Tregar Otton, founder of the orchestra, playing the violin
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición has been one of the most legendary groups of Cuban music in its entire history. It is a group whose members are based in San Francisco, California, and consists of 11 members who play different genres such as danzón, timba, guaguancó, cha cha chá, son, rumba, charanga, among others. They also mix in elements from American jazz, violins, and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
The beginning of this orchestra’s story goes back to 1996, since they started to perform throughout the United States to bring the best of traditional Cuban music to every corner of the country and transport Cuban immigrants back to the Havana’s streets and clubs during the 50’s. All the success accumulated allowed them to perform at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, the Lincoln Certer and many other venues of high prestige.
Recently, Orquesta La Moderna Tradición once again displayed their talent at Yoshi’s, a jazz club and restaurant located in Oakland, California, whose reputation in the San Francisco Bay Area is not up for discussion. Our editor Eduardo Guilarte was present at the show to cover the details of the event, which left all those present in awe.
Conversation with Tregar Otton, founding director of the orchestra
Tregar Otton and Maru Pérez-Viana, his wife and an important part of the orchestra
Based on the above, we talked with Tregar Otton, founder, director, composer, and violinist of the group. This talented musician, born in the Marshall Islands and raised in Texas, started to learn about classical music from an early age and joined the Berkeley Symphony while he still was a teenager. By the 1990s, this musical promise worked as a regular part of Virgilio Mart Y Sus Majaderos, La Tipica Novel and the Charanga Orquesta Broadway.
By the year 1995, Otton founded Orquesta La Moderna Tradición with Roberto Borrell. At the beginning, the group started to become well-known for its soft sounds of Afro-Cuban charanga, which are accompanied by a set of wind instruments and violins that give a unique touch to this group’s music.
Today, we have the welcome presence of the musician to talk about each and every one of the issues raised in this brief review and anything he wants to reveal to our dear readers. It is such a pleasure to have you here today, Tregar. How are you feeling?
I am fine here near San Francisco. Good to see you today.
Very good, Tregar. You got started in the world of music at a young age. Could you tell us a bit about your beginnings?
I started playing violin when I was four years old and my family had a violin teacher as a neighbor. My parents did the laundry for all our neighbors, so we met her and she ended up giving me classes every day. After that, I studied a lot of classical music, bought music when I was about 20 and fell in love with it because it used the violins differently from classical music. I really enjoyed playing dance music because the connection with the public is quite different from that of classical music. In the case of classical music, many people get bored, but Cuban music and salsa music make a much more direct connection to the audience. There is nothing like playing for a floor with dancers.
We understand that you were born in the Marshall Islands, but grew up in Texas, is that correct?
Yes. After my dad married my mom, they both moved to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, in the middle of the Pacific. After that, I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, till I was 13 or 14 about when I moved to California.
I asked because it is very interesting how you set your eyes on Cuban music despite your origins. Where does this interest in Cuban music and the rhythms you play come from?
For the same reasons I play dance music. It caught my attention when I heard Charanga de La 4 or one of these New York bands. I was impressed that violins were part of the percussion and were making repetitive sounds with the refrain and the son montuno. We are more part of the rhythm section than the melodic section in many of our songs. We can dance while we are on stage. I was also impressed by the improvisations of Cuqui and Alfredo de la Fé. I had many Latin friends I met in college while learning Spanish because no one in my family spoke it.
How did Orquesta La Moderna Tradición come about and who joined you in its foundation?
