Portland ValenTango XIII
Wed-Mon, Feb 10-15, 2010

Click here for complete [Festival Index] with links to
prices & registration, maps, schedule, lodging info etc.

Portland Skyline

Mission:

This year, in addition to our usual ValenTango goal of "spending a passionate and romantic four days in Portland dancing, schmoozing, eating, and hanging out in the unique ballrooms, coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants with friends and favorite instructors, DJ's, musicians and partners", we will have a more serious mission of raising money for earthquake victims in Haiti. Elaine Newton-Bruzza has taken it upon herself to spearhead this effort and has created a special fundraising page via Mercy Corps for this mission. Please check out this web site and help us in this effort. Thank you.

Instructors (listed top to bottom): [Festival Index]

TangoFest 2008 Instructors

Musicians: [Festival Index]

DJs: [Festival Index]

Festival Features: [Festival Index]

  • Classes ranging from absolute beginners to advanced couples.
  • SuperClass with various instructors providing instruction.
  • Guided Practicas with various instructors available for individual help.
  • Musicians Tango Jam Session led by Korey Ireland.
  • Traditional evening milongas with great DJ's.
  • Mixer Milonga for dancers to meet.
  • Grande Milonga with live orchestra, great DJ, performances and a beg lesson.
  • Afternoon Alternative milongas.
  • All night milongas.

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

  • Registration: Starting Thursday Feb 11 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, your admission badge may be picked up at the desk or at the Wed or Thu evening milongas. 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.
  • Classes: You do not need to name the specific class you are registering for--only the time slot that it occurs at. Once you have paid for a specific time slot, you can go to any of the four concurrent classes that are taking place at that time. You do not need a partner for any of the classes except for the Adv Couples classes which take place in the Ankeny St Studio.
  • Opening Milonga: If you arrive in Portland by Wednesday Feb 10, come to the Opening Milonga at Paradise Studio, 826 SE Belmont 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.
  • 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 $95, 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: [Festival Index]

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. Also, you might try couch surfing.

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.

Venues--address and parking information: [Festival Index]

  • PDF map of local venues.
  • 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).

Transportation from Airport to City Center: [Festival Index]

  • Tri-Met "Red Line" light rail. $2.30 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 @ $45 from airport to 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 visiting Portland.

Private lessons and practice space: [Festival Index]

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.
  • Norse Hall Main Ballroom, 111 NE 11th Ave.  No charge. Available only Thu-Fri 12:15pm-1:15pm.
  • Norse Hall Lodge Room (upstairs), 111 NE 11th Ave.  No charge.  Available only on Thu 12:15pm-1:15pm and Sun 5-6pm. 
  • Paradise Ballroom, 826 E Belmont. $15/hour. Pay at the door. Available lunch times and before and after classes (check schedule). Call Greg Krolicki at 360-907-8476 to schedule a time.

Vendors: [Festival Index]

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

Biking in Portland [Festival Index]

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

Volunteers [Festival Index]

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.