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Tango Film "5PM" featuring Albano Goldenberg & Sara Rose

5/2/2020

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Dear Tango Dancers Blog readers, I am pleased to share with you a NEW TANGO FILM, dance video project created with a team of friends within the frames of TDProject.

(2020) 

Directed, filmed, edited by Tatiana Balashova

Short Dance Film "5 PM" 
Poduced by TangoDancersBlog.com
Talent: Albano Goldenberg & Sara Rose Associate Producer: Vlad Pliaskine
Music: "Amor y Celos" - Juan D'Arienzo
(music copyright belongs to the copyright holders)

A landmark of Vancouver - Canada Place - is featured in the video. 

We appreciate your views, likes and comments! It helps the video & channel to be easier to discover in the search. Your support is appreciated, you can contribute to the fundraiser for equipment upgrade:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/birthday-f...
(services are offered in exchange for contributions or you can give it as a donation to support)

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

Warmly, Tatiana Balashova .

............................................................................................................
TANGO DANCERS (YouTube channel)
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SUBSCRIBE & hit the notifications bell:
​ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ5f... ​
#sararose #albanogoldenberg #tatianabalashova #tangodancerblog #tangodancers #socialdancers #socialdancing #filmedinvancouver #tangofilm #tangoonthebigscreen #canadaplace #vancouverfilm #dancefilm  ​#tangodancersblog #argentinetango #tangodancers
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Interview with Kristina Ivanova

2/16/2020

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Hi guys, last weeks I've been working on the interview with one of my friends and colleagues Kristina Ivanova who has a rich Argentine Tango experience in various roles. 
​It  is the first interview in the video format. Follow the link to see the first part of the interview. And a few more questions, information about Kristina's new project and also blitz questions are coming up in Part 2 very soon. 
​
Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBE to the TANGO DANCERS VLOG to stay tuned & hit on the notification bell, also check the descriptions for a few links related to our discussion. Time stamps with questions are in the comments to the videos.

Interview was recorded in October 2019.
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Tango Interview - PART 1
Tango Interview - PART 2
SUBSCRIBE * LIKE * COMMENT 

​#tangodancersblog
#tangojourney
#tangodancers
#tangodancersinterview
#tangodancersvlog
#tangoorganizers 
​
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My First Tango Story #2 - Julia (Vancouver, BC)

7/19/2019

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Hi everyone, it's been quite a long time since I posted an update. Finally slowly getting back to the Tango Dancers Project, and with pleasure releasing this new video.
Julia from Vancouver is sharing her unique #myfirsttangostory :).

Enjoy and let me know in the comments whose story you would like to hear next! If you or your friends has a great story to share, contact me and I will help you to figure out how to record it. 

LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to the Tango Dancers channel! Stay tuned with the new videos, more stories are coming in the next months.

WATCH the STORY  >>

warmly,
Tatiana
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My First Tango Story #1

7/10/2017

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Hi guys, happy to be back to the Tango Dancers Blog and yesterday on July 9th I announced on FB my new project within the Tango Dancers Blog.

"My First Tango" is a new series of 50 stories told by TANGO DANCERS on video about their early tango experience. See the details below.  Make your story unique!

Videos will be uploaded to the TANGO DANCERS Youtube channel.   #myfirsttangostory  We will try to publish interviews on a weekly basis, it also depends how many people will take part in the project and submit their stories.

Do SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE  the videos!!
Look forward as well to hearing about your stories from you.

The goal of the project is to HAVE FUN sharing these stories and connect to each other and also to raise awareness about Argentine Tango in a creative way and encourage people to give a try to this beautiful dance or at least to learn about traditional tango music and artists, performers, instructors :).

Right now we are inviting to collaborate on this project all instructors & dancers with 5+ years of experience to share their fun / interesting / unusual story from their first class or milonga or EARLY TANGO EXPERIENCE. 

It would be also great to hear from people who live in different parts of the world which will allow us to know more about tango and dancers in other places.

See my personal video message for you on the page:

http://www.tangodancersblog.com/my-first-tango.html

And below is the first story :). Big hugs to SIERRA who agreed to share her story with us. She is not only an amazing tango dancer but also a very inspiring African style dancer / instructor and a great person.

P.S. I will try to record soon a video with tips on how to take a video or yourself for this project. *** I am also looking for a special effects artist who can help to create an intro & outro for this project and blog. Contact me  to collaborate.

