Hey, out-of-towners! Portland Tango is hot this weekend! Here’s why:

This is shaping up to be one of the greatest weekends to dance in Portland this year so far! There are several events happening Friday through Sunday concerning our favorite alibi: tango. 

Friday night (April 29th, 2011) 

1000 Cranes Milonga – Japan Relief Benefit – Organized by Megan Pingree

@ The New Market Theater Atrium (enter through The Purest Cafe, 115 SW Ash St, Portland)

Japan has suffered a multi-faceted catastrophe which calls for an international response. That means a lot of INDIVIDUAL responses, channeled effectively!

…Have Fun and Raise Money!
We aim to have an especially fun tango event,
while raising money for Mercy Corps’ invaluable work.
Note the vintage Portland tango-virgin venue! – the historic New Market Theatre (ground level plus mezzanine dance floors)

Luxe Milonga is giving away 2 raffle items to support this great cause:

• Full pass to this weekend of Luxe Milonga events (Luxe Milonga & 2 workshops on Sunday). Retail value: $40
• 1 pass to the next 3 Luxe Milongas. Retail value: $60

For details, click here: http://portlandtango.com/drupal6/node/215

Saturday (April 30th, 2011) afternoon Women’s Tango Jam with Caroline Peattie – Organized by Laurie Ann Greenberg

For details, click here: http://portlandtango.com/drupal6/node/211

Saturday (April 30th, 2011) Last Tango in Portland – Organized by Jay Rabe

For details, click here: http://portlandtango.com/drupal6/node/74

Saturday (April 30th, 2011) All-Nighter – Luxe Milonga – Organized by Remanda & Jenna
@ Saucebox Retaurant 214 SW Broadway st, Portland

Luxe Milonga is Portland’s new all-nighter milonga in downtown! This time , Dancer and DJ Varo Boyajyan will be flying in from glittery LA to teach the pre-milonga class with Jenna and DJ the milonga, which starts at 9:30pm! There will also be a performance at 11:30pm. What’s more, Remanda will be performing a traditional Chinese Gongfu tea service at the beginning of the milonga (9:30-10:00pm) for all to enjoy!
For details, click here: https://luxemilonga.wordpress.com/

Sunday afternoon (May 1st, 2011) Luxe Milonga presents Workshops with Varo & Jenna–Organized by Remanda

Varo and Jenna will be teaching 2 workshops the following day at Saucebox after April 30th’s Luxe Milonga! Varo and Jenna will both share with us their thoughts on and movement in colgadas and vals musicality!

For details: click here: https://luxemilonga.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/classes-with-varo-boyajyan-and-jenna-rohrbacher-in-portland/

Sunday night (May 1st, 2011) Tango on Broadway milonga – Organized by Julio Mendoza

@ Aztec Willie @ 1501 NE Broadway St Portland, OR

The latest Sunday night milonga in Portland!

For details: click here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=127728113969761

Luxe Milonga: April 30th at Saucebox!

Get to know Varo Boyajyan, the Teacher

As part of Apr.30th Luxe milonga, Varo Boyajyan will also teach 2 workshops with Jenna Rohrbacher on May.1st. For details, click https://luxemilonga.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/classes-with-varo-boyajyan-and-jenna-rohrbacher-in-portland/

About Jenna: https://luxemilonga.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/about-jenna-rohrbacher/

About Varo:

Varo’s immersion into the world of Argentine Tango started in 2005 in Los Angeles, California.

Over the next few years he became an active participant and an integral part of the Los Angeles tango community.

He devoted himself to becoming a skillful social dancer, mastering floor craft, musicality, and establishing connection with the partner.

Varo’s teaching philosophy is rooted in understanding and mastering the foundations of the dance.

Teaching the concept as a sum of the basic elements allows the students to deconstruct and reconstruct movements, and allows them to improvise on their own.

In his teaching Varo places strong emphasis on connection, musicality and the social components of the dance.

Varo’s rapid progression and extensive knowledge has led him to being invited as an instructor for the UCLA’s Argentine Tango classes, as well as becoming permanent staff member at the “Tango Room”, one of premier Tango studios in Los Angeles.

