Tango in Berlin | Club Dance Holidays UK

Your holiday - at a glance

What's included

At least 8 hours' of tango classes with Sandra and Santiago
Four milongas (entrance payable locally)
Club Dance Holidays tour host
4 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in the comfortable and well-located 3 star Novotel Suite Berlin Potsdamer Platz Hotel
A programme of parties, soirees, restaurants, nights out dancing, sight-seeing suggestions and more
A full information pack on where to eat, where to party, tourist spots, things to do in your spare time and more
A complimentary welcome drink

Your destination

29 years after its post-Wall rebirth, Berlin is a scene-stealing combo of glamour and grit, teeming with top museums and galleries, grand opera and guerrilla clubs, gourmet temples and ethnic snack shacks. Whether your tastes run to posh or punk, you can sate them in Berlin.

When it comes to fashion, art, design and music, the German capital is the city to watch. A global influx of creatives has turned it into a cauldron of cultural cool reminiscent of New York in the ’80s.

All this trendiness is a triumph for a town that’s long been in the cross-hairs of history: Berlin staged a revolution, was headquartered by fascists, bombed to bits, ripped in half and finally reunited – and that was just in the 20th century! Famous landmarks such as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and what’s left of the Berlin Wall are like a virtual 3-D textbook in a city where you’ll find history staring you in the face every time you turn a corner.

Perhaps it’s because of its heavy historical burden that Berlin is throwing itself into tomorrow with such contagious energy. At times the entire city seems to be bubbling over into one huge party. Cafes are jammed at all hours, drinking is a religious rite and clubs host their scenes of frenzy and hedonism until the small hours.

Yet despite its often hectic pace, Berlin functions on an exquisitely human scale. Traffic flows freely, public transportation is brilliant, you can walk without fear at night, clubs have no velvet ropes and your restaurant bill would only buy you a starter back home.

Unique features

Experience the ultimate tango tour through Berlin with Sandra and Santiago Monticelli where you will enjoy at least eight hours of tango classes, escorted visits to milongas (entrance payable locally), sight-seeing options, full hosting and 4 nights' accommodation with breakfast.

Sandra and Santiago bring their unique blend of talent, performance and hosting to this all-encompassing tango experience.

Berlin is the unofficial European capital of tango with a lively tango scene and regular milongas, a summer break in Berlin is a wonderful opportunity for any tanguero or tanguera.

*SINGLE TRAVELLING LADIES* BOOKINGS NOW ON A WAITING LIST - this is to keep the gender balance in place.
*COUPLES CAN STILL BOOK*

What others have said

Is this for me?

Yes! Our long weekend of tango in Berlin gives you the perfect opportunity to learn or perfect your moves with some of the best Argentinian teachers on the scene whilst experiencing early summer in this vibrant city. Suitable for intermediate through to advanced dancers, Tango in Berlin has universal appeal.

Itineraries

The provisional itinerary below gives you an idea of what the weekend might look like. Some details may change.

(OP) indicates an optional extra for which a charge will be made in advance.

Day 1 Check-in from 1200
1330 Welcome drink and lunch at a popular restaurant (lunch payable locally)

1600 Level Decider & Tango classes

Afternoon Suggestion: Stroll around Berlin city centre to get a feel for this cosmopolitan city.

2100 Free time for dinner.

2300 Tango Milonga at one of Berlin´s top tango venues (entrance payable locally)

Day 2

Morning Suggestion: Sightseeing around the Brandenburg Gate, the revamped Reichstag and the Jewish Memorial Monument.

Afternoon Tango Classes

2100 (OP) Dinner at atmospheric local Berlin restaurant.

2300Tango Milonga at one of Berlin´s top tango venues (entrance payable locally)

Day 3

Morning Suggestion: Sightseeing around the Brandenburg Gate, the revamped Reichstag and the Jewish Memorial Monument.
Afternoon Tango Classes
2100 (OP) Dinner at atmospheric local Berlin restaurant
2300 Tango Milonga at one of Berlin´s top Tango venues (entrance payable locally)

Day 4

Day 5
Morning suggestion: Visit one of the many Museums and Art Galleries: the Jewish Museum, the Museum Island (Museuminsel), a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose clutch of superb collections includes the Pergamonmuseum, incorporating the Babylonian Gate of Ishtar.
Afternoon Make your own way to the airport

When you get there

Classes and workshops

You'll enjoy 8 hours' of tuition over the weekend designed to benefit intermediate through to advanced tango dancers enabling you to stretch the abilities of the more advanced tango dancer and incorporate the following Tango essentials:

Connection - The key concept in tango which is basically an improvised dance.

Embrace - The striking difference between Argentine tango and ballroom tango is in the shape and feel of the embrace. Ballroom technique dictates that partners arch their upper bodies away from each other, while maintaining contact at the hip, in an offset frame. In Argentine tango, it is nearly the opposite: the dancers' chests are closer to each other than are their hips, and often there is contact at about the level of the chest.

