Our Visit Planning Page
Would you like Homer & Cristina to visit your Tango Community?
As far as planning a tango visit with us is concerned, here is a laundry list of things to consider...
Getting Started and Quick Links:
1. Communications: Email is the best way to communicate with us.
2. Class Ideas: Check out our free stuff and didactic videos. See also some of our current favorite titles/ideas below (item #11)
3. Bio: If you need Bio material it’s here.
4. We also have several promo photos (some in hi-resolution available upon request) & favorite demo vids (check out our bio for one example).
More Details:
1. Travel: In most cases, we prefer to book our own airfare and ask our host/organizer for a reimbursement check mailed to our home address after we purchase. Additional travel expenses may also include to/from airport transportation, parking, extra luggage, and bus, train, or rental car fees. We prefer to fly out of SFO or OAK airports. Departing late morning/early afternoon always works best for us! Where possible, we prefer non-stop direct flights. We love to fly Southwest by the way (with the Early Boarding option so I [Homer] can bring my bandoneon on board). Thanks!
Our general passenger info is as follows:
First name: Homer First name: Maria Cristina
Middle name: Gerasimos (if needed) Middle name: Navarro (if needed)
Last name: Ladas Last name: Ladas
Birthdate: April 4th, 1969 Birthdate: January 4th, 1973
2. Housing - Cristina is very allergic to cats (so we need a cat free home to stay in - dogs are great). Also, we prefer to have our own room with a private bath (or one that is nominally shared with our housing hosts/guests), etc. Queen size or larger firm mattresses work the best for our bodies (air mattresses don't work so well for us).
3. Food - Upon arrival we like to go grocery shopping so we can stock up on a few food/dietary supplies to help our weekend move more smoothly. We cover our own food expenses but ask that our hosts either allow some time for us to go out and get food (during workshop breaks) or provide a delivery service.
3.5 Food List - In some cases our hosts like to get food in advance for us. Here's a special list for those of you who are interested and willing to do so. This is not a mandatory request. It is only an option, if you so desire, or if time is really limited for eating out. Again, we don't mind purchasing these things ourselves if you can bring us to the market (we like to shop at Whole Foods or a similar organic store).
1. Oatmeal
2. Apples, Pears, Peaches, and other fruits
3. Bottled water (Cristina loves Figi water or Smart Water)
4. Salad Material (mixed greens, tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic, etc)
5. Eggs & Bacon
6. Tuna, Beans, and other canned products...
4. Sleep & Transition Time - We require 8 hours of sleep each night + 1 hour on either end for transition time. So factor in a 10 hour break (at a minimum) between drop-off and pick-up each workshop day for planning purposes.
5. Workshop Income - Our nominal hourly rate is $230/hr (i.e. for a 1.5 hour class this equals $345). However, the exact method of income will be determined based on the event (we are sometimes willing to negotiate with organizers based on their requirements and limitations as well as ours).
6. Privates - As a result of extended travels we have reduced our private lesson work to conserve energy. To this end we usually set-up a waiting list and decide later if we can entertain any private students. In which case, our fee is $110/hr for either Cristina or me to work with one student or a couple.
7. Logistics - For weekend workshops, we prefer to arrive on Thursday and depart on the following Monday. A typical weekend workshop will consist of 1 class on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday. However, from time to time we try to stay an additional day or two on either end to do some site-seeing, relax, etc.
8. Music Jam - Lately we've been offering a free music jam and would like to host this perhaps on Sunday afternoon (following the workshop classes) for 2 hours (getting other musicians and singers involved as well). Another option is to have extra 'jam rehearsals' (2 or 3) and have the jam band play a set of live music during one of the evening events.
9. DJ'ing - Homer enjoys dj'ing, as long as the work load is not too intense, and always adds at least 20% alternative to the mix. The dj rate is negotiable (but usually around $30 to $50/hr).
10. Performances - Cristina and I prefer to not perform during milongas (instead we like to reserve our energy for social dancing). If we do perform during a main event, then the base compensation is $100 (for 1 to 3 songs). Note, we usually perform didactic demonstrations at the end of each class which students are encouraged to video (and allowed to freely post on Youtube, share with their practice partners/groups, etc, as long as it's not-for-profit).
11. Example Class Titles/Ideas (some of our current favorites, updated October 2012)
1. The Felipe Reverse Ocho Cortado
2. Follower's Defaults and Leaders who Enable Them
3. The Ocho Rock-Step Parada Transition
4. The Use of Height Change (and two kinds of touch steps)
5. Follower's Over-Turned Sacadas
6. One Social Over-Turned Gancho
7. Colgada Basics and Colgada Odyssey (two classes)
8. Volcada Basics and Volcada Odyssey (two classes)
9. The Body Spiral (multiple classes)
10. Dynamic Turns in any embrace (multiple classes)
11. Beginner Boot-Camps (usually 2 or 3 days long)
12. Teacher Training and The Tango Brain Active Learning Workshops
13. Structure vs Style (via The Telescoping Embrace, etc)
14. Master Workshops on any Tango Topic
15. DJ 101 Workshops (with traditional and mixed music focus)
16. Any Fundamentals of Connection, Musicality, or Floorcraft & Navigation subject...
Please also reference our Video Lessons page (follow links to the free stuff and didactic videos) for further class ideas. Note that these are just ideas to get you started. We like to tailor make the workshop syllabus and often times create specific class ideas/titles to fit the needs of each organizer/community.
Hugs, Homer & Cristina ;)
