An Introduction to Argentine Tango

Tango Mendocino, in conjunction with the College of the Redwoods, is pleased to offer a ten week class series, An Introduction to Argentine Tango, on Tuesdays beginning September 14, from 7 to 9 pm. Classes will be held at the College in Room 300.

Join us to learn this exciting and intimate dance that is now taking the world by storm. No partner is necessary, and no prior dance experience is required. Men are indeed encouraged to sign up!

Argentine tango is an improvisational social dance based on clear lead-follow communication that is at once universal and international and always unique. The music is varied and sets the tone from rhythmic, fast and fun, to slow and intense. It is high art, deep therapy and seductively addicting.

Tango was born in Buenos Aires and first caught the world's attention in the early 1900's. At that time English and North American dance instructors simplified the dance into a codified series of set steps that became the caricature that we often think of today, with a rose in the teeth and a straight-armed march across the floor (a la Rudolph Valentino). The real, ie. Argentine style tango was essentially hidden from the world until the mid-1980's when it was reintroduced through a series of popular traveling stage shows.

Tango as a social dance is richly musical and improvisational; it is a body language based on clear communication between leader and follower. In this class we will learn the basics of this body communication and acquire vocabulary for use at any milonga, (tango social dance party). Our classes will include ample practice time.

The instructors will give a free lecture & exhibition dance on Wednesday, September 8, titled Argentine Tango: A Dancer's Perspective at the College in Room 112, from 6 - 7 pm (coffee & cookies available at 5:30). They will speak about the tango dance, music and culture as it was in the past and how it is now, here and in cities around the world.

Raquel Maschiach and Walter Stillman started dancing tango 8 years ago and have been teaching for 5 years. They have studied with many of the best tango instructors from Argentina and elsewhere and have travelled to Buenos Aires, Mexico and cities around the US to attend tango festivals, and to dance and study with some of their favorite instructors. They have been Mendocino County residents for over 25 years.