Ernest Williams Workshops
January 19th and 20th, 2008
Old Arizona Studio, 29th and Nicollet Ave S, Minnea
polis, MN 55408
You have heard about Candombe and Canyengue, and a few of you have taken some classes on these with me. January 18, 19 and 20th, we welcome Ernest Williams, a great dancer who has specialized not only in tango, but also the forms known as Candombe and Canyengue.
A native of
Philadelphia and currently based in Chicago, Ernest started dancing Tango in 2000 in
Monterey,
CA with Argentina-born Fernando Filipelli as his first instructor. While living in
Hawaii in 2002 Ernest started teaching formally at the request of fellow tango dancers due to his ability to translate the more difficult concepts of Tango. Since 2003 Ernest has traveled nationally and internationally gathering a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of dance from various sources.
Ernest Williams has taught and performed Argentine Tango since 2002. He has conducted workshops and seminars, as well as dance exhibitions in Virginia Beach, VA, Richmond, VA, Philadelphia, Ocracoke Island, NC, Raleigh, NC; and Charlotte, NC, Washington D.C., Baltimore, New Orleans, and Honolulu. He has also taught several intensive tango and milonga seminars in Montevideo, Uruguay; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some of his most notable US performances include the musical Candombe: Tango Negro with Carina Losano at Gala Theatre in Washington, DC, the opening performance of the 18th Annual Washington DC International Film Festival focusing on films from Argentina, the Latin American Festival in Richmond VA with Sharna Fabiano, Living Tango, a performance for the Dancing for Schools benefit at Temple University with Jean Fung in Philadelphia, PA. and performance at the Trinity Artist Series: Live Tango Concert by the Gerardo Perez Tango Trio in New Orleans.
Along with his former partner Linda Sutton, Ernest has spent 6 months of 2005 in Uruguay and Argentina researching the African roots of Tango including Milongón, Candombe, and Canyengue. He is currently working on a documentary on the black experience and Uruguay’s influence on tango as a part of his research. As a result of his research, he has co-written, choreographed and performed excerpts of Tangó: The Black Dance Experience (La Experiencia Negra en la Danza) a dance theatre production, working in conjunction with many artists, historians, cultural and governmental organizations based in Uruguay and Argentina. He’s performed excerpts of this work in Buenos Aires at the Club del Actor with BADA (Buenos Aires Danza Afro). During his stay in the Rio de la Plata region of South America, he has been a three-time featured tango performer on “La Ciudad de Tango”, a live national TV show in Uruguay and a two-time featured candombe dancer with the high- profile candombe organization La Gozadera in Montevideo.
Ernest incorporates various forms of Tango in his style all of which are tinted with a strong sense of musicality. A recent graduate of the “Master para Maestros” por La Escuela Argentina del Tango (Masters for Teachers at the School of Argentine Tango) program in July 2005 located in Buenos Aires, Ernest’s teaching is clear, detailed and exploratory and contextual in nature, thus he is dedicated to finding and communicating the answers to the hard questions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIesK3zBLX0
Pricing: 1 to 2 Workshops $20 each (Day of workshops $25)
6 workshop series $110 (Day of workshops: $130) Full time students 25% off (Does not include Friday night) Privates: $65/hour.
WORKSHOP THEMES WILL INCLUDE:
Candombe and Canyengue are all-levels classes. Although prior tango experience would be helpful for Canyengue, it is not necessary.
Matrix Tango assumes prior experience in closed embrace and would be helpful if the students were familiar with milonguero style and/or volcadas and colgadas if they are Nuevo people. Level should be advanced beginner and above.
Vals and Milonga classes are advanced musicality classes. Prior knowledge of vals and milonga is assumed, but one's musicality level is not always connected to their "dancing" level. If one is naturally musical then advanced beginners are welcome. Otherwise this would be better suited for intermediate and above.
Ernest dances in closed and open embrace (a liquid embrace) and teaches workshops in either one although is primarily a closed embrace teacher. Most of the material is designed for closed embrace but can be adapted to open embrace except for canyengue which has its own close embrace style. Candombe is not an issue sense it's not a dance in an embrace.
Some may find the weekend physically demanding and may be tired by the end, so be prepared for that. We will review this material in the following weeks in classes and practices, so you can really integrate the many new concepts into your dance.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18th - Pre-milonga class at Four Seasons Studio, 1637 Hennepin Av. Mpls Minneapolis before Michael Cordner's milonga - Intro to Canyengue and Candombe. We will also do a demo. $20 includes milonga.
*SATURDAY, JANUARY 19th, OLD ARIZONA STUDIOS, 29th and Nicollet
12:00 to 1:30 Canyengue 101
This is the precursor to the statuesque tango that most do today. It is enjoying a resurgence in popularity and transformation in the 21 st century. Learn how to dance this style of tango socially at the milongas amongst all those non-canyengueros
1:45 to 3:15 Tango "Million Crosses"
How many ways do you know how to do a cross? 1 or 2? Let's add some more to your repertoire.
3:30 to 5:00 Milonga Beyond Traspie
Milonga Candombera!, Milonga Habanera?, Milonga con Clave? Milonga is not just milonga anymore.
Saturday evening: Ernest DJ's at the Black Dog Milonga! 308 Prince Street, St. Paul, MN Cover for this event is $6
*SUNDAY, JANUARY 20th, OLD ARIZONA
12:00 – 1:30 Canyengue 102
Continue where 101 left off learning more moves that you can dance to Canaro, Tubatango, Punta y Taco, De Caro and some D'arienzo and Troilo.
1:45 - 3:15 Rhythmic Vals
Dance to the rhythm, between the rhythm, become an instrument yourself
3:30 – 5:00 Matrix Tango
Learn to enjoy the slower more sultry Nuevo songs by dancing in slow motion.
Some may find the weekend physically demanding and may be tired by the end, so be prepared for that. We will review this material in the following weeks in classes and practices, so you can really integrate the many new concepts into your dance.
Questions, or to sign up for a private, contact Lois Donnay at 612.822.8436 or
email her
Contact info, lesson details