TANGO SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Tango Instruction
Current & Upcoming Courses
Newcomers to Tango: Please also consult the Beginner Corner for more information on
Beginner Level Courses, Introductory Lessons & Workshops.
Dancers with Tango Experience: Consult Course Content for assistance with selecting courses.
Tango Society courses are given at:
-
Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W Stoughton, Urbana (Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays)
- McKinley Foundation (Church Basement), 5th & John Streets, Champaign (Tuesdays)
- Parkland College [Building P, Room 105], Bradley Ave, W of Mattis, Champaign (Saturdays)
Calendar
Period |
Day /
Register |
Foundations Courses
(for Beginners)
|
Discovery / Development /
Exploration / Mastery Courses |
|
@ Phillips
Center
through
Urbana
Park
District
Register:
367-1544
|
Introduction to Tango for Couples
[Course Code: 8994]
Partner required /
No experience required
Thurdays 7:00 - 8:15 PM
January 26 - February 16 (4 weeks)
Cost: $60/couple,
$48 if registered by Jan 12
|
Tango Development:
Topic: "The Uniqueness of Vals:
Technique & Musicality"
[Course Code: 8989]
Pre-requisite: Consent of Instructors
Mondays 8:30 - 9:45 PM
January 23 - February 13 (4 weeks)
Cost: $35, $28 if registered by Jan 9
|
Tango Foundations [A]
[Course Code: 8986]
No partner or experience required
Thursdays 8:30 - 9:45 PM
January 26 - February 16 (4 weeks)
Cost: $35, $28 if registered by Jan 12
|
|
Solid Tango Foundations [X]
No partner or experience required
[ = First Half of Foundations of Tango A
+ First Half of Foundations of Tango B ]
Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:30 PM
February 1 & 15 (2 Workshops)
Cost: $30
|
|
Tango
Tuesdays
@ McKinley
Foundation
Register:
Send e-mail to:
Tango.Society
|
Tango Foundations [B]
No partner or experience required
Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:00 PM
February 7 - March 6 (5 weeks)
Cost: $40, $20 students
|
Tango Discovery
Topic: The Building Blocks of Tango
(Cruzada, Forward & Back Ochos, Ocho Cortado)
Pre-requisite: Tango Foundations A & B
Tuesdays 8:30 - 9:30 PM
February 7 - March 6 (5 weeks)
Cost: $40, $20 students
|
Winter 2012
Session II |
Saturdays
@ Parkland
College
[Bldg P Rm 105]
Register:
353-2055
|
Solid Tango Foundations [Y]
No partner or experience required
[ = First Half+ of Foundations of Tango A
+ First Half+ of Foundations of Tango B ]
Saturdays 1:00 - 3:15 PM
February 11 [WCE 640-001] Register by Feb 3
& March 3 [WCE 640-002] Register by Feb 24
Cost: $50 for 2 Workshops
|
|
@ Phillips
Center
Register:
367-1544
|
Tango Foundations [B]
[Course Code: 8987]
No partner or experience required
Thursdays 8:30 - 9:45 PM
February 23 - March 15 (4 weeks)
Cost: $35, $28 if registered by Feb 9
|
Tango Development:
Topic: 'Milonga con Traspie'
[Course Code: 8989]
Pre-requisite: Consent of Instructors
Mondays 8:30 - 9:45 PM
February 20 - March 12 (4 weeks)
Cost: $35, $28 if registered by Feb 9
|
Newcomers to Tango: Please also consult the Beginner Corner
for more information on
Beginner Level Courses, Introductory Lessons & Workshops
Course Levels
There are two Tango Foundations [A & B] courses. Each course has a somewhat different syllabus. Students may start their study of tango with either course. They are offered in sequence (ABAB...) throughout the year. There are also Introduction to Tango for Couples courses, that follow the Tango Foundations [A & B] syllabi, in which you work exclusively with your own partner. After taking both Tango Foundations courses, you can follow up with Tango Discovery [A, B & C] courses and then the Tango Development [A, B & C] courses; Tango Foundations. Tango Discovery and Tango Development courses are 4 weeks (1.25 hour classes = 5 hrs of instruction) in length.
After completing Tango Development courses, students may explore more advanced technique, improvisation, and musicality in Tango Exploration courses. Tango Exploration courses are of variable length, depending on the topic, with each offering having a different syllabus. For the most advanced students, Tango Mastery courses (also variable in length) are offered that concentrate in detail on specific advanced topics in tango.
Content of Tango Courses at each Level
|
Skills Taught |
[1] Tango Foundations [A & B]
No prior experience required.
|
[A & B] Exploring rhythms tango, milonga and vals; Walking technique; Developing partner connection in the embrace; Leading and following technique; Basics of navigation;
[A] Basic rock step turns for musicality and navigation.
