding of tangoโs expressive language, we will explore two fundamental concepts: arrastre (drag) and cadencia (cadence). These elements shape the texture and musicality of the dance, influencing both movement quality and connection. Weโll work on how to incorporate arrastre and cadencia with precision and sensitivity, adapting them to different orchestras and rhythmic structures. Through focused exercises, weโll refine the ability to play with weight, suspension, and groundedness, enhancing both musical interpretation and the fluidity of movement on the dance floor.
Delve into the exploration of utilizing each other’s space, exchanging spatial positions, and generating and invading space organically. We’ll focus on understanding the dynamics of movement and how to interact with our partner’s space in creative and unexpected ways. Using tangueroโs elements like sacadas, enganches or voleos we are going to break paradigms about the execution of them according to traditional roles.ย
Generating Movement from Stillness: The Art of Surprise in Tango. Tango is not just about continuous motionโitโs also about the power of stillness and how movement emerges from it. In this workshop, we will explore how to generate fluid and dynamic movements from stationary positions, developing precision, control, and expressiveness. A special focus will be on voleo sorpresivoโunexpected, yet organic kicks that add texture and playfulness to the dance. Weโll work on how to prepare, execute, and seamlessly integrate these movements while maintaining balance, connection, and musicality. By mastering the contrast between stillness and sudden action, youโll bring a new level of depth and excitement to your dance
This reminds us of attending milongas in Buenos Aires, where many events donโt start until late in the evening.
After spending the weekend dancing your heart out at MTW, come and join us for the last few tandas with your new or ongoing friends. Or if you prefer, feel free to just come in for a chat and relax.
Your DJ for the night will be DJ Wendy from Queensland.
We are thrilled to be welcoming internationally renowned tango maestros Rodrigo Palacios and Agustina Berenstein back to Melbourne in February 2023.
Rodrigo and Agustina will be conducting a series of workshops on the weekend of 25 and 26 February 2023 and performing at our milonga on the evening of Saturday 25 February 2023. They will also be limited opportunities for private lessons on the days immediately before and after this weekend.
Workshops
The Embrace: availability for a more complete and grounded dance, Saturday 25 February, 1-2:30 pm.
We strongly encourage you to book as a couple for workshops so as to ensure equal numbers of leaders and followers.ย If you wish to take any of the workshops as a single leader or follower without a partner, please contact us before booking so that we can try to ensure that a person is available in the opposite role.ย If you book a ticket as a single leader or follower, we cannot promise that you will have a partner in the workshops as many people do not rotate.
Milonga
On the evening of Saturday 25 February, we will hold a special milonga, featuring a performance from Rodrigo & Agustina, our famous supper, and music for your dancing pleasure curated by DJ Alex. The milonga will start at 8 pm and finish at 11:30 pm.
Venue
All workshops and the milonga will be held at our usual venue, South Yarra Baptist Church Hall, 12 Surrey Road South Yarra.
Pricing & Payment
A weekend pass which allows entry into all four workshops and the milonga is $220 per person. To book a weekend pass, go to Rodrigo & Agustina Weekend Pass
The cost of a single workshop is $55 per person per workshop To purchase tickets to individual workshops, click on the links below:
Entry to the milonga will be $35 if booked and paid for in advance (advance bookings close at 8 pm on 24 February 2023) or $40 at the door. To purchase a ticket to the milonga, click onto Milonga Ticket
