Portland Tango Festival
Show meFind below the event’s description, pictures, performers, tango stores etc*. Use the comments section at the end to ask any questions you have about the festival, the city, accommodation etc, and feel free to even look for a partner or roommate if you don’t have one for this event. Simply post your comment below!
*Tangoargentinofestivals.com is bringing you this info from public sources and in some cases from the festival organizer on a best effort basis but we take no responsibility of its accuracy. This website is not responsible for any alterations of the festival’s program, differences between what is presented here and what happens at the festival etc, and you should verify with the festival’s website and organizer before taking any decision.
What is it like to be at Portland Tango Festival
The Portland Tango Festival, the longest-running US festival, is a celebration of the amazing tango dance. This year the festival hosts a group of teachers and performers among the best in their kind together with local and Argentinian musicians collaborating in recreating the magic of the tango music live. In four days we offer 24 classes, 14 milongas, two praticas and a great dinner all happening in the usual locations where the Portland tango community meets and dances. Come and join our friendly tango community to dance, chat and meet new friends.
Space dimensions: 4,200 square feet (400 square meters)
Price: Starting at $180 milonga pass to $340 Festival pass (all milongas and 9 classes)
Max number of participants: 500
Gender balance considerations: Class gender balance is enforced in this festival
Edition: 23rd (!)
Last year’s Portland Tango Festival edition:
Performers at Portland Tango Festival:
Ariadna Naveira & Fernando Sanchez
With a style that identifies them for their musicality and virtuosity, Ariadna and Fernando know how to combine the essential tools of tango with the inherent feel of the embrace.
As a couple they complement each other in a harmonious dance that combines the best elements of both modern and traditional tango and is indeed the essence of tango. At the same time, through their teaching, they share their love of tango in all its expressions.
They have traveled the world participating in festivals, tango schools, milongas and theaters, making their mark and breaking ground as tango pioneers.
Ariadna and Fernando are simply tango!
Luciana Valle & Tomás Howlin
Luciana and Tomás have taught and performed together from the very beginning of the tango renaissance in the nineties. Throughout the years, they have continued collaborating as well as developing their individual tango professional careers.
During the last three years, they have teamed up to become a very successful partnership. They share their dynamic energy and wealth of experience at festivals all over the US.
Luciana and Tomás have a unique and deep perspective of how to learn and approach the teaching of the tango to the new generations. They have integrated their individual knowledge and perspectives into a unique team approach, which with humor and fun, helps their students achieve natural, organic, and consistent improvement in their dance.
Graziella Pulvirenti and Rino Fraina
Rino and Graziella have been teaching at several Italian tango schools. They are the directors of the En Tus Brazos Tango Association in Catania and Eboli (Salerno).
They trained in the tango dance with several masters and dancers like Alejandro Arenas and Marisol Morales among others. They continue studying and deepening their knowledge through special seminars organized by them and taught by Chicho Frumboli and Juana Sepulveda and Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne.
Tango classes at Portland Tango Festival:
The Portland Tango Festival is a great opportunity for you to meet and have classes with your favourite maestros.
TJs:
OLGA BOGATOVA
With a diverse music taste, Olga combines tandas that tap into the mood of the milonga. Her goal is to keep everyone dancing and let the dancers experience the range of emotions that tango communicates. You can catch Olga at festivals along the West Coast and in her home community in San Francisco.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
EMILY PIERCE
Emily Pierce first discovered Argentine tango in Eugene at the University of Oregon and then went on to DJ and organize tango events in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. Most recently, she has relocated to Portland, Oregon. She has been DJing alternative and traditional tango events for the past twelve years and was a longtime DJ at Project Tango’s Cellspace alternative milonga in San Francisco.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
GEORGES NAASAN
Georges started DJing in 2015 and quickly became one of the Bay Area’s prominent local DJs. He has traveled for DJing in various US cities including San Diego, LA, and New York.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
DAN BOCCIA
Dan Boccia has DJed at the Portland Tango Festival many times and we feel that his participation over the years contributed to the enduring success of the Festival.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
DERRICK DEL PILAR
Derrick is a thoughtful tango DJ who has shared tandas of music by the Golden Age maestros at festivals and venues in Chicago, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Southern California, and the Bay Area. Few years back, he participated to the Portland Tango Festival and we are very proud to have him back as the representative of the amazing local Tango DJ’s community.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
FELIPE MARTINEZ
Felipe Martinez is a very well-known tango teacher and dancer. He travels all over the world to teach and DJ at festivals. He is an excellent DJ and we are very happy to have him back at PTF. We are looking forward to dancing to his musical selections and enjoying his lovely personality.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
ROBERT HAUK
Robert Hauk is a Portland treasure. He was one of the first DJ to play tandas in the United States. He spins his tunes regularly at Milonga de Oro, the Monday night Portland regular dance event.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
ALEX KREBS
I am sure you have heard about Tango Berretin, one of the most famous milongas in Portland. Alex Krebs will DJ a Matinee milonga at Berretin on Friday afternoon. Don’t miss it.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
JAZMINE DAKE
Jazmine started the Queer milonga in Portland. She will DJ the Festival version of her creation on Friday afternoon.