Varo is a founding member and organizer of the SMITH Festival – Santa Monica International Tango Holiday. In 2010, Varo has organized and hosted LARRY – Los Angeles Rapid Response Mini Tango Festival in 2010 and Milonga Querida, featuring US and International artists.

Varo has taught and performed at numerous tango and dance related events in Los Angeles and Southern California, and at festivals around the US including:

• Tucson Tango Festival 2010
• SMITH 2010
• Palm Springs 2010
• Chicago Tango Week 2010
• Ashland Turkey Tango 2010

Upcoming:

• New York, Feb 4-6, 2011
• Tucson Tango Festival, March 2-7, 2011

Videos: http://www.youtube.com/varotango#p/a/u/0/YU1usg9uya8
More Videos: http://www.youtube.com/varotango

His website: http://varotango.com/teach

Classes with Varo Boyajyan and Jenna Rohrbacher in Portland!

Varo and Jenna will be teaching 2 workshops the following day at Saucebox after April 30th’s Luxe Milonga! Varo will share with us his specialty of Colgadas and on Vals musicality! 

Sunday, May 1st

Workshop 1: 1:30pm Colgadas She Will “Fall” For

In this class, we will explore the technique of colgadas and their specific applications to the dance floor.

Price: $12 advance, $14 at the door
(Advance purchase ends April 27th)

Workshop 2: 3:00pm Advanced/Extreme Vals Musicality

Here we will discuss and discover syncopation in vals and dancing to the 4.

Price: $12 advance, $14 at the door
(Advance purchase ends April 27th)

Be sure to check out various options for our early-bird passes:

* Early-bird full pass (Luxe Milonga and 2 workshops on May 1st): $40

* Early-bird 2-workshop pass: $24 ($12/class)

* Early-bird milonga pass: $17

* Workshop class at the door: $14 each

* Milonga at the door: $19

Note:

* Early-bird passes can be purchased until April 27 from Remanda or Jenna at various milongas in Portland or by email (for Portlanders or out-of-towners)

* Please make checks out to Fangxiao Xiang or Jenna Rohrbacher

Thanks! We hope to see you there!

Jenna & Remanda

Luxe Milonga: April 30th at Saucebox!

Ladies and gentlemen…guess what?

We are throwing another all-nighter party at Luxe Milonga in Portland! This time, it’s April 30th at the chic Saucebox in pretty downtown Portland.

The best part? Dancer and DJ Varo Boyajyan will be flying in from glittery LA to teach the pre-milonga class with Jenna and DJ the milonga, which starts at 9:30pm! There will also be a performance at 11:30pm. What’s more, Remanda will be performing a traditional Chinese Gongfu tea service at the beginning of the milonga (9:30-10:00pm) for all to enjoy!

We are terribly excited for this upcoming Luxe Milonga; we can’t wait for you to join the party and have a blast!

Admission: early bird price is $17; $19 at the door. In addition to the milonga, admission includes:

*a voucher to redeem one drink of your choice: a Saucebox signature cocktail, red wine, or beer, and non-alcoholic beverages

*a Chinese Gongfu tea service

*an all-levels fundamental tango class taught by Jenna & Varo

*a performance at 11:30

*a special raffle

Also, for the insatiable tango dancer…well, you’re in luxe: Varo and Jenna will be teaching two workshops on Sunday, May 1st, at Saucebox! Click here for more details…

Check out our flyer for a chance to receive a milonga admission discount.

We sincerely hope to see you there; email us or a leave a comment if there are any questions!

Remanda & Jenna

What’s a Chinese Gongfu Tea Ceremony at Apr. 30 Luxe Milonga?

At April 30th’s Luxe Milonga, Remanda is going to perform a Chinese Gongfu Tea Ceremony at the beginning of the night from 9:30-10:00pm with 2-3 different kind of black, green, and rare chinese tea collections for you to enjoy.

For those of you who have never heard of Gongfu tea, here is a brief introduction and video to help you understand the process. Remanda is not a professional Gongfu Tea Ceremony preparer, but she is going to try her best to share her knowledge and skill to introduce and perform this ceremony.

