Portland TangoFest XII
Wed-Mon, Oct 15-20, 2008 (next year's festival's dates are Oct 7-12, 2009!)

Topics on this page (click to go directly there).Portland Skyline

Mission:

Spend an intense/passionate/romantic four days 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. Over 700 tangueros attend the Portland Tango Festivals each year--making them the most popular and successful tango events in North America. We hope you will join us this year and find out why! For more info about Portland, visit City of Portland web site.

Instructors: (for detailed class description, click here): [back to top]TangoFest 2008 Instructors

Summary of Classes, Practicas & Milongas: [back to top]

  • 50 Different classes ranging from absolute beginners to advanced couples.
  • 3 Supervised practicas with instructors available for individual questions and help.
  • 6 Traditional evening milongas.
  • 3 Afternoon alternative/traditional milongas.
  • 1 Beginner's/Mixer Milonga with emphasis on etiquette, navigation, mixing, and optimizing your dance opportunities.
  • 1 Matinee Milonga con los Maestros with instructors available to dance with students.
  • 2 All night milongas.

Orchestra & DJs: [back to top]

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

  • PDF map of local venues.
  • Ankeny Street Studio, SE corner of 9th and Ankeny. Map. Free street parking. Parking lot on the south side of building becomes a tow-away zone after 6:00 PM and on weekends.
  • Bossanova, 722 E Burnside. Map. Free street parking except rush hour on Burnside--your car will be towed!
  • Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th. Map. Free street parking.
  • Lenora's Room, 615 SE Alder. Map. Free street parking..
  • Norse Hall, 111 NE 11th. Map. Free street parking and free lot west of building available evenings and weekends.
  • Paradise Ballroom, 826 SE Belmont. Map. Free street parking.
  • PPAA, 618 SE Alder. Map. Free street parking and free US Bank lot at 6th & Alder available on weekends.
  • Scottish Rite Temple, 1510 SW Morrison St. Map. Location is only one block from Tiffay Center, so you can use the same parking location as for Tiffany Center.
  • Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St. 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. However, do not leave your care there overnight. Metered street parking (Mon-Sat 8:00 AM-6:00 PM) and various paid lots nearby (weekend rates are flat $5).

New This Year [back to top]

  • Tango Cafe: A special "cafe" environment will be created in the Norse Hall basement dining area which will contain the festival registration desk along with snacks, wireless, vendors, masseuse, lounge, and local greeters to help answer all your questions. Enter directly from the south side door on Couch St, or from the main entrance on 11th and follow the signs to the basement.
  • Private Diagnostic Sessions: A limited number of students will have the opportunity to purchase a 10-15 minute diagnostics session ($20) with a festival instructors for the purpose being evaluated on posture, embrace, lead/follow, rhythm/musicality, and navigation along with a suggested level of class to go to and what single most important aspect of tango the student should work on. These session will be held in the Norse Hall Lodge Room during lunch hour on Friday and Saturday.
  • New Venues: Bossanova (Wed Opening Milonga & Sun Milonga con los Maestros) at 722 E Burnside. 2600 sq ft dance floor and just a couple of blocks from Norse Hall. Lenora's Room (Alt & Mixed Afternoon Milongas on Thu and Fri) 615 SE Alder. 1800 sq ft hardwood floor newly remodeled approximately 0.5 miles from Norse. Scottish Rite Temple, 1510 SW Morrison St. Location is only one block from Tiffay Center, so you can use the same parking location on Saturday evening.
  • Instructors: Oscar & Georgina (Buenos Aires), Oliver & Silvina (Buenos aires)
  • Milonga con los Maestros: Althought open to everyone, a unique purpose of this milonga is to give students an opportunity to dance with a festival instructor. To do so in an orderly and fair manner, students who want to dance with an instructor will be required present their class badge and await their turn.
  • Carpooling Blog to help you connect with other drivers and riders from your city attending the festival.

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

  • Opening Milonga: If you arrive in Portland by Wednesday Oct 15, come to the Opening Milonga at Bossanova, 722 E Burnside 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.
  • Registration: Starting Thursday Oct 16 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, there will be a pre-registration packet waiting for you at the desk. 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.
  • 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 $90, 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 top]

Festival Attendees: The mojority of attendees stay at one of three nearby hotels, or with local residents (who may or may not charge a fee). For details, click here.

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.

Carpooling for Portland Tango Festivals: [back to top]

A blog has been created to help drivers and riders from other cities connect with one another. Please check out this blog to see if there are offers or request that meet your need. If not, post your own blog by following the instructions given there.

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

  • Tri-Met "Red Line" light rail. $2.05 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 @ $40 from airport to center 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 visitng Portland.

Biking in Portland

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

Private lessons and practice space: [back to top]

Please coordinate and negociate 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.
  • Imago Ballroom (upstairs), 17 SE 8th Ave.  No charge. Available only on Thu-Sat 12:15pm-1:15pm.
  • Norse Hall Main Ballroom, 111 NE 11th Ave.  No charge. Available only Thu-Sat 12:15pm-1:15pm and Sun 10-11am.
  • Norse Hall Lodge Room (upstairs), 111 NE 11th Ave.  No charge.  Available only Thu 12:15pm-1:15pm and Sun 10-11am and 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.
  • Viscount Studio, 722 E Burnside. $10/hour payable at the door. Available Fri, Sat & Sun 10:00a-6:00p.

Volunteers

If you are interested in being a voluneer at this year's TangoFest, please contact Megan or 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.