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1. 

   Anton
   

   Member
   Joined: Nov '09
   

   I am curious if anyone is taking this week's Tango Marathon seriously.

   I am looking at the website and cannot stop wondering. Milonga at Dance Underground on Thursday? Is it instead of the practica or is it in a smaller room next door? The schedule lists Kristina as DJ, but no one ever contacted Kristina about Djing and we are out of town the whole week. I also hope that Thursday, Saturday and Monday night organizers were informed about late start of their milongas and free classes from 9pm to 10pm. Last time I spoke with some organizers of local dances they had no idea about schedule or DJ changes. Is this for real?

   The pricing is also strange. For example, $50 for 5 milongas Thursday through Monday at 30% discount. At current prices, Thursday + Saturday + Monday would be around $21. The marathon website does not list individual prices for new Friday and Sunday milongas at Century ballroom (or any other individual prices for that matter), but following $50 at 30% discount, we get $75 is the full price for 5 milongas minus $21 for Thursday/Saturday/Monday = $27 for each Friday and Sunday dances. WOW!

   But the best of all is the promise of shuttle between venues: "In case of rain, unforeseen circumstances, sore-feet, or for whatever reason imaginable... there will be a shuttle service on Saturday and Sunday between class venues to help you get to your next destination quickly and safely". Is this for real?

   Last summer, La Milonga team was persuaded to participate in the marathon and we moved Friday dance to West Hall to have a special marathon milonga. Unfortunately, we still did not receive any payment - a portion of the door fee as we were promised and we lost money on paying rent at Quenne Anne location for that night. It’s not really a big deal, but the organizers of tango Marathon could be definitely more organized about all accounting. I hope this year all involved parties will receive payments on time as promised.

   I did not mean to mis-advertise the festival – quite the opposite. I am also excited that marathon brings new couple Andres Amarilla and Meredith Klein – great dancers. Everyone should definitely consider taking classes and going to festival milongas! I am sure there will be at least a few dancers from out of town, so enjoy, dance, mingle, and just take it easy if there will be some confusion about venues, classes, payments, etc. – it’s all expected this week. Oh and do not forget to request shuttle between class venues and milongas on Saturday and Sunday :-).

   Anton

   Posted 11 months ago #
2. 

   Sarah Rattray
   

   Junior Member
   Joined: Jan '10
   

   I have the same concern, Anton. I remember the embarrassment last year when people came from out of town expecting a marathon that didn't actually exist... they asked questions I didn't know how to answer.

   I wrote to Mario for more information, and this is what he replied on facebook:

   "Hi Sarah! Great that you caught on to there being something different going on this weekend :-) The marathon is called that because we have people coming from out of town to interact with Tango all day/night. The central location of venues is pivotal in our case. We want people from out of town to be able to walk to/from venues within 15-20 minutes. You made a great observation in that some of the daily activities haven't changed (why change if not necessary right) - DU is centrally located in Capitol Hill, and (big important and here) Tony and Ilana are collaborating with this project for year number 2). For those of us who remember Seattle Tango a while back,about 15 years ago, we used to get together for great times and happy dancing at a place called Velocity (right next to Century Ballroom) - which has been renovated into the Century Ballroom's West Hall (Friday Nights milonga). Another space in the Century Ballrooms East Hall will have our afternoon practicas, vendors, and possibly a photographer. I hope to have answered any questions or doubts you might have, feel free to call in you need anything also!"

   Anton, I'm even more concerned now that you write that Kristina (and I assume she's the "Kristina" he meant) is not DJing. Elizabeth Brinton is DJing the beginner's practica on Thursday, and doesn't know anything about it, either.

   I hope nobody is going out of their way to travel to Seattle for advertised milongas that don't actually exist or are advertised as occurring in different locations depending on where they look, and wait for a shuttle that doesn't arrive, hope for snacks that haven't been purchased, or attempt to use a milonga pass at events that might not even know about it or honor it...

   There are a couple of days left... maybe plans can still be made and clarified, but time is running out.

   Posted 11 months ago #
3. 

   Sarah Rattray
   

   Junior Member
   Joined: Jan '10
   

   One piece has been clarified. The Thursday Beginner's Practica at Dance Underground, hosted by Kathryn and DJed by Elizabeth, is remaining a practica for beginners as promised. So everyone who is looking forward to the practica - go and dance!! It is not connected with the Marathon, and it is not a milonga. Mario has posted on one of the facebook event pages that the new location is TBD.

   Please help all out of town dancers to be sure to check to be sure they know EXACTLY what is going on and where before heading over to an event this weekend.

   Posted 10 months ago #
4. 

   Anton
   

   Member
   Joined: Nov '09
   

   Thanks, Sarah, for clarifying about Thursday. I am surprised how Mario could announce marathon event in Dance Underground without confirming details and pricing with organizers of the practica. I think the best advise to all dancers this weekend may be to stick to regular milongas & practicas.

   Everyone who paid $50 for the 5-day milonga pass thinking it was 30% discount should probably request money back, because it looks more and more like a rip-off. I know some dancers from Portland are coming to Seattle this weekend - maybe we should post a message to portland list warning people not to pay in advance (while still encouraging them to come, because we always enjoy their company?)

   We should also hear from Tony and Ilana who are hosting Saturday night dance - how this week's Saturday dance fits into marathon and it's $50 pricing for all-milonga pass. I did not see any change on allseatletango or Tony and Ilana's website about time or pricing of this week's dance.

   Posted 10 months ago #
5. 

   Sarah Rattray
   

   Junior Member
   Joined: Jan '10
   

   Anton - go ahead and post to Portland lists... good idea.

   I wrote to Ilana earlier this afternoon asking for clarification. Tony plans to send out an email with information later this evening.

   I notice that there's no longer any mention of China Harbor on Monday on Mario's website, although the 27th is still included as the closing date for the marathon. Since China Harbor wasn't ever a part of it, that is now cleared up as well, by omission. So as of right now it looks like his own events for Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and possibly Dance Underground on Saturday.

   Hopefully all ambiguities will be cleared up before the weekend!

   Posted 10 months ago #

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