Month: April 2024

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Fundraiser for Queer Tango in Mexico City – help grow world-wide queer tango!

Calling on our local and world-wide queer tango community —

Fundraiser for Tango disidente, tango entre nosotrax!

My name is Alex Pacheco. For the past ten years I have been creating spaces for queer people to access tango in my hometown of Mexico City, and have been working to build a local queer tango community through my work as a teacher and organizer of Tango disidente, tango entre nosotraxs. 

In these ten years, I’ve found that the obstacles to my work are not only those stemming directly from the marginalization of LGBTQ people—obstacles like bodily disconnection, being unable to see ourselves in couples dances because of their heteronormative roles, and so on. Rather, one of the biggest obstacles we face, which is a consequence of these, is that it is hard for us as a new community to develop and grow our dance level. The possibility of enjoying tango, and the decision to invest time and effort into tango, are enabled by a certain level of embodied experience and comfort in movement. Furthermore, the LGBTQ community (and the trans community in particular) is notoriously disadvantaged in education and employment, which makes for limited economic means. Thus we have almost no chance of taking tango lessons with high-level teachers.

My workshops have always been free or donation-based (“cooperación voluntaria no obligatoria”), which helps more people connect with tango through my spaces. However, they then cannot afford to go deeper in their training. Sometimes this leads to disappointment, and even to giving up on tango. 

This is why I want to put together a Queer Tango Boot Camp, an event for queer people to learn or improve our dance.  The idea is to boost the queer tango community in Mexico City by allowing it to grow and strengthen through intensive work with high level teachers. We will do this by setting up 3 months of classes with teachers that are allies, but, as professionals, need to be paid. 

We already have a physical space where we can hold the classes without paying rent, but we will need funding in order to make them free or accessible for queer and trans people. We also need to make some improvements to the space so it can better accommodate the Boot Camp, and so will designate some of our funding to these improvements. In brief, the proposal is as follows:

Queer Tango Boot Camp. June-August in Mexico City

30 queer students divided into 2 groups: 1. Beginners/Intermediates 2. Intermediates/Advanced.

Each group has 2 classes a week for 3 months with 3 high-level teachers and 1 month of work with each teacher for each group. We will also offer 3 Private lessons and consultations available for students as needed. 

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Abrazo Queer Tango is donating all of the income from Abrazo, the queer milonga on April 20th at the Dome to Alex and Tango disidente, tango entre nosotraxs. We invite you dear kindred to join us in supporting Alex’s work and world wide queer tango.  Please Join us on Saturday, 5:30-10 pm. For those who can’t can’t attend, consider a direct donation:

Venmo: abrazo-tango (Karen Curtis)

Paypal: abrazoqueertango@gmail.com

Zelle: abrazoqueertango@gmail.com

Note DONATION in comment section. Everything goes to Alex, https://www.instagram.com/ale.pchc/

Long Live Tango disidente, tango entre nosotrax in Mexico City

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Queer Tango with Alex Pacheco (Mexico City)

We are over the moon to welcome Alex Pacheco from Mexico City for a weekend of workshops, discussions, classes, and a milonga bash over at Dome. 

Alex is a uniquely gifted teacher, organizer, and dancer, a deep and thoughtful thinker, who also writes and lectures about queer tango. This is their first time teaching in the USA, working with queer tango communities in DC, NYC, Miami, LA, San Diego, and very soon coming to us here in the SF Bay Area.

Please note that on Saturday we have an extended workshop before the milonga, starting at 5:30 pm! Details below.

Alex Pacheco at Abrazo Queer Tango, Saturday and Sunday April 20 – 21

MEET OUR TEACHER

Alex Pacheco has been dancing social tango since 2006. For more than 10 years, they have been organizing workshops and meeting spaces between women, dissidents, queer and trans dancers through the practice of queer and feminist tango. They are part of El Desborde collective; as well as the group Tango disidente, tango entre nosotraxs, in which they serve as teacher for learning both roles. They are interested in exploring tango as a tool for building networks and community fabrics that can be spaces for social transformation.

Attached is Alex’s essay on creating queer tango community that appeared in a queer tango journal in England. It’s a great read. 

You can listen to Alex’s interview with Humans of Tango here: 

https://www.humansoftango.com/e/embracing-to-change-the-world-with-alex-pacheco-castillo

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY April 20th 

ABRAZO, THE QUEER MILONGA with Alex Pacheco at the DOME

The Dome, 951 62nd St, Oakland

5:30 – 7:00 pm Special Workshop with Alex Pacheco | Dialogue 

(Please note the early start time! Check in at 5:15.)

7:00 pm – 10:00 PM Abrazo, the queer milonga w/ DJ Nico, making his return to Abrazo!

8:30 Raffle + birthday vals

Special Workshop: Dialogue

Drawing on their collective work in Mexico, Alex will guide us through a workshop on dialogue, a practice central to tango and to life. We will dance, move, and talk together, deepening our ability to move together in a fluid dance, connected to ourselves and our partners. Great for dancers in both roles, queer dancers, and anyone looking to practice embodied dialogue. Dancers at all levels are welcome to attend, with or without a partner. 