Have a great week & tell your story, be creative! :)

Warmly,
Tatiana ❤

#myfirsttangostory #tangodancersblog

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Meet the Dancer - Anna Agurina - Interview

10/23/2015

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“FLOWER BREEZE... “ -  Anna Agurina
 
© Interview by Tatiana Balashova 
Photography 
© Anna Agurina, Dasha MasLove, Olivier Normandin, Yulia Zlobina, Alexander Putilin. 

 
Big thanks to all the photographers, who allowed to use their pictures in this publication!
" ... One day I realized that my life just didn't make sense without some aspect of personal creativity."
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Long ago in Russia I met an interesting girl named Anna, she had a totally different life then, however there was something dynamic, decisive about, and creative in her personality and it made me curious to see where life would actually take her. A few years later, we found out that Anna had moved to beautiful France to study perfumery, and now many of her Facebook friends enjoy picturesque views of France and close-ups of nature, as well as unique eye-catching collages - all created with a feeling of love for life, friends, aromas, nature and colors. Here is a story of a young beautiful woman, a true artist at heart  who is in love with her fascinating profession - perfumer.

Q1: Anna, tell us please, when did you first pay attention to perfumes and what fragrance it was?


We are all surrounded by a multitude of fragrances and smells from birth, and our olfactory senses play a crucial role in our discovery of the world. A perfumer hones these instincts and is constantly alert to ambient smells, ever ready to analyze and divine their source. Fragrance becomes an integral part of our everyday consciousness. I’ve loved perfumes from my childhood, but only began to study them seriously at perfumery school in Grasse (France). I remember the perfume that most astounded me was Vetiver Tonka Hermessance by Hermes I still love it.
Q2: Were you always interested in creating perfumes or did it happen unexpectedly? And what was the inspiration?

After high school I had to decide what to do with myself, and which occupation to choose, at the time I didn’t know a lot about myself, but I was sure I wanted to do something useful, and be able to work with my hands and see my creations. So I decided to study chemistry.  As fate would have it I never did actually work as a chemist. After college I became a brand manager of Nina Ricci and Prada perfumes, but always kept to this idea to develop my own creations.  And indeed, one day I realized that my life just didn’t make sense without some aspect of personal creativity.  As I had been passionate about perfumes for years, I left my job and applied to perfumery school in France.
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Q3: It seems quite a lot of effort to immigrate to France, would you mind sharing how easy it was for you and what was helpful in that process?

Well, the most difficult part was getting accepted to a perfumery school. They only accept ten to twenty students per year, depending on the school. You have to be among the best candidates, pass difficult exams, and also demonstrate the depth of your motivation. In 2012 the competition was fierce - thirty people competing for just one place. Once you’ve been accepted you just need to apply for a student visa and arrange finances. Life is France is extremely expensive.

Q4: By the way, is there a big choice of schools out there for those who want to study to become a perfumer?

There are two main schools: ISIPCA in Versailles and GIP in Grasse. Both are in France. I studied at GIP.   

 

Q5: How was the experience of studying in France? What subjects do prospective perfumers need to study and how long was the course? 

It was a wonderful time. I loved that feeling of going back to school and turning over a new page. We were an international group of many different ages and our comraderie really enriched the experience we shared. It only takes one year to complete the coursework, but of course you also need to already have a degree in chemistry or biology or pharmaceutics. My Master’s Degree in chemistry definitely played an important role in my success.  I must say it was rather strange to find myself living in a dormitory!  I would spend twelve hours a day at perfumery school, and then see the same people again in the evening and on weekends. But we became fast friends and still keep in contact.    

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Q6: Have you always had a sharp sense of smell or did it develop along the way? What can help people to develop their sense of smell?

Let’s say I was sensitive and receptive from the beginning. The ability to identify fragrances comes from the training. You have to do thousands of repetitions to create your own olfactory associations and work to maintain it and continue to smell ingredients your whole life. From my point of view, anyone can do it. It’s just a matter of motivation and patience. So the sense of smell actually can be developed through life, unlike eyesight and hearing which tend to deteriorate with years.

Q7: Is there anything special you have to do to take care of your sense of smell and health to keep that "instrument" tuned up and sharp enough to work with it? People use coffee beans in the perfume shops. What is a good way to choose a perfume from the store?

