Tuesday Musical presents Tango Buenos Aires on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall, The University of Akron. High heels will stomp, red fabric will swirl, and a bit of South America will captivate audiences as this authentically Argentinean ensemble presents an engaging program of dance and music. Enticingly titled “Fire and Passion of Tango,” the program will be directed by Emilio Kauderer.
About the Program
From the grand numbers featuring the full company of dancers and musicians to several intimate duets, Tango Buenos Aires members execute their movements with a precision, romance and intensity that dazzles. A loose plotline of the program follows the intrigue and romance surrounding the company’s main dancers, as they interact in couples and within the larger ensemble. Program highlights include encounters with some of Argentina’s most famous composers, such as Astor Piazzolla, Oscar Herrero and Alfredo Gobbi, among others.
Tango’s constant companion is the piano, although it has been accompanied by the violin, guitar and flute. Nowadays, the most typical instrument is the bandoneón, which is an accordion similar to the concertina. The “Fire and Passion” program features piano, guitar, violin, double bass, bandoneón and a company of ten dancers.
The New Mexican Ruidoso News describes the program as "Sometimes playful, sometimes dramatic, and always sensuous, the closely entwined bodies and limbs moved with amazing speed through deftly engineered movements, including frequent dips, deep slides, energetic foot stomps and ballet-like turns." Such an emotional and artistic journey shows the true scope of the art form, one which Tango Buenos Aires will embrace and develop throughout the evening.
About the Artists
Tango Buenos Aires has become one of Argentina’s great cultural exports, known throughout the world as the most authentic and uncompromising representative of the Tango. Tango Buenos Aires was created for the "Jazmines" festival at the famous Buenos Aires cabaret "Michelangelo" by renowned composer and tango director Osvaldo Requena. The company met with tremendous success and was immediately added to the season of the General San Martin Municipal Theatre.
Since 1986, Tango Buenos Aires has toured the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia, always bringing with it a love for the art form of tango. The company serves as a cultural ambassador for the dance, even hosting a series of unprecedented master classes and residencies at the Dance University of Beijing in 1993. The Argentinean tango has a mixture of African and Spanish antecedents, and also a strong influence from the milonga which is sung by Gauchos, the Argentinean "cowboys." This mixture is embraced by the company and celebrated by their rich programming.
Emilio Kauderer acts as Music Director to this stunning group of performers. His compositions for Emmy, Grammy and Oscar-winning productions have brought the strains of Argentinean tango to audiences worldwide. He composed the score for Juan Campanella’s Oscar winning film, The Secret in their Eyes (Best Foreign Film 2010) in collaboration with composer Federico Jusid. The score won Best Soundtrack at major award ceremonies in both Argentina and Spain.
Emilio also composed the score of Disney’s Latin versions of the box office hit, High School Musical and did the score for A Place in the World, directed by Adolfo Aristarain, which was nominated for Best Foreign Film (Oscars 1992). His extensive film and television credits are likely familiar to Tuesday Musical audiences in productions such as Dead Like Me and CSI, Miami.
His symphonic work has been performed by the National Symphonic Orchestras in Argentina and Honduras, the La Porte Symphony Orchestra and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra in Washington. A resident of LA California, Kauderer was recently granted recognition by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles for his contribution to Latin and film music.
Susana Rojo, choreographer for “Fire and Passion,” is an experienced professional in the world of tango. She has studied jazz, ballet and gymnastics, while always championing her first love of tango at festivals and concerts worldwide. She has served as a juror on several occasions for the International Tango Championship in Buenos Aires and founded a teaching program focused on promoting knowledge of the Argentinean culture in teenagers.
Pre-Concert Talk
There is a pre-concert talk by Melinda Planey, dancer, choreographer and Administrative Coordinator for DANCECleveland. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the E.J. Thomas Hall auditorium, the lecture will explore the unique challenges and opportunities associated with presenting dance. These pre-concert talks are free and open to any ticket holder.
Concert Sponsor: Gertrude Orr Foundation and FirstMerit Wealth Management Services
Season Support: Ohio Arts Council, The University of Akron and the GAR Foundation
The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
The University of Akron supports this program to encourage educational and cultural growth, excellence and enrichment for all Ohioans.
Media Sponsors: WKSU FM and the Ritchie Memorial Foundation
Concert Night Information
Curtain time is 7:30pm
Ticket Prices: $22, $40, $45
Ticket Services: Call the E.J. Thomas ticket office at 330.972.7570, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On weekend show days, the ticket office opens two hours prior to performance and remains open until the end of intermission. Or contact Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000.
Student Tickets
Click here for Program Details for Tango Buenos Aires
