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Milonga Spotlight: CMC Mission Milonga

October 12, 2017

The CMC Milonga is a wonderful intimate milonga in the heart of the Mission.

It’s held in a beautiful Victorian concert hall with smooth wooden floor and outdoor patio. This monthly Milonga, held every 2nd Saturday of the month, often includes live music and dance performances by local and international Tango guests. Plus, all ages are welcome to come dance or just watch.

If you are not familiar with CMC — it’s the Community Music Center on Capp and 20th Streets in San Francisco’s Mission district. Founded in 1921, Community Music Center is one of the oldest and largest community arts organizations on the West Coast. Their mission is to make high quality music accessible to all people, regardless of their financial means. Classes are offered on a sliding scale and some are completely tuition-free.

The CMC Milonga is hosted by SFCMC and dance faculty Sonja Riket. Sonja Riket, a native Belgian, has 30 plus years of dance experience. She is also a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist®, Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner, Certified Teacher in Body-Mind Centering®, Aquatic Therapist, Dance Educator and Social Change Artist. Quite impressive!

Sonja has studied many forms of ethnic dance, such as Flamenco, Indian, Balkan and African dances along with a world wide career in modern dance. While studying Argentine Tango as a social dance in Buenos Aires, Europe and the USA, her heart found a home in this sensual and subtle art form.

In 1999, Sonja co-founded Intimate Embrace Tango, which envisions tango as a medium for relationship to ourselves, each other and our world. It has since inspired hundreds of novice tango dancers throughout the Bay Area to learn the subtle movements of the dance while getting in touch with their own creative expression. Sonja believes Tango is about listening and moving as one, a communication through subtle movements of two bodies joined in breath and energy.

Since 2005, Sonja hosted “Tango Revolution” Milonga, held at Café Revolution in the Mission District, then found a home at Café Trieste Downtown San Francisco from 2007-2012 (with the Tango Revolution Orchestra) and then later at Berkeley’s Café Mediterraneum from 2012-2016. In 2017, Sonja will be hosting a new milonga with a slight change of name to Tango Revelation.

Tango Revelation Milonga will be held the second Sunday of every other month (with some exceptions) at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center in Berkeley.

Tango Revelation Milonga Opening Night Gala is this Sunday October 15, 2017 from 8pm-12am

There will be Live Music by Grammy nominated Emilio Solla TribuTango plus Class and Dance Performance by 2017 USA Tango Champions Michael and Ana Thomas. Check out the Facebook Event page to learn more.

This coming Saturday, the CMC Mission Milonga is celebrating its 1st anniversary!

The celebration includes traditional live Tango music by Grammy-nominated Emilio Solla TribuTango plus dance class and performance by 2017 USA Tango champions Michael and Ana Thomas!

More about the musicians: 

EMILIO SOLLA is a Grammy Nominated Argentina born and NY based pianist and composer. Emilio has a degree in Classical Piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires and a MA in Jazz Composition at Queens College in New York. He continued to study composition, arranging, counterpoint, improvisation and conducting in Buenos Aires, Barcelona and New York. His first band, Apertura, was praised by Astor Piazzolla himself as one of the most interesting new sounds in the Buenos Aires scene in 1986.

Watch on Youtube

PABLO ASLAN – Argentine-born Pablo Aslan is in demand for his skills as a producer, bassist, and educator, and for his knowledge of traditional and contemporary tango. His most recent album as a leader is Piazzolla in Brooklyn, a tribute to the late Nuevo Tango master. His previous CD, Tango Grill,  was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Tango Album and a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album. Currently he is a member of the GlassHouse Orchestra, a multinational ensemble that performs in Europe and North America, and the Astoria Tango Orchestra. He plays regularly with small ensembles in the New York City area, including a three year ongoing residence at Zinc Bar with Grammy nominee Emilio Solla.

JAVIER SANCHEZ – Bandoneonist Javier Sanchez has toured the world with Orquesta Típica, Tango Pasión, Tango Viaje al Sentimiento, Pedro Chemes Group, Tango Emotión, Tanguera and Quinteto Típico Buenos Aires. He has been a member of Latin Grammy Awards nominee, Rodolfo Mederos’ Orchestra ‘Tipica’ between 2005 and 2016, Javier has performed in Buenos Aires tango shows including Café Tortoni, Chiquin Buenos Aires, Pigmalión Tango, El Viejo Almacén, Esquina de Carlos Gardel, Tango Porteño, Piazzolla Tango.

