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
- SUNDAY April 28 | Workshop with Queer Tango San Diego https://www.instagram.com/queertangosd/
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.
Abrazo Queer Tango 