Caltech Tangueros: Class Series

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WINTER 2009 CLASS SERIES

BEGINNER II

TANGO

•	Taught by professional instructors EDMUNDO & ELIZABETH THOMAS

•	8 Thursdays, starting January 22 to March 12. Class: 7:00-8:30 pm. Practica: 9:00 - 9:30 pm. ** Please arrive 10-15 mins before for registration!
•	in Winnett Lounge (2nd floor)

•	Series Description:
	ADVANCE BEGINNER TANGO


•	Cost:
	FREE for Caltech Undergrad & Grad students (with ID); $5/class or $35/series for Caltech affiliates & other full time students (with ID); $8/class or $56/series regular.
•	About:
	Tango is a social dance originating from Argentina which emphasizes improvisation and a strong connection between leader & follower. This series explores the topics introduced in the Beginner Series: the embrace, walking in parallel & alternate systems, ochos and giros, and will introduce the more complex elements that arise from the basics: paradas, ganchos and sacadas. Edmundo & Elizabeth's style has been developed during 18 years of dancing in the dance halls of Buenos Aires, putting the accent on technique. They have a fusion of the milonguero close embrace, the informal open embrace and the elegance of salon styles, making the dance a relaxed and funny experience, thus allowing a lot of variations, changing distances, directions and structures.
•	Notes:
	This series is FREE for Caltech students. Tango is danced in close position with figures that require a lot of pivoting on the balls of your feet. As such, it is ideal for beginners to wear close-toed shoes with smooth bottoms -- suede or leather is ideal, hard rubber is ok. Most ladies wear heels -- if you do so, make sure to choose a pair with straps so that the heel is NOT loose, this will aid in your pivots.

SPRING 2009 CLASS SERIES

INTERMEDIATE I

TANGO

•	Taught by professional instructor ALEXIS WHITE http://alexisandbarbara.tangoafficionado.com/

•	8 Thursdays, starting April 9 to May 28. Class: 7:00-8:30 pm Practica: 8:30-9:00 pm ** Please arrive 10-15 mins before for registration!
•	in Winnett Lounge (2nd floor)

•	About:
	Alexis' creative, powerful and eye-catching approach can be seen on display throughout the milongas of the greater LA area. His sharp eye for detail and formidable technique will help make your tango more confident and expressive. He brings a wealth of experience and a clear teaching methodology to his dynamic lessons, in the intricate and intimate art of Tango.


•	Description:
	This series will further explore giros, sacadas, paradas & barridas, focusing on proper technique for leaders & followers, and introducing embellishments and variations. We will concentrate heavily on technique and proper execution for each element, rather than focusing on steps (the steps are a tool to teach people to better understand the mechanics of the dance, so they can gain more confidence more quickly). Then at the end we will work on combinations and sequences with these elements.
•	Cost:
	FREE for Caltech students (with ID); $5/class or $35/series for Caltech affiliates & other full time students (with ID); $8/class or $56/series regular.
•	Requirements:
	Basics of tango -- embrace, walking in parallel & alternate systems, cross, forward & back ochos, giros (molinete/turns) -- covered in the Beginner I and II series. This is the third series in the year-long Tango program at Caltech taught at Beginner I (Intro Beginner) & Beginner II (Adv Beginner), and Intermediate I & II levels.

SUMMER 2009 CLASS SERIES

INTERMEDIATE II

TANGO

•	4 Thursdays, August 13 to September 3 Class: 9-10:30 pm Practica: 10:30-11:00 pm ** Please arrive 10-15 mins before for registration!
•	in Winnett Lounge (2nd floor)

•	Taught by professional instructor DAVID CHIU
	David Chiu is an inspirational, innovative and cutting edge tango instructor. His students get immediate results in a fun and nurturing learning environment. David's clear teaching and keen eye guides his students to incorporate new movements in their bodies easily. His style combines classic elegance with nuevo in close embrace. David has been dancing for 15 years. Specializing in dancing and teaching tango for the last 10 years. He has studied extensively with Juan Carlos & Johana Copes, Osvaldo Zotto & Lorena Ermocida and Gustavo Naveira & Giselle Anne. In addition, he has been playing piano since the age of four, giving him the added ability to guide his students in the use of musicality in their dancing.


•	Syllabus:
	8/13. Multi Boleos & Ganchos Combination Whipping and hooking are two of the most dynamic movements in tango. Learn when and how to produce head-turning boleos and ganchos combination for ladies and gentlemen. 8/20. Men's & Women's Back Sacadas The illusive back sacada is a back step that displaces your partner’s foot or leg. When done elegantly, your back sacada will brush through your partner’s leg. We will be doing both the men's and women's back sacadas. 8/27. Colgadas with Full Turns Ladies will learn to trust hanging away from the leaders with a 360 degrees turn. And the leaders will learn how to instill trust from the ladies to achieve a colgada with a full turn. 9/3. Volcadas - Front, Back & Combinations Ladies leaning dramatically off-axis towards the men has become an iconic tango movement. It is usually done with a cross to the front or back. Leaders will learn how to support their partners and ladies will learn how to feel like a feather.
•	Cost:
	FREE for Caltech students (with ID); $5/class or $15/series for Caltech affiliates & other full time students (with ID); $10/class or $25/series regular.
•	Pre-requisites:
	This is an Intermediate II level class, students must have prior Intermediate level experience, particularly familiarity with the concepts of boleos, ganchos and sacadas.

SUMMER 2009 CLASS SERIES

BEGINNER

MILONGA

•	10 Thursdays, July 9 to September 10 Class: 7-8:30 pm Practica: 8:30-9:00 pm ** Please arrive 10-15 mins before for registration!
•	in Winnett Lounge (2nd floor)

•	2 WEEK PRIMER - July 9-16:
	For complete beginners and dancers with no prior tango experience. Introduction to the basics of lead/follow, the embrace, walking in parallel & cross system, and pivoting. NO dance experience or partner necessary. Taught by Camilo & Rosalyn. Cost: FREE for everyone.


•	8 WEEK INTRODUCTION TO MILONGA - July 23-September 10:
•	Taught by professional instructor MONICA OROZCO http://monicaorozco.tangoafficionado.com/
	The class will start with the basic concepts and foundations of milonga. Milonga along with Vals and Tango make up the triad of music and dance forms of Argentine Tango. Set to a lively 2/4 tempo music, milonga uses the same basic elements as tango, though the movement is more accented and upbeat. The class is open to all beginners, and those with prior tango experience who wish to learn milonga. Complete beginners should take the 2 week primer.
•	Cost:
	FREE for Caltech students (with ID); $5/class or $35/series for Caltech affiliates & other full time students (with ID); $8/class or $56/series regular.
•	Notes:
	This series is FREE for Caltech students. NO dance experience or partner necessary. Milonga is danced in close position with figures that require a lot of pivoting on the balls of your feet. As such, it is ideal for beginners to wear close-toed shoes with smooth bottoms -- suede or leather is ideal, hard rubber is ok. Most ladies wear heels -- if you do so, make sure to choose a pair with straps so that the heel is NOT loose, this will aid in your pivots.