Workshop and Dance performances by MICHAEL AND ANA THOMAS – 2017 USA OFFICIAL ARGENTINE TANGO SALON CHAMPIONS!

Michael and Anna are siblings and Tango dance partners. They started their study of Tango at a very young age. They studied with their father Edmundo Thomas and many renowned masters of Tango who were part of the old milongueros school in Buenos Aires.

Since 2006 Michael taught and performed in Buenos Aires at several well-known venues and since 2010 also in the USA. Ana studied ballet, contemporary dance and jazz at the National Arts University and graduated from the prestigious “Contemporary Dance workshop of the San Martin Theatre” in Buenos Aires. For the last 6 years she studied Tango with many maestros.

Ana and Michael’s victory dance video:

Saturday October 14th – Anniversary Milonga Schedule:
8:00-9:00pm: All level class with guest teachers Michael and Ana Thomas

9:00pm-12:00am: Milonga with dance-able traditional Tango live music by Emilio Solla TribuTango and DJ Ashvin

9:30pm & 10:45pm: Live music sets by Emilio Solla TribuTango (Emilio Solla, piano; Pablo Aslan, bass; Javier Sanchez, bandoneon)

10:30pm: Dance performance by Michael and Ana Thomas

Tickets/info:

Location: Community Music Center Concert Hall, 544 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA (You should be able to hear the music through the street, enter through the garden.)

Tickets at door: $25 general/$20 seniors/students
Advance tickets: $20 general/$17 seniors/students

I love these words by Sonja: “We offer the beautiful connection between human beings in the Tango Embrace as a common language and antidote against the isolation, separation and fearful existence we are led to believe is necessary.  To complement our screen-oriented lives, we need to slow down, rediscover the joy of body-based expressions and create live gathering places among ourselves in a spirit of harmony and well-being!”

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Filed Under: Live Tango Music, Milonga Spotlight, Musings Tagged With: Argentine Tango, Bay Area Tango, CMC Mission Milonga, Intimate Embrace Tango, Live Tango Music, Sonja Riket

Tango scenes in SF

sflovestango

Celebrate #bayareatango community, support everyone involved & share ♥️ of #tango with San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

sflovestango
🧨 New year, new beginnings! One happened yester 🧨 New year, new beginnings! One happened yesterday at @thetangodome – first Women's Gathering hosted by @ayano.yoneda.tango, including folks who identify as women.

Part clothing & shoe swap, and part cultivating a safe space to be vulnerable, be generous, be supportive, and be real with each other.

Looking forward to more of this and building a community that keeps involving what tango events can be beyond the dance! 🙌 
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #tangolovers #womenintango #bayareatango #sisterhood #beyondthedance
As the year-end approaches, many SF local tango ev As the year-end approaches, many SF local tango events have had or will have their last event of 2022 to wrap things up. This year's last Milonga Rubia al Sur happened this past Sunday, Dec 18 with DJ @ayano.yoneda.tango and special performance with visiting artist, @martinalmironartist, and milonga host, Lisette @passion4tango. 

With the holidays coming up and Argentina winning the world cup, dancing tango all night long around Lisette's very own flower arrangements was just the appropriate celebration people needed.

Hosted by Lisette Perelle, Milonga Rubia is held every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month, with current location at Just Dance Ballroom (2500 Embarcadero) in Oakland and a different DJ for each event.

✨ Fun fact - how Milonga Rubia got its name... ✨

Lisette's Argentine friends have always been calling her 'Rubia' because of her blonde hair. One day about 6 years ago, when she was discussing naming this new milonga with @julian_tangosf, he said, “Why not just call it Milonga Rubia?" That's how Milonga Rubia got its name! The event once was in a venue in Emeryville/Richmond. Once Lisette changed venues to a more southern location (Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland), the event's name was changed to 'Milonga Rubia al Sur' accordingly.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #sundayfunday #milonga #milonganight #socialdancing #bailemos #embrace #tangodancers #bayareatango #oakland #keepdancing #dancingislife #weekendrecap
Last Saturday, Saturday Dec 17, @abrazoqueertango Last Saturday, Saturday Dec 17, @abrazoqueertango hosted their Holiday Bash with performances by @mirabtango and Miranda at @tangodome, a cool art gallery and dance space at 951 62nd St in Oakland.

🏳️‍🌈 Abrazo Queer Tangois a volunteer-run organization, and after expenses, all funds are used to pay for their events and offer discounts to students and folks short on cash. To help the org break even in 2022 and fund its 2023 programs, last Saturday's event was positioned as a fundraiser with a sliding scale $20-$40 for folks to choose how they'd like to show their support, offering a sweet night of performance, community and great music in a magical location. 

