Wed 4th – Mon 9th
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Cape Tango Festival
- 7 milongas
- 27 hours of dancing at various locations
- Live music
- Participate in upto 8 workshops
- International renown teachers Sidney Grant & Mario de Camillis
- And much more!
– this is The tango event in Southern Africa.
Come dance with us!
Benefits




The Event Programme
Wednesday 4th to Monday 9th December
Click on the corresponding tab to see the full programme for that particular day.
And if you are not quite tango’d out, join us at some pre-festival activities on Tuesday 3rd of December and/or our after-party on Tuesday the 10th of December!
For ease you can download a digital copy here.
Tango DJ Workshop
Time: 16:30 – 18:00
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Tim Hall
Subject: “Tango DJ’ing”
Free – though contact info@capetango.africa to verify your attendance and if you have any questions
Kizomba-Tango Workshop
Time: 18:30 – 20:30
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Frias Fumo & Mary
Subject: “Kizomba-Tango Fusion”
R100 – email info@capetango.africa to reserve
Angola meets Argentina in this unique fusion workshop, featuring the fantastic Frias Fumo from Maputo. Frias is an exquisite Tango and Kizomba dancer, lead and teacher, or, in the words of one of his students, “imagine Bruce Lee meets the Archangel of Dance…”
For the first time ever, we host this event – open to non-festival goers – suitable for Tango and / or Kizomba dancers (minimum 6 months dance experience in either genre).The workshop can accommodate 40 dancers and we’ll strive to balance Kizomba and Tango dancers; leads and follows. When booking, please indicate which dance you’re familiar with and whether you are a lead / follow.
90min workshop + 30min practica.
For more details see: https://www.facebook.com/events/2433558153577493/
Early Registration
Time: 17:00 – 17:45
Venue: Youngblood
Workshop #1
Time: 18:00 – 19:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: “Walk & Roll”
Workshop #2
Time: 19:30 – 20:45
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: “You’re Screwed!”
Guided Practica
Time: 21:00 – 22:00
Venue: Youngblood
Teachers: Sidney & Mario
Free for those attending Workshop #1 or #2 (otherwise R50 for drop-ins)
First Thursday meet-up
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Venue: starts at Youngblood
Workshop #3
Time: 18:30 – 19:45
Venue: Waterfront Theatre School
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Boleos for Tango
Milonga: First Thursday
Time: 21:00 – 23:00
Venue: Youngblood
DJ: Rodney Ehrlich
(free)
Registration & Cheese & Wine
Time: 19:00 – 19:45
Venue: St Martini
Pre Milonga Class
Time: 20:00 – 21:00
Venue: St Martini
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: tbc
Milonga: Around the World
Time: 21:00 – 02:00
Venue: St Martini
DJ: Matteo Radaelli
Workshop #4
Time: 10:00 – 11:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Milonga 1 – from lisa to traspie
Workshop #5
Time: 11:30 – 12:45
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Tango – Colgadas for small spaces
Optional lunch @ Youngblood
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Venue: Youngblood
Milonga
Time: 15:00 – 18:00
Venue: Youngblood
DJ: Tim Hall
Pre Milonga Surprise: Let’s Do Magic
Time: 20:00 – 21:00
Venue: St Martini
Milonga: Golden Era
Time: 21:00 – 02:00
Venue: St Martini
DJ: Joost Brunsting
Workshop #6
Time: 11:00 – 12:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: “Quick-Quick-Slow”
Workshop #7
Time: 12:30 – 13:45
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: “Let’s Get Hooked”
Optional lunch @ Youngblood
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Venue: Youngblood
Milonga: Nuevo
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Venue: Youngblood
DJ: Rodney Ehrlich
Pre Milonga Class
Time: 20:00 – 21:00
Venue: St Martini
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Tango – The Walk & Breath
Milonga: Tango in Afrika!
Time: 21:00 – 02:00
Venue: St Martini
DJ: DJ Fulgencio
Live Music: Cape Town Tango Ensemble
Workshop #8
Time: 16:00 – 17:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Milonga 2 – Advance Figures
Milonga: Under the African Sky
Time: 17:30 – 21:30
Venue: V&A Waterfront
DJ: Sylvia Westcott
(free)
Milonga: After-Party
Time: 20:00 – 23:00
Venue: Waterfront Theatre School
DJ: Angelika & Beverly
(R50)
All profit from this evening will be donated to Table View Angels (www.tableviewangels.co.za), an NPO that does amazing work for families in need.
DJs Playing
International Teachers
Mario De Camillis
Mario De Camillis
During his 16+ years of tango career, Mario De Camillis has collected a number of awards and has brought his teaching and performances from Argentina to far beyond. Metropolitan Champion in the categories of Vals and Milonga in 2011, Sub-Champion in the category of Tango Salon, and finalist on several occasions at the Tango World Championship in Buenos Aires, he has had the pleasure to give tango classes upon invitation by renowned tango schools, for example in New York, Switzerland, Germany and his city of origin, Buenos Aires.
Nowadays, he divides his time between New York, Berlin and Buenos Aires – points of departure for his travels throughout Europe and America.
