Tango UK teach in Italy at La Rogaia, Umbria

"The dancers body is simply the luminous manifestation of their soul. This is the truly creative dancer, natural but not imitative, speaking in movement out of self and out of something greater than all selves"

Isadora Duncan

STEVE & DEBBIE TEACH A 1 WEEK COURSE IN ADVANCED TANGO MUSICALITY AT LA ROGAIA, UMBRIA MAY 7-14, 2011

Steve plays bando

Steve is a
life-long musician

Steve and Debbie

Steve and Debbie at
La Rogaia in 2007

Steve playing his
Gutjahr 152 bandoneon.

Playing the bandoneon has so many parallels with dancing tango. It is literally 'inspired' as the control of the bellows causes aspiration to give power and tremulo to the notes. No breath, no music; no breath no dance.

There are moments in the dance that feel like 'patting your head while rubbing your tummy' as you maintain a connection with your partner while considering the next safe place to step with the music.

The bandoneon is made up of four keyboards as the left and the right hand play different notes when the bellows are opened and closed so the bandoneonista needs to get his hands to dance with each other to make music.

Steve is a life long, passionate musician. At the age of 8 he asked his parents for a piano. His father said no, believing it was a passing whim. So Steve wrote messages to his mother saying "please, please can I have a piano" and left them under her pillow, in her coat pockets, in her purse, and hidden in jars on her dressing table.

They relented, but insisted that he passed a theory of music exam before they invested in a piano. So, at the age of 8 he began to study music theory at evening class.

He passed and got his first beloved piano. Over the ensuing 46 years he has added the pipe organ, clarinet, guitar, harmonium, double bass and bandoneón to his music room, but the piano remains his first love.

After the death of his mother, Joan, Steve suffered a severe bout of depression and his piano playing became his therapy and inspiration.

With a background in classical and jazz styles and techniques, tango is a perfect genre for his skills. After 11 years of study as a dancer and as a musician, its depth and beauty are still being revealed to him.

In his dance, as in his playing, Steve is at his best and most joyous when improvising in collaboration with other musicians or with the woman in his arms.

Explore tango musicality
A week long course guided by a life-long musician and dance teacher Steve Morrall and his wife and professional partner, Debbie.

Umbria, Italy, 7 - 14 May 2011

THE LOCATION

Take a fifteen minute drive up into the rolling hills from Passignano sul Trasimeno on the edge of Lake Trasimeno and you will find La Rogaia, a beautiful converted farmhouse hosting a week of tango lessons, wonderful italian food, comfortable accommodation and a base for exploring the treasures of Umbria like the picturesque towns of Siena, Orvieto, Assisi and Perugia.

For the sixth year running, Steve and Debbie Morrall are teaching a Argentine tango course hosted by Annette and Wolfgang at La Rogaia.

COURSE LEVEL

In 2011 the course content is aimed at dancers who want to find ways of moving simply with real musical significance in close embrace.

To get the most out of this week, you will have been dancing tango regularly for at least a year or more and be able to invite/respond to ochos, giros, cross, and walk in parallel and cross basic systems in close embrace. More experienced dancers will benefit from Steve's layered teaching methods and be shown how to supercharge their dance musicality by matching physical movements to musical moments.

Wolfgang had this to say about Steve and Debbie's teaching in September 2009: "We have had maestros like Fabian Salas and Gustavo Naveira teach at La Rogaia, but your workshop on vals musicality was the clearest and best I have experienced."

COURSE CONTENT

The course is delivered in english language. At the heart of Steve and Debbie's pedagogy is the Naveira/Salas inspired concept of tango being a dance with 5 foundational moves. 5 MOVES

They teach and demonstrate the dance as a language of invitation and response, with each partner having a active role in the conversation. They will clearly describe ways for both dancers to participate actively in the process of improvising movement to the music.

Their clear and articulate teaching style will show that this beautiful dance has nothing to do with choreography. They will describe how dancers can use a non-verbal language that goes far beyond the concept of lead and follow.

Drawing on content and methods developed for the acclaimed advanced musicality workshops at their dance studio in Bramshaw, UK, Steve uses his in-depth knowledge as a musician in a fun and engaging way to help dancers interact creatively with the music.

