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Argentine Tango Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed with thought and attention to the varied and personal development of the social dancer. We continually visit and re-visit four essential skill areas that successful tango dancers embody:
Preparation - body awareness and conditioning for tango movement
Connection - the art of improvising with a partner
Vocabulary - tango structure, grammar, elements and "steps"
Expression - expressing music through movement
Our team of instructors meets frequently to adjust and revise this program, and we always welcome your feedback. Classes are 90-minutes. Below is a map to guide you through our program, and course descriptions of our basic program.
101 -> 102
102 -> 103 OR 104
103 -> 104 OR 200-Level
104 -> 103 OR 200-Level
Drop-in Basics/Review - An introduction to social tango for the curious and cautious! A taste of partner connection, tango vocabulary, dance floor navigation and tango musicality. This is a single one-hour session offered weekly before the Tuesday ESL Milonga and we encourage all students enrolled in 100 level courses to attend. Reinforcing the basics will help you make a smooth transition into social dancing.
100 LEVEL: These classes cover the foundational structures of social dancing. You learn to move in harmony with your partner in a close embrace and get comfortable with rock steps, sidesteps, the follower's cross, ochos, and turns. This is the steady ground on which your tango house (or cottage or castle) will be built.
101 "Foundations" - For those completely new to tango and for those with prior experience who would like to refine the fundamentals. You'll learn walking steps, cunitas, the follower's cross, ochos and grapevine turns. All students will spend some time learning both leading and following roles. Flat shoes with leather soles, jazz shoes, or dance sneakers recommended for all.
102 "Close Embrace Technique" - This class introduces the intimate "close embrace" or "milonguero" style of tango which originated in the crowded downtown milongas of Buenos Aires. You'll primarily develop your technique and connection skills.
103 "Close Embrace Turns" - This course focuses on dancing grapevine turns (also called giros or molinetes), calecitas, and other turning elements for tango in the close embrace style.
104 "Milonga & Vals" - An exploration of the character and aesthetic of milonga and Argentine vals as distinct entities. Explore the playful rhythmic footwork of "milonga traspie," the repetitive double-time and hesitation steps that make milonga artful and complex. You'll also apply the 3/4 rhythm of waltz to our vocabulary of improvisation.
200 LEVEL: These classes introduce a variety of additional elements that rely on the foundation. We approach learning from a conceptual point of view. Rather than sequences, you will learn how elements such as boleos, ganchos, sacadas, and paradas are constructed and how they can be improvised from any position. These are the walls, roof, and rooms of your house.
300 LEVEL: classes assume that students are already familiar with many tango elements and are ready to refine technical details such as posture, balance, focus, and positioning. This class aims to deepen your the level of expression and connection, so that your personal style can emerge. This is the furniture and decor of your house.