Tango Festival in Kilifi, Kenya, Wed-31-May to Sun-4-Jun 2017Tango on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya! KilifiLonga 2017, from Wednesday 31 May to Sunday 4 June 2017 — 4 tango nights in the coastal town and creek of Kilifi in Kenya, hosted by Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge and Backpackers! 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 world class passionate tango maestros Miriam Orcutt & Dante Culcuy (Oxford and London, UK), finally returning to Kenya after their first visit in 2012! Miriam y Dante are currently the directors of the biggest tango school in the UK, finalists in the World Tango Championships in Buenos Aires in the category of Tango Salon (de pista) just in 2015! And meet the enthusiastic and growing tango community in Nairobi and other places in East and Central Africa. All workshops will be facilitated by Patamango's own Mario (Nairobi, Kenya), guilty of introducing and nourishing Tango in Kenya. KilifiLonga 2017 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
Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge and Backpackers. Please help us spread the word e.g. by responding to the facebook event, and to then share it, and invite your friends.
[top] General Daily ProgrammeJune is almost the least warm month in Kilifi (min of 22℃ to a max of 28℃) but our dance floor at Distant Relatives Backpackers is a very airy and covered outdoors garden deck just above the Kilifi Creek. Wednesday to Saturday
Sunday
[top] Specific Programme
[top] Participation Passes
[top] Additional Notes
[top] The Maestros[top] Miriam Orcutt y Dante Culcuy Miriam Orcutt y Dante Culcuy have become known for their passion for teaching and dynamic and expressive performances. They are currently based between London and Oxford, and as well as teaching weekly classes in Central London, are directors of the biggest tango school in the UK, comprised of two thriving tango academies: The Northern Tango Academy and Oxford Tango Academy. They have been guest artists in tango schools, milongas and festivals across the world, including the Mallorca Tango Festival, Blackpool Tango Festival, Nottingham Tango Festival, Porto Tango Festival, Ulverston International Music Festival, Karlsruhe Festival, Che London Tango Festival and The International Book Fair Mexico 2015, as special guests representing the British Council. They have also been part of shows with important orchestras such as Tango Siempre, Aurora Orchestra and Daniel Melingo. They were finalists in the World Tango Championships in Buenos Aires in the category of Tango Salon (de pista) in 2015. Miriam y Dante's Teaching [top] Mario “patamango” Ruggier Born and teened in sunny and peaceful Malta, then spending first a university decade in Vancouver, Canada followed by a longer professional decade in the Geneva region, Switzerland, during which time he danced tango all over Europe. On arrival to Nairobi, Kenya in March 2010 and discovering the simply unacceptable total inexistence of Argentine Tango activity and culture there, he immediately organized the first Argentine Tango Milonga in the history of Kenya on Saturday 22 May 2010, along with the creation of the Patamango Association for Argentine Tango [www.patamango.com], and has never looked back. With the help of many others over all this time he has sustained a Milonga in Nairobi virtually every week since then, along with innumerable special Argentine Tango events, ranging from many collaborations with and performances for the Embassy of the Argentine Republic to Kenya, to memorable special Milongas with live music, to establishing the novel once-monthly Niñolonguita! Sunday afternoon brunch all-family Milonga event, to the creation of five International Tango Festivals on the Kenyan coast. Who he owes his holistic Tango teaching philosophy and style to is not all clear -- necessity, surely, but maybe his degrees in Mathematics and Contemporary Dance also have something to do with it. [top] Jessica Norton-Griffiths Jessica Norton-Griffiths has been in the coaching and rehab industry in Europe and Kenya for almost 20 years. She graduated from London Metropolitan University in 1997 with a Batchelor of Science in Sports Science and Biology and since then has worked as a Sports Therapist and Functional Movement Coach in both rehab and sports environments. She came to Kenya in 2006 to work for Wildfitness where she went on to be one of their senior coaches and part of their training team for coaches worldwide. Since moving to Kilifi last year, Jess has been working with The Creek Club at Kivukoni, delivering workshops and training on efficiency of natural movements, triathlon technique and Pilates and teaches a weekly Mat Based Pilates Class. [top] Mwanase Mwanase is a hula hoop dancer, teacher and performer who has developed this talent during her years in the United States and Kenya. She has taught a range of hula hoopers including children in schools, at day fairs or events, for local organizations, adults’ workshops, and private lessons for people of all ages. Mwanase has performed alongside a range of musicians in U.S and Kenya, including Mungo’s Hi-Fi, Orchard Lounge, Wankelmut, Seth Schwarz, Monolink and many more. She has also performed for different events including weddings, celebrations, and private functions from birthday parties to the Governor’s Gala Dinner. She occasionally performs along the coast at different hotels including Mnarani Club, Temple Point and Swahili Beach and at multiple events for different promoters in the music industry, having been hosted by Kilifi New Year, Kenya Nights, Mambo Italia, Maad Orchestra, Be Distinctive, 40 Thieves and more. Mwanase’s performance usually includes a fire and LED hula hoop dance as well. [top] Accommodation at Distant Relatives Eco-LodgeThere is quite a variety of accommodation options at Distant Relatives Backpackers that should hopefully meet the needs of every budget (and you are of course free to choose to arrange to stay anywhere else you like in Kilifi)! Variable double or single bed setup may be arranged for banda and rooms. All the specially-negotiated prices below are in Kes and per person per day, sharing as indicated, and on dinner-board i.e. includes dinner + 1 beer/wine/soda & milonga, and rooms will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis with preference given to couples.
Excluded in the prices above: all expenses of a personal nature, such as drinks and gratuities; Tango workshops/activities added to the KilifiLonga 2017 programme; any extras not mentioned. Towels and simple natural small soap bars are provided -- note if you bring your own soap or shampoo please ensure it is bio-degradable! Drinking water is available at cost. 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 please reserve early and you get preference if you reserve as a couple! [top] How to Reserve your AccommodationTo ensure a room at Distant Relatives Eco-Lodge and Backpackers, and to get the lowest rate possible, please reserve prior to Monday 15 May, by answering 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.
Should you wish to extend your stay at Distant Relatives, please arrange with them directly. Then please do not forget to help us spread the word by responding to the facebook event, and to then share it, invite your friends! [top] Terms and ConditionsAll 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 enjoyable as possible! [top] Tango DJ's, musicians, instructorsIf 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 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. [top] Contact detailsFor any further questions you may have, please email us at lamulonga@patamango.com or call/whatsapp us on +254 715 357 507. |
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