1st TangoAires Marathon (2022)
The 1st Tango Aires Marathon
The 1st Tango Aires Marathon took place in 2022 and marked the introduction of the marathon format within the long-standing journey of the Tango Aires team.
In a small city in Northern Greece, Xanthi welcomed dancers from different places, creating a three-day meeting of tango, movement, and human connection.
This first marathon was not conceived as a large-scale event, but as a carefully curated experience rooted in hospitality, attention to detail, and respect for both people and place.
A new chapter in the Tango Aires journey
The 1st Tango Aires Marathon did not mark the beginning of the Tango Aires group, but rather a new chapter in a journey spanning more than twenty years of active presence in tango.
Over the years, the Tango Aires team has organized major tango festivals and educational events with internationally recognized teachers, contributing consistently to the development of the tango scene.
The 2022 marathon emerged as a natural evolution of this experience, transferring the group’s philosophy and know-how into a different format of gathering.
The city and the venues
The city of Xanthi and the venues that hosted the 1st Tango Aires Marathon were an essential part of the experience.
Historic buildings and characteristic spaces of the city became meeting points for dance and exchange, strengthening the connection between tango, the urban environment, and local identity.
From its very first edition, the relationship between the marathon and the city was established as a core element of its character.
A message from the Tango Aires team
The end as a beginning
Let the end of the 1st Tango Aires Marathon be the beginning of new friendships, new embraces, and new encounters.
All of us, the Tango Aires team, were left without words.
For all of us, it was an unexpectedly joyful surprise.
Working together
We worked together.
We got tired, stayed up late, and felt stressed — but always together.
And this collective effort led to something unexpectedly beautiful:
having all of you with us, in a small city in Northern Greece.
The people behind the marathon
First of all, we would like to thank our volunteers for offering their time and love.
Without you, we honestly would not have made it through the three days.
We also thank everyone who enriched our buffet with their homemade treats — everything was delicious.
Our warm thanks to Sofia and Fotini from the catering team, who worked beyond regular hours to provide fresh food whenever needed.
We would also like to thank Dimitris, Vasiliki, Giannis, Paschalis, Antonis, Paschalia, and Persephone for their generous help with setting up and dismantling the venues, as well as Elina Kaltimpani for her immediate response whenever support was needed.
Sponsors and supporters
We thank our sponsors for supporting our shared “madness”:
Agrothraki – Stavrakaris P.A. S.A., Spanopoulos Ioannis, Sofias Christos, Flower Factory, 4 Epoxes, Chocolat 1955, Zacharoplasteio Antoni, and Xanthiotiki Gi.
Creators and artists
We warmly thank Despina Damianidou (Elegancia Porteña), Stella Kimourtzis (Cathrine Stella Shoe Collection), Mert Emre Ustun (Tangolon), Polytimi Kitsidi (Polytimi Nature Awakening), and Elena Griva (Ofthalmōn Choroi), who enriched the event with their creations.
Capturing the moments
We thank Alexandros Parotidis, who managed through his lens to capture the feeling of the marathon and preserve it through time.
Our DJs
A huge thank you to our DJs — or rather, our friends —
Vassili Notis, Rafail Saltas, Hakki Ince, Mickoska Dance, Mata Djorev, Sarah Karavasili, and Yiannis Dafnis, who filled our dance floors with their music.
The venues that hosted us
We thank the Foundation of Thracian Art and Tradition for trusting us with the spaces of such an important historical monument.
We also thank the Region for granting access to the historic residence of Manos Hadjidakis, as well as Grand Maison.
Without these venues, nothing would have been the same.
To all of you
Above all, we thank all of you for the warm energy you brought to our team and our city.
We promise that we will dance again in the same places, feel the same warmth, and share similar experiences.
An apology and a promise
We sincerely apologize to those who were unable to register in time.
Our concern for offering the best possible experience, maintaining balance between leaders and followers, and respecting historical venues made us cautious about opening more spots.
