Dancing Soul

Classes start on January 6th! Come dance!

Happy New Year! It's time for class again, time to work off those holiday cookies (for me, at least).

All classes will be held at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate Ave. (Killingsworth MAX station)

$60/six weeks or $12 drop-in

No partner needed, no pre-registration needed; just show up!

Not sure what section you should come to? Drop-in to all of them on Wednesday to make a decision!

Levels and description:

Tango Fundamentals/Beginning Tango

6-7 PM Wednesdays, IFCC

• Great for diving deeper into the dance, or starting off for your first tango class.
• This class will focus on correct posture, balance and energy to make tango easy on your body
• We will learn (or polish) basic tango steps: walks, turns, ochos, the cruzada, etc.
• Musicality: Make your partner swoon with your amazing use of the music!
• Navigation: Just in time for Valentango! Learn how to avoid crashes and have fun.
• FUN: Tango is an improvisational dance. Although there's a lot of technique involved, there is also a lot of room to play, break rules, and mess around!
• Tango culture and etiquette: how do you ask for a dance? What is a tanda? As a dance anthropologist, I teach not just the dance, but the cultural rules surrounding it.

Intermediate Tango

• Topics for this session include volcadas, ganchos, and tango vals--and anything YOU need/want/desire.
• As usual, we focus on deepening body awareness, improving posture, balance, energy and connection with the partner.
• Musicality: This session, we'll work on vals timing vs. tango timing; really using the music to make the dance rock.
• Energy: What really makes a dancer intermediate or advanced is their use of energy and the clarity of that intention to the partner. We'll work on building energy levels to make your tango more sexy, powerful, more GRRRROWL in your dance.
• Improvisation: Tango is not just about set steps. We'll look at connecting steps, finding new patterns, and playing with the dance.
• Navigation: With Valentango coming up, we'll play some navigational games to make cool moves work in small spaces with less angst.

Milonga Traspie with Robert Hauk and myself

• Robert Hauk and I are again combining forces to offer a milonga class.
• New moves! This session, we'll be doing traspie/rebound moves, ocho cortado, saucy stuff I've learned in Bs As, mixed with Robert's horde of repertoire.
• Navigation: Learn to tailor the size of your steps to the room you have, not cut down your vocabulary just because it's crowded on the dance floor.
• Come get your milonga on for Valentango!

New classes start October 28th

Due to some family issues, I will not be teaching in Vancouver for the next six-week session, but I AM offering my Portland classes. I will be teaching beginning and intermediate tango levels, plus milonga traspie on Wednesday nights (see class descriptions below).

Location:

Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
5340 N Interstate Avenue
Portland, OR

Cost:
$60/person for six-week session; $12/class drop-in
No preregistration necessary
No partner necessary

Wednesdays @ 6 PM: Beginning Argentine Tango/Tango Basics for all levels

This class covers walking in parallel system, walking to the cross, basic front and back ochos, basic turns; musicality; navigation; the embrace; energy, correct body alignment and basic exercises to build technique. It is perfect for a first-time dancer, an intermediate dancer who is polishing their tango fundamentals, or an intermediate or advanced dancer who is learning the other role (lead or follow).

I teach from a body-based approach. I feel it is important to find and use the body's balance, alignment and breath. I apply my anatomy and kinesiology training from my M.A. in Dance to help you find a body-efficient path to tango. Read my teaching bio for more of a taste of my approach.

I think that too many people forget that dancing (and therefore, tango) is supposed to be fun! We'll work on building an improvisational, playful, energized dance, right from the start.

Wednesdays @ 7 PM: Milonga Traspie (co-taught by Robert Hauk)

This session, Robert and I will focus on basic milonga traspie (a fast dance related to tango that has both elegance and groove). We will learn how to syncopate in milonga, building both dance vocabulary and musicality. This class is aimed at intermediate and advanced dancers.

Each week, we will focus on a set of related steps and movement information. By the end of the session, you will have a bunch of cool new moves and combinations to let you rock the dance floor!

Wednesdays @ 8 PM: Intermediate/Advanced Intermediate Tango

This class is for students who have reached intermediate level (or higher) in their dance, and are looking to learn new material. Each week, we'll work on new exercises, games and material that build your tango. Each six-week session will cover different material than the session before; the plan is to create a year-long course of tango study, whether you drop in from time to time, or make a commitment to weekly tango exploration.