I was working with a group. I was in New York, where I was playing with the Broadway Orchestra and the Orquesta Tipica Novel. I was very lucky to have been in that city because I got to know many veteran musicians in the 80’s like Renato Valdés, Virgilio Martí, and Adalberto Santiago. I visited a Cuban friend from San Francisco named Fito Reinoso, who had a group called Ritmo Y Armonía and he visited us here in New York. I was tired of the cold in New York, so I decided to go to San Francisco, where Tito and I had the idea of creating a group. It was there that I met a great drum instructor and dance teacher Roberto Borrell, who joined us to found Ritmo y Armonía. After two years, we had to be apart, but Roberto and I still wanted to play danzón. At least here in the Bay Area, it is very difficult to get singers. The ones we have are good, but there are not so many. So, we planned to make a danzonera or danzón group. When the orchestra began to work, we only played danzón songs, rehearsed every week and did many tours with this musical genre because there was a boom with swing dancing and dance music during the 40’s. So, we were surfing that wave. So, we were surfing that wave and doing collaborations with swing groups because it was older music. Danzón is a very rich genre, but it is no of interest to many people because they do not know how to dance it, so we started expanding our repertoire to include more modern and dance music. We still play danzones, but only two per set. There are still musicians from the original group in the orchestra including Michael Spiro. Roberto went to Peru about a decade ago, so Michael and I stayed with the group and invited Eduardo Herrera, who is a singer born in Caracas, Venezuela, to perform with us. We expanded the repertoire by doing the best we could with my own creations. Let’s remember I am the arranger of the group, so I do some songs and we have one that is included in the new recording in which I wrote the music and maestro Carlos Caro from Cuba added the lyrics.
Orquesta La moderna Tradición at one of its shows
Although rhythms like danzón are not so popular, did you feel the acceptance of the public?
There were many people who knew danzón who began to notice that it was a very interesting genre due to the presence of the violins. As Roberto Borrell is a dance teacher, he teaches many of his students how to dance danzón, which is not easy because they should be affixed on each turn they have to make according to the sounds of the instruments.
Can you go from one genre to another in the same song?
Yes, we do that a lot. On our new album, we have rhythms with batá drums from music of Santería, which we use for our danzón songs. It sounds complicated when I explain it, but it is easy at the time of listening to it.
What makes Orquesta La Moderna Tradición different from other Latin music groups in the United States?
Well, I know no other group that plays danzón or charanga. There are two genres of popular dance music in Cuba that come from son montuno, which uses violins and flutes. In the case of charanga, the musicians use violins and flutes. Since the 70’s and 80’s, charanga is now no longer heard in the United States. In Cuba, neither do you hear danzón much. We are a group that has so many danzones in the repertoire. There are not too many groups that play cha cha chá. Me being an arranger, I try to create cha cha chá songs that are not copies of what was played by Orquesta Aragón and other bands in the 40’s and 50’s.
Given that music has evolved so much, what reaction do you perceive from the young public when you play charanga, cha cha chá, danzón and other rhythms?
Interesting question. For young people who do not know and are not salsa fans, our music sounds like salsa because it is difficult to distinguish the genres without knowing them well. However, I work as a music teacher and I have many groups of children, in which there are many salsa fans. They listen to Ray Barreto, Willie Colón, and Hector Lavoe. They also like charanga and understand it well. However, I think danzón is more difficult because it has to be a reflection of what people are feeling in their culture. Cha cha chá is simpler and innocent, but danzón is finer and refined. I think music can influence people and play its part in changing the direction of their culture.
Can you tell us a little bit about your performance at Yoshi’s?
Because of COVID-19, for a year and a half, we could not do anything. We could not even rehearse until the vaccine came on the market. We got this date with Yoshi’s because we have played there many times before as well as Yoshi’s in San Francisco. So, they gave us a date and we had the support of local DJs like Luis Medina, Chuy Varela and Jose Ruiz. We also made use of social media to promote us, sell our CDs and attract people to our shows. The staff of Yoshi’s was impressed because it is rare that a local band has been able to sell so many tickets. We were very excited to see so many people loving us and showing how much they love music. We have a large audience that is very loyal to us and has been going wherever we perform for over 20 years.
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición performing at Yoshi’s
What are your future projects?
We get everything ready for the repertoire of the new album. When I was in New York, I was working with Juan Carlos Formell, Juan Formell’s son, who is the bass player and took over his father’s position in Los Van Van. I was one of the first people he met here in the United States and we became very good friends. Then he told me that I could arrange any of his songs without any problem, so I have about four or five of his songs ready and some others that I have not finished yet. We have enough material to make at least two albums, but it is very expensive. One could only cost us about $15 to start with.
