Portland TangoFest XIII Wed-Mon, Oct 7-12, 2009

(TangoFest XIV scheduled Wed-Mon Oct 6-11, 2010)

Click here to complete a TangoFest 09 Evaluation Survey

Click here to view results of the TangoFest 09 Evaluation Survey

Click here for complete [Festival Index] with links to prices & registration, maps, schedule, lodging info etc.Portland Skyline

Mission:

Spend an intense/passionate/romantic fourdays together in "tango friendly" Portland with friends and your favorite instructors, DJ's, musicians and tango partners learning, dancing, schmoozing, eating, and hanging out at the unique Portland ballrooms, coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. Last year 600-700 tangueros attended TangoFest making it and the Portland February ValenTango two of the most popular and successful tango events in North America. (For more information about the city, visit City of Portland Web Site.)

Instructors (listed top to bottom): [back to Index]TangoFest 2008 Instructors

Orchestra & DJs: [back to Index]

New this Year: [back to Index]

  • 2 Musicians's Classes (Thu & Fri) taught by Korey Ireland: learn classic tango tunes, playing technique and survival skills for tango jamming. Open to all musicians.
  • 1 Bandoneon Master Class taught by Ben Bogart (Fri): bring your bando, play, ask questions, and have Ben critique your technique. Open to everyone.
  • 1 Evening Tango Jam (Thu): facilitated by Korey and Homer and open to all musicians.
  • 1 Combined Musicians & Dancers Class (Sun) taught by Korey: explore the inner workings of tango music as a source of insight and inspiration.
  • 1 Documentary Film (shown Thu and Sun): the History of Tango Dance—the Golden Years, 1940-60. Produced by Gustavo Benzecry Sabá.

Summary of Festival Features: [back to Index]

  • 45 Different classes ranging from absolute beginners to advanced couples and for dancers and musicians.
  • 2 Supervised practicas with instructors available for individual questions and help.
  • 1 Practica Jam Session with a variety of tango musicians playing classic Golden Age tango.
  • 6 Traditional evening milongas with the best DJ's available.
  • 1 Grande Milonga with live orchestra, great DJ, performances and a beginners lesson.
  • 3 Afternoon alternative/traditional milongas.
  • 1 Milonga Follies with a theatrical twist.  Enjoy great music, super dancing, and an entertaining presentation of some of the tips and traps of the milonga.
  • 1 Milonga con los Maestros with instructors available to dance with students.
  • 1 Tango Underground Cafe serving breakfast, lunch, snack, juices, coffee etc.
  • 2 All night milongas.

Information for First-Time Attendees (what to do first!): [back to Index]

  • Registration: Starting Thursday Oct 8 the registration desk in the basement of Norse Hall (please enter through the South Side door), 111 NE 11th Ave will be open daily from 10:00a-4:00p. Before taking any classes you must obtain an admission badge. If you pre-registered, your admission badge may be picked up at the desk or at the Wed or Thu evening milongas. If you are not pre-registered, fill out a special registration form and present it at the desk along with payment by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard or Diner's.
  • Classes: You do not need to name the specific class you are registering for--only the time slot that it occurs at. Once you have paid for a specific time slot, you can go to any of the four concurrent classes that are taking place at that time. You do not need a partner for any of the classes except for the Adv Couples classes which take place in the Paradise Ballroom.
  • Opening Milonga: If you arrive in Portland by Wednesday Oct 7, come to the Opening Milonga at Paradise Studio, 826 SE Belmont from 9:00p-1:00a. If you pre-purchased a Full-Milonga Pass, it will be available for you to pick up at the door. If you wish to purchase a Full-Milonga Pass, it will also be on sale at the door.
  • Milongas: If you are not taking classes but just going to milongas, you do not need to register and you can pay at the door of each milonga. However, if you pre-purchased or wish to purchase a full milonga pass for $95, then again you must go to the registration desk in Norse Hall and pick up your Full-Milonga Pass.
  • Maps: Most classes and milongas are within a few blocks walking distance. Maps will be available in your pre-registration packet and at the registration deck in the Norse Hall basement. (Also, click here for Portland City map)

Lodging: [back to Index]

Portland Residents: If you have a house, room, or apartment that you are willing to share or rent out, there's a special "Festival Lodging Offer's Blog" that you can post this information to.