This workshop received high praise from NYC queer tango dancers, and we are excited that Alex can offer it here as well. 

“I really believe that every dancer should take a class with Alex Pacheco at least once. Alex is an extraordinary social dancer and teacher, someone I am delighted to learn from. They are thoughtful and kind and extremely dedicated to creating spaces for queer belonging. The depth of their knowledge is incredible, and they are very generous about sharing that knowledge. Whether you have been dancing for a day or for twenty years, you will leave Alex’s classes feeling rejuvenated, connected and excited about queer tango.” – Karen Johnson after the NYC workshops. 

COST SATURDAY

Pre-milonga 1.5 hour Workshop + milonga $25-35, honor system sliding scale* ($15 students w/ ID)

Milonga, free w/ the workshop or $15-35 ($10 Students w/ ID)

All profit from this event goes to Tango disidente, tango entre nosotraxs, in Mexico City. 

SUNDAY April 21st

Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley

The earth can hold us. Finding comfort through the unloading of weight.

This workshop, presented in two parts, aims to provide elements that help us enjoy our movement more, taking care of our body and building better conditions for the development of our dance. We will focus on the importance of articulated movement and the flexible stability of the embrace.

Concepts will build, but classes can be taken separately. 

3:30 – 4:30 pm The earth can hold us, Part 1. Open to dancers of all levels

4:30 – 5:30 pm Practica

5:30 – 6:30 pm The earth can hold us, Part 2. Intermediate level, requires pre-approval. 

COST SUNDAY

$15-25 honor system sliding scale per class* ($10 Students w/ ID)

$5 practica, or free with any class 

*Honor system sliding scale: We ask that higher income folks pay a higher rate so that dancers who need it can come for a more affordable rate. Thank you!

PRIVATE LESSONS

Alex is giving a limited number of lessons during their time in the Bay Area, April 17-24. Contact them for details. Email: tango.para.todes@gmail.com IG: @ale.pchc

REGISTRATION

Not required. You can pay at the door or register in advance to reserve a spot. 

Sunday classes limited to 22.

Venmo: abrazo-tango (Karen Curtis) 

Paypal: abrazoqueertango@gmail.com 

Zelle: abrazoqueertango@gmail.com  

Or cash, check at the door

No refunds or exchanges

Note what you are paying for in the comment section

DONATIONS

Can’t attend an event but want to donate to Tango disidente, tango entre nosotraxs, Light up our venmo or paypal, write ALEX in the comment section. Thank you for supporting Alex’s work. 

COVID PRECAUTIONS

Keeping up to date on your Vax + booster is highly recommended

Mask, recommended, but optional

Excellent ventilation, Limited size events

If you’re not feeling 100% well, please stay home – let’s keep each other safe. 

OTHER opportunities to work work with Alex on the West Coast:

  • FRIDAY April 26 | Brava Milonga Queer in LA, Special pre-milonga workshop

https://www.instagram.com/tangoqueerla

THANK YOU It is the collective energy, labor and love of queer tango communities across the USA that has made this time with Alex, in multiple cities, possible. Deep bow of gratitude to all the magic makers.

Everything is possible in queer tango.

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Queer Tango in Spring!

Dear dancers, 

  1. Beginner and Intermediate Queer Tango Classes with a medley of awesome teachers, in order: Astrid Weiske (Berlin), Jonas & Xiaomin (Bay Area), Alex Pacheco (Mexico City), Mira Barakat (Bay Area)
  2. Abrazo, the queer milonga, our Spring Bash at the Dome with Alex Pacheco, teaching for the first time in the USA

If you’d like to come to any event for free, sign up for an hour of work-trade: abrazoqueertango@gmail.com

LOCATION 

  1. Everything except our Spring Bash Queer Milonga: Finnish Hall | 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley, CA 94702 
  1. Spring Bash Queer Milonga: The Dome |  951 62nd St, Oakland, CA 94608 

🎉APRIL BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE QUEER TANGO CLASSES 

We give a discount for the series, but you are free to take individual classes – walk-ins welcome if there is room in the class, and there generally is! 

TEACHER SCHEDULE for both classes

April 7 Astrid Weiske

April 14  Jonas & Xiaomin

April 21 Alex Pacheco

April 28 Mira Barakat

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

3:15-3:30 pm Check-in

3:30-4:30 pm Beginner class

4:30-5:30 pm Practica 

5:30-6:30 pm Intermediate class (Requires pre-approval)

Classes limited to 22 dancers

DJ SCHEDULE

April 7 Frida

April 14 Jonas

April 21 Andrés

April 28 Douglas

COST

Honor system sliding scale*

$15-25 per class, includes practica 

$10 Students with ID

$5 Practica, free with any class

SERIES DISCOUNTS

4-Week Beginner or Intermediate Series 

$55-95 honor system sliding scale* per series, $30 students with ID

Honor system sliding scale: We ask that higher income folks pay a higher rate so that folks with less income and students can attend at a lower rate. Thank you!!

