A Tangupdate!

I'm not a big FB person, so sometimes forget to post what I've been doing, but you may have noticed I 'have recentlyl been forwarding many posts from the Montana Tango Festival. Well, ***drum roll please***, I am actually one of the founding members, and have been working behind the scenes all year! (All while simultaneously bringing new leaders to the Montana tango scene.)

I am the person behind the marketing campaign, I hope you've enjoyed the Montana cartoons and humor. I was really happy to promote the artists; we wanted to create this fun atmosphere, where we celebrated and learned from unique voices of tango, and so I was happy to get the word out about all of our amazing guests.

As a New York transplant, now a Montanan, I too was amazed at the friendliness of this festival, as I have been heartened and amazed at the amazing sense of community since I arrived here. Was so glad to share that over the festival, to give that back, to friends old and new.

Some festival highlights for me: Taking my Dad out to Potomac, introducing him to so many tango friends new and old, having him see what I do. Private lessons with Adam and Marina - getting amazing milonga steps, and Hugo and Celina - you showed me not to be scared to show my passion on stage. I highly recommend private lessons as a way to learn. You get immediate feedback on your body, your issues; it is so worth the money!

Also, just all the hustle and bustle behind the scenes, from last minute grocery runs,, to trips to the airport, to frantic website work -- it makes you feel part of something, and then seeing the tango friendships blossom made it all worth while.

I hosted the Mixer on Friday night - informal tango games helped our guests to meet new people, so that those cabaceos aren't so intimidating at the milongas.

Friday night, The native Blackfeet Grassdance by Teague was so cool, and his flute music hauntingly beautiful, it was such a blessing to see and hear, thank you for providing a window into the original Montana culture.

Saturday morning - Meet the DJ event - Success! I had invisioned this event as a musical panel with muffins, and I was pleased to learn so many new things about tango music from our panel of 7 (seven!) unique experts. The performances on Saturday night were thrilling.

But best of all, was embracing some great old friends, in my new hometown, Dan and Giselle it was so great to see you!

And of course, showing off some of the newest montana tangueros....