Best Argentine Tango Schools Around Boston MA
The year 2020 was a disastrous one for people from all walks of life and industries of all kinds. Tango, of course, was no exception. Tango teachers, organizers, DJs, and students all around the world were largely restricted from doing anything related to tango in light of Covid-imposed health and safety protocols.
A report from The Star shows a divide in Argentina among those who have foregone dancing just to be safe and those who simply cannot bear to keep their dancing shoes inside a cupboard anymore.
Those arguing in favor of the health protocols say that dancing tango exposes many to unnecessary risks.
However, advocates for the dance explain that tango is not just a hobby but a way of life for many people, and to forgo this activity can lead to depression and severe loneliness.
But while the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly impacted tango culture on all levels, the steady yet cautious return to normal activities has opened up tango lessons again to the public. Of course, these are still subject to health protocols, but the good news is that many schools remain open or have reopened. Whether these are in-person or online classes, it cannot be denied that many still want to learn or continue learning about tango despite the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus.
For those in the Boston area, explore some of the best Argentine tango schools on this list:
Tango Embrace
Tango Embrace with AnaLinda Marcus hosts tango classes that focus on the foundations of Argentine tango as a means for dancers to discover and create new things. They call it the renaissance and reclamation of Argentine tango, wherein dancers and musicians can create within the boundaries of the dance without diluting its true essence.
Location:
MOVIMIENTO in Boston,
450 Harrison Avenue, #405A,
South End, MA
Classes Offered
Semi-Private Six-Week Class
This class is offered to those who have joined Tango Embrace’s semi-private group and is limited to 12 people. It focuses on the close-structured embrace and includes some cross-system work and training. Musicality is also a focal point.
This class is recommended for dancers who need to renew their foundations in the close embrace structure of tango. Additionally, the activities intend to highlight valuable concepts such as connection, musicality, mutual respect, and community-centered learning.
About four times a year, Tango Embrace offers incentives that provide one-on-one attention to students. Classes are also carefully gender-and-role-balanced so students can maximize their experience.
The Semi-Private Six-Week Class is conducted on Wednesdays from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Classes will be held from September 19 to October 24, with one class held on October 1.
Three-Hour Crash Course
For beginner tango dancers, Tango Embrace offers a three-hour crash course on the basics of tango. As a beginner course, it doesn’t require attendees to have any dance experience or partners.
The Three-Hour Crash Course teaches students the basic elements of tango through practice drills that aim to improve movement quality and partner connection. Here, novice dancers will learn about improvisation and partner communication. Also introduced are the musical structures of Argentine tango. Partners regularly rotate to develop improvisational skills for both leaders and followers.
The Three-Hour Crash Course will be hosted on September 18, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm, with a supervised practice from 9:30 pm to 10 pm.
The Social Dance
This class is recommended for those who want an intensive foundation in Argentine tango. The Social Dance classes focus on tango as a sensual, mysterious, and exotic improvisational dance that develops one’s skills in listening and communicating despite tango’s non-verbal way of connecting with partners.
As an intensive foundational class, The Social Dance includes lessons about tango culture. Each student will also learn how to enhance their own movements in their own learning style. No dance experience is required.
The Social Dance is scheduled on Tuesdays, from September 25 to October 16, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Accelerate Your Learning
Tango Embrace also offers private lessons that can supplement their existing weekly group classes. Private lessons are available to couples and individuals of any skill level and can be booked by special request. Private lessons last for an hour and are intended to shed light on the participants’ subjects of interest or problem areas.
Private lessons are conducted in the same studio as all group classes.
Contact Information
Tango Embrace can be reached via email at analinda@tangoembrace.com, by phone at 617-512-0430, or through the website’s contact form.
TangoAffair
TangoAffair Argentine Tango School is headed by Simonida Cekovic-Vuletic and Svetislav Vuletic. They offer regular tango lessons for individual dancers or couples of all skill levels. No partners are necessary to attend any of their classes, which can either be done in-person or online.
Location:
Dance Union,
16 Bow Street,
Somerville, MA
Classes Offered
Milonga
TangoAffair hosts milonga class, wherein participants can learn a variety of basic steps. Those joining the milonga should already know the fundamentals of tango.
TangoAffair’s milonga classes are hosted for six Tuesdays, from August 24 to September 28, from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Musical Walk and Figures With Embellishments
This six-week series is recommended for intermediate-level or advanced dancers. Classes will focus on teaching students how to improve both their technical and musical accuracy. It will also teach them how to become familiar with tango moves that they can apply during milongas or social dances.