Walk-ins welcome all month! 

REGISTRATION Venmo, paypal, Zelle: info below. Cash, check at the door.

No refund or exchanges

🌈 ABRAZO, THE QUEER MILONGA our Spring Bash at the Dome! 

The Dome is a beautiful art house, dance space with great ventilation – the perfect place for a Spring Bash! 

SATURDAY, April 20th

6:00-7:00 pm all-levels class with Alex Pacheco from Mexico City. 

We will send out a separate email about Alex and their fantastic work organizing queer tango in Mexico soon! Our Spring Bash is a fundraiser for their organization, Tango Entre Nosotraxs, that serves the queer, trans and non-binary community in Mexico City. Alex will also be working with Queer Tango communities in DC, NYC, Miami and San Diego during their month-llong tour in the USA. 

7:00-10:00 pm DJ TBA

8:30 pm Birthday Vals + Raffle with some cool prices

Chacarera break later in the evening 

COST

$15-35 Fundraiser Sliding Scale (Students with ID $10)

100% of what we raise will go to Tango Entre Nosotraxs in Mexico City.

Thanks so much for supporting Abrazo Queer Tango. Our honor system sliding scale allows us to support Alex’s work and offer discounts to students and dancers who need it while paying teachers, DJs and our rent. 

🌈 REGISTRATION FOR ALL EVENTS

Registration is not required for Abrazo events and you can pay at the door. 

Please note what you are paying for in the comment section, if you register.

Venmo: abrazo-tango (Karen Curtis) (No fee for us)

Paypal: abrazoqueertango@gmail.com (We pay a fee)

No Refunds or Exchanges 

If you would like to come to an event for free,  sign up for an hour of work trade at abrazoqueertango@gmail.com!

Please contact Alex Pacheco directly to arrange for a private lesson. They are here 4/15-4/22. 

tango.para.todes@gmail.com

DONATIONS Abrazo Queer Tango is a volunteer run organization and all donations are accepted and appreciated and go towards keeping our events running and affordable. In April, 100% of the donations collected will go to Tango Entre Nosotraxs in Mexico City.

WORK TRADE is available, fun and very much appreciated – consider becoming a Work-Trade Wonder, even a half an hour of your time goes a long way. Contact us at abrazoqueertango@gmail.com!

  COVID PRECAUTIONS

  • Keeping up to date on your Vax + booster is highly recommended
  • Mask, recommended, but optional
  • Excellent ventilation: all windows open, fans out. The air quality, and we’ve measured it, is great at the Finnish Hall. 
  • Limited size events
  • If you’re not feeling 100% well, please stay home – let’s keep each other safe. We will be here when you’re feeling good.

Please Read: Some masked dancers may prefer to dance only with folks in a mask. We ask that everyone be kind and generous to each other and respect everyone’s choices regarding masking – you can’t know everyone’s health circumstance. A good question could be, if you are interested in dancing with someone in a mask, “Hey, is it better for you if I put a mask on?” Let’s commit to being considerate and patient with each other as we make this switch. Thank you.

Also, these precautions may change as needed. 

📣 MORE QUEER TANGO NEWS 

Dance Dance Dance! We encourage you to check out all the great queer tango events available to you! We gather queer tango news, local, across the US and abroad, over here.

Okay, these two are so great that we are repeating them, as they are right around the corner and there is still plenty of time to book a flight! 

April 11-14, 2024 Conexion, the Miami Queer Tango Festival  

This festival features queer artists from around the world, including Ezgi Turmuş (Turkey) and Alex Pacheco (Mexico) both teaching for the first time in the USA, and our local gem Mira Barakat. Four days of classes and discussions, and queer milongas with performances every night. More info and registration at https://miamiqueertangofestival.com/  There is quite a nice west coast queer tango contingent going – join us!

May 31-June 2nd 2024 Queer Tango Camp

La Nuestra Tango (Phi Lee and Karen Johnson) and Queer Tango Boston invite you to our first Queer Tango Camp, May 31 – June 2 at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, MA. Tango and movement workshops, discussions, and milongas with our international DJ lineup. All queer instructors, DJs and organizers. Sliding Scale, $320 – $380. Limited need-based scholarships are available. More info and registration at lanuestratango.com.  A queer tango camp, I mean really, what kind of crazy fun will this be! 

IT TAKES A VILLAGE 

…And a lot of good music to keep a queer tango community dancing. This month, we want to say thank you to Douglas Daven for his beautiful music – for the past two years, he’s been a recurring DJ at Abrazo, lighting up our events – and while our DJs get paid, it’s not a hefty sum by any means. DJing at Abrazo is more a labor of love, and dear Douglas puts so much love, time, talent and care into his music – it’s a real gift to have him with us. Douglas has also helped run our events in many different ways over the years. Douglas, I’m so glad you saw that queer tango flier in a laundromat and decided to light up the Bay Area queer tango community. Thank you! 

Wherever you are in the world, wishing you the joy of dancing in queer community.