tangoaustralia.com.au - Belén: Tango Talent from the Land of Silver

Belén: Tango Talent from the Land of Silver

Sunday, 31 January 2010

Belén Silva has taught tango in Japan and Buenos Aires, is a former dancer with Sabor a Tango in Buenos Aires, and semi-finalist in the Stage World Tango Championship. She will be giving a 4-week Tango Preparation Course in Sydney prior to the Australian International Tango Festival in March/April. For the last part of the course Belén will be joined by Diego Gonzalez and the couple will then go on to join the tango teachers at the Festival.

In February Belén did an impromptu performance with Sonny Huy at Sydney's Milonga de Mis Amores... you can check out the milonga they danced on Angelina's Tango Blog

Belén's approach to tango is holistic. Her work has included teaching physically disabled teenagers to dance tango. She believes that we need to understand how our body works and how to move our body in order to dance tango. TangoAustralia asked Belen about the forthcoming workshops and what tango means to her.

I started to dance tango when...I was 16 years , and I fell in love with the elegance that conveys well danced tango.

I began to teach tango when...I understood the naturalness of movement in my body, and could achieve a solid dance in coordination with the music.

The greatest influences on my dancing have been... Alejandra Arrue, teachers of teacher, Guillermina Quiroga, Alicia Pons,Pupi Castello "milongueros" of soul, Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne, Jesus Velazquez, Vanina Bilous , Roberto Herrera, Natalia Hills.

When you are learning to dance tango it is important to... learn without despair....

In the workshops we will focus on...the deep relationship within the space that we contain when we embrace. The real connection to dance tango occurs when the legs are a consequence of all the elements that coordinate, to achieve a step.

We will be giving guided practicas because...people need a place to practise and experiment. It is good to have a place to work on weaknesses with proper guidance and with a real feedback.

My favourite tango dancers today are...Sebastian Achaval and Roxana Suarez who are one of the young couples of tango salon that I really like! Adrian Veredice and Alejandra Hobert , stage and new tango, excelente!!!

My favorite tango orchestras are... Anibal Troilo, Francini-Pontier, Fresedo, D'Arienzo... I have to choose?!!???!

When I go to a milonga I like ...to look at people when they smile and hug - that moment is unique.

Below is a Youtube video of Belén dancing with Huga Piaz in Tokyo in 2008.

Belén has a website and can be contacted by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Pre-Festival Tango Course will run from Monday 22 February to Saturday 20 March at the Lifestyle Studio in Surry Hills, Sydney. There will be a total of 18 hours of lessons and guided practicas - check out the details on the Australian International Tango Festival website.