Dust off your dancing shoes... tango fest is back
Buddies are gearing up to be swept off their feet once again as the Paisley Tango Festival returns to town.
The annual event is back for the second year running - from August 24 to 26 - and organisers promise it will be bigger and better than ever.
The three -day fest, that kicks off on Friday, is packed with taster sessions, dance classes and dancing that will see visitors from far and wide two-stepping the weekend away.
The main attraction will be the Grand Milonga on Saturday, August 25 at 8pm, which will feature jaw-dropping dance routines from world class tango performers Veronica Rue, Pablo Martinez, Eleonora Kalganova and Diego‘El Pájaro’Riemer.
Organiser Taryn Moir said:“We are so excited to bring the festival back again. Everyone remembers the first one and it was so well received and the feedback was tremendous.
“We really felt like we had the support of the community and it was a great success. “We are really excited to build on that this year. “Dancers from all over the world are coming to take part and teach lessons. It’s going to be even better than last year.”
Taryn, who has been dancing the Argentine tango for nine years, took up teaching alongside her husband Drew after the pair realised how much Paisley could benefit from a vibrant tango dance community.
“We saw the value that tango could bring to the town. Paisley already has so much culture and so many beautiful dancers and we felt like tango could really add to that.
“It brings together movement, dance, fitness and socialising. It really ticks all the boxes and we are so happy Paisley has embraced it.”
The tango – which is known for its creative flair and impressive steps – is the perfect dance to bring people together, explains Taryn.
She said:“You can really immerse yourself in it. It is a totally unique and spontaneous way of moving as everything is completely unchoreographed and improvised.
“It’s like learning a new language, you can go anywhere in the world and the tango will be danced in a very different way.
“You can meet so many different people and know you will have a different experience every time.”
The Paisley Tango Festival has been partly funded by Cultural Heritage, a sum of money set aside by the council to help elevate Renfrewshire’s creative potential.
Drew added:“We’ve worked really hard to raise the bar and put a lot of effort into the various events over the weekend.
“Our main priority is that everyone feels warm and welcome.
“We have people coming from as far as Aberdeen to join in the event. “It feels great to put Paisley on the map.” The three day event takes place from August 2426. For more information head to www. paisleytango.com/festival