Perfumers  must never smoke or eat menthol candies and very spicy food.  I’ve heard it said that perfumers cannot drink alcohol or swim in a swimming pool.  I don’t find this to be true. Concerning a coffee beans, we never use them, because of  their overpowering smell . If your senses detect something as strong as coffee you won’t be able to distinguish a delicate perfume afterward.  When perfumer’s nose becomes saturated by fragrances the best thing to do is to go to the fresh air.
Q8: We see a lot of beautiful pictures of you in fields of flowers. Thank you for sharing those with us! :) ... How often do you have a chance to visit such places and how much of the work you do these days in the lab?

I take every chance I get to get outside. Nature is one of the main inspirations for a perfumer.  And besides, I love France! It’s so awesome! You can find everything here: fields, mountains, the sea, even deserts, and forests. They all have their own smells and lovely spectrum of color. I’m always full of impressions and emotions after these kinds of excursions, and am ready to spend countless hours working in my lab. 
Q9:  Now let's talk about your favorite aromas. Which ones you are you most attached to?

I cannot attach myself to just one, just as I cannot choose my one favorite color. Actually, a perfumer should love all aromas, because there are no bad ones or goods ones, per se. Nevertheless I love woody notes and incense. My favourite perfume is Feminite du Bois. 

Q10:  How long does a flower retain its fragrance when it is taken from its natural setting?

The intensity of the smell depends on the climate and time of day. There is one French perfume, which is called L’Heure Blue by Guerlain. It was created 100 years ago. It’s meant to recreate the conditions at about 8 p.m., when the sun slowly sets, and the light becomes muted and blue. At this moment plants emit their strongest aroma. This perfume is dedicated to this particular wonder of nature. 
Amazing fact: did you know that a perfumer can memorize about 260 aromas on average, they form his or her basic palette. Potentially it can be extended up to 500+ aromas.
​
www.aroma-class.ru (classes in Russian)
The video tells about types of perfumes in terms of durability and how to use apply them.
Q11:  Is it hard to combine a lot of aromas? What is considered an average acceptable amount, if there is such a thing?

I prefer to create short and clear formulas. Otherwise it will be a soup or aromatherapy.  And from my point of view every blend is a challenge.  Most of my formulas contain about 20-30 raw materials, but actually it’s possible to create a wonderful perfume using only 10-15 ingredients. My favorite perfumer Jean Claude Ellena (Hermes) is a master of short formulas. 
When we sense an aroma, it creates an instant reaction in the brain of a person. The part of our brain which is in charge of it is called limbic system. It is responsible for feelings and emotions. That's why aromas (scents) can trigger an instant emotional response. 

Q12: Who were the most famous perfumers which influenced this art? Who would you say influenced you most personally?  Have you ever had a chance to work or intern with any renowned perfumers, and if so, how was that experience?

There are many celebrities in the field, but I would like to mention Edmond Roudnitska, who created some of the best 20th-century  perfumes,  "Diorissimo" by Dior  and "Eau Sauvage". Not long ago his son launched one of  his father’s perfumes called “Le Parfum de Therese”, dedicated to his wife. You can find it in the Frederic Malle perfume collection. Edmond Roudnitska was a teacher of Jean Claude Ella, whose works had a huge influence on me. I like his ideas and how they are realized through the perfumes. I can recommend his book “The Alchemy of Scent”. 
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Q13:  Many people notice that different perfumes might "sound" in a new way on various people. Right?

People usually have a born feeling of what might sound best on their skin. For example, people with darker skin tones (no matter what area they live in) would prefer balsamic sweeter scents. Interestingly, on their skin they become less sweet. Whereas on people with a light skin tone such scents would acquire a intense sour note.

So on each person an aroma be revealed in a different way. It is connected to the fact that there are many different microorganisms and bacteria on the skin of each person. Also pH-level differs from a person to person. Those two facts are enough to make the scent sound differently.
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Q14: What can be challenging in a perfumer’s work, and what makes you happy? What can you  learn from your clients?

I like all parts of my work. It starts from an idea and ends with the packaging design. But the sacred moment when the perfume is finished and the client likes it. I love to create bespoke fragrances with people because there no limits, and untrained people don’t know the established “perfumery rules”. Some of my clients and I have created some awesome perfumes, that I would never otherwise made myself. One lady mixed earthy humid patchouli with a funny peach and created a beautiful fragrance. Another young man blended fresh lavender together with sweet raspberry. The combination was surprisingly good.
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Q15: You've been also offering some workshops. Can you tell us about your teaching experience?