I teach from a strong body-based model. Correct alignment, use of muscles and breath, are super-important. Also, learning to electrify tango through energy work, making your dance elegant and sensuous. Find your own style, experiment, play. Fun is a main component of tango for me. We'll play movement games to help build improvisational skills, new combinations and a new approach to the dance.

We'll be done in time for you to hop on your bikes, on the MAX, and into your cars to get down to the Wednesday night alternative milonga at Norse Hall.

Private lessons

Private lesson times are available  during the day (weekdays), and on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. These are at my house. Please email or call to schedule. The cost is $50/hr or five for $200.

Sharing lessons: The cost for private lessons is the same for 1-4 people. I have an intermediate couple who would like to share lessons with another couple. They learn quickly, are detail-oriented, and are a lot of fun. Currently, they are scheduled for 7 PM on Tuesdays, but there may be some flexibility. Please contact me if you are interested, and I will put you in touch with each other to see if you are a good fit for sharing lessons.

Fall classes with Elizabeth Wartluft

All new classes start the week of September 15th.

Beginner/Advanced Beginner Argentine Tango

Thursdays, 7:15 PM
Riverside Performing Arts, 1108 Main St., Vancouver, WA
$72/6 weeks, $60 students, seniors and continuing students

This class will cover: walking, basic salidas, the cruzada, basic turns and front ochos; musicality, navigation, connection, energy, and the embrace. For advanced beginners, I will provide more complex variations and more focus on musicality and connection. As always, my focus is balance, alignment, efficiency of movement, to create an elegant, sensual and playful tango.

Intermediate Argentine Tango

Wednesdays, 8 PM
Dancing Soul, 4315 NE Garfield Ave., Portland, OR (or nearby: I'm in negotiation for a larger space)
$72/6 weeks, $60 students, seniors and continuing students

I design this class to be taken a minimum of three times before advancing to the next level, so I cover different topics each six weeks. We learn the technique from the ground up for paradas, sacadas, ganchos, adornos, quebradas, calesitas, planeos, etc. Continuing from my beginning classes, we will learn harder variations of turns and ochos, combining them with the new repertoire. As always, my focus is balance, alignment, efficiency of movement, to create an elegant, sensual and playful tango.

If you are unsure as to whether you belong in intermediate or advanced, please contact me for an evaluation.

Advanced Argentine Tango

Tuesdays, 7 PM
Dancing Soul, 4315 NE Garfield Ave., Portland, OR (or nearby: I'm in negotiation for a larger space)
$72/6 weeks, $60 students, seniors and continuing students

For those of you who knew my classes in Eugene, this is my Tango 3 class. Pre-requisite: you should already know the technique for the steps listed above in Intermediate class, and be ready to pull out the BIG guns: overturned ganchos, colgadas, volcadas, boleo combinations, shared axis turns, crossed system grapevines, leg wraps, etc. (one of my Eugene students called it "crazy sh**"). The focus will be integration: using these steps on the social dance floor safely and elegantly. Every week, you'll leave class with new material for your dance.

If you sign up with a partner, you may stay with that partner for the class, but you will learn more quickly if you switch around. If you come to the class without a partner, I expect that you will be flexible about dancing with any other member of the class, in order to best learn the material.

Milonga with Robert Hauk and Elizabeth

Wednesdays, 7 PM
Dancing Sould, 4315 NE Garfield Ave., Portland, OR (or nearby: I'm in negotiation for a larger space)
$72/6 weeks

Robert and I will be teaching a milonga class together. We're really excited about it! At this time, the class is full, but we will be able to open it up if we get a larger space, so let me know if you want to be added to the waitlist.

Beginning Salsa

Thursdays, 8:15 PM
Riverside Performing Arts, 1108 Main St., Vancouver, WA
$72/6 weeks, $60/students and seniors

I've been teaching salsa since 1993, but haven't had a chance to teach it in the Portland area yet.  By the end of the six weeks, you'll have enough material to go out and tackle the dance floor! Lead/follow technique, basic moves and improvisational extras will all be covered. Tango folk: come learn a dance that has that same improvisational possibility, but with hips and saucy music!

Private lessons: $50/hr or $200/5 hours

I strongly suggest combining private and group lessons for optimal dance learning. A group setting allows you to practice your technique and meet other dancers socially. A private lesson focuses on technique on a deeper level than a group class allows. Even one private lesson every few months will help your technique. For the serious student, a weekly private lesson plus group classes and/or time on the dance floor, is the most efficient way to learn tango well. If private lessons are not in your budget, consider finding someone to share lessons to split the cost, or contact me re: barter.

Oscar Mandagaran & Georgina Vargas are in Seattle next weekend!

