Welcome
“Mercurio” is the Spanish word for “Mercury,” which is an ancient symbol of connection. Mercury is the mythological figure of the messenger with wings on his feet, guiding mortals to the afterlife and promoting trade between communities. This image resonates with our experience of Argentine tango—in its embrace, where two partners connect to become one; and in its communities, where dancers and visitors meet across boundaries of identity, class, and generation.
Founded by Sharna Fabiano in 2008, Tango Mercurio works to develop these connections, presenting the creative tango tradition as a way for individuals to find balance in their lives and discover the unique contributions they have to make in the world through creative expression in social dance.
Photo by S. Alexandra Russell
From complete beginner to tango instructor-in-training, Tango Mercurio's comprehensive Argentine tango dance curriculum guides students on their journey as individual dancers or teachers embedded in a broader community of dancers and organizers. Technical skill—preparation, connection, vocabulary, expression—and an understanding of the music are fundamental to this process.
A tango community is an association of dancers of all levels who attend social dances called “milongas” and informal practice gatherings called “prácticas.” For a tango community to grow and thrive, dancers must have enjoyable dance experiences in a friendly environment. We host regular events every month for alumni of the school and members of the tango community at large.
Our Queer Tango Program is based on the premise that the experience of connection can be meaningful and valuable between any two people, regardless of their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It was featured in a Washington Post article on December 4, 2018: “Queer Tango: A gender- norm-defying dance class where anyone can lead or follow” by Samantha Schmidt.
To learn more about Queer Tango, visit our outreach page. You can also sign-up for classes by visiting our class schedule page.