The Musical Walk and Figures With Embellishments classes are conducted from August 24 to September 28, from 8:35 pm to 9:35 pm, right after the milonga sessions.
Intermediate-Level Online Classes
This online class is exclusive to intermediate-level or advanced couples only. The main theme of the class will be “Salon Tango: Walk and Figures with Adornments.” Participants are required to register and will be given a Zoom link via email upon registration.
After the series has concluded, all registered participants will receive a private video reviewing the material upon their completion of the lessons.
This online class will be conducted on Tuesdays, from 7 pm to 8 pm. The dates are yet to be announced.
Beginner Level Online Classes
Beginners and dancers who have limited experience and knowledge can take beginner-level online classes from TangoAffair. Similar to the intermediate-level online classes, registration is required to participate. Upon registration, participants will be provided a Zoom link via email. They will also receive a private video reviewing their material upon completion of the series.
Beginner online classes will be conducted on Saturdays, with details to be announced.
Contact Information
TangoAffair can be reached via email at simonida@tangoaffair.com or by phone at 617-615-1550.
Tango Society of Boston
The Tango Society of Boston is a non-profit organization incorporated in June 1997, whose members grew to 250 within five months. Its mission is to support the growth of Argentine tango by bringing together members from all walks of life and various countries. The Tango Society of Boston intends to bring together tango enthusiasts to celebrate the many facets of Argentine tango, such as its musicality and culture, through milongas and tango lessons.
Every Wednesday, the group sponsors midweek tango dance breaks that feature lessons in Argentine tango for dancers of all levels. Classes don’t require partners or prior experience unless otherwise specified.
Location:
Dance Union,
16 Bow Street, 2FL,
Somerville, MA
Classes Offered
Beginner Tango Class With Silvana Brizuela-Weigel
This class can be taken by dancers with no experience or with some experience who want to learn more about new techniques or the foundational elements of tango.
The Beginner Tango Class with Silvana Brizuela is conducted on Wednesdays, from 7 pm to 8 pm.
Intermediate/Advanced Tango Class With Silvana Brizuela
This class is offered to those with intermediate or advanced tango experience looking to learn how to enhance the quality of their movements.
The Intermediate/Advanced Tango Class with Silvana Brizuela is conducted on Wednesdays, from 8 pm to 9 pm, right after the beginner’s class.
Social Dance Break Milonga
While this is not a lesson per se, the Tango Society of Boston offers this midweek milonga break right after the intermediate/advanced tango classes. In this milonga, the first two tandas are intended to be a practice run for students. After this, regular tango dancing will resume until midnight.
The Social Dance Break Milonga also happens on Wednesdays, from 9 pm to 12 midnight.
Contact Information
The Tango Society of Boston can be reached via phone at 617-699-OCHO(-6246) or through the contact form on their website.
MIT Tango Club
The MIT Tango Club is a non-profit student organization that offers tango classes, practicas, introductory boot camps, and workshops that aim to promote Argentine tango to the MIT community, the Boston student community, and the area of Boston in general. Students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and those outside the school can get classes at discounted prices. No partners are required for anyone who wants to take tango classes at MIT.
Location:
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA
Classes Offered
Intro to Tango
The MIT Tango Club used to offer this class along with Fundamentals I and Intermediate I tango classes. However, the other two have been marked canceled. The Intro to Tango course is a great way for beginners to learn about the basic principles and moves of tango. It is recommended for participants to wear comfortable clothes and non-rubber soled shoes for better pivots. MIT students can take this course for free.
The Intro to Tango lessons are conducted on Thursdays, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the campus’ Fairchild Building (36).
Contact Information
The MIT Tango Club can be reached via email at tango-org@mit.edu.
(Formerly Artango)
Fernanda Ghi Dance Academy
The holistic teaching approach applied by the Fernanda Ghi Dance Academy (FDGA) focuses on fusing Argentine tango with other art forms such as music, theater, other dance styles, and visual arts. Its curriculum intends not to just teach steps but to train the mind, body, and soul of students so they can reach their own personal goals in the dance. For in-person classes, the studio implements safety guidelines to protect all participants.
