THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO WAS PART OF THIS FESTIVAL IN EVERY AND ANY WAY.

Our Enormous Thank You Post is too big for this page. Please check it out here.

Please plan to join us May 24-27, 2024 (Memorial Day Weekend) for our 12th festival. The theme will be “The Poetry of Tango.”

Please join us for the 11th Philadelphia Tango Festival!! It takes place over Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-29, 2023, with an early arrival event on May 25.

View the whole schedule

Here’s some of what’s cool about our festival:

• Each year, all festival offerings are organized around a theme. This year, the theme is IMPROVISATION in tango dance & music.

• Starting in 2023, the Philadelphia Tango Festival will produce a new tango album each year, with the goal of supporting the writing and recording of new highly danceable tango music. This year, we are producing the first album by the TIPICA MESSIEZ Tango Orchestra! The album was recorded between February 20 and 22 and is now in post production. You will absolutely not believe how great it is!

• Our festival features both seated concerts and highly danceable LIVE MUSIC for social dancing every night.

Please peruse the menu (above right) to read all about the festival.

We really hope you’ll join us in the city of Brotherly (& Sisterly) Love, Rocky and Cheesesteaks, May 25-29! Abrazos!

We’re thrilled to be working with Bryn Mawr Film Institute to present an early arrival event for the Philadelphia Tango Festival, a screening of the new film:

EL SONIDO DE ANTES/THE HIDDEN SOUND OF TANGO

Thursday, May 25

Argentina – 1 hr 30 min – with subtitles
2023 · d. Yael Szmulewicz
Starring Patricio Crom

General Public: $25
BMFI Members: $20
Tickets (See our newsletters or email Meredith for the discount code.)

After obtaining an old Boca de Estrella guitar like the one played by tango icon Carlos Gardel, tango musician/guitar collector Patricio Crom sets out to restore the instrument and discover its true sound—and then use it in a concert featuring some of today’s best Argentine tango guitarists. Along the way, Crom explores the different techniques of guitar playing, the challenges of guitar building and restoration, and the enduring passion for the guitar and Carlos Gardel.

The event starts with a short concert by Patricio Crom and Juan Villarreal, continues with the film screening, and ends with a Q & A featuring Director Yael Szmulewicz, as well as Patricio Crom, Juan Villarreal and Meredith Klein.

We are bringing two extraordinary couples to co-headline the festival. Both couples are renowned for their electrifying improvised performances, their skills as teachers, and their commitment to give the best of themselves to their students.

• Octavio Fernandez & Corina Herrera
• Cecilia Garcia & Serkan Gokcesu

Those who want to study in-depth with either couple (or both!) may sign up for special four-workshop SEMINARS. Each couple will also teach two workshops outside of their seminar.

We are very excited to announce that Dagny Miller has joined the festival staff to work with Martin Enos, teaching the beginner track and performing on Sunday night.

We’re thrilled to be able to incorporate the Argentine folkloric dances of zamba and chacarera into the festival for the first time, taught by Nick Wallach.

The festival offers LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT, including both seated concerts and extremely danceable live music during the milongas.

We are incredibly honored to be able to present some of the best tango musicians and bands currently performing, many of whom are traveling from Buenos Aires to be part of the festival:

• The Tipica Messiez Tango Orchestra, directed by Emiliano Messiez
• Juan Villarreal & Patricio Crom
• The Horacio Romo - Pablo Agri - Emiliano Messiez trio
• Hugo Satorre & Leandro Ruocco

In the course of the festival, three new albums will be presented, by the Tipica Messiez, Romo-Agri-Messiez Trio, and Villarreal-Crom Duo, respectively. Singers will have the chance to hone their craft in a masterclass with Juan Villarreal, and then try out their skills in a live music open mic practica. Throughout the festival, there will be lots of Argentine folkloric music, as well as tango, with likely some other genres mixed in. A highlight of the festival will be a milonga with IMPROVISED, UNREHEARSED live music, which the audience will get to choose in the moment!

Thanks to everyone who has given in support of the festival, and in support of Psicoporteño, the new album by Tipica Messiez. None of this would be possible with you!

If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so through our fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas. If you give in this way, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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