Portland ValenTango XIV
Wed-Mon, Feb 9-14, 2011

ValenTango 2011 Evaluation Form

ValenTango 2011 Evaluation Results

ValenTango 2011 Photos

After-Longa | Carpooling | DJ's & Orchestra | First-Timers | Flyer | Instructors | Lodging | Map of Venues | Map of Hotels | Partner Search Form | Partner Search Results | Prices & Registration | Private lessons | Schedule | Transportation from Airport | Vendors | Venue Addresses & Parking Info | Volunteering

Portland Skyline

Mission:

Spend a passionate and romantic four days in Portland dancing, schmoozing, eating, and hanging out in the unique ballrooms, coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants with your favorite tango friends, instructors, DJ's, musicians and partners.

Instructors (listed top to bottom):

  • Avik Basu (Ann Arbor) [video]. Avik sees tango as both an accessible art form and a way to discover and improve upon oneself.  
  • Biljana Lipic (London) [video]. Artist, teacher and director, Biljana's creative inspiration springs from her study of dance, martialarts, theatre, design, contemporary psychology and shamanism.
  • Brian & Yuliana (Los Angeles) [video] 2010 U.S. Tango Champions in Tango Salon, and Salon Finalists in Tango Mundial 2010, the annual world tango competition held in Buenos Aires.
  • Daniela & Hernan (Buenos Aires) [video] “Since our childhood we realized that dancing was the play we loved the most; and today we make that play in our way of living. Embraced by tango many years ago, we try to pass on what our teachers have told us and that what we really love.”
  • Facundo Posadas (Buenos Aires) & Christy Cote (San Francisco) [video]. Facundo is the only Afro-Argentine traveling the world sharing the roots of his dance. TangoFest 2008 InstructorsChrsty is a founding member of the all female company Tango Con*Fusión. Together they offer an intensive tango Boot Camp in San Francisco.
  • Hiba & Rene (London) [video]. "Our foundations are traditional but our methods embrace modern techniques and natural, organic movement."
  • Homer & Cristina (Emeryville) [video]. Homer's Organic Tango Philosophy is: "Appreciate and learn from the past, dance in the present, and allow the future to unfold".
  • Korey Ireland (Kansas City) & Adeline Schieferstein (Berlin) [video]. Creater of Stone Soup Tangotopia--a collaborative gathering of amazing talent to share, create, and inspire tango dancing, cooking, performances, music, and community building.
  • Murat & Michelle Erdemsel (Washington, DC) [video]. M&M live half the year in the USA, the other half in Europe teaching for the most prestigious Tango event in both places--including Portland Tango Festivals, Amsterdam TangoMagia, Brussels Tango Festival etc.
  • Shorey Myers (Berkeley) [video] Already known as one of the best DJ's in the country, Shorey is gaining a great reputation as a teacher who provides her students with the tools necessary to make their dancing as enjoyable as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Orchestra & DJ's:[Top]

Festival Features:[Top]

  • Afternoon Alternative milongas
  • All night milongas
  • Performances
  • Practicas
  • Eclectic and talented teachers
  • Great tango DJs
  • Beginner, intermediate, advanced & advanced couples classes
  • Dress-up Grande Ball
  • Shoe and clothing vendors
  • World class tango musicians
  • Wonderful Portland venues
  • Mixer Milonga for dancers to meet
  • Traditional evening milongas
  • Tango lectures and presentations

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

  • Registration: Starting Thursday Feb 10 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.
  • Opening Milonga: If you arrive in Portland by Wednesday Feb 9, 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 on a table next to the registration deck in the Norse Hall basement. (Also, click here for Portland City map)

Lodging Options: [Top]

Venues--address and parking information:[Top]

  • 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 Studio, 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:[Top]

  • Tri-Met "Red Line" light rail. $2.35 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.) Click here for Transportation Map
  • 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: [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.
  • 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 Studio, 826 E Belmont. $15/hour. Pay at the door. Available lunch times and before and after classes (check schedule). Call Astrid Perry at 503-730-8639 to schedule a time.

Vendors: [Top]

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[Top]

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[Top]

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.