11th Annual Philadelphia Tango Festival

The Philly Tango Festival is run by the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School.

The festival launched over Memorial Day weekend 2010 as a tango - humour festival. There were funny and serious workshops and performances, including the Philly premiere of "The Tango Cheeseballs," and an amazing milonga with live music by Tanghetto.

We skipped 2011, and then held yearly festivals from 2012 through 2019. Almost every festival was held over Memorial Day weekend. Once or twice we had to use a different weekend due to a venue or artist conflict.

We tried out a range of venues, before finding our ideal home at the Lithuanian Music Hall. Click any of the photos below to go to the full photo album for that year's festival.

Schedule of Events:

May 25, 2023

7:30pm - 10 pm: Short Concert, Film Screening & Discussion

Screening of the New Documentary, "El Sonido de Antes" ("The Hidden Sound of Tango"), by Yael Szmulewicz.

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May 26, 2023

3pm - 4:15 pm: Workshop (Int. and Up) - Imbalance as Part of the Dance - Octavio & Corina)

4:30pm - 5:45 pm: Workshop (Int. and Up) - References to Improve Your Connection - Cecilia & Serkan

4:30pm - 5:45 pm: Private Reception for Major Donors who supported the Tipica Messiez Album production

6pm - 7:45 pm: Arrival Practical with DJ Gabriel Gaumond - Goal: Try to Dance at least one-half the time with people you didn't know before! Help make the festival a fun & welcoming experience for people new to our community!

8pm - 9 pm: Concert - Juan Villarreal & Patricio Crom

9:30 pm - 3 am: Milonga with DJ Jackie Pham and live music by Juan Villarreal & Patricio Crom. Performance by Octavio Fernandez & Corina Herrera.

May 27, 2023

12pm - 1:15 pm: Workshop -  Chacarera (Argentine folkloric dance) from a Queer and Improvisational Perspective -  Nick

12pm - 1:15 pm: Yoga Class (All levels) -  Carolyn

1:30pm - 2:45 pm: Seminar -  Circular Movements in Tango. Workshop #1: Functionality of the Embrace - Cecilia & Serkan

1:30pm - 2:45 pm: Masterclass For Singers - Preparation for the live music open mic practica - Juan Villarreal

3pm - 4:15 pm: Seminar -  Circular Movements in Tango. Workshop #2: Structure on the Floor - Cecilia & Serkan

3pm - 4:15 pm: Workshop (All levels) -  What the is Tango Musicality Anyways? -  Juan & Patricio

4:30pm - 5:45 pm: Seminar -  Qualities of Movement & Musical References. Workshop #1 -  Octavio & Corina

4:30pm - 5:45 pm: Beginner Workshop (Workshop #1 of 4) -  Martin & Dagny

6pm - 7:45 pm: Practica -  Open Role Guided Practica - Carla Marano

6pm - 7:15 pm: Lecture -  Beyond tango, beyond whiteness: Folklore and a primer on Argentina's vast cultural diversity (Nick Wallach)

8pm - 9 pm: Concert -  Romopm - Agripm - Messiez Trio, presenting their new album, "Ahora"

9:30 pm - 3 am: Milonga with DJ Octavio Fernandez. LIVE MUSIC by the Tipica Messiez, presenting their new album, which was produced by the Philadelphia Tango Festival. Performance by Cecilia Garcia & Serkan Gokcesu.

3:00am - 7:00am: After: Party Milonga

May 28, 2023

1:30pm - 2:45 Pm: Seminar - Qualities Of Movement & Musical References. Workshop 02 - Octavio & Conna
    
1:30-2:45 Pm: Beginner Workshop (Workshop 02 Of 4)- Martin & Dagny   

3pm - 4:15 Pm: Seminar - Qualities Of Movement & Musical References. Workshop #3 - Octavio & Conna|
    
3pm - 4:15 Pm: Beginner Workshop (Workshop 03 Of 4) - Martin & Dagny   

4:30pm - 5:45 Pm: Seminar Circular Movements In Tango. Workshop #3: Spiral Motion - Cecilia & Serkan
    
4:30pm - 5:45 Pm: Workshop - Zamba 1 (Argentine Folkloric Dance) - Nick
    
4:30pm - 5:45 Pm: Lecture - What Does It Mean To Play "A La Parrilla?" - Emiliano

6pm - 7:45 Pm: Practica - Live Music Open Mic Practica (Singers Are Encouraged To Take The Masterclass With Juan Villarreal Offered On Saturday To Prepare). Dancers, Please Come To Dance To The Live Music.   

8pm - 9 Pm: Concert - Bandoneonist Hugo Satorre & Guitarist / Vocalist Leandro Roucco
       
9:30 Pm - 3 Am: Milonga With Dj Eric Lindgren And Improvised, "Audience Choice" Live Music By Hugo Satorre. Emiliano Messiez, Patricio Crom, Luan Villarreal & Others. Tango Performance By Martin Enos & Dagny Miller. Folkloric Performance By Nick Wallach.

May 29, 2023

12pm - 1:15 Pm: Workshop (Int. & Up) Tools To Reawaken Your Creativity - What To Do When You Feel Stuck - Cecilia & Serkan

12pm - 1:15 Pm: Yoga Class (All Levels) - Monica

12-1:15 Pm: Beginner Workshop (Workshop M Of 4) - Martin & Dagny   

12-1:15 Pm: Yoga Class (All Levels) - Monica

1:30-2:45 Pm: Seminar - Circular Movements In Tango. Workshop M: Sound Of Movement - Cecilia S Serkan

1:30-2:45 Pm: Workshop (Int. & Up) Close Embrace & Its Possibilities

3-4:15 Pm: Seminar - Qualities Of Movement & Musical References. Workshop #4 - Octavio & Conna   

3-4:15 Pm: Workshop  Zamba 2 (Argentine Folkloric Dance) - Nick

4:30-5:45 Pm: Lecture - The History Of The Bandoneon, And Through That Lens, The History Of Tango - Hugo Satorre

6-7:30 Pm: Workshop & Guided Practica Improvisation In Tango Dance & Music - Octavio Fernandez & Hugo Satorre

8-9 Pm: PENA- Folkloric Concert & Guided Chacarera & Zamba Practlca - Juan, Pato, Hugo & Nick

9:30 Pm -3 Am: Milonga With DJ Carla Marano And Live Music

Date: May 25-29,2023

Location: Various Venues in Philadelphia, PA 19134

Click here for Registration