Don't miss this chance to study with Oscar and Georgina if you live near Seattle, WA, or can get yourself up there this coming weekend! I hope to make it for at least one day of workshops and a few private lessons.

They will give group lessons August 7-9, as well as private lessons August 7-12.

Location

Club Sur, 2901 1st Ave. S., Seattle, WA

Contact

Carlos Barrionuevo & Mayte Valdes
tangoearth@yahoo.com
cell: (206) 370 9397

or contact Oscar and Georgina by email: tangodebuenosaires@hotmail.com

or Facebook: Georgina Vargas Oscar Mandagaran

Schedule

Friday, August 7th 

7 to 8:15 pm:   Rhythmic Tango: the porteno style - all levels

Here you will work on the the rhythmic style of Tango danced to the music of Donato, Canaro, D'Arienzo etc. This class is  essential  to give you an understanding of how different styles of music require a different style of tango. You'll find that you really can dance with musicality and style!!

Saturday, August 8th:

4:30 to 5:45pm:  Traspies combinations for Rhythmic Tango and Milonga -all levels 

If you ever go to Buenos Aires you will see that the Traspie' is the most popular movement and with this class you will fin how to create lots of differents conbinations good for rhytmic Tango and milonga!! Came and dance as a porteno!!!

6 to 7:15pm:      Molinetes & Enrosquez and Quebradas Buenos Aires's style - intermediate & up

If you want to add some spice to your dance, learn how to do molinetes & enrosques and quebradas!!

Sunday, August 9th

4:30 to 5:45pm:   Romantic Tango - all levels

This is the sexy, sensuous tango that marks Oscar & Georgina's stunning style. You will dance to the music of the evolutionary orquestras like Pugliese, Di Sarli and you'll refine your musicality, dancing to the phrases within the music. This class is an exellent opportunity for learn about the density and elasticity in your movement!!

6 to 7:15pm:         Sacadas and Boleos Buenos Aires's Style - intermediate & up
This is one of the steps that you have always wanted to do at the milonga, ver elegant and lovely. However you must realize that you are sharing the floor with many other people. So be prepared to challenge yourself and learn how to do Sacadas and Boleos buenos Aires's style!!  

Cost

$25 Each Class or $100 Full package (5 Classes)

Instructional DVDs available

Oscar and Georgina's instrucitonal DVDs will be available to purchase at these workshops. They are wonderful, beautifully produced DVDs that cover many of the same topics they will teach in their workshops, and are a great way to practice at home. The DVDs are also available at Oscar and Georgina's website, http://www.tangodebuenosaires.com/

Rhythmic Style Tango: Learn to dance in the style of portenos (Buenos Aires style) to the music of the traditional orchestras like Canaro, D'Arienzo, Tanturi, etc.

Romantic Style Tango: Learn to dance in the style of the evolutionary orchestras like Pugliese and Di Sarli, etc.

An excerpt from a lesson on the DVDs

Oscar and Georgina's Tango Secrets, Instructional Technique DVD 1 & 2

With these two DVDs you will really have the opportunity to create the quality in your Tango movements, give density and elasticity to your dance, add a variety of differents adornments...it's your chance to "magnetize" your tango!

An excerpt from a lesson the the Tango Secret DVDs 

Teaching biographies

Oscar Mandagaran starred on Broadway in Forever Tango and toured with the show for 7 years.  He danced with the Forever Tango cast in the show Malambo, in the Carlos Saura film Tango, and has performed in major cities all over the world.  One of the superstar international teachers, Oscar is beloved for his ability to teach the passion and emotion of the tango and for his ability to impart the "keys" or secrets of tango that help each student discover their own unique quality as a dancer.

Georgina Vargas has performed in major tango shows in Argentina, Italy and Japan, and has taught around the world.  She founded the company "Con Sabor a Tango" which toured Europe, Japan and Asia.  She produced and performed in Noches Argentino in Tokyo,  Japan, for which she was awarded special recognition by the Argentine Embassy in honor of her spectacular performance and role in presenting tango to the world.  Also a professional singer, Georgina's CD, Por Aquells Tango was released in 2006.

Together since 2006, Oscar and Georgina are one of the most exciting, sensual and passionate couples in Argentine tango today.  Highly sought after as performers and teachers, they are regular guest artists at the Esquina Carlos Gardel, home of the most prestigious tango show in Buenos Aires, and spend 8-9 months of every year traveling, teaching and performing around the world.

Check out these great performances!