Sidney Grant
Sidney Grant
In New York City, Sidney is an iconic dancer and instructor. He has taught and preformed both nationally and globally, including Istanbul, Hong Kong, London, Paris, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, Mexico, Greece and last year in South Africa. He was the 2011 USA Argentine Tango Salon Champion, and a finalist in 2016. His teaching style is known for its organic approach to the close-embrace connection, combining musicality with subtle, sensual movement in the true Argentine Tango tradition. In addition to 18yrs of Tango instruction, Sidney has taught over 15 000 school children in more than 70 NYC schools BALLROOM BASIXTM – an innovative arts-in-education initiative that contributes to childrens’ social and emotional learning by getting them hand-in-hand and eye-to-eye in a poised, positive and polite way. Learn more at www.ballroombasix.org
Workshops
Wednesday
-
Workshop #1
-
"Walk & Roll"
Teacher: Sidney Grant
Venue: Youngblood -
Workshop #2
-
"You're Screwed!"
Teacher: Sidney Grant
Venue: Youngblood -
Guided Practica
-
Teachers: Sidney Grant & Mario de Camillis
Venue: Youngblood
Thursday
-
Workshop #3
-
"Tango - Boleos"
Teacher: Mario de Camillis
Venue: Waterfront Theatre School -
Workshop #3
-
"Tango - Boleos"
Teacher: Mario de Camillis
Venue: Waterfront Theatre School
Friday
Saturday
-
Workshop #4
-
"Milonga 1 - From lisa to traspie"
Teacher: Mario de Camillis
Venue: Youngblood -
Workshop #5
-
"Tango – Colgadas"
Teacher: Mario de Camillis
Venue: Youngblood
Sunday
-
Workshop #6
-
"Quick-Quick-Slow"
Teacher: Sidney Grant
Venue: Youngblood -
Workshop #7
-
"Let’s Get Hooked"
Teacher: Sidney Grant
Venue: Youngblood
Monday
-
Workshop #8
-
"Milonga 2 – Advanced figures"
Teacher: Mario de Camillis
Venue: Youngblood
Wednesday 4th December
Workshop: #1
Time: 18:00 – 19:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: Walk & Roll
Exploring various walking patterns inline and outside partner, including rhythmic variations, cross system and changes of direction… you’ll be walking and rolling in no time!
Workshop: #2
Time: 19:30 – 20:45
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: You’re Screwed
An examination of the corkscrew (“sacacorcho”) and it’s various rhythmic and aesthetic interpretations in the dance. The corkscrew is one of Sid’s FAVORITE qualities of movement in tango; you won’t want to miss this class, which will include how to end with a sandwich, volcada and cross—among other surprises!)
Guided Practica
Time: 21:00 – 22:00
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney & Mario
Free for those attending Workshop #1 and/or #2 (otherwise R50 for drop-ins)
Thursday 5th December
Workshop: #3
Time: 18:30 – 19:45
Venue: Waterfront Theatre School
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Tango – Boleos
Forward and backward from low to high
Saturday 7th December
Workshop: #4
Time: 10:00 – 11:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Milonga 1 – From lisa to traspie
Double time and sincopa
Workshop: #5
Time: 11:30 – 12:45
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Tango – Colgadas
Colgadas for small spaces and foot play
Sunday 8th December
Workshop: #6
Time: 11:00 – 12:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: Quick-Quick-Slow
We will examine how this particular rhythmic structure is valuable in a plentiful plethora of particular tango combinations, including ocho cortado, giros/molinetes (right and left) and work with different orchestras to reveal where this tempo/expression fits best.
Workshop: #7
Time: 12:30 – 13:45
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Sidney
Subject: Let’s Get Hooked
How to hook “gancho” in a variety of ways to enhance your musicality as both leader & followers. This class will examine displacements and hooks as they relate to different music, including dynamic, timing, rhythm and nuance.
Monday 9th December
Workshop: #8
Time: 16:00 – 17:15
Venue: Youngblood
Teacher: Mario
Subject: Milonga 2 – Advanced figures
Time for pushing the limits
Venues & Accommodation
Venues
Tickets & Pricing
To save money, please book your flights and accommodation early. There is a large variety of accommodation available; friends in the tango community, AirBnB, hotels and the more traditional B&Bs.

Workshop Package
- / $96
Standard Price
1 - 3 x workshops @ R160 / $15
Discounted Price
4 - 8 x workshops @ R140 / $12

Milonga Package
- / $90
7 x milongas
2 x pre milonga classes
1 x special pre milonga event
3 x evening performances
1 x live music with the CTTE

Individual Milonga Package
- Free to R350/milonga
(up to $25/milonga) up to 7 x milongas
can include 2 x pre milonga classes
can include 1 x special pre milonga event
can include 3 x evening performances
can include 1 x live music with the CTTE
Sponsors
This festival would not be possible without the kindness and support great and small from the following. Click on their logo to find out a bit more about them.
If you’d like to sponsor, contribute or assist in any manner we’d love to hear from you! All input is appreciated. Please contact us with the details of how you’d like to be involved.