Invite this TJ to your festival or recommend to your teachers here.
Tango Stores:
Time to update your collection of tango shoes, pants or dresses? Discover the stores that will exhibit this year at the Portland Tango Festival, and even visit their pages to have something specially made and delivered to you when you arrive at the festival!
TANGOLEVA
Tangoleva has dressed tangueras worldwide since 1998. Clothing is designed and produced by tango dancers and this gives the company a finger on the pulse of tango fashion. Tangoleva knows what works, what feels good, what looks great!
Tangoleva creates limited edition tango dresses, skirts, tops & pants of high end quality fabrics and workmanship. We focus on dance tested designs that work on a variety of body types and show off each woman’s best features.
JULIABELLA
Julia prides her team on its special skill of finding that unique pair for every woman. JuliaBella’s oldest client so far is 75 years old, and is amazed at how well she can dance in her 3-inch stilettos, thanks to Comme il Faut’s outstanding structure and craftsmanship. JuliaBella boasts a large number of repeat customers, some beyond the dance world. Many women become addicted to the brands and the expert service they receive, and even after 10-hour office days and long nights out, they swear by the killer stilettos that feel like slippers.
POEMA
POEMA is luxury handmade tango clothing. We produce fantastically beautiful clothes with total freedom of movement, using high-end materials like real silk charmeuse and bamboo knit. Our signatures are glamorous silhouettes, fashion-forward prints & rich colors. Poema clothing IS designed for dancing late into the night without sacrificing the opulence of luxury materials or the delicate whimsy of handmade couture.
JENNIFER OLSON
Jennifer sells the most comfortable and quality tango shoes on the market. With her 14 years of professional tango experience, she can help guide you to the most perfect-fitting pair.
Women’s tango shoes: Bandolera, Regina, and Turquoise
Men’s tango shoes: Bandolera
Organizer:
Luisa Zini Fortuna - PTF Executive director
Luisa has been dancing tango for a while, never desired to teach but always enjoyed organizing tango events like milongas, one time tango parties and now also Festivals.
For many years she helped traveling tango teachers she is really passionate about, organize their workshops in the towns where she lived.
Luisa now lives in Portland, Oregon where, together with Elizabeth Wartluft, hosts a monthly matinee milonga, Las Naifas Milonga, held in downtown Portland Oregon every fourth Friday of the month.
Luisa manages a core of 8 main volunteers and 30 work study people that help run the festival.
Accomodation
Any tango argentino festival that respects itself should be able to make you look forward to rest your feet at the end of the night. Discover accommodation suggestions for you close to the Portland Tango Festival!
DOUBLETREE by HILTON
Other tango argentino festivals to consider
Discover more tango argentino festivals!
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Event Details
Date: October 10-14, 2019
Location: Portland Oregon
Website: www.portlandtangofest.com
Got questions? Use the comments below to ask.
Questions, doubts, sharing your experience of last year's edition, looking for a partner or roomate or anything else?
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Looking forward to dancing again to Emily’s and Georges’ music! Is anyone looking for a partner to go to the festival?
So glad you T.A.F. guys are back! I love your festival profiles! It looks like it will be “shopping time” in the festival this year 🙂 Love it!
I am looking for a partner to join, with at least 3 years of experience. Anyone?
Hey Olga! You missed my question above 🙂 I am considering going. I dance since 2011, but really got into it on 2013. How do we get in touch?
Hey guys! Please send us an email, letting us know that you want us to connect you. If both of you agree, we’ll connect you 🙂
14! Milongas 🙂 🙂 Happy feet!!! My husband and I were looking for a festival this autumn, and we might have just found it 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Maria, we would love to have you both come to the Festival. Portland is great in the fall. We have very good pricing at the Jupiter Hotel which is close to the venue where the festival is happening if you are looking for a place where to stay.
And the TAF guys are back! Always such complete information, thank you guys! Do you have any idea of good restaurants in the area to visit while being there? You should definitely add a “Recommended restaurants” section!
We are looking into it Carlos! 🙂
Check on the Festival website: https://www.portlandtangofest.com/stores-restaurants/
What a beautiful site! Finally a platform that gives a complete view of a festival! We are travelling to Seattle those days, and it might be just the right addition. Will there be fingerfood during the milongas or we need to come loaded and ready? 🙂 I always get a bit hungry after a few hours of dancing 🙂
Hi Jack, @ the Festival we offer midnight snacks and also there is a store, the Kiosko, inside the location where the Festival happens that offers for purchase lunches and snacks from F&B Cafe local coffee shop known for its fresh food. Come and check us out. The Portland tango community is big and very friendly, you will enjoy dancing for sure. I would suggest you to book at the Jupiter Hotel where the Festival has secured special room prices.
You are welcome Luisa! You are organizing a great event that will spark joy to a lot of people. Everyone in our team dances for about ten years, so we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the beautiful experiences people like you create for all of us.
To everyone seeing this message: Luisa is the organizer of the festival, so if you want to ask a question, you can do it here and we’ll make sure she knows about it as soon as possible.
Hi All, for more info contact me at contact@portlandtangofest.com