David & Kim Benitez Workshop And Performance On Sunday 23 June!

Kim and David Benitez are one of the UK's leading tango couples, known for their elegance and their precise teaching style. In this workshop they will explore how to enrich your dance and deepen your connection with your partner by working with changes of dynamic and cadence. Needless to say, we are also greatly looking forward to what will undoubtedly be a stylish performance, too. And in a rare bonus, LUCILA SEGURA, one of the leading designers in tango fashion in Buenos Aires, will be exhibiting her clothes – ladies, you might want to try them on! With Iván Arandia as DJ, it promises to be another great afternoon of Tango on the Thames! £20 Special Workshop + Milonga £12 Milonga only (…collected at the door). The Shepherd Hall St Thomas’s Hospital Westminster Bridge Rd Lambeth London SE1 7EH How to get there? Whack the address into Google Maps, or… BY TUBE: Either WESTMINSTER, cross Westminster Bridge, St Thomas’s on the right-hand side …OR WATERLOO, Walk south-west on York Rd towards Chicheley St, Turn left onto Forum Magnum Square, Turn right onto York Rd, Turn left onto Westminster Bridge Rd/A302 BY CAR: There is a pay car park at St Thomas’s Hospital, which you approach from the south. DAVID & KIM BENITEZ are an award-winning tango team known for their ability to bring out the best in each and every student. They are passionate about making their students feel welcomed, nurtured and inspired at every stage of their learning path - whether they're an absolute beginner or tango dancer with years of experience. With over 10 years as a tango couple, David and Kim are finely in tune with each other as both dancers and teachers. But their backgrounds could not be more different. DAVID BENITEZ David grew up in a small town in Argentina. His talent in dance was recognixed from an early age and he received a sought-after place in the highly selective "Taller de San Martin", Buenos Aires' most prestigious Schoool of Modern Dance. On graduation, he performed in the renowned San Martin Company before touring internationally as a principal dancer with Argentine ballet star, Maximiliano Guerra. A chance decision by his ballet company to create a ballet/tango fusion piece gave him his first taste of tango. He was soon dancing with top tango companies such as Tanguera and Miguel Angel Zotto's Tango Por Dos. However it was "tango salon" - the roots of tango - that stole his heart and he spent time studying with the legendary Osvaldo Zotto and was privileged to be his teaching assistant, gaining priceless insight into tango as taught by the great masters. KIM BENITEZ Kim Benitez also stumbled across tango but on the other side of the world - in an old church hall in Camden Town in the mid-1990’s. The music and movements deeply touched her and changed the course of her life. She has since dedicated herself to studying tango as an art form. In 2003, she moved to Buenos Aires to work full time on her tango - studying with world-renowned maestros and immersing herself in the culture. A CHANCE ENCOUNTER In 2005, in another twist of fate David and Kim’s paths crossed on a busy Buenos Aires avenue. Together they dreamed up Tango Movement - a Tango School that would bring their tango love to London. Ten years on, Tango Movement has earned its reputation as one of the UK’s foremost Tango Schools. IVÁN ARANDIA Ivan is an Argentinean tango dancer, choreographer and teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching and performing in the UK, Europe, Australia, Mexico and Argentina. He danced in the movie "Evita" (1996), and participated in "Strictly Dancing”(1998), a Channel 4 documentary on Tango. Ivan also choreographed the tango scene in the Alek Keshishian’s film "Love and Others Disasters" (2006) starring Brittany Murphy. He also featured in the BBC series “Dancing Cheek to Cheek” (2014) and he choreographed and performed the dance scenes in the documentary “LEGACY: Rugby World Cup 2015”. Ivan toured the UK with tango ensemble Tango Siempre (1998-2001). In Australia, he performed in the show “Tango Takes 2” (2001-2002). Ivan featured in the show “La Milonga Interna” at the 2004 Festival do Atlantico in Portugal. As a member of the company Tiempo de Tango (2004 - 2009), he danced at the 58 LLangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales and at the Edinburgh Festival. He also choreographed “Transtango”, a multi-disciplinary show featuring world-class musicians such as Marcelo Nisinman and Tim Garland, visual artists, and dancers, which toured the UK in 2010-2012. Ivan is the principal teacher of NEGRACHA Tango Club, one of London's leading and most popular tango clubs. Currently, Iván teaches and performs regularly in various scenes in the UK and abroad.  More Info below.