Dances of the close embrace — a way of being, not a dress code

Dances of the close embrace

Course/ Stage 1

A rich, embodied insight into dancing in  the Abrazo (close embrace)

Argentine Tango is our specialism and the focus of this course . A dance like no other in terms of the depths it offers in experiencing the subtleties of dancing with connection in the abrazo ( the embrace) . Once you have expereinced a good Abrazo you’re hooked! You need to be because there is no end to what can be learned from this dance.

Brazilian forró is new to Cornwall. Barefoot Forro introduced it this year. It is a complementary example of a dance of the close embrace, more accessible than tango and offering a contrasting joyful rhythm and dynamic through which to explore other techniques/forms of connection.

While different dances each have their own character and techniques, the principles of connection within the embrace are shared.

This course and the Dance of the close embrace collective aims to promote an inclusive dance space informed by approaches like Queer tango where people are encouraged to explore both the dance and their identities through a non-gendered approach to the dance. more info can be found at https://www.queertangolondon.com/faq .

Becalelis (Bec), who produced this course does not identify as queer , Queer Tango informs their approach to the dance and the desire to create inclusive spaces to dance in.

We want to ignite your  interest the close embrace. 

After this 3 wk course we hope you will :

• Continue with Argentine tango (our Stage 2 course in march)
• Continue learning forró through social practicas and our  workshops with guest forro dancers ,
• Take your own path by carrying these principles into other dances , KIzomba , Contact improvisation or other  musical explorations.
  

TheTeaching Team

Tango Teachers

• Becaelis Brodskis. Advanced tango dancer with depth of expereince of tango beyound the dance . Informed from Managing a leading tango couple, producing a tango feature documentary and founder of Barefoot tango practica. He is also a highly experienced group facilitator with a post graduate diploma in teaching in both Higher education and community settings
• Biljana Lipic Internationaly acclaimed teacher and dancer. A pioneer of women leading in tango, as well as sought after private teacher to the highest level. Founder of the Tango dome in London and key to the proliferation of tango in Cornwall.
• Joanna czlonkowska. Advanced tango dancer with international expereince of European milongas and festivals
• A combination which brings with it a depth of knowledge not just of the dance but qualities of the dancing embrace and different perspectives of the dance across europe and and its roots in Buenos Aires.

Contemporary Dancers leading warm up

• Polly Motley : Living and breathing contemporary dance, both professionally and playfully. She is a huge fan of improvisation & a wild card at tango. She was trained in post-modern and modern dance, , classical ballet, improvisation. Her teaching also draws from her studies in dance ethnology, body-mind centering, dance therapy, Feldencrais and the Alexander Technique.Motley’s work includes being presented in New York by the Asia Society,  the Contemporary Arts Museum/ Houston, Colorado Dance Festival, Morishita Studios/ Tokyo, Ballet Freiburg/ Pretty Ugly, The Edge Festival/ San Francisco. 
• Hannah Jacobs graduated in 2023 from the Dance and Choreography course at Falmouth University. She is passionate about engaging people with dance and creativity, and has worked with the inclusive arts company Shallal, with Cscape Dance Company, Arts Lab and Arts Well. She’s facilitated workshops at Falmouth Art Gallery, Tate St Ives and intoBodmin.

Peer to Peer Learning of Forro

• We depend on visiting leading Forro teachers, such as Felipe Abreu, to inspire and share their knowledge and then for peer-to-peer learning to introduce the dance to more people so that we can then invite forro teachers down in the future .
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  This blend allows for the collective to grow through a balance of skilled guidance and shared learning.

Your Particiaption on this course will involve

• Dancing in close proximity, including hugging other participants during the workshop
• Exploring both leading and following, irrespective of gender
• If attending with a partner, being open to dancing with others in the group
• Engage in both movement practice and shared reflection on the experience
• Be respectifull of other participants choice in how they identify 
• We will take videos of the class , if you do not wish to be identified, let us know and we will blur your face out of any materail we publish publicaly.

What the course consists of

3 x Workshops at the Zed shed

• Contemporary dance warm-up, flow, and body awareness
• Dancing in and out of the close embrace
• The walking embrace and musicality of Argentine tango
• Basic steps and rhythm of Brazilian forró
• Core concepts of leading and following/ offering and particiapting
• An introduction to the cultural context and considerations of tango
• A taste of adornments / decorations made with the feet

3 x Guided Practice sessions

• Practica is an optional addition to the workshops, but attendance will significantly increase what you get out of the course.
• In these sessions we will focus on an aspect of the workshop So that you are confident in how to progress with the dance
• We also become closely acquainted with particualr music and its interpretation
  
• Social forró practicas in local venues

These take place at local venues such as the Dynamite taproom in Penryn, Dates and Venues TBC.

Course Fee

Full 3-week course: 3 workshops + 3 guided practices = 6 sessions

Early bird: £45 (by 24 Jan) / After: £60

Concession: £30 (by 24 Jan) — after £39
Advanced booking essential

Stage 2: a follow on course

If there are enough people who wnat to continune there will be a follow on course in March.

The collective and our Ethos

Tradition and adaptation in relation to where we are and who we are .

entral to our ethos is honouring the cultural heritage and traditional forms of these dances, while also exploring their local integration informed by the diverse experiences of dancers. Without forgetting their lineage, we ask: What does tango or forró become when danced in Cornwall, shaped by the lives and journeys of those who live and travel here? It may share similarities with the tango of Argentina or the forró of Brazil, but it will never be the same — the land, the culture, and the people in which we dance also have a voice.

Join the collective

No experience in tango or forró required, but a love of dance is essential

We are actively seeking people to join the collective with an interest in dances of the close embrace , Both skilled teachers and advanced dancers or anyone with a passion for dancing with skills in other related areas of running an organisation.

Queer Tango

An example of a culture that informs us is Queer Tango however although Queer Tango informs our approach to the dance at present no one in the steering group identifies as queer. We would love for someone from the LGBTQ+ community to join the steering group and help co-develop a queer-informed, safe space where non-queer participants are also warmly welcome.