Class Descriptions

Crash Course - An introduction to social tango for the curious and cautious! A taste of partner connection, tango vocabulary, dance floor navigation and tango musicality.

101 "Fundamentals" - For those completely new to tango and for those with prior experience who would like to refine the fundamentals. This class is the first part of our Beginner program, and emphasizes the mechanics and structure of tango, including walking steps, cunitas, the follower's cross, ochos, and grapevine turns. All students will spend some time learning both leading and following roles.

102 "Introduction to Close Embrace" - This class is the second part of our Beginner program, introducing the close embrace style of tango which is danced most often in the crowded milongas of Buenos Aires. You'll learn the essentials of tango musicality, and also of vals and milonga, the playful cousins of the tango, and an additional layer of technical instruction that will help you dance comfortably in a close, chest-to-chest embrace connection.

201 "Close Embrace Turns" - The first class in our second level focuses on dancing grapevine turns (also called giros or molinetes) and turning elements for tango in the close embrace style, and additional instruction in milonga danced in close embrace.

202 "Sacadas, Paradas, and Boleos" - The second part of level two focuses on adding new elements to your tango repertoire, such as sacadas, boleos, and paradas, opening the dance embrace as necessary to create space for these movements.

301 "Intermediate Technique" - In this course we'll refine the subtlety of your embrace connection and your ear for tango music. We'll also expand the creative range of your dance vocabulary with more challenging elements such as contra-boleos and calecitas, in combination with the vocabulary covered in Level 202.

302 "Milonga Traspie" - A thorough exploration of the character and aesthetic of milonga as its own dance, separate from tango. We'll focus on the playful rhythmic footwork of "traspie," the repetative double-time and hesitation steps that make milonga artful and complex.

Locations

NW Sport & Health, 4001 Brandywine St., NW (Metro: Tenleytown)
Civilian Art Projects, 406 7th Street NW, Third Floor (Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown)
All Souls Church, 1500 Harvard St. NW (16th and Columbia, Metro: Columbia Heights)
18th St. Lounge, 1212 18th St., Washington, DC (Metro: Dupont or Farragut North)