IF you’re suffering Strictly Come Dancing withdrawal, Artsreach has a double dose of tango in February, which may not have the glitz and glamour, but certainly has the passion, with acclaimed trio Tango Calor and a new play exploring love between two middle-aged people, united by a love of the dance but divided by an ocean.

It takes three to tango … Travel from the back-streets of Buenos Aires to the salons of Paris – via Langton Matravers village hall on Thursday 6th February, Drimpton on Friday 7th and Shillingstone’s Portman Hall on Saturday 8th. All shows start at 7.30pm.

Described as “one of the best tango trios you will hear in the UK,” Tango Calor is a collective of musicians with a love for Argentina’s tango music. Formed by bandoneonist Mirek Salmon in 2016, the group features guitar virtuoso Daryl Kellie and vocalist Jimi Can.

A prominent member of Moscow Drug Club, Mirek has also performed with BBC orchestras, Welsh National Opera and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Daryl Kellie has been described by Guitar World Magazine as “epic”, and Jimi Can is a consummate showman and key figure from Bristol’s burgeoning Afro-Cuban and Flamenco music scenes.

Together the trio perform in arts centres, tango clubs and at festivals including WOMAD, as well as collaborating regularly with various orchestras to perform the works of Astor Piazzolla. This will be an evening of songs and wonderful stories, ranging from classic tango music to Piazzolla tunes, lively Latin rhythms and more.

A tango romance … Staying in Buenos Aires, the Devon-based Multi Story Theatre brings Last Dance Saloon, a poignant romance set in a tango retreat, to the village halls at Sydling St Nicholas, Portesham and Broadwindsor, from 13th to 15th February.  
When two people, no longer in the first flush of youth, find each other at a tango retreat in Buenos Aires, a spark is lit and their passion smoulders – this was meant to be. But one has work and family ties in South America, the other in North Devon. They soon settle into the frustrations of a long-distance relationship, fuelled by regular tango sessions in Argentina, until one of them weighs up the ecological consequences…
Blending music, song, tango and tales both ancient and modern, this captivating and deeply moving new show is an immersive experience performed in the round, which explores love, legacy and the future we envision for coming generations. After the show, audiences are invited to stay for a social dance led by the company. Refreshments will be available.

Inspired by the enduring power of stories, Multi Story, formed in 2000 by Bill Buffery and Gill Nathanson, has spent 24 years crafting powerful narratives for intimate spaces, thriving on the close connections fostered in community venues. Their latest production features relatable characters who strive to do their best for themselves, their families and the future.