All of these can be danced in CLOSE or OPEN EMBRACE. However the Milonguero and Milonga styles are usually danced in close embrace, and the Tango-Vals and Tango De Salon in open embrace.

. . . .   

Do not travel with very expensive items.

At EZEIZA AIRPORT, monitor your luggage at all times. Go to the Banelco ATM near the terminal exit for cash withdrawal in pesos. Also, near the customs counter, there is an official money changing facility.

TAXIS: Only travel in remises or in radio taxis. REMISES (hire cars) are ordered by phone. RADIO TAXIS have a city license number displayed on the door and are clearly marked with a sign on the roof. The driver has official documentation displayed on his dashboard. Request a card from the drivers for your later use. Lock all the doors and roll up the windows when you enter a taxi.

Leave PASSPORTS at the hotel/apartment for safe-keeping. Make COPIES of your passport and tickets.

Carry CASH and TRAVELLERS CHEQUES carefully concealed (even in a money belt). Always have plenty of small change for taxis.

When withdrawing money from ATMs or when leaving banks with money be especially careful of suspicious types "hanging about".

To avoid the possibility of receiving counterfeit notes, pay in small denomination notes. (Carry plenty of these as well as small change.)

GENERAL SAFETY: Always be ALERT in the streets, and especially in malls and crowded areas. Pick-pockets, bag snatchers and muggers are rife, especially at night. Avoid walking along dark and lonely streets. Tourists may be easy targets, but some of our porteño friends have also been mugged.

In MILONGAS: Be particularly alert outside popular tourist milongas. Do not be coerced into getting into any car or taxi which you have not checked out. Deny thieves an easy grab by securing your bags to chairs and tables. Do not conspicuously display cameras, expensive shopping bags, etc. Try to arrive and leave with people you know well; be wary of "instant friends".

Dearest Anna and Martin

. . . I felt instantly accepted by all; such a rare thing in a dance world where women are usually competing for a dance partner.

You have created an exquisite and welcoming environment; I saw this repeated from the Hakoah Club on Friday to the Milonga Saturday and again, last night at your Tuesday classes. I was greeted by all with genuine warmth and pleasure and instantly made feel a member of the "family".

Thank you.

Isabelle Lyttle, experienced sydney dancer, new to tango.

. . . One day, YOSHI, (the other Japanese but much more well known Tango dancer in Sydney) told me about ‘Cadencia’. He told me that in BA, he often saw people dance together without specific design or effort but a natural wave like ‘walk and turn’ happens and all the dancers start to flow in the line of dance in magical unison.

Around this time, I visited Tango Pasión Milonga . . . and came across something similar happening. There were about 10 pairs of dancers and they were dancing in the way similar to what Yoshi told me about BA . . .

Isao, experienced sydney tango dancer

. . . It’s funny. You can be dancing with a better dancer than yourself and you do a step taught by Anna and Martin and regularly they comment afterwards – “Gee you did that step well”.

It is the polish and the poise that Anna and Martin give to your tango that makes the difference. Over time what Anna and Martin give to your dancing is confidence to create your own steps and to better match the moods in the music.

Karl Flowers - a student who admits to proving more challenging than most to Anna and Martin.

. . . Anna and Martin . . . deconstructed my footwork which they found too "balletic" for tango and placed great emphasis on walking, posture and technique. Dancing on my axis was essential and they gave me ways to strengthen this. They also asked me to let go of steps as such and gave me the means to follow with improvisation and fluidity. Anna [believes] in each dancer's signature . . . urging us to find our own adornos and style . . . she inspires us with her own subtlety, grace, musicality and excitement as a dancer . . . Anna and Martin's teaching has taken away a lot of anxiety . . . and has made me more confident and free spirited. An experienced tanguero recently said to me 'you used to dance steps, now you dance tango!'

Wendy Charell, television executive and experienced tango dancer.

dear anna and martin

i have just come back to china office last night. and returned to my ordinary working day already feeling to miss you and the summer in AU.
eventually, my 1st trip to sydney will be the most memorable experience i had ever because of you.
i noted and input your lectures to my brain. and keep learning by myself as much as i can. then, try to be the better dancer till i meet you again.
i wish your milonga and classes give the people happiness more and more constantly. and wish I would join there as soon as possible.

to my respected teachers . . .

Akiko, experienced Hong Kong-based Japanese tango dancer.

. . . I had almost made the decision to give up tango. My failure to progress after months of effort had overwhelmed me . . . Anna and Martin took me in hand. With patience and a carefully structured teaching approach we practiced tango techniques and fundamentals . . . always against the background of the beautiful traditional music of the tango. Eventually my body began to know and to retain the movements and steps and my confidence returned. They have the facility to convey to their students their own love and knowledge of the tango as well as the ability to impart their own very considerable technical skills. It has been a joyous experience to have travelled this journey with them.

Faye Lake, piano teacher, experienced tango dancer.

Anna & Martin are fantastic tango teachers! Not only did they motivate and rehabilitate my father who had recently had a stroke, they also inspired my mother and myself (total beginners with two left feet!) to learn.

Tango lessons are great fun and an excellent form of rehabilitation, for strength balance and coordination.

Monica Ling, Rehabilitation Medicine Physician and recent tango convert.

No journey of discovery can succeed without total committment, preparation, understanding of the core fundamentals, creating a vision/dream of how the journey may unfold, and an ability to see and feel the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Teachers, role models, and mentors, are essential in achieving the end results. Ultimately this could well determine success or failure.

For those fortunate enough to have discovered the teaching and dance skills of ANNA and MARTIN, have realized their total committment to excellence, persistence, patience and most of all LOVE of TANGO.

Max Kurz, Business Consultant, salsa dancer and beginner tango dancer.