• Romantic Tango in San Francisco

• Rhythmic Tango in Tokyo  

• Performance at Nora's Tango Week

• Another performance at Nora's Tango Week

• Dancing to Gallo Ciego at the Esquina Carlos Gardel in Buenos Aires

• Tango show at the Esquina Carlos Gardel

• Dancing to Derecho Viejo at Portland Tango Festival
• Milonga 
  

Boy, is it hot here!

Hi folks!  I've almost got the Salem review page done (up Wed.?) and the up-to-date reviews from Portland summer classes. My brain slows down when it gets this hot. I don't think I'm going dancing tonight: just TOO hot. I'm planning group classes for Wednesday night that don't require a lot of touching: definitely open embrace!!

Salem class: review and more on traspie tomorrow night (is it air conditioned?).

Portland beginners: more on turns and different kinds of ochos, but in open embrace; it's too hot to touch!

Portland intermediates: We'll work more on organic dance building: maybe the boleos we've done, paired with turns and something new?

Inspiration is coming!! Oscar and Georgina will be back soon

In the past two days, I've received requests for information about Oscar and Georgina's workshops here in Portland, from as close as the next neighborhood, to as far away as Canada! How exciting that so many folks plan to benefit from these wonderful teachers! The full, up-to-date, accurate workshop schedule is now located as a page on this blog (see the right hand column), but I'm posting it here as well:

July 17-20 @ Soma Space, 4050 NE Broadway St.
Directions & map:
http://www.somaspace.us/contact.html

Friday, July 17th
6:45 PM  Oscar & Georgina's Secret: Techique (all levels)
8  PM       Dancing in the style of portenos (all levels)

Saturday, July 18th
12:30 PM Magnetic movement and the embrace  (all levels)
1:45 PM   Traspie: what they are & how to do them (all levels)
3 PM         Quebradas, giros & enrosques, milonguero style (I/A)

Sunday, July 19th
12:30 PM Density and Elasticity (all levels)
1:45 PM   How to lead, follow & change directions (all levels)
3 PM        Tango rhythm and phrasing  (Int/Adv)

Monday, July 20th
8 PM        Creative Combinations: steps for fun! (Int/Adv)
Cost: $25/class, $66/3 classes, $180/9 classes 

Private lessons @ 4315 NE Garfield Ave., Portland
Cost: $100/hr + $8 floor fee
To schedule, call 541-914-4812 or ewartluf@gmail.com

Shoe information:  Soma Space has a lovely, pristine floor.  PLEASE clean your shoes carefully, and do not bring any shoes that have rough edges, nails sticking out, broken heels, etc.  We will be checking all shoes to ensure that we are not charged for damage to the floor.  You might consider bringing two pair, in case one pair is refused (sorry, this is a condition of the studio owner).

Tango New Year: now I'm REALLY on my axis

Oscar Mandagaran and Georgina Vargas delivered a kick-ass weekend of workshops for Eugene, OR. Every time I study with them, I am again both inspired to work hard, and amazed at how far I still have to reach for perfection. Wow! A new year of tango has started for me, and with it, New Year's resolutions.

The power of positive thinking

When I told them that I couldn't believe how bad my dancing was before, Georgina said, "Ya se fue, no exista ahora" (that's gone already, it doesn't exist now). "Don't think of the past and mistakes: focus on how good it is now, and how good it's going to be in the near future!" Oscar added. That will be my goal for this year, letting go of old stuff and moving on to great, new, fabulous things in life and tango.

The power of new shoes

One new part of my tango is: my Comme Il Faut, bumble-bee black and yellow, stiletto heeled tango shoes. I had put off buying new shoes for a while (say, oh, seven or eight years?!). Each time I thought about buying shoes, I'd say to myself, OK, the next time I go to Bs As, I'll get more shoes. Well, a few years of working a job with no vacation, then a child, then the move to Portland . . . and suddenly, all my shoes look shabby. Unable to buy NeoTangos in Portland, I caved in and bought Comme Il Faut shoes.

I love these shoes. My feet look sexy, flashy, NEW. They only go with some of my outfits, but who cares? I am now on a shoe-buying frenzy, with two more pair on the way from NeoTango.

I am not someone who spends money easily, so why all the new shoes? Because, after going to the milonga one evening, Oscar and Georgina looked at each other, nodded, and said, "OK, Ely, you must throw out all your old shoes. Your technique is so much better in your new shoes that you look like a different person. Your old shoes are worn down, and are pulling you off your axis.  They MUST go in the trash. Do NOT wear them."

