Festival Policies
REGISTRATION/CLASS SELECTIONYour registration entitles you to attend the classes you have selected in the registration module and is based on the availability of classes at the time of your order. A full festival pass does NOT allow you default access to all classes. You will only be able to attend the classes you've selected in your package.
A full pass package contains up to 11 classes and is governed by class size limits and gender balance restrictions. Please choose your package carefully. You are not entitled to any refund for unavailable/unselected classes once you register for a package.
In the event that a class is full when you place your order, you may contact the organizers to be added to a wait list for that particular class, but there are no guarantees as to availability. We suggest that you register for an available class in that time slot to take full advantage of the number of classes in your package.
At the time you order, classes that have registration limitations due to leader/follower balance are clearly indicated, and registrants have the option to request to be sent an email when the balance changes so that they may modify their package. However, to be democratic and keep the registration process current and fluid, any available space will be assigned on a first-come basis, so don't delay to update your package should you receive an email from the organizers and, do not hesitate to contact us should you have any problems.You are strongly encouraged to contact the organizers to make any adjustments to your package as soon as possible to take advantage of possible options available at that time, and any requests for changes must be made prior to the regular registration close on July 31, 2010.
REFUNDSShould you find yourself unable to attend the event after you have registered, a tiered schedule will be applied to any refunds. This policy will be strictly adhered to and is at the sole discretion of Tango Element, Inc. We regret full refunds won't be possible due to processing charges.
Pre-Early Bird closing (before May 31, 2010) - 90%
After 05/31/2010 and up to 07/15/2010 - 75%
After 07/16/10 - 0%
CLASS LEVELSIt is necessary to have some basic tango experience to give context to topics the teachers will present in classes at this festival. Out of fairness to all attendees, the teachers will not alter the level of their classes for students unable to keep up. The festival classes were designed to provide material that will benefit everyone from advanced beginners to the advanced dancers.
The organizers and teachers reserve the right to request that a student leave any class if they feel he or she is unable to keep up with the material, poses any physical danger to other students, or is disruptive. For those unable to keep up, management will make every attempt to substitute a class at an appropriate level, but no refunds will be offered. So please, be honest in assessing your level when you register; it will heighten your ability to get the most from the teachers and topics presented. Here are some guidelines:
Advanced Fundamentals
The Advanced Fundamentals classes are crafted for those who have started receiving regular instruction and are familiar with the basic concepts of the dance. These classes are also appropriate for those who want to spend time on or revisit topics relating to structure and technique, or who need help gaining confidence on the dance floor. These are NOT beginner classes. The organizers want the newer and less confident dancers to feel included at this festival and have put together a package revolving around these two classes, with admission to the afternoon practilongas and an evening milonga with performance of their choice. We suggest registrants selecting this package choose the Friday night milonga in order to be able to watch the performances of their maestros. Those selecting this package may also fully participate in any other classes suitable to their level during the festival.
Intermediate
Content in these classes covers a wide range of experience levels. You should have good balance and navigations skills and be comfortable in either close or open embrace. The music should inspire your movements and enable you to lead or follow many common tango figures (e.g., molenetes, barridas, voleos, ganchos). Partner rotation in these classes will be up to the teachers, is recommended, but is not mandatory. If you have a particular partner that you would like to work with, make sure you both register before classes reach capacity, as we will be unable to give anyone priority over those who registered earlier.
Intermediate/Advanced
These classes are intended for more experienced intermediate and advanced dancers. If you meet all the requirements of the intermediate level described above, can lead or follow more challenging variations of the main tango figures, can dance well on a crowded floor, and practice tango regularly, the classes at this level will add to your repertoire and inspire your tango ambitions. Partner rotation in these classes will be up to the teachers, is recommended, but is not mandatory. If you have a particular partner that you would like to work with, make sure you both register before classes reach capacity, as we will be unable to give anyone priority over those who registered earlier.