Chinese Gongfu Tea is a very relaxed event, and people can speak freely with each other throughout the entire process. It is named after gong fu – which translates into “skill and care” or “to do things well.” However, this ceremony is performed uniquely in different regions of the world.

During the Chinese Gongfu tea ceremony, the most common types of tea used are oolong and green tea, with oolong tea being the favored tea.

Equipment Needed For The Chinese Gongfu Ceremony

To brew tea gongfu-style, you will need the following items:
*A very small teapot, preferably a Yixing style tea pot.
*Small, Yixing tea cups
*Pot to Boil Water In
*Tea Pitcher

Everything done during a Chinese Gongfu ceremony is prepared in small and delicate items, which enhances the elegance and pure nature of brewing tea.

Obtaining a Yixing Tea Pot is essential because of the type of clay used and how it reacts with the tea. Little by little, the porous clay slowly absorbs the flavor of the tea, which seasons the inside of the teapot to the flavor of tea, therefore enhancing the flavor. They are considered the best teapot to use for tea, especially in darker teas like oolong and black. You can choose a yixing at Adagio Teas.

Procedures of the Chinese Gongfu ceremony

The environment should compliment the delicacy of the ceremony. Peaceful, relaxing settings are preferred. Soft, slow music also adds to the serenity of the atmosphere. Incense, flowers, and dim light should also be included for peacefulness.

The water should be boiled, being roughly 210 degrees or so. It should also be clean water. It should be filtered of salt, chlorine, or other chemicals that would inhibit taste.

Immediately pour water into the tea pitchers and serving cups. This brings the temperature of them up so the water doesn’t quickly cool down when it flows into them. It also gets rid of any dust accumulated in them. Finally, discard the water.

The tea is measured and then placed into a Yixing teapot. Adagio Teasoffers a wonderful selection of loose tea for your ceremony. Hot water is then poured into the Yixing tea pots, filling it to the brim. Water may be poured over the teapot to ensure maintaining a high temperature.

Brew the tea for approximately one minute. Some regions measure this time by taking long deep breaths. This further enhances the relaxation and serenity of the environment.

Transfer the tea into the tea pitcher to avoid uneven flavor from top to bottom.

Using a metal filter to catch fine particles may enhance the flavor by leaving out unwanted particles of the tea. However, some say not to use any type of metal during this process. Therefore, using a metal filter is optional.

Using Aroma Cups For Your Chinese Gong Fu Tea Ceremony

Aroma cups are optional, and are used only to enhance the elegance of the Chinese Gongfu tea ceremony. Aroma cups are tall, slender cups. The idea is to quickly pour the brewed tea into them and bring it up to your nose. Smell the aroma from the tea and quickly transfer this to a shorter, wider cup. Then drink your tea and enjoy.

Subsequent brews can also be used, but with varying times on the infusion process. For each additional brew, add one or two long deep breaths to the infusion process. Repeat the rest of the steps the same way.

Here is a video that shows the Gongfu Tea making process in English language:

t is a very relaxed event, and people can speak freely with each other throughout the entire process. It is named after gong fu – which translates into “skill and care” or “to do things well”. However, this ceremony is performed slightly differently in different regions of the world.

During the Chinese Gongfu tea ceremony, the most common types of tea used are oolong and green tea, with oolong tea being the favored tea.

Equipment Needed For The Chinese Gongfu Ceremony

To brew tea gong fu style, you will need the following items:

*A very small teapot, preferably a Yixing style tea pot.
*Small, Yixing tea cups
*Pot to Boil Water In
*Tea Pitcher

Everything done during a Chinese Gongfu ceremony is prepared in small and delicate items, which enhances the elegance and pure nature of brewing tea.

Obtaining a Yixing Tea Pot is essential because of the type of clay used and how it reacts with the tea. Little by little, the porous clay slowly absorbs the flavor of the tea, which seasons the inside of the teapot to the flavor of tea, therefore enhancing the flavor. They are considered the best teapot to use for tea, especially in darker teas like oolong and black. You can choose a yixing at Adagio Teas.

Here is a Video that shows the process of making Gongfu Tea in English: http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/dt6UN6G_zAQ/