Phoenix Teachers
Daniela Borgialli: Daniela holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from Arizona State University. Drawing from her experiences as a modern dancer, choreographer, and performer, she believes in providing a positive, fun, and supportive learning environment. She aims to promote confidence as students practice and grow in their individual abilities. Social Argentine Tango deals strongly with connection: connection with your partner, connection to the music, connection to your immediate surroundings and to your community where presumably most of your dances will be happening. Because of this, Daniela stresses the importance of the embrace to help build a dynamic connection with partners and she encourages listening to the music....
Daniela Ph: 602-7438560, E-mail: danidancestango@yahoo.com , Web site: www.accesstango.com
Rommel Oramas: Rommel Oramas is a native of Quito, Ecuador, where dancing was a part of his culture and something he is very passionate about. He wears many hats and has been a Dental Technician, Dental Assistant, Manager, and lately works in the Tango Shoe industry. He is a loving father and of course, an Argentine Tango Instructor. Rommel enjoys teaching to inspire people to learn this captivating dance form. He believes, through personal experience, that the process of learning Argentine Tango has brought a deeper awareness of self and of others. His classes emphasize connecting with you’re own body and expanding this connection to the partner, the music, and much more.
He stumbled into Argentine Tango in 2000 and his first influential tango experience was a tango festival in Las Vegas in 2003, which ignited his passion to continue dancing. Rommel enjoys visiting Argentina yearly where he gets inspired by other teachers. He is continually finding ways to improve and understand the pedagogy of this dance. Contact Rommel at Ph: 928 3015215, E-mail: rommeloramas@yahoo.com
Steve Mumaw: Steve is a tango veteran of the Phoenix community. Present always in all the local events and practicas offers his experience and patience to the beginners needing basic instructions and practicas by helping them to overcome the gap between lessons and formal milongas. Steve teaches every week a beginner tango lesson before the Sunday Social Milonga. Steve can be contacted by E-mail at doctormilonga@hotmail.com
David Liu: David, a most creative argentine tango teacher and performer, has taken an unusual path to becoming the artist he is. He has studied body reeducation extensively (ideokinesis and feldencraise), has studied modern dance with Marni Woods (former dancer and currently the director of the Martha Graham school) and with Ethel Dias (former dancer and current teacher with the Alvin Ailey Company), and has studied Argentine Tango extensively with Michael Walker and with many world class Argentine performers and instructors (including Milena Plebs). David contact: Ph:480 2298790, E-mail: david@learntodancetango.com
Web site: www.learntodancetango.com
Adam and Nicole DeKavallas: Adam and Nicole DeKavallas are the owners and operators of Dance FX Studios in Tempe. After years of teaching Latin, Ballroom and Swing dancing, they became "hooked" by the passion of the Argentine Tango several years ago. As instructors, they pride themselves on helping their students explore the Tango and all of its beauty in Private and Group Lesson as well as weekly Open Tango Dance Nights (please see Phoenix Tango Calendar). It is their focus to create dancers that can move comfortably around a social dance floor with ease. contact Adam and Nicole at Ph: 480 9686177, E-mail: dancefx@cox.net, Web site: www.dancefxstudios.com
Jeff Musgrove and Nerissa De La Paz: Jeff and Neri started studying to dance Argentine Tango in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Since that time, both have been very active in trying to develop the local Tango community by hosting various Milongas and organizing workshops with celebrated Tango instructors. Both are currently teaching private and semi-private group lessons for beginner , intermediate and advanced levels. They also co-founded TangoArizona.org. Their philosophy for dancing and teaching is drawn from their many years of taking private lessons and workshops from world reknown Tango instructors as well as actually dancing in Milongas in cities throughout the US and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Contact Jeff at Jeff ph: 602 7080375, Jeff's e-mail: tangojeff@cox.net; contact Neri at Neri's e-mail : tangoneri@cox.net
Lori Ross: Lori Ross is an internationally known teacher, performer and successful competitor, with well over 25 years professional dance experience. Her wide range of versatility includes Authentic Argentine Tango, all forms Swing, Latin and Ballroom dancing, as well as Country Western. Lori is known as one of the most knowledgeable and articulate teachers of dance within the United States.In 1994 Lori enthusiastically initiated pioneering the Argentine Tango as a popular form of social dance within the Greater Phoenix area. She offered personal private and group instruction for the first social Argentine Tango Dance Classes and Workshops, along with instituting regular Milongas and Practicas. Over the past decade, she has hosted a series of several Dance Masters Workshops, and seven trips to Buenos Aires with a new group of students each year to study with the most well renowned Dance Masters of Argentina. She developed the Argentine Tango Dance Program for the Arizona State University Department of Dance. Her students continue to carry on a legacy of enthusiasm for dance, some of which have become successful teachers in their own right.