Your teachers will aim to perfect the basic elements of the technique in couples. Working on the individual posture, position of the feet, balance and pivots, they will focus on the mechanisms of the embrace, flexibility and movements within closed embrace, connection in the change of weight, harmonious walk, musicality and improvisation.

You'll learn the traditional tango salon sequences that can be improvised on the dance floor (from elegant promenades to unusual salidas, giros, sacadas, voleos, etc.)

In an absolutely genuine Buenos Aires style, the dancers will focus on musicality and elegance and on the change of dynamics and precision of the movements, to improve your overall quality of dance.

Your teachers

Having recently completed a UK tour with Midnight Tango, Sandra and Santiago Monticelli judged at the World Tango Championship in Argentina and appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Originally from Argentina, Santiago has been a part of the Buenos Aires professional tango scene for the past 15 years. With a modern jazz and contemporary dance background, he studied tango with some of the world's finest masters including Pepito Avellaneda, Raul Bravo, Pupi Castello, Jorge Dispari, Norberto Guichandu, Nito and Elba and Carlos Perez.

Santiago toured the world with some of Argentina's most famous shows including Tango Emoción (2004) directed by Mora Godoy, Tango X2 (2005) directed by Miguel Angel Zotto, Francisco Canaro Orchestra (2003) and Los Reyes del Tango Orchestra (2008). He also performed at the VIII International Festival Cultura Paiz in Guatemala (2004) and toured the UK with the ArtLATino company's tango show Romance d'Carnaval (2006). Between 1997 and 2010, he worked in the most significant dinner-show theatres in Buenos Aires, including Señor Tango, La Ventana, Michelangelo, Taconeando, Café Tortoni, Piazzolla, Esquina Homero Manzi and Madero Tango.

Santiago has featured in TV programmes including Canal 26 Los grandes valores del tango (2005), BBC's Strictly Come Dancing (2006) and Por el Tango directed by Nolo Correa (2010).

Sandra is an Italian professional tango dancer with extensive teaching experience in Argentina and in Europe. With an artistic gymnastic and ballet training background, she devoted hersfelf to the practice of conditioning for dance and the study of pedagogy.

She began her professional tango career in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the last decade, after having studied with some of the world’s finest dancers such as Lorena Ermocida, Gachi Fernandez, Alejandra Mantiñan, Milena Plebs, as well as Raul Bravo, Jorge Dispari, Nito and Elba, Carlos & Rosa Perez.

She complemented her tango dance training with courses in contemporary dance and modern jazz at the renowed Dance institute Gurquel-Lederer in Buenos Aires and between 2006 and 2009 ran the SantangoEstudio (Tango school, reharsal space and B&B) in the heart of the tango neighbourhood Almagro, Buenos Aires.

As assistant Director (2008) in the prestigious dinner-show theatre Esquina Homero Manzi, directed by the famous tango dancer and choreographer Gachi Fernandez, Sandra continued to perform in private events around Argentina.

Sandra and Santiago regularly tour Europe (England, France, Italy) to teach and perform the most traditional style of tango salon, milonga traspié and vals, as well as the more acrobatic and spectacular stage tango. Home for Sandra and Santiago is London and they teach regularly in Central London, Windsor and Beckenham as well as at private events and Milongas all over the UK.

Food & meals

Berlin is home to a variety of both international and traditional cuisine from all over the world such as the modern Catalan, traditional Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, Moroccan, Argentinian, Colombian and much more.

Berlin's typical dishes are often served in cosy atmospheres and its known dishes are the "Boulette" (fried meatballs) and the "Currywaurst" (a spicy sausage with curry flavoured tamato sauce) which can be happily accompanied by a good German beer.

Optional extras

To ensure you get the best from your trip, we offer you a variety of optional extras making your holiday even richer and add some local colour. You can buy your optional extras at the welcome meeting at the beginning of your holiday where we will ask you to pay in cash and fill out a form. These are the optional extras that we anticipate running – actual details and prices will be confirmed on arrival. Some may require minimum numbers.

Social Dinner: Dinner at elegant, atmospheric restaurant. (approx. 35 euros)

Taxi Dancer: If you don't have a partner, you can hire one as an optional extra. Please give us a call to enquire - 0207 099 4816

What to expect

On Arrival: You will receive a detailed itinerary, annotated map and details of any optional extras, along with information on the local sights, recommended restaurants and other helpful tips to ensure you make the most of your trip.

Independence: We believe our guests do not like to be over-organised so we give you details of organised social and dancing activities and it's up to you to decide if and when you want to turn up. You're fully independent on these holidays so you can dip in and out as you please.

Club Dance Holidays Host: Your holiday tour host is there to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. Club Dance Holidays Tour Hosts are a cut above your typical Holiday Rep with a lightness of touch that enables you to get the best out of your holiday. Through our local knowledge and our knowledge of dance, Club Dance Holidays Tour Hosts offer much more of themselves than you would expect, like making sure your nights are sociable and fun often well into the small hours if that is your whim! During the daytime the level of participation and presence of Club Dance Holidays tour hosts varies according to the nature of each holiday and its destination.

