This week and weekend the Tango and Malambo Festival is taking place in Santa Barbara, where participants can take free outdoor tango lessons, watch movies on the history of the dance or performances by the State Street Ballet and the Santa Barbara Symphony, and dance the night away at a milonga (tango dance).
The event is sponsored by the Santa Barbara Symphony, the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the UCSB “Arts and Lectures” program, the Paseo Nuevo Mall and the Argentinean Café Buenos Aires.
For those who have never taken a step in tango, the outdoor lesson by Brian Griffin from Tango Santa Barbara at Paseo Nuevo Mall, between State Street and Chapalla Street, is a nice introduction to the dance. Watching is fun too.
The symphony performances, which feature the music of famed tango composer Astor Piazzolla’s Buenos Aires: Tres Movimientos Sinfonicos (1953), and Triple Concerto for piano, soprano and bandoneón by Oscar winning composer Luis Bacalov (“Il Postino”) featuring the composer at the piano, with Juan Jose Mosalini, considered one of the most important and well- known bandoneon players worldwide, will take place Saturday and Sunday evenings.
For a delicious dinner in a charming atmosphere-a covered open-air patio with fountains and live music-can be had at Café Buenos Aires. Wednesday evening a milonga will take place. Other dances and events take place throughout the weekend.
For more information on the festival, visit www.tangofestival.net.
For closer places to take your Valentine’s to tango Friday evening, El Abrazo hosts a milonga from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free lessons are offered from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 817 North Highland Ave. For more information, call 818.878.3037.
Saturday, El Encuentro offers tango lovers a venue at 4633 Van Nuys Blvd.
For more info call 818.252.332. And Sunday, visit Raul’s Tango Garden at 18859 1/2 Strathern Street in Reseda. A casual friendly environment, which also offers lessons. contact: 818.368.9794.
-Laura Tate