Contact Lori by phone at 602 3126139 or by E-mail: lorirossthedancer@hotmail.com
Ravi and Satya Khalsa: Ravi and Satya began partner dancing in 1995 with intensive training in ballroom dance. In early 2000, a chance meeting with dancer and teacher Mauricio Castro led to the couple's interest in Argentine Tango. "Tango discovery was the most intelligent and exhilarating system I had ever seen," says Ravi. "When I found out that Mauricio was training teachers, my focus immediately became learning and mastering this system."
Ravi began to travel regularly to Buenos Aires for intensive training with Tango discovery founders Mauricio Castro and Carla Marano and with movement teacher Marcela Trape, who was instrumental in the foundation of Tango discovery. Both partners were certified as Tango discovery master teachers by Mauricio Castro in 2003. They are the only CMTs in North America, entitling them to train dancers and teachers in the Tango discovery system. In addition to Phoenix, Ravi teaches workshops throughout North America. When in Buenos Aires, Ravi teaches with Marcela Trape. Contact Ravi at : E-mail: ravi@tangoaz.com, Ph: 602 6780743, Cell: 602 5741336, Web site: http://tangoaz.com
Helmut Salas: Helmut recently moved to Phoenix from New York City where he actively participated in the city's rich dance scene for over 20 years. His experience studying and teaching partner dance led him to develop his Tango Barre curriculum for Argentine Tango. Some career highlights include touring throughout the US and Asia with Pierre Dulaine's American Ballroom Theater, and with Ballet Los Pampas, an Argentine Tango and Folkloric dance company. In London he studied with Elizabeth Romain and holds a Highly Commended Licentiate in the Standard technique from the ISTD.
He's studied Argentine Tango with Nito & Elba, Carlos Gavito and Michael Domke; has performed the choreography of Graciela Daniele, Pat Birch, John Roudis, Eddie Torres, and received glowing reviews from the Washington Post, New York Times and Dance Magazine.
Tango Barre class is the biomechanics dance. Helmut's process of understanding how the body works and using it to our advantage enables us to experience the music and dance, instead of recalling choreographed patterns. Contact Helmut at Ph: 602 7174929,
E-mail: zentango@cox.net
Bridgette Maria Rivera: Bridgette Maria started dancing at the age of 3 years old. She has been teaching dance for the past 18 years and dancing for 33 years. Bridgette Maria specializes in latin dancing. Her dance instruction includes her love The Argentine Tango, American tango, International Tango, Ballroom, latin, and specializes in Cuban Salsa, Salsa, Merengue and Bachata. Bridgette loves Argentine Tango and has studied with Sandor, Susana Miller, Pablo Sanchez, Danel and Maria Bastone. She was the choreographer & performer for the Film Take the Lead Movie Premiere Dance Show. Brigette Maria has also taught Kai of ABC Channel 15 how to Tango on the air. She is also planning a trip to Buenos Aires with her students at year end to continue learning more about Argentine Tango. Contact Bridgette at Ph: 602 4862082, E-mail: bridgettemaria@cox.net, Web site: www.bandbdance.com
Ron Johnson: The International Dance Academy was founded in 2009 by the award winning performer and competitor from North America Ron Johnson. Ron quickly received awards and recognition for his unique style and the quick and significant improvement that all it's students showed. Ron Johnson is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Ron got his start dancing through the West Coast Swing and Country dance circuits in 1997. He started his competition career in 1998. Since then, he became focused on training others for the shear joy of social dancing in all styles of dance , not to mention being a Jack and Jill competitor and winner numerous times. Ron continues to be highly sought after for teaching, performing and competing and currently competes, teaches and performs throughout the United States. The Dance Company has been expanding consistently as students and the public from far and wide have contacted Ron to request more training and performing opportunities. Ron is based in Phoenix Arizona helping to grow expand the dance community.
Group classes No partner necessary! Come learn a variety of dances in a relaxed, friendly environment.
Private Lessons Available for private classes: one-on-one, couples or small groups and performances for all of the popular dances.
