Argentine Tango with the Pittsburgh Tangueros

OR

- $75/person by cash or check at the first class (check preferred).

OTHER DETAILS

- 8-participant minimum for most classes
- Leather-soled or suede-soled shoes are best
- For further information send email to info@pittsburghtangueros.org,
or call 412-661-2480

Close embrace curriculum (Sunday)
100 level courses The 100 level courses repeat every session. The 101 and 102 courses form a 12 week sequence that covers fundamental skills of close embrace tango. Tango 101-M Walking and Navigation -- Learn to express tango music while connecting with a partner in the tango embrace. Covers tango etiquette, the walk, rock-step turns, ochos, the cruzada (cross), ocho cortado, and vals. Emphasis on developing the connection of close embrace tango. For beginners as well as for those who want to polish their tango foundation. For an example of the milonguero style, watch this clip of Maxi Gluzman and Heather Whitehead. No partner required. Tango 102-M Crosses and Turns -- This class is the 2nd half of the beginner sequence. It continues developing close embrace tango technique and examines such key concepts as axis of rotation, the cross-foot system, and the molinete. Students develop their musicality and are introduced to milonga music and dance. For those who have satisfactorily completed the milonguero tango 101 course, or have comparable skills in close embrace. No partner required. 200 level courses 200 level courses are for more advanced dancers who are ready to expand their skills by focusing on the "FUN" in fundamentals. Students should be comfortable with a milonguero embrace, but be prepared to open it up. A different 200 level course is offered each session. Prerequisite for 200 level courses: Tango 102 skills and approval of instructor. Tango 201-M Curves, Corridas & Cortados -- Explore cool corridas and hot cortados; put a curve in your walk; learn a cross-foot rock-step turn; Learn to apply these patterns to tango, vals and milonga. No partner required. Tango 202-M Follower technique -- This course focuses strictly on follower technique, emphasizing drills and exercises, including basic walking technique if needed. We will consider both open and close-embrace situations. No partner required.The topics are: boleo technique gancho technique ocho technique molinete technique adornment technique Tango 203-M Designer ochos -- Are you tired of the same old ochos? Learn how to alter them by changing direction, speed and energy. Discover the secrets of the interrupted ocho. Add some excitement to those monotonous ochos. Reshape an ocho into a back cross. Learn to apply these concepts to tango and vals. No partner required. Tango 204-M Milonga -- Milonga music is different than tango music. This course will explore how those differences should affect your dance. We will cover several techniques and patterns that are useful in milonga. We will also explore what parts of your existing tango repertoire are appropriate to apply to milonga, as well as what parts to avoid. You will learn when to make your milonga playful with milonga traspie, and when to make it smooth with milonga lisa. No partner required. Tango 205-M Practical Sacadas -- Would you like to learn a simple sacada that you can use on a regular basis at the milongas? Then you will benefit from this class. This class will focus on two different sacadas. The first sacada uses a clockwise turn in the parallel system. This will be the easiest to learn, and you will learn several variations of it. We expect that everyone will be fluent with this by the end of the session. The second sacada uses a counter-clockwise turn in the cross foot system. You will learn two ways to setup the sacada. You will also enhance your musicality by learning an extended pattern that includes two sacadas and a cross. If the class is ready, we may also cover a third sacada which occurs at the cross, and includes a planeo and a single axis turn. No partner required.
open embrace curriculum (Tuesday)
Tango 101-S Learn to dance the Argentine tango with grace, style and ease. Learn the beauty of a dance that focuses on partner communication. Learn basic salon techniques including forward/backward ochos and the cross. Learn a simple pattern that you can use on the social dance floor. If you can walk through the door, you can learn this dance. First time dancers welcome. For an example of the salon style, watch this clip of Stefano and Alexandra No partner required. Tango 102-S As a continuation of tango 101-Salon you will refine the ochos, cruzada and walking that you learned in tango 101. You will learn how to tranform ochos into giros, and giros into ochos. You will also learn a parada, a pasada and a barrida. This will give your tango a variety of dynamic possibilities. No partner required. Tango 301-S Moves that Make You Say “Oh!” -- We will study the ganchO ("hook") and boleO (from bolear, "to throw") for the social dance floor. They're fun, they fly, and when used with discretion and musicality, they add flare in a way that's safe for everyone. We will explore how much energy and torsion is required, understand the causes and effects of the motion used to create these movements, and experiment with our physical awareness in both space and time. Followers will learn where the sweet spot is in order to allow hips and legs to be loose enough to receive the impulse but filled with enough energy to define it. Leaders will experiment with how energy, axis, and timing impacts the follower. No partner required.

FACULTY

Over the years, the Pittsburgh Tangueros have developed a rich depth of instructional experience, honed in the classroom and informed by participation in tango workshops in the U.S., Canada, and Argentina. Currently, the club has several tango faculty, all of whom can address basic and advanced aspects of the leader and follower roles:

Sarah Cornelius  A lifelong dance lover, Sarah studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and ballroom. Newly arrived in Pittsburgh in 1999, she checked out a tango class because she could find the address ... and a great love was born. Sarah believes the joy of tango comes through its discipline: she finds clarity in stillness, listening, and responding. In so doing, one experiences a more profound connection with others, shared in the breath, the music, and the movement. Sarah enjoys "deepening" her dance with all levels of partners in milongas, workshops, and lessons at home, across the States, and in Buenos Aires. In March 2009, she completed six months' intensive study with Jake Spatz in Washington DC.

Kim Daelhousen    Wandering the streets of Toulouse, it was all about the music. Like Hansel and Gretel, Kim followed the melancholic notes and discovered a dance that has taken up much of her free time ever since. Kim brings 8 years of tango experience gained through classes, practicas, milongas, workshops, and festivals in NYC, Boston, Geneva, Providence, and beyond. A student of Robin Thomas (NYC), Kim is an advanced dancer accomplished at both follower and leader roles. With patience and insight, Kim articulates foundational technique (intention, collection, axis, rotation) as well as advanced moves (sacada, volcada, boleo, gancho, wraps). Beyond tango, ballet and yoga training also inform Kim's deep awareness of body kinetics.

Katherine Gardner   Enchanted by the music and the intense sensual interplay between partners, Katherine discovered the art of Argentine tango as a medium for soulful expression. In tango, each dance offers partners the opportunity to explore their silent connection and to manifest their own unique essence through movement, energy, embrace. Utilizing technique and a heartfelt approach, Katherine strives to help others realize these concepts and develop a multi-faceted awareness of self and partner.

Jerry Minshall   Jerry found tango by accident, or more accurately, it found him -- and the subtle, non-verbal communication intrigued him. Jerry's varied career experience lends much insight to teaching tango: analyzing the details of the dance (computer programming); grasping the structure of the dance (software architecture); expressing the music (choral conductor and singer). And, his work as a Scout leader and as a university professor helps him communicate his love of tango to learners with different learning styles. In addition to local classes and lessons, Jerry has taken tango workshops and private lessons with several internationally known instructors from Argentina, Europe, and the US.

Pittsburgh Tangueros' classes are supported by skilled assistants, both men and women, who provide gender balance as well as the opportunity to practice with knowledgeable partners.

A Great Loss
Steve Langton died February 17, 2009. Warm, witty, and unpretentious, Steve's fairness and goodness inspired everyone who met him. Beloved by all, Steve's leadership of and devotion to the Pittsburgh tango community cannot be duplicated and will not be forgotten.

Tango 101-M

Tango 102-M

Tango 201-M

Tango 202-M

Tango 203-M

Tango 204-M

Tango 205-M

Tango 101-S

Tango 102-S

Tango 301-S