Location:
380 Washington Street, Level 2,
Brighton, MA
Classes Offered
Private Lessons
Private lessons are 50 minutes long and can be conducted by any of FDGA’s instructors. Fernanda Ghi, the school’s founder, may be contacted for private lessons conducted either in-person or online.
Group Classes
● Leader’s Technique: Conducted on Tuesdays from 7 pm to 8 pm. This class is for students who want to learn more about being an effective leader.
● Follower’s Technique: Conducted on Thursdays from 6 pm to 7pm. This class is for students who want to know more about follower techniques.
● Body Expansion Stretching Class: Conducted on Thursdays from 7 pm to 8 pm, right after the Follower’s Technique class. This course is intended to teach students how to release tension in their bodies and increase their flexibility.
Practicas
Practicas aren’t exactly lessons, but students can come practice in the studio. No partners are necessary to attend practicas, and an FDGA instructor will be present to answer any questions.
Practicas are conducted on Saturdays, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm.
Contact Information
The FDGA can be reached via email at academy@fernandaghi.dance or via phone at 812-345-1077.
Ultimate Tango
Ultimate Tango’s classes are geared towards aspiring tango dancers who want to learn more about tango as an improvisational dance. Lessons are structured to improve not only one’s individual mastery but also proficiency in clearly communicating with partners. Students won’t just learn about tango dance moves. They will also be equipped with knowledge that enhances their cultural and emotional intelligence, as well as social interaction and physical and mental skills.
Location:
private lessons: 3 Tainter Street, Medford, MA
group classes: vary, please check the schedule
Classes Offered
In-Person Classes
● Beginner course: The beginner course runs for four weeks, with each class lasting for 90 minutes. This course teaches all Argentine tango basics along with principles of improvisation, navigation, and musicality. Beginner courses are conducted on Sundays from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
● Pre-Intermediate course: This course smoothens the transition between the beginner and intermediate levels introducing the concept and use of cross-system, pivots, ochos forward and back, as well as molinete code and giros, , . Pre-intermediate courses are conducted on Sundays from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
● Intermediate course: This course lets students master giros in all possible variations, on their way to tango fluency. Intermediate courses are conducted on Sundays from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
● Pre-advanced course: This course introduces more advanced tango elements, with each of the 12 series focusing on one subject’s technique, mechanics, and musical timing. Pre-advanced courses are conducted on Sundays from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
● Short Sequences Open level class open to anyone above the Beginner level. It’s a typical combination class, adding proven and well-structured sequences to your repertoire so keep coming and one day you will know it all. Short Sequences are conducted on Tuesdays from 8:30 pm to 9:15 pm.
Virtual Classes
● Beginner Argentine tango course (on demand): This online course is composed of 28 mini lessons of 10 to 25 minutes each. Each short video gives a clear, well-structured, and progressive introduction to Argentine tango.
● Advanced Argentine tango courses (on demand): Students can take either the Tango Mixology course or the Tango Fundamentals course. Each course consists of four classes.
● Short sequences (on demand): This course is offered in a four- to five-session series focused on specific topics. All classes are on-demand, and a quick review video is provided to students so they can review the sequences from the class.
● Classy Heels (on demand): This course focuses on solo tango techniques for followers through choreography-based workouts to improve balance, timing, and musicality while also looking classy with heels on the dance floor.
● Solo Exercises (on demand): Tango technique without the stress of fast repetition, lots of detailed explanation, and great exercises combos. Best of all - the class is FREE!
Practicas
Once you have the basics of Argentine Tango down, it’s time to work on developing your skills. Our tango practice sessions do just that. Practica Chiquita is guided, which means there are instructors present who will advise you on what to practice and how to practice.
Practica Chiquita takes place on Tuesdays, from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
Contact Information
Ultimate Tango can be reached via email at UltimateTango@gmail.com or by phone at 781-395-9000.
Get Dancing, Boston!
Now that 2020 has passed and life is slowly shifting into a state of normality for most, those passionate about tango can now take up their dancing shoes again to learn more or simply enjoy a milonga.
While there are still some limitations, such as the number of people allowed in a gathering, the tango schools re-opening and remaining open are a sign of hope that things will, eventually, go back to once they were.
While online classes can be a great way to mitigate risk while still allowing people to participate in tango lessons, one must remember that tango is still all about partnership, listening, and communication. This is why it’s still recommended for both beginner and advanced tango dancers to take in-person classes whenever possible.
For those in the Boston area, one can check out the Argentine Tango schools indicated above to see which one suits their learning style.