Cover art work for the Orquesta La Moderna Tradición new album El Encantado
Alfredo Rodríguez Trio, Latin Weekender 2021, And Alain Pérez Quinteto
November will be packed with Latin events this November in the Netherlands
With the arrival of the penultimate month of the year, it’s normal, that we are eager to enjoy and start having memorable moments now that 2021 is almost over. That is why, as a first step, we offer you the latest news about the most important Latin events taking place in the country known to be partially below mean sea level, the Netherlands.
Alfredo Rodríguez Trio Live
In this Cuban Jazz concert, you will enjoy the most recent record production: The Little Dream
Get ready to delight yourself with the masterful sound of Jazz and its fusions with the virtuoso Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez along with the participation of Michael Olivera (Drums) and Yarel Hernández (Double Bass) in a dazzling Latin Jazz concert on November 19th at the Bimhuis auditorium in Amsterdam.
Energy, Latin Style, And Unique Enthusiasm Come Together In The Music Of This Trio
Alfredo Rodríguez (composer and pianist) was born into a family of artists whose father is the famous singer and TV host from the island of Cuba, Alfredito Rodríguez.
From a young age, he was a prodigy on the string instrument. “He studied classical piano at the prestigious Amadeo Roldán Conservatory and the Higher Institute of Art while playing popular music in his father’s orchestra at night. While performing at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, he was discovered by his future mentor and producer, the legendary Quincy Jones.” Excerpt from his biography.
The 36-year-old pianist from Havana has classical training with nuances of styles of dance music from the bars of his hometown and the Progressive Jazz of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea, which we can evidence in each composition and concert.
Rodríguez already has four studio albums, and one of his most emblematic presentations was made in 2019 with Richard Bona with a full house in one of the best concert halls in the world, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, located in the capital of the Netherlands.
In Latin Weekender 2021, you will have three days of the hottest parties of Salsa, Kizomba, Bachata, Tango, and Afro Dance
Latin Weekender is the Latin festival per excellence in the Netherlands. This sixth edition will feature 25 workshops at all levels, boot camps, a pool party, shows, a concert with the Pegasaya Orchestra, and nine social events of Salsa, Bachata, Tango, Kizomba, and Afro Dance.
Get away from the routine with your group of friends and lovers of Latin music for a long weekend and experience the passion for dance.
Remember to buy your tickets in advance as there is currently less availability for Latin Weekender 2020 reservations.
Date: Friday, November 19th – Sunday, November 21st
The Pegasaya Orchestra played for six consecutive hours in the Rotterdam Summer Carnival Party Parade 1998
The Pegasaya Orchestra will be present at the Latin Weekender 2021, and you can’t miss it. The band, made up of ten musicians, was founded in 1985 in Tilburg city (the sixth most populous city in the Netherlands).
This orchestra, the greatest leader on the Dutch Latin scene, has participated in national and international festivals. They have been the first band to win the audience award twice as The Most Popular Group at the Rotterdam Summer Carnival (1995 and 1999). In February 2001, Pegasaya released their compilation album “The Best of the Pegasaya Orchestra” and also featured live performances on the Holland Casino chain in the Netherlands for a year (2007/2008). They also accompanied Elvis Crespo on May 28th, 2009 during his concert at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam as well as Jeniffer López at her presentation at the Hennie Huisman Soundmix show in 2003.
Alain Pérez was recently nominated for the Latin Grammy 2021 for the album Cha cha chá: Tribute to the traditional together with the Orquesta Aragón and Isaac Delgado
Music Meeting Concerts presents a special Sunday in the Cuban style with the musical meeting between Alain Pérez Quinteto and Alfredo Rodríguez Trío in two unique performances on the third Sunday of November.
Music Meeting Festival 2021 organizes for this fall a series of concerts at LUX and Brebl in Nijmegen, LantarenVenster in Rotterdam, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and MuziekPublique in Brussels. Music lovers will be able to enjoy unique evenings with challenging compositions and collaborations by music teachers from all over the world as a prelude to the Music Meeting Festival 2022.
