Portland ValenTango, Feb 15-20, 2012
(Next ValenTango will be Feb 20-25 2013)

Links to Evaluations

Link to Photo's

Links to Performance Videos:

Click on any of the red links below for specific information:Portland Skyline

Carpooling | Cheap Flights | Class Titles | Class Descriptions | Comments | DJ's & Orchestra | Facebook Event | Special Features | Floor Plan | Flyer | Follower's Guide | Instructors | Join Email List | Lodging | Lost & Found | MeetUp Input | MeetUp Output | Parking | Portable Floor | Prices & Registration | Privates | Schedule | Staff/Instructor Contact Info | Vendors | Volunteers

Mission:

Spend a passionate and romantic four days in Portland dancing, eating, shopping, and schmoozing with other obsessed tangueros at our beautiful new location, The DoubleTree by Hilton.

The DoubleTree by Hilton, 1000 NE Multnomah:

Fabulous location near downtown and right on MAX (Portland's famous light rail system). For only $2.40 you can pick up MAX at the PDX baggage claim area, get off at the Lloyd Center/NE 11th Ave Stop and you're there. (Taxi costs around $35.) To get special rate (starting $89/night but expires Fri Feb 3rd at midnight), click on DoubleTree ValenTango Reservations, or call 503-281-6111 and ask for the ValenTango Rate.

 Hotel Features include:

  • Two in-house restaurants serving fresh, local and organic foods; a coffee shop open most hours; and a bar serving local beer, wine, and spirits.
  • Lloyd Center--Oregon’s largest shopping mall--is just across the street (and Oregon has no sales tax!).
  • MAX light rail’s “Fareless Square Zone” allows free rides to downtown and back where you can experience Portland’s best restaurants and boutiques.
  • Easy walking distance to the Convention Center and Memorial Coliseum.
  • Adjacent to Historic Broadway District with more restaurants and shopping.
  • Complimentary loaner bicycles/helmets/locks for guests.
  • Complimentary parking only for overnight guests booking under the special ValenTango rate. ($5 for day parkers).

Instructors (shown top to bottom): [Top]

  • Adam (New York) & Ciko (Turkey/NYC) [video] Adam & Ciko emphasize the importance of a good technique with a comfortable, musical walk over complicated moves. Their goal as teachers is to bring their students’ personality out in their dance by teaching them the music and the concept of countless possibilities the dance offers.
  • Daniela & Hernan (Buenos Aires) [video] “Since our childhood we realized that dancing was the play we loved the most; and today we make that play in our way of living. Embraced by tango many years ago, we try to pass on what our teachers have told us and that what we really love.”
  • Felipe Martinez (Bay Area/Madrid) & Maria Ybarra (Buenos Aires/New York) [video] Felipe has been dancing tango for over 14 years and is in high demand throughout the U.S. and Europe. Able to dance and teach across a complete range of tango styles, social skills, navigation and etiquette are always at the core of his inspirational instruction.
  • Jaimes Friedgen & Christa (Seattle/Sweden) (Video): Tango dancer and teacher extraordinaire, Jaimes is the creator of Seattle's 8th Style School of Tango. He and Christa are always in high demand everywhere in the world.
  • Marika (Montreal) & Mauro (Buenos Aires) (video): After only two years of working together, they have traveled throughout the U.S. Canada and Europe teaching and performing. Their style is defined by fluidity, precision and strong quality of movement. They are well known for their technique seminars focusing on liberty of movement without compromising a close embrace.
  • Murat & Michelle Erdemsel (Hawaii-Istanbul) [video]. M&M live half the year in the USA, the other half in Europe teaching at the most prestigious Tango events in both places--including Portland Tango Festivals, Amsterdam TangoMagia, Brussels Tango Festival etc.
  • Vanja Modzelewski (New York) [video] Vanja hones her skills in all styles of tango (salon, stage, milonguero and nuevo)--seeing beauty in each of them. Her students value her for her keen eye, her detailed and clear instruction, and her patience and kindness.

Orchestra & DJ's: [Top]

Special Features: [Top]

  • 14 Milongas: Traditional, 50/50, Mixer, Grande Ball, Afternoon, Late Night and Practi-longa.
  • 2 Performance Nights: Friday and Saturday
  • 49 classes--4 Different Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced & Advanced Couples
  • Space for Privates and Practice: Two rooms (Morrison—where Advanced Classes are held and Weidler where Beginners Classes are held) will open 8:00a-8:00p and available whenever  classes (11:00a-12:15p and 1:30-4:30p) or other events are not schedule.  Morrison is specifically for privates with instructors and Weidler for general practice by anyone .  There is no charge to use this space and you do not need to reserve it.  However, you may have to share  Morrison with other instructors. 
  • Vendors: Shoes, clothing, books, music, art, jewelry etc
  • Tango Fusion Concert/Milonga featuring Latin Grammy Nominee María Volonté on Fri at 8:00p in the Pacific NorthWest Ballroom. Pay at the door $15--Sorry, not included with the Everything Pass nor Milonga Wrist Band Pass.
  • Valentango by Bike on Fri 8:00pm  - 10:00pm. An easy loop bike ride starting at the DoubleTree with two dessert stops and prize drawing at the end.
  • GYROKINESIS® Tango Warm Up with Bianca on Fri, Sat & Sun morning at 10:00am in the Pacific NorthWest Ballroom. (Free)
  • Shut Up and Dance! Workshop and Technique class for women only by Jamie Rose on Friday at 4:30p in the Weidler/Halsey Ballroom. (Free)
  • Tango Silent Films screens 3 films (The Private Lesson, Oh My, What a Night! & One, Two, Three!) Sat at 4:30p Saturday in the NorthWest Ballroom (Free)

Trailer for "Oh My, What a Night!" - Tango Silent Films Episode #3

Lodging Options: [Top]

Lost & Found: [Top]

To locate an item lost at the DoubleTree Hotel, call 503-281-6111 ex 4148. (If calling from hotel guest room or house phone, dial just the extension 4148.)

Parking: [Top]

Private lessons and practice space: [Top]

For private lessons, please coordinate and negociate times, locations, and prices directly with the ValenTango instructor of your choice. All room in the DoubleTree used for ValenTango are available at no charge during times that they are not specifically scheduled for classes, lectures, milongas etc.

Vendors: [Top]

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

Biking in Portland[Top]

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:

  • Ace Hotel - 2 loaner bikes for guests, first come first serve
  • DoubleTree by Hilton - 4 complimentary loaner bicycles/helmets/locks for guests.
  • 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.
  • Jupiter Hotel - 7 bikes for guests at $20/8 hours or inquire about full day rentals.

Volunteers [Top]

If you are interested in being a voluneer at this year's ValenTango, please contact Polly. 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.

Comments [Top]