Dance-Baile

Tango dancing in D.C.

By hola | Published July 17, 2017 | 2 Comments

To tango in Washington, there are many options

Tango dance pratica at GWU. Photos by Andrea Shek

 

If you want to learn how to tango, start listening to tango music and watch others dance until you can feel it.

While there are many myths and tales regarding the origins of tango, the generally accepted theory is that tango originated in African-Argentine dance venues in Buenos Aires. In its early days, it was considered a dance from the poor barrios but by the beginning of the twentieth century, tango as a form of dance and music became quite popular and spread to the provincial towns of Argentina and Uruguay, and eventually all over the world.

There is a large tango community in the Washington, D.C., area. The Capital Tangueros first came together in the early 1990’s in order to nurture tango dancing locally. As the tango community grew, their focus is on providing information to people interested in the dance.

Every Saturday until July 27 there are free beginners’ classes and practicas (or practice classes) at George Washington University’s District House and the Southwest Neighborhood Library.

One Saturday last month, a diverse group of people turned out to enjoy and explore three different types of tango dance—tango, waltz and milonga—while Jose Ortiz and Ruth Kubishen taught the beginners. The two instructors demonstrated key parts of dancing tango such as chest and feet positions, as well as the importance of eye level.

“Tango is a lot like walking,” Kubishen says.

A Puerto Rican native, Ortiz grew up dancing to Salsa and Caribbean rhythms. Today he is considered one of the best tango instructors and dancers in the United States and recently returned from participating in an exhibition in Russia.

When Ortiz was first exposed to tango dance, he says he thought it seemed dull and didn’t think he would be able to get into it. Somebody gave him this advice: “If you want to learn how to tango, start listening to tango music and watch others dance until you can feel it.” This, he says, is how he learned to love tango. Today he gives the same advice to his students.

Though tango began in Argentina, Ortiz and Kubishen say the country’s top tango cities are New York and Miami. Colombians are the best tango dancers they have encountered.

Music and dance is a vital part of Latino culture. Tango, a dance form that started with African slaves, has long since lost its original taboo status to bring together people and communities of different backgrounds and generations all over the world today.

This summer there are a variety of opportunities to learn, dance and enjoy tango in the area. Every Saturday until July 27 there is a free library practica from 2:30-5pm, Sundays from 7-10pm there is a free milonga practice in Freedom Plaza and there is also a milonga class for  beginners offered at Eastern Market on Thursdays and the first Saturday of the month.

—Andrea Shek

Cover photo by Beatrice Murch, CCL

Recent Stories