I’m known for never writing 100 words when 10,000 will do, so my typical festival blog posts take almost as long to read as the event does to unfold. However, with my regular festival features – the Feast, Etonathons and the Sheffield festival – I eventually reached the point of feeling like I’d said it all before.

For these, I switched instead to creating ‘taster videos‘: enough collated video from various editions to give a sense of them for anyone who’s never been, and to provide some memories for those who have. This year, it’s the turn of the Cheltenham Tango Festathon …

Although I’ve only attended three of them, it has so many of the same dancers from the Feast and ‘thons that anyone who has danced at these will feel immediately at home. The DJ line-up also mostly comprises some of the best-loved names.

What will feel rather less familiar are the absolutely magnificent surroundings! I’m always astonished at the ability of organisers to transform ordinary village halls and the like into magical-looking places, but at Cheltenham the building itself is beautiful. While officially known as Cheltenham town hall, the label doesn’t come anywhere close to doing justice to what must be one of the grandest venues in UK tango.

There are some random elements. There may or may not be workshops, and you have to roll the dice on a live orchestra. The two bands I’ve experienced were Cadenero Tango and Siccardi Tango, both of whom were absolutely stunning.

There’s a separate alternative room for those who enjoy That Sort of Thing. I have no idea what goes on in there; ritual sacrifices, probably. As for the main room, here’s what goes on. Apologies for the appalling audio quality: I’m mostly shooting from behind the speakers.

I’ve already booked my accommodation for next year.