FIRST QUEER-TANGO-FESTIVAL IN BERLIN
Berlin, the most vibrant Metropolis of Queer Life and Tango Argentino in Europe, is hosting its first Queer Tango Festival at the beginning of August 2011!
Germanys Capital is going to have its own Queer Tango Festival after several Queer Tango Festivals worldwide established like in Buenos Aires, San Francisco, Stockholm and Hamburg.
In 2009 Tango officially made it onto the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list- to the delight of the evergrowing numbers of tangueras and tangueros. Every year Berlin attracts more visitors who are passionate about Tango. Germany's capital is, alongside Buenos Aires, the biggest Tango city in the world. As twin towns, the two cities have a enjoyed a close connection for a long time. Tango is at the forefront of the mutual cultural exchange between the two cities.
The Queer Tango Festival does not only want to encourage intercultural dialogue, it also aims to contribute to the integration of lesbian, gay and transgender people on the dance floor. Thus the Queer Tango Festival will link the shores of the Rio de la Plata with the river Spree.
It is not surprising that 'Tango and Homosexuality' represents a difficult subject in societies with traditional role models. But what kind of attitude prevails in the 'rainbow capital' Berlin? Does the much-vaunted tolerance and openness concerning sexual diversity also exist on the dance floor? What kind of experiences do same-sex couples have in dance classes and at milongas? Do people who dance with a member of the same sex already form part of normality in our society? Can the increasing presence of same-sex dancing couples contribute to more tolerance and growing sexual diversity?
This is the kind discourse that the festival would like to open up.
An Invitation to dance!
In 'open gender classes' the Queer Tango Festival invites all Tango lovers- regardless of their sexual orientation- to break with the rigid self-conception of Tango roles in order to experience 'leading' and 'following' from a new perspective. What is familiar ground to lesbians, gays and transgender people can lead to a new and exciting discovery for heterosexual people as well. For it is the change of role that deepens the understanding of the dance and allows for a more intensive dance experience. Even for more advanced Tango dancers, playing with different roles is a creative challenge and always a source of inspiration. “Our concept is inclusive, which means that we would like to offer everyone the chance to explore different approaches to Tango regardless of gender and sexual identity”, says Astrid Weiske, initiator of the festival. “In Tango the two dancers are in constant dialogue with each other. You can never predict the 'conversation' – even if you have danced a dozen times with each other before. Openness and awareness are sought – and the change of role makes everything even more interesting and exciting.”
Exchange and approach, contact, communication, passion and devotion - that's Tango. A unique opportunity to bridge the gap between queer and other worlds.
Over five days in August 2011 the Queer-Tango-Festival offers numerous workshops on aspects of Tango. In the evenings there will be Milongas with live music and dance performances and a chance to shake the leg all night. A framework of debates, cultural and art events rounds off the festival. Classes will be held by nationally and internationally renowned queer and heterosexual dancers.
Partner:
Hasenheide 54, 10967 Berlin
www.phynixtanzt.de
Berlin is the Guest of Honour at the Buenos Aires International Queer Tango Festival November 2010!