I teach because I think it’s important to share knowledge.  Perfumery remains a mystery because we don’t really know so much about it. Have you noticed that even perfume ads never speak about the quality of a perfume and or about the ingredients (usually it’s the image of a lady with some nice music in the background)? I want to make perfumery more popular, so I teach. During my seminars I tell stories about perfume ingredients, I distribute raw materials to sample and smell, and I let the participants create their own blend.
Q16:  If someone would like to create a special perfume for them, how much would it cost to hire you to help design it? Do you have a website telling about your services?

If a client works together with me it will take around 2 hours to create one perfume, and my fee is 300 euros. I’m working now on a project of bespoke fragrance studio  in Moscow. This workshop was launched in the summer. And I would visit Canada with pleasure as well to teach that workshop. You can contact Tatiana and pre-register for the workshop if you are interested. Once there is interest it can be arranged.


Q17:  If you were to create your own school for perfumers what would you be sure to include?

Actually, I plan on doing this very soon. My perfumery school authorized me as a qualified professional trainer a few months ago, so I’m presently working on a project of opening a branch office of GIP in Moscow. The opening will be on November 16th. Stay tuned!

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Design & Photo: Dasha MasLove
- Congratulations Anna!... That sounds like a great project and can't wait to hear later more on that...

Q18: Speaking about aroma therapy, do you believe in it  and have you ever tried to apply it?


Yes, of course I believe in it. Fragrances have a huge influence on our minds, and our minds undoubtedly have a huge influence on our bodies. I’m working now on an interesting project: the creation of an  “emotional trigger scent” which will stimulate our brains when we need help. I’m even considering developing this as a PhD topic. 

Q19:  If you were to choose one aroma (smell, fragrance) to sense if all others fail what would it be?

My own skin :)

Q20:  Is there any dream you would like to come true in connection to perfumes and your job?

My dream is to become more and more experienced every year. To become a master perfumer you need about 30 working years. I’m just on the beginning on this path.

Q21:  Anything special you would also like to share with the Tango Dancers Blog readers? A story or a tip maybe?…

Don’t be shy about using perfumes on the milongas. They help you feel more self-confident and to better express your unique personality.

Q22:  ... What is photography to you?
One of my friends once said: “Anna, you are visually smart.” I suppose it’s true. So I take pictures to show how beautiful our world is. I don’t master any photography technique, but I feel the colors and composition.

T: Thank you, Anna! It was very interesting to get to know you better and listen to your stories. And who knows, maybe thanks to you some day my dream to create a few aromas will come true ;).
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Blitz questions: 

- Favorite tango music: Milonga del angelo, Astor Piazzolla

- Tango DJs:  Jens-Ingo Brodesser from Brussels

- Non-tango music: Bach

- 
Color: if I had to choose only one I'd prefer white. 

- What is your favorite flower? Peony

- What perfumes are your favorite? (for men and women) Feminite du bois Serge Lutens (unisex)

- Favorite dish / food: figs

- Which animal would you like to be if you were an animal in your next life?  Rhinoceros (joke)

- What dance would you dance if not tango? The Lindy Hop (I already dance it)
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(c) Olivier Photo

​- What film(s) would you recommend watching?
 Any film about France, they are all fascinating.

- What places in France you recommend visiting? Cote d’azur and especially Grasse (capital of perfumes)

- What place would you choose for a romantic trip?   A Cabin in the mountains

- What place would you live if you could live anywhere?  Where I am now (Nice), or San Francisco

- Who would you like to say “thank you” to?  To you! Thanks for your questions and initiative.

- Your motto: “The person who comes to you is your main and most important occupation.”  

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More Information @
www.aromamusic.net 
www.aroma-class.ru
N.Am. Workshop Inquiry / Pre-registration >>
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Meet the Dancer - Marianella Michaud - Interview

5/21/2014

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We are happy to open a series of interviews about Tango Dancers who have succeeded in another (interesting) occupation apart from their tango life, hope you will enjoy meeting them!

"Airborne Tango Dancer" - Marianella Michaud
© Interview  by Tatiana Balashova

Photography 
© Subbusclicks, Getty Images, Adrian Roup, Laura Mingo, Comsa Adina, Andrei Dragon.
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Photo by Subbusclicks
Q 1:  Hi Marianella, tell us please a little bit about yourself. Where were you born and what kind of family you had?

