weblog.tangoaz.com

By TANGO discovery master teacher Ravi Khalsa

What is TANGO discovery?
It’s a step in the evolution of teaching and dancing Argentine Tango.

Traditional Tango
In so-called* Traditional Tango, leads are provided by close contact with the leader’s torso. Followers are passive. The dance is taught and danced as a series of named steps and fixed sequences. The dance is seen as, walk—dance a sequence—continue walking.

Tango Nuevo
Although the embrace has more freedom, Tango Nuevo uses the same lead and follow scheme… the leader’s torso and a passive follower. The biggest difference is there are more moves. The dance is still learned by memorizing sequences, but there are a lot more of them.

TANGO discovery
Leaders lead by offering space, followers actively move into the space offered by the leader. The dance is based on structure (not sequences) and is created on a step-by-step basis (100% improvisation). TANGO discovery is compatible with any aesthetic style of dancing tango (as long as it works!) and borrows freely from them all.

Further reading…

• TANGO discovery Arizona website
• Tango awareness by Mauricio Castro

*A note about Traditional Tango:
Dancing tango with a close embrace has been around for a long time. To the discomfort of some true-believers, tango has also been danced with an open embrace for a long time. Today, the term Traditional Tango is mostly useful to identify a style of dancing which shuns an open embrace and the newer “moves” of Tango Nuevo.

Saturday Group Classes
Saturday Group Classes at Cannedy Dance Center; July 12, 19 and 26. No classes July 5.
→ Saturday Group Class web page

3rd Wednesday Tango
3rd Wednesday Tango at The Trunk Space; July 16.
→ 3rd Wednesday Tango web page

Saturday Group Classes
Saturday Group Classes at Cannedy Dance Center; June 7, 14, 21 and 28. Class every Saturday in June.
→ Saturday Group Class web page

3rd Wednesday Tango
3rd Wednesday Tango at The Trunk Space; June 18.
→ 3rd Wednesday Tango web page

Saturday Group Classes
Saturday Group Classes at Cannedy Dance Center, Saturday night May 3, 17, 24 and 31. No classes on May 10.
→ Saturday Group Class web page

3rd Wednesday Tango
3rd Wednesday Tango at The Trunk Space, Wednesday night, May 21.
→ 3rd Wednesday Tango web page

Saturday Group Classes
Saturday Group Classes at Cannedy Dance Center, Saturday night April 5 and 26. No classes on April 12 and 19.
→ Saturday Group Class web page

3rd Wednesday Tango
3rd Wednesday Tango at The Trunk Space, Wednesday night, April 16.
→ 3rd Wednesday Tango web page

Teacher/Advanced Dancer Intensive
Plans are proceeding for the 2008 teacher/advanced dancer intensive. Follow this link to sign up for announcements as more information is available:
→ Teacher/Advanced Intensive Interest Form

Saturday Group Classes
Saturday Group Classes at Cannedy Dance Center will be held every Saturday night in March.
→ Saturday Group Class web page

3rd Wednesday Tango
3rd Wednesday Tango at The Trunk Space is Wednesday night, March 18.
→ 3rd Wednesday Tango web page

New! 4th Saturday Advanced Class
Beginning March 23, Advanced Class is from 2:00 - 4:00 every 4th Saturday of the month. Attendance is by invitation only. Talk to Ravi or follow the link below:
→ Request an Invitation to the Advanced Class

Special Classes in March
Tango classes at Fatcat Ballroom, 2:00 - 4:00, Saturday March 8 and Saturday March 29.
→ Fatcat Ballroom web site

Teacher Training/Advanced Dancer Intensive
Plans are proceeding for the 2008 teacher training/advanced dancer intensive in 2008. If you are interested, follow the link below:
→ Teacher/Advanced Intensive Interest Form

I am planning a teacher training intensive this year in Arizona, which will be of interest to any dancer who wants a deeper experience and understanding of TANGO discovery.

The intensive will be by invitation only. If you are interested, please send me email.

I am the only Tango discovery certified master teacher in North America which means that I am certified to train teachers in the system.

Note: No Saturday classes February 2 or February 23.

The Tango Intensive at New Dance Horizons was a huge success. Thank you all my friends in Canada for being great hosts and students.

Argentine Tango Group Classes Resume Saturday, January 16 and 19

3rd Wednesday Tango resumes January 16, Saturday Group Class resumes January 19th.

 3rd Wednesday Tango webpage Saturday Group Class webpage

Tango discovery Intensive, January 11-13, 2008
taught by Tango discovery Certified master teacher Ravi Khalsa
New Dance Horizons | 2207 Harvey St, Regina, SK, S4N 2N2 | 306-525-5393
To register, contact New Dance Horizons

Learn to dance Argentine Tango with Improvisation
Take away the stress of memorizing steps! Tango discovery will show you a liberated and improvisational way to dance tango.

