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Wednesday & Tuesday Tango Classes in Denver with Tom Stermitz

Preview Tango Class

Argentine Tango Group Classes in Denver, Colorado

Each class presents tango technique and building blocks for navigation and interpreting the music. On-going Intermediate classes rotate through various topics for dancing social Argentine Tango "the way tango is danced SOCIALLY in Buenos Aires". Intermediates attend the beginner class to help the newcomers and to review musicality and practice fundamentals.

Tom is a teacher of Argentine Tango who specializes in the social style of Tango. That means: "the way tango is danced in the dance halls of Buenos Aires." This style is easier than more performance-oriented styles.

Argentine Tango requires learning to dance AND learning tango. Our curriculum is a progressive series of skill building and vocabulary (steps) for navigating the dance floor and interpreting the music. Each musical element can be learned separately and integrated into previously mastered material like playing with lego-blocks. This gives you a logical set of dance moves that "mix & match". 

Tuesday Tango Colorado Classes with Tom & Analii

6:30 - 7:30 Before the Tango Colorado Practice
Intermediate level (ability to get in & out of ochos, and know the cross-basic)
Five Weeks Starting January 2, 2024:

“Exploring Tango Multiplicity: Variations & Possibilities”

  • Technique, drills & building precision- Improve your whole body sensitivity and access to respond.
  • Close embrace to open embrace - Utilize spirals within your body to allow smooth transition between styles.
  • Tango, Waltz, and the Doorway to Syncopation - Rhythmic variations and musicality.
  • Milonga (the dance) - Achieve the precision of body mechanics to access Milonga rhythm which also Informs and deepens your Tango Skills.
  • Dynamic Rhythm and Dramatic Pauses - Broaden your ability to express variations through timing of your musicality and movement.

Denver Turnverein Basement
1570 N Clarkson, Denver 80218
Plenty of free parking!

New Beginner Series Each Month!

Wednesday "New Beginner" 4-week Series each month
Wednesday "Intermediate Close Embrace Topics"
Denver Turnverein Basement
1570 N Clarkson, Denver 80218

In our 4-week beginner series you will learn basic tango steps, and how to mix-and-match them to navigate around the dance floor. No partner necessary!

6:00 - 6:30 New Beginner Orientation      
Half-hour check-in, intro and warmup before the beginner class

6:30 - 7:30 Beginner Tango - New 4-week series each month  
Topic: Fundamentals & Essentials - $45/4wks

7:30 - 8:30 Intermediate Tango.​​​​​​ (Close-embrace)      
Topic: Monthly Topics (See curriculum below) $65/4wks ($20 drop-in)

8:30 - Practice/Dance.​​​​​​    

We consistently have a good group hard-working leaders, but we could use additional followers. If you are new to our classes or want to warm up or practice the basics, come early at 6:00.

See the Rick McGarrey's Tango and Chaos website for extensive discussions regarding Milonguero Style tango, and the traditions of Argentine Tango in the Milongas of Buenos Aires.

Tango and Chaos - Rick McGarrey

In its broadest definition, a milonguero is anyone who goes to a milonga. Walk into a room in Denver where people are dancing tango, and you become a milonguero. So by that definition, the world is full of milongueros. There are millions. But we could narrow the field somewhat by defining a milonguero as someone who goes to the milongas every day, and who lives for tango to the exclusion of almost everything else. Someone for whom life without tango would be a meaningless vacuum. And also, someone whose absence from the milongas would change and diminish the tango world so much that it would never be the same. This strict definition narrows the field down quite a bit. In fact, it narrows it down to two: Alito and Tete. But up until last year, there was a third milonguero, who was even more “milonguero” than they are. In fact, he was a man who was something even rarer than a pure milonguero. He was a compadrito. [ Focus on Ricardo Vidort ]

Tango Curriculum:

Argentine Tango requires both learning to dance and learning tango. Our curriculum is a progressive series of skill building and vocabulary (steps) for navigating the dance floor and interpreting the music. Each musical element can be learned separately and integrated into previously mastered material. This gives you a logical set of dance moves that "mix & match". 

(1) Beginner material (Music, Lead-follow and Improvisation): 

 - 4-count Walks: Suspense and Acceleration.       
 - Dynamic Rhythms: the QQS “boom-ch-boom”,       
 - Dramatic Pauses
 - Walk to the cross: Inline-cross; Weave to the cross; Weave to the "not-cross".      
 - Mini Front Ochos at the Cross      
 - Lead-follow and Improvisation      
 - Navigation on the Dance Floor

(2) Adv-Beginner material:

 - Review of beginner material focusing on Rhythmic Energy      
 - Cross-Basic and the “Compass Rose” pattern.      
 - Front & Back Ochos: Getting in and out, 4-Count Ocho Pattern       
 - Mix and Match these patterns for navigation

(3) Intermediate Material

 - "101 Ocho Cortado variations"      
 - Spiral & Shell, Balance & and Float
 - Musicality and Rhythm
 - Navigation and Improvisation

(4) Milonga

 - Three fundamental steps: Step-step, inch, inch; 4-count ZigZag; 6-count Box      
 - Leading a half beat ahead, at the “AND” moment.      
 - Sashay/Chassé      
 - Sand-paper feet      
 - Pendulum legs and Lazy-Infinity Hips       
 - Hover-pivot      
 - Milonga => Tango

(5) Waltz

 - Waltz rhythm on the 1-2 or the 3-1      
 - Apply waltz to typical vocabulary: Cross Basic, Ocho Cortados, Back Ochos      
 - Apply waltz to hover-pivot

(6) 101 Back Ochos

 - No-pivot Ochos      
 - Mini-back Ochos with pivot      
 - Pivoting back Ochos for navigating

(7) Advanced Topics

 - Milonguero Salida      
 - "U-ies" and Volcadas      
 - Milonguero Turn       

Homework:

Read up on the customs and history of tango in Buenos Aires at Rick McGarrey's website, Tango and Chaos.

Immerse yourself in the Golden Era tango music, such as the orchestras listed on my tango music for dancing page.

Phone: 303-725-5963

tstermitz@gmail.com

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