Welcome to the Millikin Tango Decatur Events Site

Here you can find information about all Tango Decatur Events happening at Millikin. Stay tuned as we add more Tango Decatur Events to the site!

Learn the Tango Decatur Routine

Join instructor Gary Shull as he teaches a portion of the Tango Decatur routine for individuals interested in becoming Tango Ambassadors. Tango Ambassadors should be able to learn choreography quickly and with-in two lessons. All other interested individuals are welcome to learn the routine later this fall during extended lesson periods!

Sunday, July 13, 2008 from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Decatur Indoor Sports Center.

Please contact B.J. Warren at 217.362.6499 or by e-mail at wwarren@millikin.edu with any questions. Don't forget your dancing shoes!

Volunteer as a Tango Ambassador

Kirkland is looking for local community members with solid ballroom skills to learn the five-minute routine that will help break the world record and volunteer as Tango Ambassadors. Tango Ambassadors should be able to learn choreography quickly and with-in two lessons. All other interested individuals are welcome to learn the routine and participate in the World Record Attempt. Local organizations and businesses will be allowed to contact Kirkland Fine Arts Center and request a tango ambassador to come teach the routine to a group of couples. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please contact B.J. Warren at (217) 362-6499 or by e-mail at wwarren@millikin.edu. Lessons for ambassadors will begin the start of July.

Tango Decatur will bring together our community in a supportive endeavor to engage in the arts through tango. A Guinness World Record® Attempt, downtown restaurant walk, master class workshops with Tiempo Tango Chicago and an evening performance at Kirkland Fine Arts Center will create this exploration of the arts in order to engage Central Illinois. “The project’s focus on intense and personal interactions with the form, coupled to it’s achievement of a “record”, will awaken the desire to dance in the community” states Barry Pearson, Director of Kirkland Fine Arts Center.

Guinness World Record Attempt Routine

Basic Patterns:

  1. Entrance (or own version)
  2. 2 Curving Basic......................................................[8 Slow Counts]
  3. Corte (dip), w/four Quick Ending.........................[4 Slow Counts]
  4. 1 Curving Basic......................................................[4 Slow Counts]
  5. Swivel to Open Fan................................................[16 Slow Counts]
  6. Repeat #2- #5
  7. 2 Extended Basics.................................................[16 Slow Counts]
  8. 2 Basics Outside R & L.........................................[8 Slow Counts]
  9. Left & Right Turn Promenade..............................[16 Slow Counts]
  10. 3 Fan Combo..........................................................[8 Slow Counts]
  11. 2 "Lifted Basic Steps" (end closed positions)..[16 Slow Counts]
  12. Forward Stalk & Oversway....................................[8 Slow Counts]
  13. Side Basic................................................................[8 Slow Counts]
  14. Entrance Repeated (or own version)
  15. Repeat #2- #13 (omit #6 no repeat)
  16. Parallel Side Stalk...................................................[16 Slow Counts]
  17. Promenade Into Outside Flick..............................[8 Slow Counts]
  18. Promenage Into Outside Flick..............................[8 Slow Counts]
  19. Side Basic.................................................................[8 Slow Counts]
  20. Forward Stalk & Oversway.....................................[8 Slow Counts]

The above list of patterns will correspond to the steps taught in the routine video to be posted in the next few weeks or you can create your own routine to the music in this video.

 

Downtown Decatur Argentinean-Flavored Restaurant Walk

Get a taste of Argentina by touring Decatur's downtown restaurants where you can sample unique food, drinks, and enjoy live musical performances. Restaurants hosting events will be announced at a later date. If your downtown business is interested in participating, e-mail kirk-out@millikin.edu!

Guinness World Record Attempt

 

Want to help set a World Record? Then learn a simple five-minute routine and join 550 other dancing couples on February 21, 2009 at the Decatur Indoor Sports Center to break the world record for the "Largest Dance by Couples". Free dance lessons are available starting summer 2008. Couples registration is free and recommended in advance on this website (we will post registration forms later this summer)!

1:00 p.m. Registration/Verification of Pre-Registered   4:00 p.m. Guinness World Record® Attempt                5:30 p.m. Downtown Decatur Restaurant Walk

Master-class Workshops and Lectures

  • Date: 2/24/2009
  • - 2/28/2009   
  • Category: Video Clips
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Join dancers Romulo and Margo for advanced tango lessons throughout the week. Tiempo Tango Chicago and other community dance instructors and practitioners will also host free lessons and lectures/discussions on Latin dance, music, and culture! Check back this fall for a more detailed schedule.

Romulo and Margo dance with Color Tango.

Guinness World Record Attempt Guidelines

GUIDELINES

This record is for the number of couples actually performing a dance at the same venue and not just the number of people attending the event.

  1. The number of people who are hoping to constitute the record must all be well versed in the necessary steps of the dance that has been chosen.
  2. A headcount of participants must be taken prior to the record attempt by registration. Participants must sign his or her name once only on a form witnessed by two independent persons.
  3. The people attempting the record must dance for at least five minutes, performing the correct steps. If the length of the chosen piece of music does not last five minutes, the song must be repeated and the participants must dance until the five minutes is up.
  4. Sufficient witnesses should be involved to ratify that all the contestants fully participate in the attempt. Witnesses should be placed in such a way that every part of the dance area is visible to the officials and must sign a declaration confirming the exact number of participants.
  5. A start and finish signal (loud enough for all the contestants to hear) is advisable.
  6. The name of the company, organization or person(s) organising the attempt should be given, along with the date, place and title of the music danced to.
  7. Couples must consist of two people age 18 or older.

Daniel Binelli

  • Date: 2/28/2009
  • - 2/28/2009   
  • Category: Video Clips
  • Comments: 0

Daniel Binelli showcases the bandoneon

Tiempo Tango Chicago with the Binelli-Ferman Duo

The tango is a dance that originated in the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina and is known for its romantic music and dramatic steps. Now you can learn the steps with help from Tiempo Tango Chicago as they bring the drama and romance of the tango to the stage with their music. Community dancers will also be showcased alongside the Binelli-Ferman Duo in their world premiere piece.

Find out more about Tiempo Tango Chicago and the Binelli-Ferman Duo by visiting their website at www.tiempotango.com and www.binelli-ferman.com