I was born on a farm in Canada around goats and my closest neighbors were cows ;) 

My dad was a professional cyclist, as well as a coach. So I come from a very active family. I spent the first years of my life watching road cyclist’s trainings and races.

Q 2:  What kind of training did you have? 

I started rhythmic gymnastics at a very early age (3 years old!).
Can you tell us a little bit about what is it like to grow up in the environment of rhythmic gymnastics?  I know that little girls in Russia who are getting training in gymnastics and ballet usually are treated quite harshly, even though it does help to achieve a lot. What were the highlights and struggles of that time for you personally? 

The coaches I had through my life were all from the Soviet Union. I would lie if I were to say the training was easy and painless. A day as a rhythmic gymnast mostly consists of stretching… for long long hours! The fun part was to practice the manipulation of each apparatus (ball, hoop, clubs, ribbon and rope) and create my own choreography. 

The highlights of that time were obviously when I got to win medals or when I was chosen to be part of the Elite team of Quebec.

Q3: What was your most memorable moment of that time? 

I can never forget the first trip I made for a competition. Traveling around North America and missing school was awesome!  

But seriously, I consider myself very lucky that I got to discover the world at an early age. This made me so curious about other cultures and I believe it was the birth of my wanderlust!

Q 4:  When was the first time you heard about circus and went there? Do you remember your impressions? 

The only time I won tickets to assist a show in my life was as a child! I got to see a traditional circus show under a big top. I would say I was about 7 years old. My memories of that moment are very blurred, but I remember that I was intrigued and mesmerized by it. Being a child, it was like if I had an enigma to solve or a treasure to discover in that circus world.

Q 5: When did you make a decision to be a circus artist? 

I believe circus chose me! 

I was determined to become an actress. I studied dramatic arts until the day a friend of mine asked me to attend the audition of the National Circus School of Montreal with her. When I received the news that I was accepted (as well as her) in the most prestigious circus school of the world, I knew that circus had chosen me.

I soon realized that modern circus mixes dancing and acting and is the expression mode that matched me the most.

Q 6:  What companies have you worked for? 

I've been working for Cirque du Soleil for the past 3 years. Now performing in Las Vegas. Before that, I was touring the world with the show Cavalia.

Q 7:  What is your favorite performance /show you worked on? What did you have to do there? Why is it dear to your heart? :) 

Since my graduation from circus school, I have been very blessed to experience all kinds of performances. I don’t have a favorite show, since every single one of them made me grow as an artist. In the equestrian show Cavalia, I got to dance and fly around horses, which made it for sure unforgettable. Afterwards, working with Cirque du Soleil, I got to work with incredibly talented artists and had the chance to understudy the main character in addition to my work as a dancer and aerialist.
Q 8:  Have you ever have a thought of giving it up or maybe faced choosing a different path? 

Never!


Q 9:  If to speak about names of people in circus who are your “teachers/ mentors” and what were/are your inspirations? 

I was lucky to have a big team of coaches and artistic advisers supporting me at the circus school.  

But my inspiration to always move forward was my dad, who was an athlete himself. He always encouraged me to push my limits, especially in harsh times.

Q 10:  Is there anything in that career (sphere) which you would like to try, maybe challenge yourself more or just for fun? 

It’s funny because in every show I have done to this date, I was always asked to challenge myself and learn something completely new! A quality of a circus artist is also to have the guts and will to try new things all the time. No matter how dangerous or painful it can be ;) 

Eventually, I would enjoy flying on an aerial apparatus I have never worked on before. 

I would also love using my acting skills once more and work as a character in a show again.


Q 11:  Would you want your child (children) to belong to the circus life in some way? 

I would be glad and proud if they do anything they want… with passion and with love.

Q 12:  What do you think are the main myths about circus artists (circus)? 

People think we spend our entire day training! We do workout, but doing two shows a day keeps us pretty fit. Basically, trainings are for learning new tricks and prevention of injuries. 

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Photo by Adrian Roup
Q 13: Now let’s talk about other sides of your life. 

When did Argentine tango come into your life?  How long have you been dancing tango and what inspired you to try it?

A friend of mine kept talking about tango, at the same time as I was searching for a dance to incorporate into my trapeze act as a student in circus school. I finally went to a trial class at a local tango school in Montreal. This was back in 2004. At the end of the class, the couple danced one tango. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This dance was improvised! I had to find the mysteries about this dance. 