Advanced
The advanced classes are intended for social dancers and teachers with multiple years of class and festival participation, who are able to execute complex tango figures without a demonstration, and have a keen understanding of the technique associated with them. It is expected that you have a very high skill level to keep up to the pace at which the content will be presented. Some advanced classes offered will be limited to couples only to maximize class content. In others, partner rotation will be up to the teachers, but is not mandatory. If you have a particular partner that you would like to work with in those classes that don’t require a mandatory partner, make sure you both register before classes reach capacity, as we will be unable to give anyone priority over those who registered earlier.
Note on Advanced Couples’ Only Classes
There will be no partner rotation in the Advanced classes with Chicho & Juana and Sebastian & Mariana, and the Couples Technique class with Pablo & Noelia, as those classes will require a particularly good working relationship between the partners. Therefore, you must register together for these classes as a couple. We understand that requiring a partner may be frustrating for some registrants, but hope that working with a predictable partner will enable attendees to get maximum benefit from their time with the maestros. You may be able to secure a partner using the Festival Forum.
Note on Class Subjects – Sebastian & Mariana and Chicho & Juana
At the request of the maestros', no class topics will be announced ahead of time. Instead, all classes by Sebastian & Mariana and Chicho & Juana will be rated by level only. This is what normally happens in Buenos Aires and the purpose is to give the instructors an opportunity to first observe the particular group in the classroom to determine what would be the best topic to teach. They believe that many factors contribute toward the actual level of dancing and request this courtesy to craft a lesson that adapts to what the students in each class can best perceive.
The organizers understand how frustrating it is to attend classes where there are not an equal number of leaders and followers. To that end, we would appreciate your cooperation in registering early so that we can plan to help achieve balance for the lessons. To maximize your class time, it is always best to bring your own partner. You may be able to secure a partner using the Festival Forum. Although Tango Element will make every effort to gender balance the classes, we cannot be responsible for your partner’s level in classes that rotate partners. Once online registration is closed, you will only be able to sign up for classes on site with a partner, or in classes that aren’t already balanced.
VIDEOGRAPHY/PHOTOGRAPHY
Videos
Please understand that talent has the right to protect their image, especially in our YourTube society. Much like file sharing in the music industry, the content and presentation of class and performance material is the sole property of talent.
Therefore, we request that no videography be conducted during lessons without explicit permission from the teachers.
And in keeping with our contractual obligations to talent, NO video cameras will be allowed during performances. Failure to comply with this request will result in your immediate expulsion from the premises and no refund will be tendered for any unattended portion of the event. If any videos of the festival classes/performances are posted on YouTube, they will be taken down in accordance with the YouTube copyright protection policy.
Photograph
Still photography at the event will be limited to those who request advance permission from the organizers. No flash will be permitted during performances, and no professional photography will be allowed. If you wish to take photographs, please contact organizers at: tangoelement@gmail.com.
Personal Information TangoElement.com may ask you to provide personal information (about yourself or someone to whom information is sent) when you register for any or all portions of the festival. Categories of information collected include name, address, e-mail address, recipient's name and e-mail address, order information, telephone number, mobile phone number, and credit card information.
Using Personal Information We Collect Online
Tango Element uses the personal information we collect from you during the registration to deliver services that you have ordered, to fulfill requests that you have created, to contact you or the service recipient(s) in the event of order questions or difficulties, for verification purposes, to respond to your inquiries, and to deliver services and information about the festival.
Information We Share With Third Parties
We use third party services for processing payments. We will not share your personal information with any third party unless it is directly related to your registration order and processing your request. You should be aware that we may disclose specific information about you if necessary to do so by law or based on our good faith belief that it is necessary to conform or comply with the law or is necessary to protect the users of our Web site or the public. In the event Tango Element transfers all or a portion of its business assets, customer information may be one of the business assets transferred as part of the transaction.
Tango Element Email
Tango Element email allows you to receive exclusive information about our news and events. If at any time you would like to stop future delivery of Tango Element email, please email us back with the “Unsubscribe” word in the subject line. Asking to be removed from Tango Element email will not prevent you from receiving email communications relating to any online registration order you place at www.TangoElement.org.