The Beat Of Buenos Aires -- Argentine Tango Masters Bring Their Passion For Four Nights Of Dance With Local Performers
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"Tango Dreams" 8 p.m. tonight through Sunday, Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, Seattle; $10-$12, 206-522-6524. -------------------------------
When Seattle tango dancer Michelle Badion traveled to Buenos Aires two years ago, one of the sights on her list was the famous street performance of El Indio and Mariana. She was struck by their passionate performance in San Telmo Square, which draws tango aficionados from all over the country.
Later that evening she ran into them at one of the after-hours tango halls, or milongas, where she was dancing with Seattle partner Evan Wallace. They struck up an acquaintance. The result of that meeting is El Indio and Mariana's participation in Badion's show, "Tango Dreams."
"They saw us and they liked our dancing and we began to talk," Badion said. "I told them that if they ever came to the Northwest to be sure and visit." El Indio's answer took Badion by surprise. "He told me he'd be there in a week." It seems the couple was being flown to New York for a fashion layout in Esquire.
"I tried to explain to him that New York and Seattle are pretty far apart," Badion said with a laugh.
That visit resulted in El Indio and Mariana teaching several workshops last summer. This time out, Seattle audiences will get a chance to see them perform.
"He is an extremely handsome man and she is very beautiful. They dance with such intensity. I've been involved with tango for many years and I have never seen anyone become the music so much as they do," Badion said. "You'd think that after teaching and performing all day they wouldn't want to go out and dance until late at night but they always do. A song comes on and he glazes up. `It's the music, I must dance.' He just has to dance."
Badion describes Mariana's dancing as having a vulnerable quality that works well with El Indio's passion. "There is a sweet innocence about her that is unusual in tango," Badion said.
The rest of "Tango Dreams" features some of the best local tango dancers, many of whom are teachers in the area.
The first half of the show is in the form of a story. "It opens with an old guy talking to his granddaughter. She's wearing baggy jeans and has a computer game and she's bored. He tells her, `You should have seen the old days. I was never bored!' Then the story flashes back to his memories of Argentina in the 1930s," Badion said. This was the period when tango was at its height and became the art form of the working class.
The second half of the program will feature six pieces, including some modern approaches.
"I'm very excited about this show. It's taking some artistic liberties and creating a very exciting show. There's singing, acting. It's not just a review but something very unique," Badion said.
The program, directed by Carrie Christianson, was built around the participating performers. El Indio and Mariana are featured, as are Badion and her partner Wallace, a partnership known as 2-2 Tango. Other performers include Mary Brannigan, Caleb Cain Marcus, Ting Chin, Kerry Christianson, Barbara Gannis, Michael Hamilton, Deena Harding, Steve Harding, David Hodgson, Mike Mahaffey, Carlos Moreno, Przemek Pardyak, Tova Peterson and Alexandra Scott.