I thought once I finished combining tango with my trapeze act, I would be done with tango! We are never done with tango! 

What fascinated me about this dance is that no matter how many classes I was taking or how often I would dance, I kept learning new skills all the time. To this day, I am captivated by tango and I keep practicing and taking classes, because I always see improvement in my dance! 

Q 14:  How often do you dance tango usually? Is it mostly at bigger events or small milongas as well? What are you favorite places to dance at and why? 

I usually dance very often! Almost every night, depending the city I live in. 

I love to support small milongas. They are my favorite! 

Nowadays, performing circus arts ten times a week, I am not dancing as much. But I travel from time to time to dance at festivals. I was lucky to performed and teach this year in a beautiful tango festival in Cluj, Romania. 

My favorite place to dance would be La Viruta in Buenos Aires. Because it brings dancers of all ages and styles. It’s an after hour for tango dancers :).
Q 15:  What was the most unforgettable tango demo (performance) you’ve seen and where was it? 

I would say the first tango performance I have seen in Argentina. I was new to tango and saw the performance of Chico Frumboli and Juana Sepulveda. I had no idea it was possible to dance tango this way. Back then, I had only been to local milongas in my city. You can imagine the shock!

Q 16:  Anyone in particular who inspires you in tango? 

Geraldine Rojas, Graciela Gonzalez, Alejandra Mantiñan and many other!

Q 17:  What would you say to people who consider taking up circus arts as a career/ vocation? 

It is an incredible career. I got to work with such talented artists and was so inspired by my colleagues. 

But be ready to travel lot’s and to miss your loved ones :P 

Q 18:  And what would you say to people who consider taking Argentine tango as a vocation/ career? :) 

Good question! I could write so much about this subject.

Tango is a big community. There is lot’s of competition out there. To become a professional tango dancer and teacher requires hard work and real devotion. 
Q 19:  Can you tell us about your plans for 2014-2015?  

I have quite a few dreams… But I’m not a big fan of planning. 

Q 20:  If you could work on any project anywhere you want, what would it be? 

I would love to eventually be in a touring show again.
BLITZ QUESTIONS:

- favorite tango music:  Pasional; Pugliese y Moran

- tango DJs: I’ll just name a few! In United States; Shorey Myers, Avik Basu. In Europe; Florin Bilbiie, Mihran Şigaher, La Rubia

- non-tango music: Nina Simone

 - your favourite quotation about tango?  
"Tango que me hiciste mal y que, sin embargo, quiero"

- color? Depends on my mood ;)

- what is your favorite flower? Camellias 
 


- favorite dish / food Peruvian

- which animal would you like to be if you were an animal in your next life?  A bird! No need of passport and planes. I could just go anywhere all the time.

- what dance would you dance if not tango? Flamenco
 


- what film would you recommend watching? Since we were talking about circus, I would say “La belle verte”

- what circus shows would you recommend watching? Corteo, La Verità, The Beatles Love, any show from “Les 7 doigts de la main”

- what place would you choose for a romantic trip? Venice  

- what place would you live if you could live anywhere?  Anywhere I could have all my loved ones together.

- who would you like to say “thank you” to?  My dad

- Your  motto: Make of your life a dream, and of a dream, a reality.

Anything else you would like to say to the TangoDancers Blog’s readers?  
 Namaste

Thank you, Marianella! Good luck with everything!
 2013-2014 © Tango Dancers Blog
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Re: Interviews - Feedback is Very Welcome!

5/21/2014

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An update on the blog posts (call for likes :):  the hosting company of the website made some changes to their system and ALL likes were lost from the posts of their blogs :((. Thank you for your previous feedback! We really appreciated it and are sorry to lose them! There were about 45-90 likes on the interviews, which was great and an honor! *** If you feel like supporting us and "liking" the published interviews one more time on this website, we would appreciate, (there is no need to share it on FB if you don't want to, we just need to show to some potential funders of the film and project that the blog's posts have some audience and feedback/ *** You are ALWAYS WELCOME TO COMMENT or send us FEEDBACK through the contact form. If you would like to suggest a particular Dancer, DJ, Photographer or another artist for an interview, let us know! 
THANK YOU for your support & enjoy the upcoming interviews! 
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Addicted to Tango?

12/9/2013

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"Diagnosis is not the end but the beginning of practice."
(Martin H.Fischer)

So you think you are not addicted to tango? :)
Here is a chance to check this out!