Missed the event yet still would like to support Queer Tango? Donations always totally work! Please write *donation* in the comment via your favorite method:
Venmo ➡️ abrazo-tango (Karen Curtis)
Paypal ➡️ abrazoqueertango@gmail.com
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevents #milonga #saturdayvibe #socialdancing #bailemos #embrace #tangodancers #bayareatango #queertango #oakland #keepdancing #dancingislife #weekendrecap
💫 #motivationmonday is not over yet so here is 💫 #motivationmonday is not over yet so here is a quick recap of the International Day of Tango at @greatnorthernsf last night! 💫 Milonga hosted by @julian_tangosf with DJ @loco_chung. 
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#diadeltango #tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevents #milonga #sundayfunday #socialdancing #bailemos #embrace #tangodancers #bayareatango #sanfrancisco #keepdancing #dancingislife #weekendrecap
This Friday night in the heart of San Francisco, t This Friday night in the heart of San Francisco, tango dancers and the public who are curious art lovers had a unique experience with live music performed by local tango musicians and the strategic mix of TANGO • VALS • MILONGA • ALTERNATIVE music by DJ @jonas.aqui of @jxtango at @drawingroomsf_annex, an art • gallery • studio in the Mission district – a free event by the collaboration of @chetangosf, @drawingroomsf and @artistmigration. 

Artists featured:
Sumi Lee (piano) @sfsumi
J Ramada (bass)
Basma Edrees (violin) @basmaedreesviolin
Verónica Freidkes (vocal) @veroverofreidkes

Check out our stories and story highlights for snippets of the performances and tango dancing around art pieces!
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❣️ about Che! Tango SF❣️

All events created by Ramada Salieri and Elaine Chiu are dedicated to providing an inclusive and friendly dancing and learning environment in San Francisco and the Bay Area regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or any other characteristic or trait.

ONGOING EVENTS
Che! Milonga: Every 1st and 2nd Saturday of the month 
Che! Música + Milonga: Once every quarter on a 2nd Saturday
Milonga Uno: 3rd Saturday of every other month
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❣️ about The Drawing Room SF ❣️

MISSION
The Drawing Room connects community through art to help improve the overall human condition by making art accessible and part of the daily fabric of our lives. 
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❣️about Artist Migration❣️

ANTI CAPITALIST ART
Artist-led curatorial project providing performance and exhibition opportunities to international artists.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #concert #milonga #specialevent #onenightonly #livemusic #fridaynights #art #tangomusic #contemporarymusic #contemporarytango #womenintango #womeninmusic #artislife  #tangomusicians #musiciansofinstagram #sanfrancisco #california #bayareatango #sflovestango #jxtango
Those who came out to @tangolabruja last night had Those who came out to @tangolabruja last night had an epic evening of dancing and live music with three highly skillful tango musicians’ improvised music – Trio Tangazo, a dynamite tango trio made up of Sascha Jacobsen (bass), Seth Asarnow (piano), and Adrian Jost (bandoneon). 

~~Fun fact~~
Sascha, Seth and Adrian all performed at La Bruja previously - either with other tango ensembles or in duo - but it was the first time all three of them taking the stage together!

📍 @berkeleycityclub 
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#tango #concert #milonga #milonganight #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusic #improvisation #travelingmusician #musiciansofinstagram #california #berkeley #bayareatango #tangomusicians #tangodancers #socialdance #dancingislife #sflovestango
🥧 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so @milongamalevaje 🥧 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so @milongamalevaje is closed for that matter, but here is something different & fun from last Thursday 😉 with DJ @jonas.aqui, courtesy of hosts @tanguera_e, Ramada Salieri and Adolfo Caszarry.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #milonga #milonganight #tangoevent #tangoalternativo #alternativetango #tangonuevo #embrace #bailar #bailemos #socialdance #partnerdance #tangodancers #dancingislife #bayareatango #sanfrancisco #sflovestango
✨ FRIDAY NIGHT TANGO ✨ It’s been awhile sin ✨ FRIDAY NIGHT TANGO ✨

It’s been awhile since Milonga La Genesis (hosted by @julian_tangosf) has live tango music. Last night LEO TANGASSO QUARTET was in the house, featuring @leogassomusic from Montevideo, Uruguay on bandoneon,  @smurfetteshum on piano, Stella Bonilla on violin,  @digsmahler on double bass.