We will do our best to be better prepared and even more organized next year.
Giving back to the city
Thanks to your participation, we were able to financially support the activities of the Historical & Folklore Museum of our city.
In this way, you also became volunteers in an effort our team supports every year — an honor both for us and for Xanthi.
Until the next meeting
Full of memories and happiness, we renew our appointment for next year, hoping no one will be missing.
3 HISTORICAL BUILDINGS OF XANTHI
FEX House of Culture
24/11/2022 pre-marathon milonga
In the most crowded alleys of the Old Town is the House of Culture of FEX. A building of the early years of the 20th century in neoclassical style. It was built on the main street of the then town to house the “Hellenic Club” and is typical of the communal buildings during the last years of the Ottoman rule. It was donated by the merchant Michael Matsini, a benefactor of Xanthi.
Tobacco Warehouse "P": the Tobacco Warehouse of the Ottoman Monopoly "Rezi" - Thracian Art & Tradition Foundation
One of them houses the Foundation of Thracian Art and Tradition. In its premises there are exhibitions, lectures, seminars and courses by scientists and artists.
The area of the tobacco warehouses, an important part of the city in terms of area and value, is directly linked to the economic boom of the city, has been preserved to a satisfactory degree as an urban fabric and is one of the best existing sets of industrial architecture in Greece. The buildings are creations of the 19th and early 20th century and many of them are excellent examples of architecture, classified as listed monuments.
MULTI-SPACE OF ART & THOUGHT : MANU HADJIDAKIS HOUSE
Sunday 27 November : farewell milonga
This building, both externally and internally, is a priceless work of art and is now classified as a historical monument.
Reflections from the 1st Tango Aires Marathon
A small number of participants shared their impressions from the 1st Tango Aires Marathon.
Their words reflect the atmosphere of a first, genuine meeting.
Thanks to the whole team for the great organization!! It was fantastic! The court, the mood, the spaces, the music... everything!!!! Congratulations!!! See you at your next event!🥰❤️😘
I finally have time to write!☺️ We fell in love with Xanthi and its people already 6-7 years ago! We fell in love with your warmth, smiles, friendly hugs, and the coziness you create! Thank you for pouring your hearts into creating such a wonderful atmosphere, Xanthi is our favorite place to share a tango hug! We already miss you and can't wait for our next meeting! We hug you with love!❤
One more time…! You created a miracle with your amazing, incomparable energy…! One of my best events since a long time, with surrounded friends, care and love…!
What kind of herb they have given me and I didn't realize how much energy I have spent I started to think about when I was dragging my feet on Monday morning in the enchanting alleys of Xanthi, when I fell asleep in the bus that took me to Alexandroupolis, when I drank some tsipouraki in the tavern before departure, when I closed my eyes for a while in the plane and finally when I arrived home and shortly afterwards I fell into bed. Was it the magic of the city; the thrill of dancing in not one, not two but three heritage sites; the Swiss-style perfect organisation with a big dose of smiles; was it the treats that were not treats but a proper reception? (A reception in which, hear! hear! hear! one of the gentlemen in charge of the event found time to prepare sarmadakia better than those of my grandmother from Constantinople!) Or maybe it was the excellent music choices of the fellow DJs that got everyone going?But I say no more, enough analysis. It was all very nice, full stop! Just two words : thanks and congratulations.
Congratulations for the organization and for the whole atmosphere. We all had a great time. May we all be old enough to meet again next year!!!
Moments from the 1st Tango Aires Marathon
Photos from the 1st Tango Aires Marathon capture moments of dance, connection, and shared presence from this inaugural edition.
Το 1ο Tango Aires Marathon πραγματοποιήθηκε το 2022 στην Ξάνθη και αποτέλεσε το πρώτο Tango Aires Marathon σε μορφή marathon από την ομάδα του Tango Aires, μια ομάδα με πολυετή παρουσία στη διοργάνωση tango festivals και δράσεων.
