HOME
ART/CULTURE
TRAVEL
NEWS/EVENTS
“A SENSORY BRIDGE TO GLOBAL CULTURE”
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
“SUPERTANGO!”
CELEBRATE OUR
DEBUT ISSUE OF TL&N.
SEE OUR SPONSORS ABOVE
ADVERTISE FREE IN NOVEMBER!
DANCE JOURNEY OF A LIVING LEGEND
THAT BUILT TANGO INTO A COLLEGE TOWN
Roldan credits Goldfarb with being the main constructor of the significant tango presence that thrives in the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana environs. Erwin, who is far too modest to admit to his status amidst the college town, helped make Champaign-Urbana a key spot on the global tango map through his role as an avid tango aficionado and supporter.
“SUPERTANGO.” That’s what American Tango Institute (ATI) President Netza Roldan calls his longtime friend and business associate Erwin Goldfarb, who is nothing less than a tango icon in the solidly established tango community of Champaign, Illinois.
“SuperTango” Erwin Goldfarb
Erwin came to study at the university in Champaign from his native Lima, Peru following prep school that he and a friend from Lima had attended. With only a short return to Peru after completing his education, he settled in Champaign and never left. A mechanical engineer who worked in civil engineering professionally, Erwin became an established developer in Urbana. He built a student based development through his company, Campus Property Management (CPM). He is known as a quiet, rather private man, extremely kind and generous.
Erwin cultivated exceptional extended family ties, particularly with his niece, Leah Heil. It was through Leah that Erwin became enabled to explore his intense fascination with dance.
It began when Leah and her uncle took swing dance classes together. Erwin believed that in order to become fully Americanized, a citizen of this country should learn to dance swing because “that’s the American dance.” Leah signed him up for classes at a local ballroom studio and he instantly became enamored.
No question, Erwin had a love of dance. He became obsessed, in the best possible way. With a voracious appetite for every conceivable type of dance, he took private lessons in addition to every dance boot camp available in all genres of dance – ballroom, swing, Latin, you name it.
That was about eleven years ago. Erwin was insatiable. Totally consumed, couldn’t get enough. And oh yeah…he was only 70 years old then.
Erwin’s love affair with dance led him to construct a gym, banquet and ballroom in Champaign known as Refinery, a structure originally intended for ballroom use furnished with beautiful maple sprung floors. Leah, who calls her relationship with her uncle “unusually close,” is CEO of Refinery and also runs the construction company for CPM. Today, Refinery is often used for milongas and characteristically stays open into the wee hours in typical Argentine fashion.
“Erwin was insatiable. Totally consumed, couldn’t get enough. And oh yeah…he was only 70 years old then.”
THE
TANGO CONNECTION
Erwin’s focus on dance totally shifted when he went to Chicago to take lessons with legendary Argentine tango maestros Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau. It would change his dancing forever...
Erwin became completely enamored with Argentine tango and he immersed himself in private lessons with these masters. Soon afterward he began to travel to Argentina to seek more instruction and continues regular visits several times a year. “I travel to Argentina frequently,” says Erwin, “to try to make faster progress in my dancing. I take lessons with Robert Canello and other professors willing to give me their time.”
His obsession really took off as Erwin’s photographic memory systematically recorded the principles, structures, steps, and every nuance he could absorb. Ballroom and other dancing fell out of favor and tango became Erwin’s true love.
Erwin discovered a particular fondness for tangos by the Juan D'Arienzo Orchestra, influenced by the penchant for this music held by his principal mentors, the Arquimbaus.
AS WE INAUGURATE
TANGO LIFE & NEWS
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR EXCLUSIVE
ONE-TIME OFFER TO PLACE YOUR AD HERE
FREE DURING NOVEMBER!
ADVERTISERS, DON’T MISS THIS CHANCE TO FEATURE
YOUR BUSINESS IN PREMIUM WEB SPACE
THAT WILL BE SEEN BY A GLOBAL AUDIENCE!
FOR DETAILS.
312.287.8406
AS A SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY BONUS, YOU’LL ALSO RECEIVE A DISCOUNT ON ADS PLACED THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2011.