(🎥 @tangonnection, edited by @sflovestango)
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #specialevent #bayareatango #tangomusic #livemusic #tangomusicians #bandoneon #piano #doublebass #violin #quartet #onenightonly #milonganight #sanfrancisco #sflovestango
👏 The all-female tango ensemble, 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨, wrapped up their 2022 concert tour at @alameda_elks1015, playing for a full house of guests at the @housetango Community Milonga.

𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is a collaboration between powerhouse female tango musicians @sfsumi (piano), @heynisolera (bandoneon), and @teagbby (violin). Their concert on Sunday featured guest bassist @fabricanfabricant and vocalist @teresatam.sing.

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The mission of 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is to present contemporary Argentine tango through virtuosic artistic performance and educational events.  Sumi, Heyni, and Teagan originally bonded in Buenos Aires, drawn by a mutual love of tango music, as well as by a realization of the inequality of professional opportunity for women in the tango genre. They studied under the same maestros and performed with prestigious tango orchestras in Buenos Aires.  They now frequently perform around the world, including in their respective adopted cities of San Francisco (Sumi), Washington, DC (Heyni), and NYC (Teagan). All of the musicians also produce their own music. 
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#tango #concert #milonga #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusic #contemporarymusic #contemporarytango #womenintango #womeninmusic #travelingmusician #heynibando #tour #beautifulwomen #musiciansofinstagram #sanfrancisco #california #berkeley #oakland #bayareatango #tangomusicians
🎉 Saturday, October 22 marked the grand re-open 🎉 Saturday, October 22 marked the grand re-opening of Vecher Tango at the Russian Center of SF!

After a long pause of two and a half year, the magnificent grand ballroom was filled with tango energy again. What made the occasion extra special was the incredible performances by another visiting master couple @javierchikk & @moiracastellano. To top it off, @virginiaychristian "Los Totis" joined Javier & Moira on the floor for a mixed maestros dance!

Shout-out to our dearest friend Davood Yazdani, Julia Schiptsova of Tango Element, and all the local organizers for making this weekend feel like a mini tango festival in San Francisco!
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#tango #argentinetango #argentinetango♥️ #tangoargentino #milonganight #tangoperformance #bailar #bailemos #bailando #tangoshow #tangoevent #tangodancer #tangocouple #specialevent #onenightonly #tangophoto
✨It's a star-struck tango week in SF!!✨ @vir ✨It's a star-struck tango week in SF!!✨ 

@virginiaychristian "Los Totis" have been teaching in San Francisco (brought to you by our very own Davood Yazdani who's in collaboration with Julia Schiptsova of Tango Element!) And we were mesmerized by their fantastic performances last night at the special edition of @milongamalevaje at @verdiclubsf ! 🤩👏
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#tango #argentinetango #argentinetango♥️ #tangoargentino  #tangoperformance #bailar 
#bailemos #bailando #tangoshow  #tangoevent #tangoperformance #tangodancer #tangocouple #specialevent #onenightonly #tangophoto
💫 Exactly a year later, 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨, an all-female tango musician collaboration, has returned to the SF Bay Area!! 

Last night they took the audience on a magical journey to Buenos Aires with a concert-milonga at @tangolabruja in Berkeley. Check out our stories to see more snippets of their performance!

𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is a collaboration between powerhouse female tango musicians @sfsumi (piano), @heynisolera (bandoneon), and @teagbby (violin). The concert last night featured guest singer @veroverofreidkes.

The mission of 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is to present contemporary Argentine tango through virtuosic artistic performance and educational events. Sumi Lee, Heyni Solera, and Teagan Faran originally bonded in Buenos Aires, drawn by a mutual love of tango music, as well as by a realization of the inequality of professional opportunity for women in the tango genre. They studied under the same maestros and performed with prestigious tango orchestras in Buenos Aires.  They now frequently perform around the world, including in their respective adopted cities of San Francisco (Sumi), Washington, DC (Heyni), and NYC (Teagan). All of the musicians also produce their own music. 

Catch them for the rest of their tour!
🔸10/20 (Thur) 10pm, World Folk Jam concert w/ ten other world music groups, Oakland
🔸10/21 (Fri) 7pm, Sebastopol Center for the Arts
🔸10/22 (Sat) 7:30pm, Sunset Music and Arts, San Francisco
🔸10/23 (Sun) 3:30pm, houseTango Community Milonga @ Alameda Elks Lodge, Alameda
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#tango #concert #milonga #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusic #contemporarymusic #contemporarytango #womenintango #womeninmusic #travelingmusician #heynibando #tour #beautifulwomen #musiciansofinstagram #sanfrancisco #california #berkeley #oakland #bayareatango
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