Buenos Aires Blues: Tango*Blues*Dance. Aug 7-9. Knoxville, TN
FAQ
What does the dancing look like?
Ultimately, it depends on who's dancing. Both blues and tango are improvisational dances, which means that the personality of the individual dancers does a lot to determine the dance. They're dances based on what the dancers hear in the music. Of course, having experience with both dances expands the options for expression. Check out the videos on the video page.
Where will the event be held?
All classes and dances will be at:
Flynn Dance Center
828 Tulip Ave
Knoxville, TN 37921
This is an alcohol-free dance venue; we apologize for any inconvenience. For directions see the venue page.
Will the event be gender-balanced?
The organizers strongly believe that classes and dances are more fun for everyone when everyone has a chance to dance. While we're not requiring people to register with a partner, we are keeping a close eye on the registration process. If it becomes necessary, we will cap registration for one gender in order to ensure nearly equal numbers of leads and follows. Ladies, you can save the organizers a lot of heartache by encouraging leads to sign up early.
I'm new to [name of dance] - will I have any trouble?
It shouldn't be, since we're counting on most folks being new to one dance or the other. One of the hardest things about learning a new dance is that you're dancing with other beginners (who also don't understand how it works). Last year, we asked everyone to take all of the classes - this meant that new tangueros were practicing things with experienced tangueros, and the same for new bluesers. That said, we highly recommend that you have experience in at least one of the dances- learning one new dance, and learning to switch between the two dances, is already quite a plate full!
Where can I stay during the event?
Free housing with local dancers will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Last year we were able to house everyone who requested it, but it was fairly tight. For those who prefer it, check out this hotel:
Holiday Inn (on I-40, 5 miles west of Flynn Dance Center)
1315 Kirby Rd, Knoxville, TN
(865) 584-3911
You can request housing when you register. Once you've done that, we'll email you to get all the details.
I'm short on cash - is there any chance of volunteering?
Yes, we do need volunteers, and have a limited number of slots available. We try to keep the prices down, but we know that money is especially tight this year - if you'd really like to come, and it's money that's holding you back, email us to discuss the possibility of volunteering. There are things to do before, during, and after the event. If you're serious about attending, we're serious about finding a way for you to do so. Email us at buenosairesbluesdance at the gmail.
Who's organizing this, anyway?
Buenos Aires Blues is brought to you by Dan Parshall and Mike the Girl.
Dan Parshall organized the original Buenos Aires Blues in 2007. He's been dancing swing/blues for over 10 years, and got hooked on tango a couple of years ago. He discovered that being "bilingual" expanded his dancing in ways he'd never imagined, especially when dancing with other bilinguals (most notably, Mike Legett). He desperately wanted to find other bilinguals to really explore the possibilities. The logical solution, of course, was to throw a dance weekend that taught tango to bluesers, and vice-versa. In case you couldn't tell, he suffers from severe over-commitment disorder. He organizes dance events, DJs, plays saxophone, caves, is improving his house, and is working on a PhD in Physics. He's incredibly grateful to Mike for being willing to help with the event this year, because he simply wouldn't have time on his own.
Mike Legett loves to dance. Specifically, she wants someone to hold her and walk around the room. She loves the passion of vernacular dances, and the freedom of improvisationally based dances. She loves the desperation and depth of emotion that music can reach. So when people ask her which is her favorite- blues or tango- she just has to laugh. She enjoys both dances individually, and enjoys encorporating elements of one into the other, or simply dancing, without bothering to label as one, the other, or both.
As an organizer, Mike believes in events that challenge, that offer something unique, that educate, and that show everyone a good time. She loves the joy of creating an event, and hates details, which is why she's terrifically grateful to Dan and to her staff of volunteers for making the event work. Her other annual baby is Enter the Blues, in Atlanta, GA.
For more information, check out her website: MiketheGirl.com