“Gricel-A Tango Story” is an innovative, interdisciplinary musical theatre production
The production will be telling the true and dramatic story behind the iconic Tango song “Gricel” (written by Jose Maria Contursi), combining Argentine Tango Dance with Modern Dance and Theater.
The young, dynamic and internationally renowned Tango Duo, Duo Sonder (Melody Quinteros and Nicolas Maceratesi), will create original arrangements and new compositions as musical base for the show, all to the original lyrics by Jose Maria Contursi. CLICK HERE to read about Duo Sonder
The music along with the performing artists on stage will transport you into the world of Contursi and his great love Gricel, their dreams and illusions… From spooky and dramatic to romantic, sensual and even funny scenes, you’ll join the artists on an emotional rollercoaster, as you enjoy colorful group dance numbers, impressive and touching solo numbers or wild demons of incredible physique and abilities, while being carried away by the singers enchanting voices.
The cast will be of world class performers, Tango-Dancers, Modern-Dancers, Tango-Singers, an actor and a Tango Quartet. For some scenes some local amateur Tango dancers as well as some children will join the stage, to build a bridge between the story and the community.
Direction and choreography of the show will be done by myself, Astria Apel, co-choreographer for the Tango segments will be Mariano Galeano.
Let me tell you a little more about the project and myself:
About me:
My name is Sarita Apel “Astria” and I have spent the past 13 years of my career as a dancer in NYC, before relocating to my hometown Wiesbaden in Germany. I came to New York at 18 years old, after receiving my Bachelor of Dance at Codarts, Rotterdam Dance Academy. In New York I specialized in modern dance, mainly the Graham Technique and after studying at The Ailey School went on to dance with Graham 2, the Ensemble of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Later I started Argentine Tango and won the official US Argentine Tango Championships of 2019. In NYC I had also produced my own Show: “3 Esquinas Tango Show” for my full bios click here: TANGO or MODERN DANCE
My inspiration, concept, intention, and the social value of the project:
On my first trip to Buenos Aires, when I went to the “Club Gricel” , I found the lyrics of the song “Gricel” by Jose Maria Contursi written on a wall. The lyrics and its story captivated me immediately, I since have investigated all about this true and dramatic love story of Contursi and Gricel. Ever since, this musical theatre production began growing in my imagination…
–Click here for the full story of Gricel and Jose Maria Contursi-
With this production it is important to me to on one hand convey the traditional culture of Argentine Tango to my audience and at the same time showing Tango transcend to becoming a complete art form on stage. At the same time I would like to revive and further develop (Graham-based) Modern Dance in this production, as it has almost disappeared from the European dance scene. Instead of fusing both dance techniques into one, I will use both in their traditional form, while enriching the techniques with elements of the other.
I am also excited to use Argentine Tango to create a storytelling production, as it is being done in Ballet, Opera, or Musical, rather than creating a show with individual, disconnected pieces lined up one after the other, which is mostly common for Tango Shows. I have found that Argentine Tango and Graham based Modern Dance have a lot in common, not only their “golden age” which started in the 30s, but also their dynamics and physical point of initiation in the body, which starts from the center of the body and so is strongly able to express and communicate emotions, to the partner or the audience. Both dances are a raw expression of human emotion, in that way I believe that both techniques, more so in combination will be understandable and equally touch a wide audience from many cultures and backgrounds.
Lastly, I would like to leave a short note about the role of the woman in tango, to clarify some potential prejudice and making clear that it has evolved throughout history and will continue evolving throughout this production. Yes, traditionally the woman is the one to follow in the dance of Argentine Tango. But following here means accepting the conversation of the dance, listening but also inspiring and enriching it with the response, the response can lead into the next movement, it is crucial that the leader is listening to each movement of the follower just as much as vice versa. This exchange and equal input will always create the most complete and beautiful dance. In the history of Tango the role of the woman has evolved a lot, from the beginning when Tango was danced in the brothels to when it became a dance in high society, where the respect and class towards the woman became central and crucial, until the day of now, where Tango is often danced by same gender couples and the woman being the leader is widely accepted. As for Tango on stage, each dancer, regardless of sex and role, has the same role and importance of knowing, executing, interpreting and ultimately performing the dance. What has been missing to me in my research of the story between Gricel and Jose Maria Contursi, is knowing how she felt about this story. Naturally we know more about Jose Maria Contursi ‘s feeling as they become obvious and recorded through his many lyrics. In “Gricel-A Tango Story” the character of Gricel will be presented by a Tango and Modern dancer, in that way she will have a very diverse voice in that way her feelings will be interpreted and highlighted.
THE PROJECT NEEDS YOUR HELP
The budget I will need for bringing this production on stage is about 116.000 Euros.
We were able to raise a starting budget of 6000 Euros through a Kickstarter Campaign, with the help of this base we will be able to apply to further funding.
You can make a donation toward the project at any time through this website, donations will go directly to the non-for profit “Gricel-Tango Argetino e.V.”
Being a non-for profit, all donations tax-deductable, at least for european citizens.