email Ron Johnson at rmjsuccess@hotmail.com website http://www.cafebailar.yolasite.com Phone 619-365-6855
Yadira Boyd: Yadira Boyd was born and raised in Merida Venezuela and moved to the United Stated in 1996. She is bilingual and well traveled and continues to study abroad in Buenos Aires annually from numerous top touring pro's such as Dana Frigoli & Adrian Ferreyra, El Canario, Hugo Daniel, Alejandro Figliolo & Valeria Iñarra and many more with each returning visit to Buenos Aries. She grew up doing Venezuelan folkloric dances native to her country and is very adept at Salsa dancing. She has a unique program for Yoga and recently developed a curriculum working with J.C.C (Jewish Community Center) "special needs program" for children in Tucson AZ now as she travels between Phoenix and Tucson to do so. She choreographs Quincenera's for the local community in Phoenix and performs at Charities, Corporate and City events when called upon. She strive's to build a harmonious, congruent community at all levels. Email Yadira at yadiraboyd@hotmail.com; phone: 602-451-3338; website: http://www.cafebailar.yolasite.com
Tucson Teachers
Rusty Cline and Joanne Canalli : Rusty and Joanne are fun, hard working instructors with one thing in mind:' Teaching you to tango!' Rusty has been a musician for 30 years giving him a sense of timing and style that he loves to convey to his students. Rusty uses his knowledge of exercise design, aerobics and weight training in understanding and applying the body mechanics of movement necessary for fluid dancing. He can see from both the outside and the inside all the elements of what makes a step flow. Joanne's passion and love for tango has motivated her to rise above the challenges of learning to dance while battling the stiffness resulting from scoliosis surgery at a young age. She brings the experiences of the struggles and breakthroughs to her students enabling them to realize that they can also attain higher levels of dance through awareness of what their body can do. Together, Joanne and Rusty apply their knowledge towards giving their students body awareness, elements, technique and musicality! Contact them at : Ph: 520 9065389; 520 2484403, E-mail: info@learn-to-tango.com, Web site: www.learn-to-tango.com
Mara Carlson: Mara Carlson is a Tango dance artist, master instructor and choreographer with more than 20 years professional experience. She received her MA and BFA in Dance and Theater Arts from the University of Arizona. Her precocity for Argentine Tango was distinguished by a Met Corporation fellowship, allowing her to study its music and evolution, and excel in its form in Buenos Aires, the city of its birth.
Her professional achievements include a performance with world-renowned tanguero Eduardo Capussi in concert with the Pablo Ziegler Orchestra. She performed at La Belle Epoque in New York City, toured as principal dancer in Tango, Love, and Passion, and danced on the internationally televised program Sabado Gigante. To date, Mara’s singular ability and authenticity have won her the respect of many luminaries in the world of Tango. Contact Mara at PH: 520 2506583, E-mail: maradeltango@yahoo.com, Web site: www.rincondeltango.net
Erik Fleming: In the summer of 1999 Erik Fleming was walking in downtown Tucson looking for something to do. In the store fronts was a kaleidescope of art gallery openings and bars with live music. Then, briefly, he glimpsed a man and woman pressed together, moving slowly to some music he couldn't quite hear. What he didn't know then was that his life was about to change forever.
Since then Erik hasn't looked back. He has taken classes from masters of the dance all over the United States as well as in Buenos Aires. He has also performed and competed across the country and toured in Asia. Closer to home Erik has hosted Tucson's longest running weekly Milonga, as well as bringing in master instructors from around the globe. From Erik's deserttango.com web site.
Erik can be contacted at Ph: 520 2456158, E-mail: Erik@deserttango.com, Web site: www.deserttango.com
Bianca Cristina Ortiz : An Arizona native, Bianca began her love of the arts at the young age of three. An artist, painter, photographer, singer, and dancer she began her love of ballroom at age thirteen, and began competing in Latin at age fifteen, after graduating high school she became enamored with Argentine Tango. She began to travel to festivals and workshops all over the country and the world studying with some of the world’s finest argentine tango dancers, she continued to teach and perform while finishing college at the University of Arizona and taught for the University Recreation center while she was there. Graduating in 2009 with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts, painting and photography and a minor in Spanish, she then returned to her true passion of teaching ballroom and argentine tango at Shall we dance. Bianca can be contacted at 520-327-7895 or by email at bailadora_bianca@hotmail.com
Kate Rosalik: Kate Rosalik is a local Tucson dance teacher who has been dancing Argentine Tango since 1997. Before becoming involved in tango, Kate Rosalik had a decade of extensive training as a classical flutist.This experience gave her a true appreciation for tango music and a better understanding of the practice regiment needed for dancers to become more balanced, skilled, and sensitive to their accompaniment. Kate started dancing when she moved to Tucson from Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1997 and she took her first of many tango classes. She has been in love with tango ever since. In 1998 Kate met Homer Ladas and co-created *The Shoebox Tango Club*, a downtown tango studio, where they organized and taught group classes, private lessons, milongas, practicas, as well as an amateur performance group. In 2005 she went trough the teacher training and certification program in Shall We Dance and added American Smooth, American Rhythm, and Country Western dancing to her teaching repertoire. Kate became a full-time teacher, specializing inn Argentine Tango. In August of 2011 Kate resigned from SWD to teach independently, which now allows her to continue to teach tango as well as other social and competitive partnership dances full time. She is excited to be available to the Tucson community for private kessons, group lessons, tango practicas, dance camps, wedding dance choreography and performances. Kate can be contacted at Kate@TangoJourneys.com or at www.TangoJourneys.com or by phone at 520-6092159.