Argentine Tango
Learn to dance Argentine Tango: "the history of love -- in 3 minutes." We focus on the techniques that will make you look and feel "tango," as well as some fun and showy steps.
Our Offerings:
- Learn to tango:
At the Monday night session class, we will show you the basics and get you started. The session is 7 weeks starting Monday, July 14 for $58 (or $100 for two paying together) at 7:45-9:00. The session repeats beginning every odd numbered month. You will experience the unique "connection to the music" that is so essential to this dance form and be introduced to the "tango, milonga, and vals" rhythms as well as the three main classes of tango movements. You will learn about technique, proper lead and follow, and musicality. This is a rewarding and fun way to learn and will stay with you!
- Private lessons:
There has been a demand for private lessons, especially from those for whom Monday is just not a good night or those wanting a jump start. My rates for privates are $35 an hour for one couple and $50 for two couples. Times I am generally available are: Tuesdays at 5:00 - Thursdays at 8:30 - Saturday mornings until about 1:00 pm.
Check the calendar to see if your choice is booked. Email us or give the studio a call to book.
Okay now - Get out there and dance!
- Come to the Milonga! : (tango dance party) Be sure you are on our email list and watch the newspaper for tango events. Every Wednesday, El Gaucho Steakhouse at 8550 W. 21st St. N. puts on the tango music and invites the public to dance the tango on their dance floor! On the last Wednesday of each month, we'll be there dancing betweeen the tables from 7 to 8 p.m. Then we'll give a short lesson at 8 p.m. ($5), and after that, you'll have a chance to dance and practice your steps. For more info, visit El Gaucho Steakhouse. Don't be afraid to come dance with us. We are mostly beginners and are very approachable. We just want to share what we have discovered with this dance. It is all fueled by the generosity of spirit in the tango community and our genuine desire to share what we have found.
Organizer:
Music
The music is extremely important in Tango because of its improvisational nature. Some Tango music is wonderful to listen to but hard to dance to due to subtle or complex rhythms. Look for a clear beat you can follow. You may find some of these locally but I had good luck on Amazon. Here are a few "must haves."
Classic Orchestras
- Carlos DiSarli
- Francisco Canaro
- Alfredo De Angelis
- Miguel Calo
- Osvaldo Fresedo
- D'Arienzo
Modern Orchestras / collections
- Color Tango (probably the best modern tango sound)
- QuinTango (a string quintet that visited Wichita in 2003)
- The Rough Guide to Tango - surprisingly good
- "The Best Tango Album in the World Ever" - pretty good despite the bravado
In the Region
Consider weekend getaways to these Tango venues
Cool Links I've found:
Let me know if you find other good resources
- Try Todo Tango. This bilingual site has tons of music. No kidding. It's unbelievable!
- An informative site: Tango Argentino de Tejas has much to offer the "information hungry."
- Find Tango Dancers everywhere you travel.
- Here is Club Milonga. A Toronto site that is really fun. Lots of saucy characters if the pictures are any indication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs I dreamed up. Please send me yours so that I can include them.
Do I need a partner?
Either way. This is a great dance to share with your spouse or steady but it’s also fun to dance with a variety of partners to meet people and learn different ways to dance. One of the best ways to improve your lead and follow technique is dancing with a variety of partners. After completing two Milongas and several workshop classes we found the mix of men to women remarkably close to even.
Will everybody be better than me?
It can be intimidating to try to learn in a large city where there are many well-established expert dancers. There are very few experienced Argentine Tango dancers in Wichita so we should all feel comfortable to fumble around and learn this fun dance without being self-conscious. Maybe we can be all cool and put on airs in a few years but definitely not now!
What should I wear?
It’s hard to be too flashy for Tango, but wear whatever you can move comfortably in. One exception is shoes. A hard leather sole is good for turning but a rubber sole will wear on the knees when turning.
Are there a lot of rules to follow?
Argentine Tango is a little like West Coast Swing in that it is a social dance. There are many patterns and different ways to do things. They’re all fine as long as your partner is happy and you can navigate the floor okay. One thing special about Argentine is it is musically improvisational. You can and should change the timing and syncopation of any of your dance patterns as the music moves you. This is a dance for being really connected to the music.
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