TangoWalk

Posted on July 5, 2012

The TangoWalk, a unique concept that combines theatre, dance and audience participation, features as one of the ten pieces in the Gone in 20 Minutes (Gi20) scheme, presenting new outdoor work to audiences both in London and Stockton this summer.

The TangoWalk, which was at London’s National Theatre’s Watch This Space Festival on July 7–8 and will be at Stockton International Riverside Festival on August 4–5, presents a narrative for two in the midst of a shared group journey that navigates public space by means of social dance. 

Audience members are paired off in twos – donning a shared MP3 player and two sets of headphones – and launch on a pre-determined route, which will unfold a 20-minute story with tango dances interspersed.

Prior to the walks, participants will be inducted by means of “tangonautica” workshops, so no prior dance experience is required. Once en-route they will walk, dance, and make discoveries. Spectators watching the silent “tangonauts” as they dance by add unassuming theatricality to the proceedings. 

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.