Tango Dancing in Bend, Oregon, Since 2003

In the fall of 2014 Alicia teaches intensive courses at the beggining and intermediate levels, and private lessons at all levels. On the second Saturday of the month she hosts her Milonga Tangazo at Dudley's Bookshop Cafe, in downtown Bend.
For more information on Alicia's teaching and the Milonga Tangazo, please click on the links (left).

DANCING

Tango as a Social Dance

Most people associate tango with dramatic moves seen in tango shows. We do not practice those dances. The tango we practice is the social tango danced by people from all walks of life in the clubs of Buenos Aires and all over the world.

LEARNING TO DANCE

Moving With the Music

Understanding the music is paramount in social tango dancing. The tango walk is the foundation of all tango dance moves.Any person who can walk can learn to dance tango, regardless of gender, age, dance experience or body type

ALICIA'S APPROACH

Few Steps, Done Well

Social tango dancing happens at the milonga. Thus, Alicia concentrates on the skills needed to successfully participate in the milonga: musicality, dancing technique, line of dancing and general milonga etiquette. Just what you need to dance.

MUSIC

Music and Dance

It may surprise many that only a tiny fraction of recorded tango music is suitable for dancing in the social environment. In fact, tango dancing is the least popular form of enjoying tango in Argentina.

THE ORQUESTA TIPICA

Music Danceable as Tango

The bandoneón, playing short sharp notes, is the signature instrument of tango music danceable as tango. The sound of tango music, when played for dancing, is unique and needs to be danced with unique steps

ALTERNATIVE

Not Danceable as Tango

Attempting to dance tango-like steps to music not danceable as tango is common among aspiring tango dancers. Yet, those interested in learning do dance tango should know that this is not tango dancing.

RESOURCES

Webpages/Blogs/You Tube

Most websites and You Tube channels on tango dancing focus on stage shows or stage dancing demonstrations. Here we review just a few internet sites dedicated to social tango dancing, written by people who dance regularly in the milogas.

AUDIO

CD's and Discographies

Given the large number of tango recordings, it is critical to understand what to buy. We suggest to start a tango collection focusing on recordings from orchestras that recorded almost exclusively danceable music with a clear beat.

Books

Books about tango addressed to the general public deal mainly with the history of the dance and music, or are "memoirs" narrating personal experiences of ordinary people relating to the dance. Here we review one book on each category.