Tango
Just 40 minutes from Malaga airport but a world away from the lively Costa del Sol resorts, Colmenar is an enchanting example of an Andalucian pueblo blanco with a laid-back traditional lifestyle.
It was the slow pace of life and stunning scenery that tempted Yorkshire woman Erika Abbatt and Dubliner Ken Smith to pack up their lives in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and start a unique business – a bed and breakfast with Argentine tango lessons on tap for guests who want to master this intimate and sensual dance.
Their secluded luxury villa with swimming pool, Casa Media Luna, which is named after a tango step, is perched on a hillside 5k from Colmenar. From the terrace there are uninterrupted views over the villa’s almond and olive groves to the Montes de Malaga and the Sierra Nevada.
Eagles can often be spotted riding the thermals while the only sounds are the tinkling of goat bells - or the evocative music of an Argentine orchestra filtering from the purpose-built dance studio.
Ken and Erika fell in love with tango more than 10 years ago when they took their first class in Leeds. They’ve travelled all over Europe and to the home of Argentine tango, Buenos Aires, to learn with world-renowned teachers. And they’ve introduced hundreds of would-be tangueros and tangueras to the dance during five years of teaching in West Yorkshire. Last year they quit their jobs as HR manager (Erika) and IT consultant (Ken) for their dream home. “This is a glorious place to live,” says Erika, “and we’re loving sharing Casa Media Luna and our passion for tango with our guests.”
Casa Media Luna tango holidays include 1.5 hours of tuition per day with a maximum of four students per class, a tutor to student ratio which you wouldn’t get with the major dance holiday companies, according to Erika. And guests are free to use the studio to practice their new moves whenever they like during the day. In the evening Ken and Erika are happy to escort guests to milongas (social dances) in Malaga where they can try out their new skills.
It doesn’t matter if only one of a couple wants to dance. There is more than enough to keep the non-dancing partner occupied. With just two letting rooms there’s never a shortage of sun loungers around the pool if people just want to relax and read or gaze over the magnificent panoramic views while sampling Erika’s tasty home-made tapas and wonderful cakes.
Exploring Colmenar is a must. Its name means beehive and local honey is one of the culinary treats on offer, while the butchers are famous in the region. Long queues form down the street on Sunday as city folk from Malaga wait to pick up a succulent piece of pork. There are walks to suit all fitness levels in the nearby Montes de Malaga national park and Granada with its spectacular Alhambra is just an hour’s drive away and you can be paddling in the sea in 45 minutes.
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