Alain Pérez, the Cuban artist with numerous Latin Grammy Award nominations, will present his magic and charm with his fusion of Salsa, Latin Jazz, and Flamenco on November 21st in Nijmegen. Alain, known for leading the legendary singer Celia Cruz’s orchestra before he turned thirty, consolidated his musical career by becoming the bassist of Paco de Lucia for six consecutive years. Currently, Pérez has his band and is one of the most important musicians in his native country. Alain Pérez plays bass, guitar, piano, percussion, and sings; he also works as a composer, arranger, and producer. For this event, Alain (Bass and Voice) will be accompanied by Andy García (Piano), Inoidel González (Tenor Saxophone), José Montaña (Percussion), and Alain Ladrón de Guevara on drums.
On the other hand, Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez breaks the third wall between him and his audience when he shares his skill and technique live. Attendees feel close to the refined play of the notes with the rhythm and harmony of the melodies that can be sung with ease. For this Latin event, Rodríguez (Piano) has in collaboration with his two friends: Munir Hossn (Bass / Spanish Guitar) and Michael Olivera (Drums).
Bachata Xtreme 2021, Arturo Y Su Azucaribe, Abrázame And Tu Música Cubana
End 2021 with this route of events in Switzerland
This year is already ending, and before saying goodbye, enjoy four authentically Latin parties in this mountainous country of central Europe.
Bachata Xtreme 2021
Kiko Ortega and Christina Schirjaev (Bachata Xtreme 2021 Organizers)
Kiko Ortega (Seville – Spain) and Christina Schirjaev (Hamburg – Germany) are the organizers of the event in Switzerland that highlights Bachata, the Latin dance with the most sensual movements and one of the most popular of the last decade.
Bachata Xtreme 2021 will be based on the Dominican rhythm, giving 6-hour workshops that include the clean and social style, working in pairs with the primary purpose of achieving an impressive connection between the two, and offering additional detailed information on the concepts of Lead and Follow in this Latin dance that will improve your skills with great success. With this didactic teaching mechanism that they impart, they differ from the rest of their peers in the area.
Besides, it is also important to know that attendees will only be able to access the event by presenting a valid Covid certificate along with identification. If the event is canceled due to current circumstances, the tickets will be fully refunded.
Arturo y Su Azucaribe released their debut album Llegó Mi Son with the single Mi Son Cubano in January 2019
World Music Festival 2021 presents Arturo y su Azucaribe in concert on the last Tuesday of November. This band integrated into Swiss society but whose music is molded to their cultures of origin takes a tour of traditional Cuban melodies.
This orchestra founded in 2012 displays its talent during concerts with the Guaguancó, Son Cubano, and Boleros fusing them with the Salsa hits of the last two decades of important personalities such as Héctor Lavoe and Marc Anthony among many others.
Arturo y su Azucaribe released Llegó Mi Son, their first record production in January 2019, with unpublished compositions written by the band´s members with the production and direction of the bassist and conductor Arthur Furrer.
So, remember to stay in Zurich and dance to the rhythm of Salsa at this week-long festival.
Two Latin events that will infect you with Sabor y Son!
Abrázame is a Latin event that takes place every month and brings the most current Puerto Rican Salsa, New York On2 style, as well as the best of Cuban Salsa, Bachata, Cha-Cha, and other Afro-Caribbean rhythms.
In addition, Abrázame will have a sensual Bachata workshop and a representative show of the genre. The social dance will start at 10 PM with DJ Samy (Salsa Mix) and DJane Energía (Bachata / Kizomba)
The biosecurity system will be implemented by disinfection in all areas of the venue and there will be a constant tracking system due to the reduced space. It implies that attendees must complete the complete registration with their data: last names, names, telephone numbers, and email addresses (data that will be kept for approximately two weeks).
Date: Saturday, November 13th
Venue: Dalmaziquai 69, 3005 Bern, Switzerland
Price: CHF 35 / person (Only Cash)
The second authentic Latin party in the Swiss capital is Tu Música.