Btw, if you've seen similar posts about tango addiction please post links to the website
Symphoms of a Tango Addict... (article)

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Buenos Aires Milongas - Music Survey

10/11/2013

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Take a look at the interesting survey conducted in Buenos Aires a few years ago to find out what music is popular at the milongas. I wonder how the situation has been changing through years? :) ***

http://www.centraltango.com/BuenosAires/BsAsMilongaMusicSurvey08.pdf
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Oliver Kolker - Glorias Del Tango

8/30/2013

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Interview © Tatiana Balashova 

... It's been over a year since I've heard from Oliver Kolker (one of my favorite tango instructors and dancers) that he started working on a feature project with Argentine tango. There was not much detail at that time available yet however my curiosity was already up high and it's exciting to get to know now that the movie "Glorias del Tango" will soon meet its audience.
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Filmmakers say that the film is born 3 times: once in the writer's head, then on the movie set, and later on the editing table. I'd add as well that the film's journey starts a new important turn when it's being released. Distribution is a huge part of the pre- and post-production and often filmmakers have to think about the ways to distribute the film way before the film is being shot even.  For an outsider (an average viewer) making movies might look glamorous and fun. Those who are connected with filmmaking or have ever been on the set probably know that it's enormous work of a crew of 10-1000+ people and like a huge spaceship which one has to take care about and monitor every small thing.
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We would like to thank you Oliver for taking time during these busy days to answer the questions for the TDBlog! There is one more big step to make the movie a success, please, dear TDBlog readers, enjoy the interview and feel free to read more information on the links in the interview. Let's welcome a new film with Argentine tango into the world.

Q1:  First of all, Oliver, tell us, please, how it all started. Have you been connected to cinema and filmmaking before? How did you get the idea of the film?

Well I studied drama in Argentina for many years, since 1995. I’ve done several commercials, TV and Print (MARTINI/BACCARDI) among them. After that MARTINI commercial I was able to buy my first car! Jajajajajaja. Since then  I’ve done acted in three movies, two in which I’ve played the leading role and the third one I played a cowboy. Great experience. I attended film school for in 2001, but I left because the way they taught didn’t stimulate me.
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LogLine:  Ezequiel Kaufman, an enthusiastic psychiatrist, in BsAs struggles to resolve the mystery of a patient's unique disorder: Fermin only speaks in tango lyrics; the treatment will take both on a healing journey of friendship, love, and forgiveness.
The idea for “ Glorias del Tango”  came when I was in NYC in 2005. The Tango Nuevo movement was just starting to become a big thing. For me,  having leaved in Argentina for practically my whole life, this new movement was a surprise, since I had never heard the term Tango Nuevo. For me Tango was only one thing. Then I realized by working and living  in NYC and traveling around the US, that a lot of people loved to dance, they movement, the playful possibilities of combining  different elements that Tango had to offer such as, Sacadas, Ganchos, Lapices, Volcadas, Enroques etc… but also many DID NOT connect with the music, in fact I heard a couple of times people saying “I can’t stand Tango Music, but I love the dance."

Many people enjoyed dancing Tango steps to other music; dancing to Janis Joplin, The Beatles, you name it. Was this wrong? Not at all, but in the beginning I have to admit I was a little shocked but I also understood that people weren’t disrespecting the dance at all, they simply did not connect with its music. Their roots where different.  So instead of writing a blog about it, I thought: Tango is such a deep and vast art form, a popular expression that has independently basically developed in four branches; MUSIC, DANCE, SINGING and POETRY, we can even speak in Tango lyrics! and that was it. We have to understand that tango talks about, Love, Friendship, Parents, Jail, Jobs, Romance, Betrayal, Food, Advice etc… life itself.

Q2:  Was it hard to find a crew or you already knew who u want to work with?.. Can you tell us a little bit about the leading actors.
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Oliver Kolker, Hernan Findling and Oren Dobronsky
  Yes, and NO. Hernan Findling my co-producer has been in Argentinean movie business the same amount of time I’ve been involved in Tango almost 16 years. I was shooting a movie for the US market in Argentina and he was the director. I approached him and pitch my idea. I said I was writing a script and he told me: "When you finish, you must register your work, the I’ll read it and if I like it I’ll produce it". So that was that.  I offered for him to Co-Direct it with me.  He took care of everything, finding the crew,  getting the permits, doing the paperwork. He also helped with getting financing  for the project from,  INCAA,  the National Institute that finances movie projects in Argentina. To access this grant you must compete and submit your work to be approved by a committee. The funny thing is that at the first submission I was rejected. This was in 2010, so I had to re write and finally I was approved in July 2012 after my friend Lynn helped me re write it.

