A series of tango workshops and a tango musical performance will be taking place at Gustavus Adolphus College on Sunday, March 19th. These workshops and performances are open to all Gustavus students and the public free of charge. The workshops run from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Anderson Theater, and the performance is at 6 p.m. in Björling Hall.
Sarah Lahasky, Assistant Professor of Music in Ethnomusicology, inspired and facilitated this day-long event, which will bring together musicians and artists. When discussing her role teaching at the college, she explains her goals in Ethnomusicology and as an affiliate of Gustavus’s Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies Program (LALACS) as bringing a cultural understanding to music.
“I am interested in understanding how music reinforces and is reinforced by cultural norms and practices,” Lahasky states. “Together with the other music faculty, we are in the process of envisioning a new music curriculum for future Gustavus students that will help prepare them for our changing world.”
Through her work at the college, Lahasky is working to bring light to music from many different places and cultures, including tango.
“Despite its enormous popularity around the world, there are few places in the US where one can go and learn how to play tango music. This workshop is thus an opportunity for the St. Peter and Gustavus community to make stronger connections with artists in the Twin Cities.”, adds Lahasky.
The workshops taking place throughout the day will consist of five different classes for people to listen to and participate in. The workshops and performances include topics such as:
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Tango music basics (music)
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Tango dance basics (dance)
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Tango improvisation (music)
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Musicality and tango (dance)
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Q&A, Entrepreneurship in the arts (music and dance)
6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Tango Performance
While the workshops primarily focus on either music or dance, Lahasky notes the special collaboration between the two arts that happen in the performance section of the day.
“The performance will consist of a Quartet which includes Charles on bandoneón, Alex Woods on piano, Devan Moran on violin, and myself on double bass,” Lahasky explains. “We will share the stage with long-time Minneapolis tango dance teacher and performer Sabine Ibes, and her dance partner, Paul Lohman.”
Lahasky states, “ It’s a chance to explore what tango is all about, learn how it connects to music and dance styles that one might already be familiar with, and have fun!”
Come to Gustavus Adolphus College on Sunday, March 19 to learn more about tango from Gustavus professor Sarah Lahasky and the guest performers, and to see a performance that directly showcases the skills, styles, and methods they will be teaching.
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