[B] 'La baldosa' and 'the resolution' as a basic structure for further development. Suspensions and pauses.
|
[2] Tango Discovery
(A) Forward & Back Ochos
(B) Cruzada & Ocho Cortado
(C) Foundations of Milonga
Pre-requisites: Tango Foundations A &/or B |
Tango Discovery courses teach the basic movements characteristic of tango, such as the cruzada (cross), the forward and back ochos, and the ocho cortado, as well as movements that are characteristic of Milonga. These movements are incorporated into sequences using rock steps and 'la baldosa'. The technique in executing these movements and the musicality associated with their use are also examined. |
[3] Tango Development courses
(A) The Ins & Outs of Back Ochos
(B) Building a Repertoire of Turns
(C) Milonga Development
Pre-requisites:
Tango Discovery A, B & C
|
Tango Development courses incorporate the basic movements learned in Tango Foundations Expansion courses into building sequences (improvisation), teaching the technique for leading and following improvised sequences.
(A) Identifying and incorporating into sequences various ways of entering and exiting back ocho sequences.
(B) Building a repertoire of turning movements (quarter, half, and full turn sequences), incorporating forward ochos and the ocho cortado.
(C) Building a repertoire for Milonga that is different than Tango. Exploring musical and navigational possibilities for improvisation in dancing Milonga.
|
[4] Tango Exploration
Pre-requisites: Tango Development A, B & C |
Expansion of improvisational possibilities in both parallel and crossed-feet systems; Exploration of sequence possibilities in turns; Navigational strategies; Expansion of uses of pauses and quicktime rhythm steps as part of adaptation of dance to different orchestras; Use of adornments, particularly in expression of musicality; Milonga con traspie; Expansion of rhythmic interpretations of vals; Developing musicality for complex orchestras such as Pugliese. |
[5] Tango Mastery
Pre-requisites: At least one Tango Exploration Course + Consent of Instructors |
More detailed and intensive investigation of topics introduced in Tango Exploration courses. |
Instructors
|
 |
 |
|
Meet in the Middle Tango Festival
Mt Vernon, MO
August 2005
|
San Diego Tango Festival
January 2007
|
Sunderland Club
Buenos Aires, Argentina
November 2003 |
Courses, introductory lessons, pre-milonga lessons and workshops are offered at the Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W Stoughton, Urbana, IL, by resident Tango Society Instructors Ron Weigel and Susana Vazquez Weigel. Ron and Susana have danced tango since 1998, and have been teaching tango since 2001. They teach tango as it is danced today in the tango dance salons (milongas) of Buenos Aires, the birthplace of tango. They travel regularly to Buenos Aires to receive instruction and study the way Argentines interpret their dance in a social setting. Their goal in teaaching is to communicate a culturally authentic tango for social dancing.
Ron & Susana are locally and nationally recognized for the high quality of their instruction. Their students are recognized as being among the best tango dancers wherever they go to dance, not only locally, but also when they visit other tango communities in the US, and their students who have visited Buenos Aires are recognized for meeting the demanding standards for dancing in the milongas (tango night clubs) of Buenos Aires. |
Teaching Philosophy
"Tango is a beautiful dance, that focuses on the connection and communication between man and woman, and on the connection with and interpretation of the music. Unlike most other partner dances danced in the US, tango involves improvisation in using small sets of movements that can be combined in many ways to create unique sequences that fit the space available on the dance floor, rather than executing complex memorized figures. Teaching tango in this way allows greater freedom of choice, which makes it easier to learn. In all of our classes, from beginner to advanced, we emphasize partner connection, leading and following technique, interpretation of the music, improvisation, and the acquisition of navigational skills for the social dance floor.
Our tango classes are taught in a relaxed, frtiendly environment. We want you to learn to dance tango! We want you to enjoy tango as much as we do! Our instruction is based on building a solid foundation of good technique and undersatanding of the music, upon which you can build, developing new sequences and exploring new possibilties in improvisating and expression of the music. Our classes provide lots of practice to different kinds of classic tango music in order to improve these important dancing skills. This instruction prepares students for dancing tango at the milongas (Argentine tango social dances)."
|
The close connection achieved
by partners in tango
|
Pre-Milonga Lessons
Prior to most milongas, there will be a tango lesson given by either Ron and Susana or by guest instructors. These pre-milonga lessons are self-contained units of instruction. The level of instruction in pre-milonga lessons varies, although many are directed at students at the novice (no prior tango experience) or beginner level. At least one 'Introduction to Tango' pre-milonga lesson is given each University of Illinois semester.
Upcoming pre-milonga lessons are listed on our Home Page.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are a valuable way to receive individual attention to solve specific problems or advance in topics not covered in courses or workshops. Private lessons are available with our resident instructors Ron and Susana and with visiting instructors. For further information on private lessons, contact us by e-mail or by phone (217-328-1311).
Last Updated: January 10, 2012
©2004, Tango Society of Central Illinois