Through the use of games, imagery, simple, visuals (example), archived video footage, explanations in everyday language and lots of supervised dance time, Steve and Debbie will take you on a journey of musical exploration of tango.

The course starts with the basic techniques of dancing tango with musicality using the orchestra of Francisco Canaro and progresses through the ten featured orchestras towards the orchestra of Osvaldo Pugliese.

The musical journey will explore the following orchestras and genres in ten 90 minute classes (one after breakfast and one before supper each day with one day off for sightseeing).

Using the free music service Spotify (link 1), (not available is some countries) or pay-per-track iTunes (link 2) we recommend that you audition the music we will be using for the workshops to familiarise yourself with the pieces.

Class 1	Francisco Canaro Alma de Bandoneon, Tango	1, 2
Class 2	Juan D'Arienzo Loca, Tango	1, 2
Class 3	Oquesta Tipica Victor Noches de Invierno, Vals	1, 2
Class 4	Osvaldo Fresedo Vida Mia, Tango	1, 2
Class 5	Carlos Di Sarli Nueve Puntos, Tango	1, 2
Class 6	Edgardo Donato Papas Calientes, Milonga	1, 2
Class 7	Julio de Caro La Rayuela, Tango	1, 2
Class 8	Miguel Calo El Vals Soñador, Vals	1, 2
Class 9	Rudolfo Biagi Campo Afuera, Milonga	1, 2
Class 10	Osvaldo Pugliese Seguime si Podes, Tango	1, 2
Steve and Debbie produce reference notes and visual aids in PDF format and links to music in MP3 format that can be downloaded on your return home as an aide memoire for the 15 hours of classes.

With 15 hours of lessons and time to practice and swap ideas about the dance, this week will give your tango musicality a real boost and give you time to get new concepts from your head to your feet. Steve and Debbie are also available for private lessons during the afternoons by arrangement.

FREE TIME AND SIGHTSEEING

When you want a break from tango, La Rogaia is surrounded by the most beautiful Umbrian countryside and many tourist attractions, like Lake Trasimeno, are within easy driving distance. One day is set aside for sightseeing and there is free time every afternoon to relax or visit the local sights. We arrange the day we take off at the begining of the week to allow the group to enjoy any local festivals or special events.

If you need more information about the course content, please contact Steve and Debbie at Tango UK CONTACT.

If you want to book, or need more information about the board and lodging, you can contact the owners, Annette and Wolfgang, by phone on 0039 075 845457 or by email which can be found on her website LA ROGAIA.

La Rogaia is a beautiful Umbrian farmhouse situated between Florence and Rome, a short distance from the northern shore of Lago Trasimeno and the picturesque towns of Assisi and Perugia.

Getting to
La Rogaia

La Rogaia is 90 minutes drive north from Rome airport, 40 minutes from Perugia airport and 2 hours 15 minutes from Pisa airport.

Where do we dance?

The classes are held in the dance studio - a large, cool space with marble flooring opening onto a patio (see below) with magnificent views.

There is a local milonga in Perugia (about 40 minutes drive) which we will visit during the week.

Pictured above: Assisi

Above: The patio outside the studio.

Below: A meal on the patio.

Read reviews
of Steve Morrall's
teaching style:

"You are a great teacher - funny, witty, sensitive, use lovely visual images and have an ability to draw out what is hiding in the drama and emotions of the dance. I loved your piano playing and your kind, expressive nature - thank you for it all."

A tanguera from Suffolk

"I love your teaching style. You have a way of breaking down complex moves in a way that makes them seem so easy."

A tanguero from Southampton

"Do you know why you are different Steve? Unlike Argentine dancers and teachers who have grown up with the dance, you have had to learn and assimilate this dance as an adult. You bring that experience and analysis to your classes. I think your teaching has a superb clarity and sense of structure as a result."

A tanguero from Bournemouth

"You look like you own the floor when you are dancing. Can you give me some private lessons?"

A tanguero from Southampton

"You make feel feel safe when I dance with you Steve."

A tanguera from Brighton

"Your workshop on vals musicality was the clearest and best I have experienced."

Wolfgang Sandt, La Rogaia

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