A curious crowd braved the 42+ heat to head to the air conditioned Oxford Hotel at 9pm Saturday 21 January 2006. An important date in the history of Siempre Tango and the culmination of a period of intense creativity and hard work!

The evening began with the debut of Siempre Tango’s 3^rd^ DJ, Ben Thoman. A musical fiend for many years, Ben had created a play list for the evening which fused old favourites with a wide selection of more modern tango music and popular pieces. Who ever thought George Michael would get a look-in at a tango event?! Ben was ably assisted by Siempre Tango’s new sound system, including the speaker christened “Doof” by the Thursday night class. (If you’re not sure where that hails from, think about the “doof doof” sound that techno music produces when heard from outside a night club!).

Claire MacKenzie introduced the performers and valiantly battled the competition from the front bar, projecting as well as possible to inform the audience about Di Sarli, who wrote all three performance pieces. Di Sarli is a key figure in tango music, known for his beautiful combinations of rhythm and melody. Megan Jones and Ben Thoman opened the performances with Viviani. Bob Youngson and Patricia Petronio demonstrated swift footwork with the milonga Zorzal . Mark Stojani and Tiziana crafted beautiful combinations during Comme Il Faut.

Further general dancing followed before Ben Lewis and Mark Stojani wowed the audience with their dvd presentation. Thanks to Imogen Selley and the Media Resource Centre, the 6 minute presentation was projected onto the wall of the Oxford so that everyone could see a progression through Siempre Tango’s original image (of Adrian and Alejandra) through some of Siempre’s major events. The selection of beautiful images, taken throughout the years by Stephen Secomb, showed Siempre classes, the practica, Carlo Sansour through to visits last year from Peter and Lisa. It culminated in the dramatic unveiling of the new slogan, image and Siempre Tango font – matched to the muscial crescendo no less!

Enormous thanks for the new design must go to Andrew Gibki, Di Kidd, and Ben Thoman who together spent many, many hours putting together the graphics, copy and website which have resulted in a fantastic, streamlined and modern new look for Siempre including business cards and flyers. And of course to our poster boy and poster girl, Mark Stojani and Tiziana – now the local faces of Siempre Tango!

Ben Thoman acknowledged the work of the people involved and spoke about the final exciting announcement for the night, which was the launch of the Tangomania pamphlets which include all of the information about workshop schedules and the milonga details. Enrolments for Tangomania open Monday January 23 at 9am – online or by email only! Make sure you get in early and secure your place in what promises to be an exciting weekend of tango immersion in Adelaide.

Thankyou to everyone who came last night and to all those who assisted in order to make it a special event for everyone involved with Siempre Tango. Here’s to the next three years!