January 2008 Update from Minneapolis, Minnesota

Being snowbound in the frigid tundra isn’t soooooooo bad if you have exciting things to do (and heat….).  I’ll be here all month but I’m not stressing about it.  Here’s the latest:

Touareg—I decided to merge Rai Action Collective with Touareg when Malik moved to San Diego.  I do miss Malik a lot but this new group is fantastic!  We do a number of Amir Dyab tunes (Egypt) along with Rai from Algeria and Morocco.  We’re opening the new club called Zahtar (in Eden Prairie’s Lifetime Fitness complex) on January 14th then moving downtown to Martini Blu on Saturday, the 19th.  Do check us out!  And dance!

Mandragora—we’re in concert on Saturday January 12 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts,  a beautiful venue right on Main Street in Downtown Hopkins.  Florencia Taccetti is a world-class dancer from Buenos Aires who will join us along with her partner,  Somer from Turkey via Chicago.  Tix at the door and a 7:30PM start.

Later this month, on January 31st, Northrup Auditorium presents Estampa Porteñas tango show from Buenos Aires.  Mandragora is proud to be part of this show, as well.  A whole evening of activities are planned, starting at 7:30PM.

Lastly,  flamenco dancer Colette Illarde and myself are putting together a “cuadro flamenco” which you may have the good fortune to catch at La Bodega on a Friday evening this month.  Lots of flamenco aficion happening in Minneapolis!  My Sunday afternoon group flamenco guitar class is really taking off, too.  Call me@612-749-2662 if you want to get involved.

That’s it.  Thank you to all for your continuing support.  Stay warm, well and dry.