Tango Awareness, Organic Structure and 100% Improvisation
Three pillars make up the Tango discovery method: Tango Awareness exercises to enhance communication between leaders and followers, a systematic approach to increasing your dance vocabulary called Organic Structure, and playful exercises to integrate these two called 100% Improvisation. more information about our method

Read what other dancers have to say at Tango discovery Arizona.

Because we have developed techniques that enable us to easily mix dancers of different experience and abilities, this course is for dancers of all levels. If you have questions, email Ravi Khalsa or call 602-903-6532.

On December 15, Satya and I - and five other tango teachers - will perform in Tucson.

Tango teachers Joanne Canalli and Rusty Cline are hosting the milonga and showcasing professional tango teachers from the great state of Arizona before the dance.

Details about the event at Milonga dia de Fiesta

Tango discovery Argentine Tango Workshop in Tucson, Dec 1st - 2nd
Saturday - Sunday, December 1 - 2, 2007 at the
Hotel Arizona, 181 West Broadway, Tucson, AZ
(downtown - one block west of Tucson’s tallest building)

Saturday Night - Class and Dance
• Argentine Tango for dancers of all levels, taught by Ravi Khalsa •
Class - 7:15 to 8:15
Dance - 8:30 to midnight

Sunday - 3 Classes
• Improvisation, taught by Ravi Khalsa •
1:00 to 5:30 (3 classes with breaks between classes)

Package Deal
Register by November 28, $55 per dancer for all four classes and the dance. Send check to Ron Terrazas, 4740 N Pontatoc Road, Tucson, AZ 85718

Phoenix Class Deal
Attend Tango discovery class in Phoenix on Wednesday, November 21 or Saturday, November 24 and pay $40 for the Sunday classes or $45 for all four classes and the dance. You must attend class to qualify, a discount voucher will be available only at class.

Saturday Night Class Description
By its very nature, social dancing winds up mixing partners of different levels. For some dancers, it’s a source of anxiety. For others, it has become a source of enjoyment. Using techniques and exercises developed by Ravi and Tango discovery founder Mauricio Castro, this class will help you learn the joy of dancing with any partner, no matter the level of experience or ability. If you are new to tango, this class is perfect. If you are a seasoned tango dancer, this is the class that will push your tango to new levels of pleasure.

Sunday Classes Description
Unlock your potential! The key to having more fun dancing happens to also be the key to learning how to be a better leader or a better follower.

For the last seven years, Ravi Khalsa, working with Tango discovery founder Mauricio Castro, has been developing a method that will show you how to dance tango with 100% Improvisation. Spend an afternoon learning these techniques and your dance will soar!

Class will start with the Tango discovery approach to tango, Tango Awareness. To that, we will add a systematic approach to increasing your dance vocabulary, Organic Structure. Finally, you will integrate the dance with exercises that teach you to improvise, 100% Improvisation. These techniques and exercises are fun and will show you a new and more liberated way to think about and dance tango.

You’ll gain the most if you come to the Class and Dance on Saturday night, then the Classes on Sunday.

Questions? Call Ravi 602-903-6532 or email ravi@tangoaz.com

3rd Wednesday Tango, Nov 21
7:00-9:00 pm, $5 per dancer

The Trunk Space
1506 W Grand Av, Phoenix 85007

3rd Wednesday Tango web page

Classes Resume November 17
Help celebrate with a two hour class followed by a two hour dance. New students, regular students, students we have not seen for a while, everyone… please come join in the fun.

Dancers of All Levels, Take the Challenge!
Using techniques developed by Ravi and Tango discovery, this class will show you that it is not only comfortable to learn and to dance with dancers of all levels, it’s fun.

Tango discovery relaunch Class and Dance, Nov 17, 2007
   Cannedy Dance Center
   6222 N 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014
   Tango Class, 6:00-8:00 PM (all levels)
   Dance, 8:00-10:00 PM
   $20 per dancer (2 hour class, 2 hours of dancing)

Preregister
Use this link to Register
Preregister and prepay to be entered into a drawing for a free private lesson - to be announced during the dance. (Registration is not required, you can just come to class.)

I will be teaching a workshop in Regina, SK, October 2nd-4th at New Dance Horizons. If you are coming to the workshop, come well rested and ready to learn as you never have before! Send email to New Dance Horizons for more information.

I was recently asked to review a pre-release copy of a new CD and DVD, Richard Galliano Tangaria Quartet, recorded live at Jazz In Marciac in August, 2006. Richard Galliano was a protege of Astor Piazzolla.

Read the rest of this entry »

Classes have been canceled since August 25 while I am recovering from a broken shoulder. A heartfelt Thank You to everyone for your prayers and nice thoughts!

My surgeon says that I am recovering well and the prognosis is very good. His recommendation is to take it easy for awhile.

I am eager to dance and teach again and will post another update the first week in October. Thanks again for your support and good energy.