Getting around: You'll be responsible for making your own way to the dance classes and meeting points on the itinerary. On arrival you will be provided with the addresses of all the venues. Taxis are plentiful and allow you to visit the best of the city with the minimum of fuss. Berlin´s integrated transport system is also excellent (buses, trams and trains).

At your destination

Banks and Money: The easiest way to obtain euros is by using a credit card at one of the numerous cash points. You can get hold of small amounts, as often as you like, at any time and without queuing. You will need to know your P.I.N. Cash points are very easy to use. Bank opening hours are normally 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Banks will change cash, travellers cheques and will sell you currency on your credit card providing the lines are open. You will always need to show your passport at a bank.

Tipping is common in Berlin but this is entirely at your discretion.

People Joining in that are not on the Holiday: Unfortunately we cannot allow people not booked on our Club Dance Holiday from joining in any of the organised activities and we ask for your discretion in this respect. However we can offer a flight exclusive package for people already in Spain, thus enabling them to stay with the group and join in all activities and lessons. Contact the team on 0207 099 4816 for details.

Nightlife

The Tango scene in Berlin is sizeable and diverse with Milongas every night of the week and with frequent visits from Buenos Aires, the dance level of the local tangueros is high. We'll visit different Tango venues to ensure you enjoy a wide variety of Tango atmospheres. Entrance to the clubs usually costs between 5-10 euros. There are a lot of Tango dancers in Berlin and thus many potential dance partners for you! But we do offer Club Dance Holidays taxi dancers as optional extras for those without a partner. They're local to Berlin and may speak a little English. Give us a call for more details - 0207 099 4816

Learning experience

You'll enjoy 8 hours' of tuition over the weekend designed for intermediate to advanced tango dancers focusing on connection and embrace, the two tango essentials.

Sandra and Santiago will aim to perfect the basic elements of the technique in couples. Working on the individual posture, position of the feet, balance and pivots, they will focus on the mechanisms of the embrace, flexibility and movements within closed embrace, connection in the change of weight, harmonious walk, musicality and improvisation.

How to get there

Flights & Transfers

Flights : This holiday, and the rest of our short haul programme, is quoted flight exclusive which allows you to fly from the airport of your choice, at the time which best suits you. It also allows you to take advantage of any offers for early bookers made to you by the airline.

NB Please make sure we've confirmed your holiday before you book your flight.

Transfers: Please make your own way to the hotel. If you wish to share a taxi please let us know and we will put you in contact with other clients.

Finding your Hotel

Making Your Own Way to Your Hotel in Berlin:

1) From Berlin Tegel (TXL) Airport by taxi: A taxi ride to Central Berlin (East or West) will cost about 15 - 17 euros.

2) From Berlin Schönefeld (SXF) Airport by taxi: A taxi ride to Central Berlin (East or West) will cost about 23 euros.

Before you go

Books on Berlin: If you'd like to do some reading on your destination before your trip, we reccommend Time Out Guide to Berlin– the best local guide and Berlin Then & Now by Nick Gay.

Budgeting for your holiday: It's always good to know average prices on food, drink and travel when going abroad. Here are some guidelines to help you do your own calculations. (Refer to the optional extra section of the factsheet for additional costs.)
Three course meal including drinks in the centre of town: 25-30 euros
Taxi ride across town: 12 euros
Rum and coke in a nightclub: 6 euros
Beer in a bar/cafe: 3 euros
Coffee in a bar/cafe: 1.50 euros
Entrance to a monument or museum: 5 euros.

Health and Fitness: There are no particular health requirements for a dance holiday. However you should be able to dance for at least two hours a day in order to be able to enjoy the dance classes. If you have any concerns feel free to give us a call - 0207 099 4816.

Insurance, Visa and Passport Requirements: Insurance is a condition of booking. You must check with your local embassy regarding Visa and passport requirements.

Travel Documents: You'll receive these via email approximately 10 days prior to departure and once you have paid in full. We also confirm the address and phone number of the hotel and any emergency contact numbers.

Climate and weather

The climate in Berlin is continental with warm summers and sharp, crisp winters. Average temperatures as follows:

Jan 2C Apr 13C Jul 23C Oct 13C
Feb 3C May 18C Aug 23C Nov 7C
Mar 8C Jun 22C Sep 18C Dec 3C

What to bring

What to wear for Tango dancing: We recommend that you bring comfortable and supportive shoes with a leather sole for the dance classes and the evenings. Lightweight cotton socks are advised to avoid sweaty and blistered feet along with comfortable and loose clothing for the classes. The Berlin Tango clubs are quite formal - so do bring some smart outfits with you.

Useful Things to Bring:
Camera - to snap up some good memories
Walking shoes
Warm jacket for the evenings
Travel docs

CLUB Dance Holidays

CALL NOW +44 (0)20 7099 4816

Tango in Berlin - This holiday is no longer available -

Unique Features