Strictly Anyone Can Come Dancing

Photo by J Tully

Rye’s dancers young and old, experienced or complete novices can look forward to Rye Arts Festival in September when latin
dancing is on the cards. And plenty of it, with special workshops and performances for both Argentine Tango and Flamenco!

Sunday 14th September is when leading Argentine Tango instructors Alan Mitchell and Ella Sharp will be holding an afternoon workshop in this most steamy and sexually charged of dances, which will be open to complete beginners, improvers and those who have been ‘resting’ for a while and would like to make a comeback.


In the evening there will be a Tango Milonga, with Los Mareados, the UK’s top tango quintet playing fabulous music and dancers will be able to go through their paces as Rye Community Centre becomes a night club in a working class Buenos Aires barrio. And those who don’t want to dance but who would like to simply watch the dancers and listen to the fantastic music at either or both of the two sessions will be able to buy tickets.

And Wednesday 17th September there will be a similar format for Flamenco dancing. In the afternoon there will be a workshop help by Duende Flamenco, a troupe comprising guitarists, percussion, dancers and singers. Unlike the argentine tango programme, the evening will be strictly for the professionals as Duende Flamenco will be performing ‘Lament for Lorca’ – a celebration of the life of 20th century Spanish poet and playwright through dance, song and music.

Geoff Boudreau, who is organising the events for the 43rd annual Rye Arts Festival says: “Rye has a great dancing tradition – Jo Fletcher is holding her annual Rye Dance Centre Showtime as part of the Festival, which will once again showcase the talents of our youngsters. Jo has been teaching in Rye for 33 years, so I am sure there will be many of her dance alumni who will want to come along and take part in the flamenco and argentine tango workshops and performances.

“Since my days of even attempting to challenge Vincent Simeoni as the UK’s foremost Argentine Tango dancer are long gone, I won’t be ‘throwing shapes’ on the dance floor, but I am really looking forward to watching Ryers young and old learning and then taking part in the Argentine Tango show! And I’m sure many other people will also just want to come along to watch the dancing and listen to the fabulous live music.

“The Festival isn’t officially launched until 13th July and the Box Office doesn’t open its doors till early August, but it’s never too early to get started learning the Cambio de Peso and the Sandwich or El Songucheto for the Argentine Tango, and practicing Flamenco finger clicks. If nothing else, have a go at being hot and fiery or haughty and strong – vital for both dances. My Saturday lad at Grammar School Records is certainly well fired up with latin attitude!