Every third Friday of the month, you can enjoy this Cuban Salsa (Timba) event on a free dance floor with DJ Saltho for all salseros who wish to move and immerse themselves in the rhythm for three continuous hours.
The Most Recognized Pianist Of The 21st Century Comes Back To The Voll-Damm Barcelona Jazz Festival After Two Years
Chucho Valdés has received the award for Musical Excellence from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Latin Composers
The master Chucho Valdés returns to the stage of the Voll-Damm Barcelona Jazz Festival on November 23rd, 2021 after two years of absence. The most recognized Cuban pianist of the 21st century will present his most recent musical production La Creación, a suite in four movements that exalts Yoruba-African history and its influences in South America and the Caribbean. A work dedicated to Olodumare and the worldwide celebration of his 80 years of life.
The founder of the Irakere group comes back to the incomparable sound of the Big Band, Afro-Cuban percussion, Blues, and the set of voices that represents his histrionics as a director, composer, and pianist with La Creación.
On this album, Valdés is accompanied on arrangements, keyboards, and conducting by Canadian Juno award-winning Cuban musician Hilario Durán and the Grammy Award winner and Emmy nominee John Beasley. Playing the Drums is Grammy winner and two Latin Grammy nominee Dafnis Prieto. Also, in La Creación stand out Erick Barbería, Yosvany González Franco, and Felipe Sarria Linares (Batá and voices), José A. Gola (Double Bass and Electric Bass), and Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno (Percussion). Former Van Van member Yeny Valdés adds her melodious voice to this production, while two Grammys winner Brian Lynch and “Daring Improviser” (rated by Jazz Times) Etienne Charles do it by playing the Trumpets. On the other hand, Carlos Averhoff Jr., considered one of the new voices in the new generation of Cuban jazz saxophonists, flaunts his virtuosity on the Tenor Sax and Marcus Strickland on the Alto Sax.
So remember…
Enjoy the concert of the master Chucho Valdés & The Yoruban Orchestra in the Iberian Peninsula!
Date: Tuesday, November 23rd
Time: 8:30 PM
Address: Palau de la Música Catalana. Music auditorium located on Sant Pere més Alt street in the Ribera district of Barcelona, Spain.
Ticket: From 26 €
Chucho Valdés was born on October 9th, 1941, in Quivicán (Cuba)
In addition to this presentation in Barcelona, the winner of six Grammys and four Latin Grammys, Chucho Valdés has scheduled an autumn tour that will visit the main cities of France and the neighborhood of the principality of Monaco, Monte Carlo. Finishing his tour in the city of Girona – Spain (December 4th) and Castellón de la Plana – Spain (December 11th). Tickets can be found from € 15 depending on the location.
Currently, Dionisio Jesús “Chucho” Valdés Rodríguez, with more than 60 years of experience, directs a course of group classes that contain 14 recorded chapters lasting one hour. This exclusive virtual academy for pianists was inaugurated on March 15th, 2021. However, this online study platform already includes live lessons and individualized tutoring with the delivery of certificates for advanced pianists.
“After the experience of the group classes in a virtual way, I realized that the students have different needs, so I decided to start with individual classes for advanced musicians. In this way, the classes will be focused directly on the needs of each one”. Chucho Valdés.
Perhaps These Data May Interest You:
To attend the Festival, minors under 16 must be accompanied by their father, mother, or legal guardian
The Barcelona Voll-Damm Jazz Festival is one of the oldest events and a world reference in Europe. Their first concert was held on November 3rd, 1966.
In this festival, master classes are offered by the best specialists, conferences with fascinating and current topics, meetings with artists, as well as outstanding concerts (some free) for fans and lovers of the Jazz genre.
For 32 years (1989) The Project has been the Barcelona promotion company in charge of organizing this autumn meeting annually.
The Project was created in 1988 and organizes more than 400 concerts a year with approximately 10,000 musical calls to date.
The Voll-Damm drink became part of the festival in 2002, becoming its main sponsor.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, the place where the spirit of Tango was born, so when tourists visit this beautiful city they say that to get to know it you have to immerse yourself in the magic of dance.
