TangoTalks...a dialogue without words...

Argentine Tango is an improvisational dance in which the man initially leads and the woman follows, eventually becoming a subtle game of leading and following. Born in the late 19th century in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Tango has taken the world by storm and is even now more popular than ever. Not only is Tango an exciting dance to watch, but also an adventure to practice yourself: to communicate with each other without words.......
Our dance-style is characterized by an eclectic use of traditional and contemporary elements, which is also reflected in our choice of music. In our classes we combine the close embrace with the open style - leaving space between the bodies - as well as improvisational exercises with more complex dance moves.
In our view, dance can be seen as an interpretation of music: besides classical tango music we are interested in neotango and other danceable kinds of tango music. Our approach to tango intends to contribute to the development of tango culture in the Netherlands by organising (neo)tango parties, managing bands like Narcotango, and through the conception and production of multi disciplinary tango performances.

René Oey has been involved in Argentine Tango since its rediscovery in 1986 at the oldest tango dance school in the Netherlands, Tangoschool Amsterdam. He took classes with the legendary Antonio Todaro and Pepito Avellaneda during a visit to Buenos Aires in 1989. Oey and Gabriëlle Nederend, his dance partner since 1993, teach in numerous locations in Amsterdam. Since 2002 they have their own tangoschool in Amsterdam TangoTalks, with special attention for neotango music and dance. Several times a year they organize major tango events with international tango orchestras and performers, such as the tango big band OTRA, Sandra Luna and Narcotango. During the summer they hold a tango workshop at a charming castle in the French Bourgogne, L'Huys Préau.
Besides his tango activities, Oey has conceived and produced several performance projects during the past decade: Par Azart (1992), Anamorphosis (1998) and Traffic Talks (2001), a travelling poetry project that took place at the Poetry International Festival in Rotterdam and will be performed in other European cities in the coming years. With Floor van Keulen he presents URBAN VIEWS in 2006-2007; a mobile video project in public space.

Gabriëlle Nederend started her dancing career in 1980 as a ballroom dancer, through which she discovered the joy and inspiration of dancing in a pair. In 1993 René Oey linked her to Argentine Tango and they formed a dance couple.They have been teaching at many locations and venues, performing at celebrations, parties and business reunions. Besides their own school in Amsterdam, they teach tango classes at High Schools in The Netherlands. In 1999 they studied together for a month in Buenos Aires and took classes at the Academia Nacional de Tango and frequented numerous nocturnal milongas. In 2001 Nederend performed as a showdancer in Olé Tango by Danny Malando on tour in the Netherlands. Besides they showed up with Bien de Bute, Tiempo Sur and with tango singers Juan Tajes and Orlando Miño. In 2004 Nederend and Oey together created a dance performance titled TangoTekens. Since 2004 she also teaches at Tangoschool Den Haag with Rob Dommerholt.

pictures by Anna Tiedink