As usual, Oscar and Georgina are correct. Suddenly, I have to be on my axis. With stiletto heels, there is no margin of error: either I'm on axis, or falling over. With these tiny little heels, all the information about relaxing my hips, stretching my solar plexus up, pushing off the floor, really ARRIVING on each step--all this instantly makes more sense. For the first time in my life, the initial wear on my heels slopes in a bit, allowing my ankles to collect, rather than rolling out into my old flat-footed stance. All my old shoes reflect ten years of my dancing. I've gotten better, but they are still fighting me to return to my old ways. Out they go into the trash.

The power of repetition

I am doing my tango exercises daily. Oscar and Georgina gave me exercises to work on. They come back in a month to teach in Portland (yay!), so I have a short-term goal of being able to improve my walks forward and back, lateral steps, pivots (lateral, pivot, forward; lateral, pivot, back) and shoulder blade placement. It's nice to be in a space in tango where I am happy to just make my walk perfect; I know I'll work on the other stuff later. I no longer have to do the "hard" stuff or prove my level. What is important is that I feel all the details in my body in order to help my students understand these elements.

Each time Oscar and Georgina come back (this will be visit #4 in two years), I can feel how my understanding of the dance has deepened. The repetition feels good, and each new level is built upon a strong base, always improving, always becoming more elegant, always becoming more enjoyable for me, with ANY partner. So I will repeat my exercises and get used to my new, improved shoes and my new, improved balance.

The power of community

This year, I am going to collect about me people who are good, positive, lovely folks, and share tango with them. The energy I see and feel in tango seems to be lacking in big chunks of the tango community. I look around, and many people seem to have forgotten that tango is FUN. I see frowns, blank stares, slouchy postures, walled-off energy. Let's get rid of all of that!

I am starting to teach group classes in Eugene again sometime this year. We've got an exciting plan to boost the tango energy and the level of dancing there. I am teaching group classes in Portland, and I'm going to start a milonga or practica this year, somewhere fun (I'm looking at a cool cafe right now): somewhere to come have a cup of coffee, dance, talk to people, build community. I've got some plans for another town or two nearby: a little chain of tango satellites to Portland, connecting communities, creating dancing spaces and people to make even more tango happen in this area.

Community to me means house parties and potlucks. It means coffee outings and going salsa dancing with tangueros. It means going tango dancing with swing dancers. It means telling my neighbors and the people at the playground about tango, and encouraging new dancers to try a turn around the floor. The tango community needs to reach out to not-yet-dancers (I don't believe there are actually non-dancers in the world, just folks who haven't had the opportunity to learn yet). Imagine: the whole city dancing!

The power of beginning another cycle

New classes:

Portland:

Beginners: 7 PM Wednesdays, starting this week! $80/10 weeks, @ 4315 NE Garfield Ave.
Intermediates: 8 PM Wednesdays, starting this week! $80/10 wks, @ 4315 NE Garfield Ave.

Salem:

Beginners: 6:30 PM Tuesdays, starting this week! $65/6 wks, @ The IKE Box, Cottage & Chemeketa
Intermediates: 7:30 PM Tuesdays, starting this week! $65/6 wks., @ the IKE Box, Cottage & Chemeketa

Private lessons: Every third Tuesday, Eugene; every Tuesday evening, Salem; M, W, Th, F, Portland.

Coming soon: classes in Eugene (Mondays) and Vancouver (probably Fridays).
Coming soon: advanced class in Portland, (probably Thursdays)

New attitude, new shoes, new technique, new classes, new focus. Now I'm REALLY on my axis!

A new tanguera experiences Oscar & Georgina--and you can, too!

Oscar Mandagaran and Georgina Vargas are not just for the advanced tango dancer.

After only a few months of tango, one of my students and friends in Portland, Sarah, told me she was headed for Buenos Aires. "You MUST study with Oscar and Georgina!" I told her, and connected her with them. Here's some email she sent me this spring from Bs As:

Email #1: I'm studying with Oscar and Georgina!!!!!!!!!!!! (I think her original version had more exclamation points than that, but I can't find the email to cut and paste)

Email #2: After that first email, I asked her to comment on studying with Oscar & Georgina:

"I´m in BA right now studying with Oscar and Georgina three times a week. Oscar and Georgina are exceptional, and if I could I would insist that anyone learning Tango must learn from them. They exude the essence of tango in their own bodies and dance (it really takes your breath away to see them), but are the most delightful and enthusiastic teachers that I have met.  I am a beginner, but they not only have patience and give me excellent instruction, but they genuinely seem to care about me. In teaching they combine the ability to give highly skillful and timely instruction, demand a high level of participation ("no holidays!", as Oscar loves to say while smiling at the beginning of class), while somehow making you feel like what you are doing is important and good. And to anyone who is intimidated by how completely mouthwatering and delightful and passionate their own dance is to look at, you might take comfort in knowing that I was at a Milonga last night with them where they dance among all the other Milongueras to refuel and be at home. I highly recommend grabbing the opportunity to study with them in Eugene or Portland, with the only reservation being that I will have to share them with you!"