(note by TDB: see more information about the actors in the teaser video and on the websites in the end of the interview!)

Q3:  Is the script yours? Did have study how to write screenplays or just went with intuition?


100% of the script is mine. The whole thing stems from my imagination. This was so difficult. I had the idea in my mind but I didn’t know how to write a script. The first thing I did was study script writing.  For almost 7 months, I read and read and read everything I could get my hands on.

I had  graduated with a Business Administration degree,  but after having read  all these books on script writing, I thought, “Why had I wasted my university years studying business”.  Everything I was reading concerning movies and script writing was so much fun and easier to understand. All those hours of TV that I watched when I was a kid (my parents used to be mad at me for this) made so much sense.  
So I wrote the first scene and showed to Silvina (Valz) and she said: I LOVE IT, KEEP GOING… So that was it. They key thing also was that I did not pressure myself at all, if I felt like writing I did, and sometimes I spent  three months without writing. I could afford to do this because writing was not my prime source of income. Silvina was a big help in my being able to accomplish my goals. Some of the scenes were actually written by Silvina. When the script was rejected the first time, I went to a script doctor who helped me rewrite some scenes.
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Q4:  When the production was started and what kind of funding it was?

We had 3 weeks of Pre Production, 5 weeks of Production (SHOOTING) and we will have between 2 and 3 months of Post Production. Today we are still at the post production stage.  
Funds came from INCAA and from private investors. Oren Dobronsky is one of the investors in this project and his help, vision and trust has been huge.
We are in the middle of a Kickstarter Campaign in order to raise some extra cash  to help with the post production and the Argentine theatrical release  . So far we are doing amazingly well. Our goal is $50,000 and so far we have raised around $45,500 and we still have 5 days to go. The international Tango community has been a TREMENDOUS help . It’s amazing how much love and support they have shown us.
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Q5:  Which language will the film, Spanish?

The movie is shot entirely in SPANISH, our plan is to subtitle the movie in as many languages as possible, English, French, German, Russian, Turkish, etc…

Q6:  What is the message of the film? What would you and your colleagues like viewers to take away?

That is great question, I did not write the story to send a message or a statement. Basically I wanted to to take the Tango Art form to another level by telling a story of Drama and Romance within the elements of Tango.   

Q7:  Will tango dancers be surprised somehow when watching the movie? :)


I can’t wait to see Silvina Valz in the film for example. You know, that special feeling when you see someone you know on TV or in the movie :).
We’ ll have to wait and see. You have to understand we’re aiming at NON Tango people to enjoy the film.
Q8: What is your distribution plan in brief, how people will be able to see the movie? Will it be submitted to the festivals first?

Yes. We are in talks with major distributors in Argentina and so far we have been invited to participate in the prestigious Mar del Plata Film Festival, which is the only Class “A” Festival in Latin America. We believe film festivals are  key  to  distributing the movie. Sundance is a big goal in our distribution plan; not easy but not Impossible.  

Q9:  I know that you have an "all or nothing" crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for "Glorias del Tango", which means only in the case the goal is reached or surpassed you can have access to that funding.  Where people can find more information about the film, the campaign and maybe behind the scenes materials? (There are a few days left and I hope more people will contribute to the project to be part of it and enjoy watching the movie soon!)

O.: the links are the following:

KICKSTARTER crowdfunding campaign –
Glorias del Tango 
Information, pictures...

www.gloriasdeltango.com
www.ferminlapelicula.com
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Q10:  When you worked hard on the project, did you still have energy for dancing and teaching?

Yes of course I go dancing 3 times a week. I am not teaching right now.

T:  Ok, thank you! Good luck with the project!
I am proud to be among the backers! :) Can't wait to see the movie and hope it will have a great success at the festivals and among tango and non-tango people.

2013 © Tango Dancers Blog

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Note / September 2th, 2013 - Thanks to the support of many contributors including tango dancers, the crowdfunding campaign for the project "Glorias Del Tango" has successfully reached their goal in time!  Which proves the power of filmmakers and those who love them and the movies! :)  THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Look forward to watching the film! :)
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