Double role group at AdT Summer Tango Camp 7–9 August

The idea of the group is to bring together people interested in practicing both roles – people who want to develop their understanding of tango and enjoy the pleasure of changing roles. As some of us have more experience in leading and others in following, we can share our experiences, supporting everyone's efforts to become better dancers. 

The workshops will be instructed by Malin Backström from Stockholm, Sweden, assisted by Saana Kalliokoski from Tampere, Finland.

We’ll focus on developing the musicality of our dance and the couple dynamics. We'll work with the musicality in both tango, vals and milonga, exploring the different characteristics for each dance. We'll focus more on HOW we do things than on WHAT we do. This means that we'll mainly use steps/figures that the participants already know, to be able to concentrate on the accurate technique and refining the quality of our dance. 

Anyone who already actively dances Argentine tango in both roles can participate. The excercises will be challenging, even for very experienced dancers, but since everyone can use the repertoire they have, also those who have less experience are welcome to join. One should nevertheless have solid basic skills in both roles. 

There'll be one 60 minute workshop on Friday and four 75 minute workshops over Saturday and Sunday.

For registration no partner is needed. Roles and partners will be actively changed at the classes.

During the weekend there'll also be four milongas, two practicas, two sauna sessions by lake Pitkäjärvi and stretching at both mornings. The full camp program: tango.fi/en/kesaleiri/ohjelma

You can choose an all-inclusive FULL PASS that includes all activities, accommodation and meals or a CAMP PASS that includes everything except accommodation and breakfasts. tango.fi/en/kesaleiri/hinnat

Early bird prices are available until the end of May and registration ends on Friday 24.7. 

The camp venue Solvalla Sports Institute is located next to lake Pitkäjärvi and Nuuksio national park; the street address is Nuuksiontie 82, 02820 Espoo. It's easily accessible both by public transport from Helsinki (direct bus route 245 / 245A from Espoo centre local train station) and by car, and there is plenty of free parking space available. 

For residents of Finland, participation at the camp requires membership of Amigos del Tango. People living abroad don't need to be members. You can join the AdT association here (annual membership fee is 25 €): tango.fi/en/yhdistys/liity

The head teacher Malin Backström is a Swedish pioneer of queer and double role dancing. She's been teaching couple dances in both roles for over 25 years, the last 12 years mainly Argentine tango. In her teaching Malin focuses on communication and musicality. She is well known for creating a comfortable and safe atmosphere at her classes, her pedagogical skills and her ability to make even difficult things seem easy. Malin has a dance studio in Stockholm and travels a lot. She's also a tango DJ and an author.

The assisting teacher Saana Kalliokoski has extensive experience dancing Argentine tango in both roles. She has taught her own double role groups in Helsinki and Tampere since 2024. Saana is an Alexander Technique teacher by profession. Her special interest and core competence are the naturalness of movement, contact between dance partners, communication and presence. The most important thing for her is an equal, safe atmosphere and an approach that values the skills and goals of each learner.

All camp infos, instructions and registration form are found at the website: 

 tango.fi/en/kesaleiri

Double role group's Facebook event: facebook.com/events/964312856284953/

The Summer Tango Camp main Facebook event: facebook.com/events/1922370738402052

Questions? Send email to doublerole@tango.fi (the course content) or kesaleiri@tango.fi (the camp practicalities)

Participating the Summer Tango Camp is a great way to enjoy a full weekend of tango and Finnish summer. Welcome! 

(Psst – if you come from further away, note that there'll be a pre milonga at El Ático in Helsinki on Thursday 6.8.)