The Yale Tango Fest is offered
with support from the Yale Graduate and
Professional Student Senate and the
Office of Student Life at the McDougal Center
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Frequently asked questions
How
do I get into Yale?
By
studying hard and
not getting side-tracked by tango!
Hehehe just kidding.
The first two years our Tango Fest was fully booked weeks ahead, and a
lot of
students were unable to get a spot. We were very sorry about that. So
now we make sure students
get early notice of registration so they can sign up at the same time
as the Yale students. You'll still want to be quick! If you are a
student (grad, undergrad, postdoc, resident, or even recently
graduated), please drop us an email from your .edu address to letmeknow
@ yaletangofest . com, and we will send you an advance invitation. If
you were here last year and your email hasn't changed, there is no need
to do this, because we already know where to find you!
Who
is coming?
Look
here.
Last year we had students from all these schools, and we expect it will
be similar this year: Yale, MIT, Brandeis, Harvard,
Columbia,
Princeton, UPenn, Penn State, Dartmouth, Ohio State, UC San Diego,
Emory, Northeastern, University of Washington (Seattle), Cornell,
Lehigh, SCSU,
New England
Conservatory, U Mass, Wellesley, Olin, Rutgers, Johns Hopkins, U of
Minnesota, Wayne State, Worcester Polytech, Universite de Montreal,
McGill, George Washington U in DC, USAF Academy, and others.
If your
school is not mentioned and
you plan to come, let us know! We'll update it.
I am
not a college student.
Can I participate?
Of
course! It's true
that the home crowd consists of mostly students and a lot of students
are coming from other schools, and therefore there will be a lot of
young people
there. If that's OK with you, come join the fun.
Which
classes should I take?
We
offer classes
at the pre-intermediate, intermediate, intermediate-advanced and really
advanced level. All the classes are really interesting and challenging.
We think it is important that you take classes at your own level, this
way you are more likely to learn something that you will be able to use
at the milonga.
For the pre-intermediate
classes,
you need to already know this: walking to the music, fluent
ochos,
cross in parellel and crossed feet, left turns, ocho cortado, pausing
to the music, a comfortable embrace open or close or both, a clear lead
or a smooth follow. If you don't know this, please learn it before you
come.
For the intermediate
classes,
you need to know this: everything in the previous list, plus: right
turns, one kind of boleo, one kind of gancho and be familiar
with
common sacadas. It is possible that you have been taught a gancho or
sacada but don't master everything listed for the
pre-intermediate
level, in this case you belong in the pre-intermediate level.
For the intermediate-advanced
classes,
you need to know everything in the previous lists, plus: fluent
ganchos, whipping boleos, fast flowing turns in either direction, and
be passingly familiar with off-axis movements.
In the really
advanced level classes,
no actual moves will be taught. Instead, teachers will focus on
concepts that will help you implement what you already know in new
ways. Concepts may include advanced musicality, complex sequences,
analytical tools for creating moves, improvisation, etc.
I would love to sign up but I
can't afford a hotel, can I crash on somebody's couch?
Probably.
As soon as
registration opens, we will also have a housing request form for
students. For more details, click on Lodging.
The
least expensive hotel is about $50 per night. There will be a bulletin
board where you can find a hotel roommate.
What's
the dress code at the
milongas?
Informal!
Wear
anything you like.
Will
there be traditional
tango and alternative music at the milongas?
Yes!
Please check out the schedule.
I
don't know anybody there,
how will I meet people?
We
have thought of
everything! Our milongas will be hosted by Yale Tango Hosts, easily
recognized, who know or will make it their business to know all the
participants. Look for one of our hosts and introduce yourself. We will
introduce you to your new friends. Simple, but brilliant!
Also,
to meet the
other participants, be sure to sign up for the group lunch on
Saturday.
I am
a total beginner. Can I
still participate?
A
festival is
organized for people who already know how to dance and can handle a
crowded dance floor and take classes at the levels offered (see
schedule for details).
However, if you are a Yale
graduate or professional student, the Yale Graduate and
Professional Student Sentate will sponsor, on this special occasion, a
FREE total beginners class for you (and your significant other). No
partner needed, no experience needed. Following the class there will be
an opportunity to practice with other people like yourself. We hope
you'll stick around and become part of our community! Please go
to our registration page
for more
information and to sign up.
If you are a total beginner but not a Yale
graduate or professional student, please check here
for
opportunities to learn tango, or contact your local tango school for
lessons.
I am
fairly new to tango and I
have not been to many milongas. Can I go to the milongas?
Yes!
Early in the
evening we will play
easy music. Also, please come to all the practicas! During that time
you will have an
opportunity to practice in a relaxed environment without stressing too
much about milonga conventions such as staying in the line of dance at
all times. You'll meet other beginners like
yourself and they will be delighted to practice their steps with you.
As soon as you feel comfortable negotiating the traffic of a crowded
dance floor, no matter how basic your steps are, please join us on the
milonga floor!
Please
read this
manual on tango manners for details on how
to invite or
decline, how long to dance with people, and the traffic rules of the
milonga environment.
What
is the Yale Tango Club?
The
Yale Tango Club
is a student club at Yale University that was started in January 2003.
Please check our website. We have a
charming old ballroom on
campus, where we hold our weekly practilonga and regular classes with
visiting instructors and our own teachers. In the summer we dance
outdoors at several beautiful old campus locations. All our teachers
and DJs
are listed
on our website. We have about 100
members. The vast majority of
our people are students and young academics, from Yale and neighboring
institutions, and their friends from the region. Our members are from
dozens of countries across the six continents. We are known in the
region for being a fun young crowd with a super friendly attitude. But
don't take our word for it. Come dance with us and see for yourself!
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