Tango is a dance full of sensuality that was born during the 1800s, a musical style that results from the fusion between African culture and the local cultures of the gauchos and native peoples, in addition to the contribution of European immigrants –mainly, Spanish and Italian – and from the Middle East.
The elegant and passionate movement of tango shows the exotic cultural mix of the first tango dancers and the solemn melodies of this music offer the listener a glimpse into the lives of the first Argentine immigrants, and over time the tango later spread to the wealthier areas of Buenos Aires and at the beginning of the 20th century it became a sensation throughout Europe and the United States.
Tango dancers in Buenos Aires
For many years, Tango Festivals have been held in Buenos Aires every year, being a very attractive event for both national and foreign citizens, where many professional Tango dancers participate and compete and this year it is organized again by the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires, Tango BA Festival and Mundial who announced the champions in the categories Tango de Pista and Tango Escenario which was filling the Buenos Aires center with magic with more than 4000 people who enjoyed it with the Obelisk on Diagonal Street North as part of the stage.
The Tango BA Festival and Mundial was held from September 16 to 26, where shows, tributes and the best dancers performed on stage; more than 400 couples from Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Spain, Romania, Poland, Malaysia, Turkey, United States, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Colombia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Mexico, Latvia, Georgia , Bolivia, Canada and Switzerland competed in the Tango de Pista and Tango Escenario categories in this edition of Tango BA Mundial.
The inauguration began on Thursday, September 16 at the Auditorium of the Usina del Arte at 7:30 p.m. where a tribute was made to maestro Aníbal Troilo (he was a bandoneonist, composer, orchestra conductor of Argentine tango) with the orchestral direction, arrangements and solo violin by Fabián Bertero, the special participation of the dancers Sandra Bootz and Gabriel Ortega, and the presence of notable guests such as the singer Sandra Luna and the pianist José “Pepe” Colangelo, the special production “Pichuqueando”.
Dance stage for the Tango festival in Buenos Aires 2021
September 17:
Starting at 5 pm: the Carlos Gardel Museum presents the Fileteadoras Talk, by Patricia Berman and Claudia Medori and in turn an interview by Silvia Brunelli and Mercedes González Bracco.
At 6:00 pm: at the Abasto Shopping, the La Juan D’Arienzo Orchestra performed.
Starting at 7:00 p.m., Hernán Reinaudo presented his album Toro mañero in the Chamber Room of @usinadelarte
7:30 pm: María Garay presented 80 years of Life and Song, in Concert, at the Auditorium of the Usina, which were an exciting celebration of her career, with Marcos & Louise, Champions of Tango de Pista 2020, as dancers, Also at the same time, “Eternamente Di Sarli” was presented with the Orquesta Típica Misteriosa Buenos Aires on the voice of Eliana Sosa, at the Amphitheater of Parque Centenario. With Carlos Rossi, as special guest, and Carla Rossi and José Luis Salvo, as guest dancers, not to mention that at the same time there was a class and exhibition by Soledad Rivero and Cristian Gallardo.
September 18th:
From 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tango BA drinks the Historic Quarter. He toured one of the most emblematic areas of the City while enjoying concerts, guided tours, and dance shows. In addition, throughout the afternoon, “La Calle de la Música” came to life on a stage set up on the corner of Chile and Balcarce: where Ache Rey & Foul Envido Tango performed; Vanina Tagini & Gabriel Merlino Trío; Alfredo Piro and Profética y Fatal.
At 7:00 pm: Walter Ríos Quinteto presented El Tango y la Danza in the Amphitheater of Parque Centenario. A musical journey through the history of tango, from its origins to its contemporary expression.
At 8 pm: Cantá began at the Festival at the Carlos Gardel Cultural Space, with Alberto Bianco as host. Those who dare will be able to show their talent and love for tango on stage
September 19:
12:30 pm: at the Usina del Arte, the Qualifying Rounds of the Tango World Cup were held, in the Tango Track Category.
5:30 pm: in Sur en Vivo – Cultural Center – Milonga del Pueblo by Oscar Héctor, Cantá took place at the Festival, with Alberto Bianco as host. An open microphone for tango players who want to break it on stage.