Venues--address and parking information: [back to Index]

  • PDF map of all venues.
  • Lenora's Room, NE corner of 6th and SE Alder (approximately 680 SE 6th). Google Map. Entrance is on 6th St. Free parking on street and in Melody Ballroom lot in the back.
  • Norse Hall, 111 NE 11th. Google Map. Free street parking and free lot west of building available evenings and weekends.
  • Paradise Studio, 826 SE Belmont. Google Map. Free street parking.
  • PPAA, 618 SE Alder. Google Map. Free street parking and free US Bank lot at 6th & Alder available on weekends.
  • Scottish Rite Temple, 1510 SW Morrison St. Google Map. Location is only one block from Tiffany Center, so you can use the same parking location as for Tiffany Center.
  • Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St. Google Map. The "U-Park" lot at SW corner of 14th and Alder (1 block N of Tiffany Center) has been reserved exclusively for attendees of the Sat Grande Tango Ball up until 6:00am--after that cars will be towed. Additional metered parking is available on street (Mon-Sat 8:00 AM-6:00 PM); First Presbyterian Pay-to-Park on 12th between Alder & Morrision; Hotel Delux at 15th & Yamhill; and various paid lots nearby (weekend rates are flat $5).

Transportation from Airport to City Center: [back to Index]

  • Tri-Met "Red Line" light rail. $2.30 takes you to any stop. (Suggestion: call taxi en route and have them meet you at Convention Center or Rose Garden stop to take you to your hotel.)
  • Cabs @ $45 from airport to center. (503) 227-1234 or (503) 227-1212
  • Shuttles @ $15.
  • Suggestion: check out Portland Oregon Visitor Center (POVA) and call their contact phone number to get answers about visiting Portland.

Private lessons and practice space: [back to Index]

Please coordinate and negotiate times, locations, and prices directly with the TangoFest instructors that you would like a lesson with. (Use instructor links above for communication.) The following locations will be available for privates and/or for practicing

  • Ankeny Street Private Studio 9th & Ankeny (this is a different space but the same building as the classroom).  $25/hour.  Available at various times.  Contact Jane (503) 233-4601 to schedule.
  • Norse Hall Main Ballroom, 111 NE 11th Ave.  No charge. Available only Thu-Sat 12:15pm-1:15pm.
  • Norse Hall Lodge Room (upstairs), 111 NE 11th Ave.  No charge.  Available only on Thu-Sat 12:15pm-1:15pm and Sun 5-6pm. 
  • Paradise Ballroom, 826 E Belmont. $15/hour. Pay at the door. Available Thu, Fri 10:00-5:00 and Sun 10:00-4:30. Schedule with Greg Krolicki:  360-907-8476.

Vendors: [back to Index]

Various vendors selling tango shoes, clothing, pictures, jewelry, music, etc will be available in the basement of Norse Hall. If you are interested in being a vendor, email or call our vendor coordinator, Jay Rabe at 503-752-3664.

Biking in Portland [back to Index]

Portland is especially great when seen by bike. Many people who dance in Portland ride a bike to milongas, practicas, workshops, etc. We welcome you to join in the great experience of riding bikes to and from dancing!
More information can on be found on Jeff Mandel's web site and at:

  • Jupiter Hotel - fleet of 7 bikes for rental to guests; $20 per 8 hours or inquire about full day rentals
  • Ace Hotel - 2 loaner bikes for guests, first come first serve
  • Hotel Monaco - 4 loaner bikes for guests, no extra charge, first come first serve
  • Hotel Aloft - 9 loaner bicycles for guests, no extra charge, first come first serve

Volunteers [back to Index]

If you are interested in being a volunteer at this year's TangoFest, please contact Megan, Polly or Ellen. However, keep in mind that first priority is always given to tangueros who live in the Portland Area. Thus you must state in your email what city you live in.