Welcome to Detlef and Melina's classes at

Festivalito Rural 2015

The classes

Friday: Asynchronous Caminatas

Duration: 1.5h

We‘ll explore variations of the caminar in which leader and follower walk with different speed. We‘ll vary our movements rhythmically and make it even more challenging by turning them.

Saturday: Dos Grandes - D'Arienzo and Troilo

Duration: 2 x 1.5h

In this challenging workshop, we‘ll analyse the differences between a traditionalist and renovating approach to tango music, both that had a huge influence on the development of the genre. You‘ll get to know both orchestras better, adapt your dance to different styles, listen to the singer and analyse the communication between the instruments. This class will not introduce any „steps for D'Arienzo“ or „figures for Troilo“ but enhance your general understanding of music and knowledge about Tango history. For dancers who know rhythmic variation as well as recognising end of phrases, and can apply it in their dance.

Sunday: The creative couple

Duration: 2 x 1.5h

This class will address the role of both partners in the creation of a fully improvised dance inspired by music. On one hand, we will be deconstructing the patterns, taking known movements and varying them surprisingly. On the other hand, we will explore the possibilities of how the follower can be active within the framework of what the leader suggests, with the intention of retaining the harmony of the couple. This class is great fun and a challenge to analytical understanding. It will enhance your skills of improvisation and help you develop new movements without memorising steps.

The rules ;-)

Register in a couple. You want to work with someone you like, right?

You can only register for the whole day. In other words, the double classes offered on Saturday and Sunday can only be booked as a block (of a 3h duration). We want you to get to know the teachers and the teachers to get to know you! This way you will get the most out of the experience.

Register for more than one day ;-) We'd really like that! Actually, we're sure you will like it, too ;-)

Don't be an absolute beginner! Sorry, but at least some dancing experience is required to attend the classes.

Register early! The number of participants is limited. Really.

About Detlef & Melina

We are proud to have Melina Sedó and Detlef Engel teaching at Festivalito Rural. Again. Here's some basic information about them, copied from their webpage:

Stylistically, they are at home in the traditional tango de salón, as it is danced in Buenos Aires, and which they interpret in a very personal and modern way. Their dance captivates through its intimate embrace, playful musicality and an almost puristic elegance: a sensual interplay of man and woman without cliché or superficial effect. Thus, their tango is newly created in every single moment, and does not just express the music, but genuine feeling.

At the core of their lessons, which are always geared towards improvisational capability, are intensive body work and analysis of tango´s structures. But „technical“ understanding is just a means to concentrate better on the essential: developing one´s own style and relishing the embrace in unison with the music.

If you need proof that they are welcome in many places around the world, take a look at their references.

If you like to read, check out Melina's blog. In there, you'll find her opinion on almost anything … also on Festivalito Rural ;-)

Finally, if you're more of a visual type, here's a starting point for browsing YouTube: Detlef and Melina dancing to Tormenta of Carlos di Sarli at the Festival de Kerallic in France. Watching the video you will surely realise why a blog linking to this video calls them those masters of control ;-)