Thanks to the power of social media and the power of community, Jasmine Roloff and I are excited to announce there will be a Sidewalk Milonga at Bloor and Spadina (S.E. corner) every Monday until the weather pushes us out. Last night we held a trial run and, if we say so ourselves, it was a success! However vibrant the location and carefully chosen the music, it wouldn’t have been a success if 20+ accomplished dancers hadn’t taken the risk and turned up to entertain ourselves and the passersby.
We really appreciated the support of everyone who came including: Andy who provided the music and is busy finessing details for The Toronto Tango Experience along with Bulent of Practilonga, Steve Yee and Jennifer who rushed from work to be part of the early arrival team, Ilona of El Abrazo who had arrived home from B.A. that morning at 5:30, our new-to-Canada-from-Moscow dancers Louis and Konstantin who also arrived early to create critical mass, Svetlana who had also promised in advance to support our event, Iris who drew the crowds along with Louis as they performed high on a small granite domino, Soohyun, Banu and the other great T.O. dancers.
Strangely Jasmine and I had only met on Facebook prior to our co-hosting of Sidewalk Tango last night so major kudos to Jasmine for bravely going where few Toronto tangueras have gone before, particularly as she only joined our scene from San Francisco a few months ago. Her husband Stephen was there and ready to provide any assistance, as long as it didn’t require dancing. It was Jasmine who spied this spectacularly urban location and shared its potential on the Toronto Tango Junkies Facebook page. The vitality of city life justaposed superbly with tango as buses, garbage trucks and street cleaners ploughed by. A gaudy hot dog stand anchored our dance floor with its brilliant white light, a street person slept undisturbed and from the shadows fragrant cannabis wafted towards the dance floor.
Practically the location also works well. It’s very close to the Spadina subway station and there was ample parking along Bloor for $1. The Second Cup with its washrooms stayed open late into the night for those not enamoured with the beverage selection at the hot dog stand and there are lots of places to sit, either on the granite domino sculpture or on a low wall under the trees.
I’m still hoping for a couple of one-time outdoor milongas in some more romantic settings – Linda of Palermo Tango Club has a repeat of last year’s Kew Garden Bandstand milonga planned for mid August – but in the meantime, please join us Monday nights at 8:30 – 11:00 p.m.
July 25, 2012 at 11:59 am ·
Lydia! so THIS is your blog/website
…. i’ve already visited it many times since landing in Toronto, wanting to get the “down-lo” on where to go dancing. Respect !
…when you get the photos up people will really understand how impressive it was!
Thanks for a great post and photo; plus facebook notices; you are obviously our social media wizard obviously (good bc i am lost w it).
I have to read the bit about Stephen to him… he said he had a great time, actually, even not dancing, because of what a good vibe we had there… but i think it got him really wanting to jump in.
FYI i think it was Louis leading Iris on the edge of that little domino
Hope to share this fun location with more toronto-tangueros this coming Monday!
July 26, 2012 at 12:15 am ·
Thank you Jasmine. Re the Louis/Konstantin mix up – I’ve now corrected it in the post and added Banu’s name to the list of dancers. I’m still missing the names of some dancers – please let me know and I’ll add them.
July 30, 2012 at 2:16 pm ·
Hi Lydia, I am hope to come out after my classes at RhythmandMotion.ca they finish at 10 pm on Monday’s i can get there for about 10:30 pm i hope you will be dancing Tango until 11 pm or longer. I am happy that your Portable Speaker system is working out. Next week is a long weekend. Will you be having it for next Monday i hope? i know i can help you set up next week Monday Aug 6 th. i have no classes. Ciao Terry TZee Salsa Zaifman Tango for Life on facebook
August 1, 2012 at 1:11 pm ·
Thank you Terry for this particular offer of help and all you do to keep tango events moving in Toronto. Yes, there will be Sidewalk Tango on August 6 and Jasmine Tangos (her new Facebook name) would love your help on Monday, especially because I won’t be there.
July 31, 2012 at 9:09 pm ·
What a great window into the outdoor milonga experience, Lydia! Right down to the smell!
If my feet aren’t shredded next Monday following TTX I will be sure to make it out. Way to make it happen, ladies!
August 1, 2012 at 1:14 pm ·
Thank you Tracey. Yes, your feet may well be shredded but there again you may well be suffering some withdrawal and need a tango fix by Monday night.