May 27, 2021 ~ We noticed web traffic to this VolvoTango story on NewYorkLatinCulture.com. Checking on it, we found the organizer Steve Beltzer’s statement on VolvoTango’s Facebook page.
VolvoTango Says
May 21, 2021
Steve Beltzer
Dear VolvoTangueras and VolvoTangueros,
Our location on Pier 45 for VolvoTango has been hijacked by a tango dancer… along with several associates and we need to act together to save it. The organization that controls the Pier needs to have tons of people writing and calling them ASAP to let them know that you want to have our VolvoTango there, as it has been since 2008, Sundays and Wednesdays, Spring, Summer and Fall. Otherwise we will lose it. If you want to save VolvoTango at Pier 45, please help now!
Hudson River Park Trust Says
So we reached out to the Hudson River Park Trust for comment. They promptly replied.
May 27, 2021
Hudson River Park Trust Spokesperson
“Everyone has the right to dance in Hudson River Park, but under the Park’s rules, the nature of his event triggers a permit requirement. Mr. Beltzer has asked for a total of more than 200 permit hours over the course of a five month period on one public pier — Pier 45.
While we appreciate that he and the tango dancers who are loyal to him like that pier because of its wooden deck, the pier of course was not designed or intended for any one user-group, and its primary purpose is to serve the general public who may or who may not like tango and tango music.
We have offered him a permit, but have told him he will not be granted all the hours he has requested. Despite our offering him first choice on which permit hours he wishes to have, Mr. Beltzer remains unsatisfied with anything short of a de facto ban on other tango groups at Pier 45, or anything less than HRPT accepting 100% of his demands for tango time on a public pier.
We welcome him to restart his lessons to focus on dancing rather than continued arguing.”
New York Latin Culture Magazine
We have danced at and covered Beltzer’s VolvoTango for years, since New York Latin Culture Magazine began as Tango Beat® in 2008. Really. We appreciate Steve’s volunteer work. Everyone enjoys the pier and the people who dance there.
- Of course the needs of all New Yorkers need to be considered.
- On the one hand, it doesn’t seem right to take what someone pioneered and built up for 13 years and give it away to someone else.
- On the other hand, being offered first choice of limited time slots is a courtesy of The Hudson River Trust, and VolvoTango’s entire presence on Pier 45 is at their courtesy.
Less is more is a big theme lately. Let’s focus on having a few good dances. The Trust’s comment is thinking like a tango dancer, and that’s pretty cool.
VolvoTango is an outdoor milonga (Argentine Tango party) at the end of Pier 45 in the West Village, NYC.
It used to be on fair-weather Wednesdays and Sundays from April to mid-November. The 2021 schedule is still being set.
VolvoTango starts as early as 1pm and as late as 6pm, depending on the season. Confirm the time on the day of the milonga at volvotango.com
VolvoTango is one of New York City’s Great Milongas
The river views and sunsets make dancing on Pier 45 very romantic. You can dance. You can just sit around and watch.
Passenger ships from overseas used to arrive just north of the pier.
VolvoTango Pier 45
Pier 45 is at the end of Christopher Street and the West Side Highway. The milonga is under the gazebo at the end of the pier.
Subway or Train
- (1) (2) or (5) to Houston Street
- Path to Christopher St
Bus
- M8 to West Street
- M12 to Abingdon Square (West 10th St)
Support VolvoTango
The suggested donation is $10. Most milongas charge $12-15 a person. Do support Steve, the organizer. He has been doing this for years.
Check the schedule at VolvoTango.com. Steve usually posts the start time on the same day.