"LET'S DANCE! Put on your red shoes and dance the blues," exhorted David Bowie on his classic 1983 hit single ''Let's Dance'. The title has been borrowed by Music For Galway for its new season and that opening line for its next event.
True to Bowie's song and the theme of the MFG season, 'Put On Your Red Shoes...' on Wednesday October 25, in association with Galway Dance Project and Galway Tango, is a multi-faceted event involving music, dance, and workshops in the magnificent Argentinian dance, the tango.
Opening the event is a free lunchtime concert with the Mike Nielson Trio in The Cube Theatre, NUIG at 12pm and a tea-time show at the PorterShed, Eyre Square, at 6pm. Guitarist Mike Nielson with Matthew Berrill (saxophone, clarinet ), and Derek Whyte (double bass ), will perform jazz standards and swing classics.
This is followed by Let's Tango (Hotel Meyrick ballroom, 6pm ) as professional Argentinian tango dancers Jazmin Chiodi and Pablo Rodriguez lead Give it a go!, a workshop for tango beginners. All levels of experience are welcome. This workshop will be accompanied by an outstanding ensemble featuring Irish Chamber Orchestra leader Katherine Hunka, accordionist Dermot Dunne, bassist Malachy Robinson, and pianist Conor Lenihan, recently featured in Galway as music director of Woyzceck in Winter and Dublin By Lamplight.
For those who prefer to listen and watch, at 8pm the four musicians will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Astor Piazzolla, the Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player, and arranger. The show will feature some of his most celebrated tangos including 'Escualo', 'Libertango', and 'La Muerte del Ángel'. After the interval, dancers Pablo Rodriguez and Jazmin Chiodi will join the musicians for a dance, and the concert will transform into a milonga, a tango dance evening for all who wish to join.
Concert and milonga is €20/€18/€6; workshop is €10/€8; day ticket is €26/€23/€14. Tickets are available through www.musicforgalway.ie, 091 - 705962, and O’Maille’s Original House of Style, Shop Street. Lunchtimes/PorterShed Sessions are free.