6:00 pm: The Emilio Balcarce Tango School Orchestra presented a tribute to Elvino Vardaro, the great senior violinist of tango, at the Centennial Park Amphitheater. Roberto Leiva & Valentina Cipollone will dance.
September 20:
5 pm: Milonga Lo de Celia Photographic show Espíritu Milonguero, by Silvia Rojas and the magazine La Milonga Argentina.
7 pm: Milonga Lo de Celia and there was a talk about the spirit of the Argentine milonga, with Silvia Rojas and guests.
September 21:
At 1 pm: in the Auditorium of the @usinadelarte (it is a unique space that brings together people from all over the world through the love of tango and dance) where all the qualifying rounds of the Dance World Cup were seen, in In the Stage Tango Category, here each couple presented themselves individually where they demonstrated all their talent to the whole world both live and on the web (internet)
September 22:
6pm: The Milonga La Nacional begins with the presentation of My life in the milongas, by Oscar Héctor. The dancer, milonguero and organizer of spaces, portrays what he has experienced from the age of 9 to the present in the neighborhood clubs.
8pm: Milonga El Beso and Hugo Mastrolorenzo presents his book: El tango ha died on stage. A dystopian tale about a robotic and cloned tango.
September 23:
A concert was held from Italy in tribute to Astor Piazzolla, and another from Japan with a repertoire of classics and new compositions
September 24:
There were classes and shows in emblematic milongas, proposals in cultural spaces, and the show Remembranzas, by Corporación Tango, in the Centennial Park Amphitheater. In addition, at the Usina del Arte, José Colangelo celebrated his 80 years with special guests: Gabriela Rey, Laura Colangelo and Fabián Bertero.
Photo of the Obelisk on Diagonal Norte street
On September 25 and 26:
The grand finale of the BA Tango World Cup began, which will be enjoyed both live and through social networks from Vivamos Cultura; This final was very striking since for the first time the great stage set up was on Diagonal Norte, with the Obelisk in the background, giving it a unique image and experience, with different shows and tributes that filled the heart of the City with tango mysticism with:
Concert by the Sans Souci Orchestra, presented by Porteñisimo with the singers Emiliano Castignola and Walter “Chino” Laborde.
An emotional tribute was made to Juan Carlos Copes, who died this year, in which Johana Copes, his daughter, participated.
32 couples took the stage to compete for 1st place in the Tango de Pista category.
Pablo Banchero accompanied by a guitar trio presented Serenatas de Arrabal.
The Sexteto Mayor, which together with Roxana Fontán, performed a repertoire with classic themes from all periods and compositions by contemporary authors.
The dancers María Nieves and Silvia Toscano, “La Cachorra”, met in a public talk in which María Nieves told the story of how she brought tango to the stage.
At the end, a tribute show to “Tango Argentino” was held, a show by Claudio Segovia and Héctor Orezzoli, which was decisive in the international recognition of tango. This tribute included exhibitions by important dancers such as Milena Plebs and Fernando Carrasco, Vanina Bilous and Javier Rodríguez, Guillermina Quiroga and Mariano Logiudice and Analía Morales and Gabriel Ponce. The general direction was in charge of Julio Zurita.
The Obelisk on Diagonal Norte Street – The Tango BA Festival and Mundial 2021
And at the moment of the climax, a great emotion was experienced when Fernando Bravo finally announced the winners in each category, not to mention that the couple chosen by the public was awarded in celebration mode.
“The world champions to the couples formed by Agustín Agnez and Bárbara Ferreyra in Tango de Pista; and Emmanuel Casal and Yanina Muzyka in Stage Tango. ”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people could not be at this beautiful festival, so the organizers made a great gesture with all their followers and transmitted it live by streaming to the whole world on Vivamos Cultura and the Canal de la City with the conduction of the event was in charge of Carlitos Lin and the awards, in charge of Fernando Bravo, so that he would know how the event was going and they could enjoy it from the comfort and safety of their homes.
Tango BA Festival and World Cup 2021- tango dance champions
If you want more details or videos of the event held:
