Tango Festival in Galu, Kenya, 23-27 January 2013

Tango on the Beach, 4 days on paradisiac Galu Beach on the Indian Ocean south coast of Kenya!

GaluLonga 2013, from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 January 2013—in the middle of a cold European winter, 4 tango nights at the paradisiac white sand beach in Galu on the Kenya south coast! Dance under the big sky of Africa, along the Indian Ocean, basked in a warm see breeze, to the sound of great traditional tango music, a Milonga every evening caressed by the ocean breeze, in Baires style, with a different DJ each night, take advantage of daily workshops with passionate international tango teachers Alex and Natalia Lipsky (Lviv, Ukraine) who will be with us again this year, and meet the enthusiastic and growing tango community in Nairobi and other places in East and Central Africa.

GaluLonga 2013 is being organized con mucho gusto by The Patamango Association, a non-profit association of passionate volunteers with the mission of developing Argentine Tango culture in Kenya, in collaboration with Galu Beach Retreat.

Please help us spread the word! For example by responding to the facebook event, and if you so wish to then share it, and invite your friends.

General Daily Programme

The arrangement is simple. We have conveniently reserved the entire Galu Beach Retreat for this event but you are free to choose to stay anywhere else you like in Galu. Travel to Galu, from Nairobi or from elsewhere, is entirely for you to arrange as you prefer (but for convenience we will anyhow be negotiating a group rate for a Nbi-Ukunda flight, please notify prior to 31 Dec if interested).

January gets quite warm in Kenya but the dance platform at GBR is open on 3 sides and, apart from the changeover moments at high or low tide, is blessed with a continuous ocean breeze.

• 7:00 am - 9:30 am: Breakfast (for those staying at GBR).
• Free to relax, beach, siesta on private terrace, by the pool in the garden, snorkel, kite-surf, sport fishing, visits, excursions, massage, star bath, jacuzzi, privates w. Alex/Natalia, etc.
• 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm: Workshop Level 1, programme below (cost not included in accommodation). Mario and/or Alex y Natalia.
• 5:15 pm - 6:30 pm: Workshop Level 2, programme below (cost not included in accommodation). Alex y Natalia.
• Free to relax, sundowner, dip in the ocean, rest, dress up for the evening, etc.
• 7:30 pm - late: Dinner/Milonga. Included in half-board accommodation at GBR. For all others cost is 2500 Kes.

Workshops with Alex y Natalia

Alex and Natalia Lipsky (Lviv, Ukraine) are founders of the Argentine tango and folklore school LeoTango as well as the flamenco school La Peña Flamenca de Lviv. Keeping special attention on musicality, they treat dance as a dialog between partners, with other dancers, as part of the orchestra. Their addiction to tango has also made them travel worldwide–they participated as teachers and performers of Argentinean tango and folklore at festivals in Ukraine, Netherlands, Spain. Alex is also a professional guitarist. It is a real pleasure to have them with us again this year!

Workshop Schedule

Wed 23 Jan	4:00 pm	Tango Initiation
	5:15 pm	Pivots, working with axis, using calesita in dancing
Thu 24 Jan	4:00 pm	Fundamentals of turning and cruzadas
	5:15 pm	Giros, lapices and enrosques
Fri 25 Jan	4:00 pm	Fundamental technique for men (Alex) and ladies (Natalia)
	5:15 pm	Using sacadas in dancing vals
Sat 26 Jan	4:00 pm	The free leg principle
	5:15 pm	Ganchos: principle and variations

• Duration of all workshops is 1:15.
• Suggested contribution per workshop (not included in the accommodation) is 1200 Kes for drop-ins and 1000 Kes for pre-agreed.

Accommodation at Galu Beach Retreat

There are 10 rooms at Galu Beach Retreat each with own private terrace with breathtaking views of the warm turquoise Indian Ocean. Each room is tastefully furnished to encapture the Swahili coast, and comes with all modern amenities including a mini bar, fridge, A/C, ceiling fans and wall sockets for laptops and chargers, as well as a free mineral-water dispenser, and should also mention the excellent showers. Note that hand soap is provided, but the more delicately personal shampoo and shower gels are not. Rooms are normally set up for 2 persons sharing, but some may be made to accommodate 3 persons.

The rates below have been specially-negotiated and drastically lowered to about half of what they normally are during this peak season.

Reserved by Mon 14 Jan (deposit of 5000 Kes)	2 sharing	3 sharing
Wed/Thu	6500 Kes	5000 Kes
Fri/Sat	7500 Kes	6000 Kes
Reserved after Mon 14 Jan	2 sharing	3 sharing
Wed/Thu	7500 Kes	6000 Kes
Fri/Sat	8500 Kes	7000 Kes

All the prices are per person per day, on half-board (breakfast & dinner/milonga) and rooms will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

Single room is possible, at a supplementary cost of 3500 Kes per day (on the 2 person sharing rate for the day).

Excluded in the prices above: all expenses of a personal nature, such as drinks and gratuities; Tango workshops/activities added to the GaluLonga programme; any extras not mentioned.

Please also note that in the interest of having gender-balanced milongas we reserve the right to wait-list and/or limit further individual registrations from either gender! So either reserve early or ensure to reserve as a couple!

To ensure a room at GBR, and to get the lowest rate possible, you must reserve prior to Monday 14 January. To reserve please answer the questions below, and then validate the reservation by making a payment of 5000 Kes as non-refundable deposit--that may be made in cash (in person to any one of us) or by m-pesa to 0715 357 507.

• Your full name
• Your gender
• Which of the 4 nights do you intend to stay
• Do you prefer 2 or 3 person sharing? Do you know who you would like to share the room with? Single or double beds?

Then please do not forget to help us spread the word by responding to the facebook event, and if you so wish to then share it, and invite your friends!

Terms and Conditions

All visiting participants are required to take travel insurance that includes health insurance (there are limited facilities in Kenya's public hospitals).

The organizers cannot assume any responsibility in damage, loss or theft of any of your belongings.

Your visit to Kenya... should you need any help or suggestions, how to organize, for before and/or after the festival, please do not hesitate to let us know, it will be our pleasure to help make your visit to Kenya as complete and ejnoyable as possible!

Tango DJ's, musicians, instructors

If you are a Tango DJ or Musician or Tango Instructor, and you believe you may be able to help us add depth and variety to our GaluLonga workshops, milongas or any other tango activity, for the benefit of the young but growing local tango community, please do talk to us about the possibility of collaborating with us.

Contact details

For any further questions you may have, please email us at lamulonga@patamango.com or call us on +254 715 357 507.