Email #3: Sarah emailed me to say that she had more to say:

 

"Georgina and Oscar developed a way to dance tango that creates a pain free, organic, and natural feeling dance. Since I didn´t realize that about their teaching method before I came to Buenos Aires, this was not why I chose to study with them.  So, it came as a surprise to me to notice over the last three weeks that the pain in my feet and my low back have slowly disappeared.  Because I´ve back pain for years I had no expectations of relief from it.  But I find that I feel more freedom in my body, and well as I said...very suprisingly.. no pain at all when I dance."

Why Oscar Mandagaran & Georgina Vargas rock my world

I've taken classes from dozens of tango teachers since 1995. Many of them are good teachers, and I've learned a lot from them. However, Oscar Mandagaran and Georgina Vargas are my current study focus--and they are coming to Oregon next week!!!!!

I started to study with Oscar in 2000. I was in Buenos Aires, working on my M.A. thesis fieldwork. My boyfriend at the time insisted that I go to his teacher's dance class. "He's amazing!" Yeah, yeah, everyone thinks their favorite teacher is amazing. I went along to class, only to discover that Oscar WAS amazing. Here was an international tango star, teaching tango in somebody's apartment living room for 8 pesos a class, to a bunch of earnest young Argentines. He approached every class with 150% enthusiasm, encouragement and good energy.

Oscar completely changed the way that I taught tango. I had never thought about tango being about energy. Oscar taught me to move my body and my legs with a lot of energy, drawing it up out of the earth to stay grounded. He taught me drills to improve my walk, my ochos, my turns, my boleos, my adornos, my milonga--he had an exercise for everything. His technique was well-thought-out, clear, and offered with encouragement and smiles: "Very good, Ely! Very good! Now, I want you to do it THIS way!"

I came away from his classes with a new commitment to tango and a new confidence in my ability to reach my goals. I returned to teaching with new tools to help my students learn more easily. I learned to put 150% into a class in order to get 100% back from my students, and to feel grateful that I was allowed to do what I love as work.

I tried to get Oscar to come to Eugene, but he needed a minimum earning guarantee that I, as a graduate student, could not promise. Then, in 2007, I heard he would be in Portland. I was SO excited! I put it on my calendar, make arrangements for a babysitter, and counted down the days. Four days before the workshop, my father died, and I flew home.

In 2008, I received an email: would I be willing to host Oscar and his new partner, Georgina Vargas.  Would I???!!!! I set up workshops in Eugene and Portland, and hosted them for a week. It was wonderful. When do you meet international stars who do their own dishes, help shop for dinner, and grill steaks on the parilla for you while you make salad? They brought energy and joy into my house, along with a whirlwind week of tango.

"What I want," I said, "Is a more elegant tango. I know a lot about tango, I feel that I am a good teacher, but my dance just doesn't look as elegant as I'd like."

"We can fix that!" said Oscar. They videotaped me dancing, made me watch it (eek), and took my dance apart to the ground floor. During that week, I practiced and got feedback; took lessons and went out dancing; and talked about tango styles. At the end of the week, they gave me exercises to do daily, and promised to pick up from there in October.

Oscar and Georgina returned for Tangofest in the fall. I hosted them for a week again, soaking up information and working hard on my tango. They praised the progress I had made, gave me additional exercises, and again refined my new styling to make it look and feel better.

The main differences I've noticed in my dancing are my lack of pain and the smoothness of my dance. After a night of dancing, I feel great. My feet don't hurt anymore. My back and arms can survive even a difficult leader. My adornos feel strong. My walk feels sensual. I feel that they gave me information that no one else ever had.

They rock my world, and they'll be here two weeks this summer so that we can take classes, practice, get a checkup, and make goals for our tango year.

Oscar Mandagaran & Georgina Vargas are coming to Eugene and Portland

Here is the schedule for Oscar and Georgina in Eugene.  The schedule for Portland is tentative, as I do not yet know 100% where the workshops will be held; the themes/topics are correct.