ABRAZOS TANGO FESTIVAL
ABRAZOS TANGO FEST: SEPTEMBER 2022
Welcome to the Abrazos Tango Festival! My name is Mariela Franganillo and I’m the artistic director of the Festival.
With the help of master teachers, dancers, and musicians, I hope to bring to life the picture of rich possibilities offered by Argentine culture, dance, and music.
Simply performing steps is not enough. Connecting with your partner and the music is where the art of tango truly lies. I have found that technique is a way to get there, but not the end result in itself, and in this festival you will have the opportunity to experience all three of these critical elements.
Tradition looks not only back, but also forward in the hope of continuation. Sharing the tradition of tango means, in part, sharing its timelessness.
During the Festival we will glance back at the tango and witness—workshops, milongas, and performances—its evolution into our modern moment.
Tango’s timelessness manifests itself not only through the music that is as alive today as it was over a hundred years ago, but also through aspects of the dance.
The embrace, the connection created by way of the embrace, and the improvisation made possible after a connection has been established, all render the dance truly timeless—a forever living artform that cuts not only through time, but also through social structures.
Tango’s capacity to connect two people in a moment of total engagement transcends both historical and cultural boundaries.