I am now teaching tango in my preferred style: close embrace tango. Tango is walking in an embrace. At the heart of my teaching are the principles of frame, walking, and musicality. Mastering these basics is essential to anyone who is thinking of dancing with local dancers in Buenos Aires. I gently guide beginners through the process of learning the fundamentals to prepare them for the social dance floor.

For me, savouring closeness and constantly reinterpreting musical variety is the essence of tango. Discover a dance that has no need of passionate and erotic cliches, but instead is an adventure that begins anew with every embrace, with every step.

Claude Bigler

UPDATE

CUMBERLAND TANGO OVER FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

Thanks for your support - classes and private lessons still available on request.

Wisdom

‎"Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is." T.S.Eliot

Tango party Buenos Aire 2010

How is Tango not dancing

How is Tango not dancing.

I once had a discussion about the "pause" with a retired professional dancer. We were both learning Tango at the time though with different instructors.Her argument was that dancing is movement. If you weren't moving you weren't dancing. Pausing was standing and standing is not dancing.

I tried to explain that for me the pause was exquisite. It had three parts. 1 The WOW, the relishing of the movement just felt. the coming to rest. 2 The STILLNESS, the... being here, the... music, the.. suspension, the... Oh My God it is wonderful just being here in this persons arms, the... there's her heart beat, I can feel it. 3 The ANTICIPATION..., maybe the best part. That moment of... "Where is the music going to take us now?"... What is going to be the inspiration for the next WOW? ...Is she going to be with me, are we going together? ...Do we start now?...NO not yet... the tease...her smile felt against my cheek. There it is...the music says move. WOW here we come. I can't wait to feel her response, her heart beat, her quiet, her peace.

How is the pause not dancing... Is stopping to look at the incredible sunset, just standing there soaking it in not sightseeing? Is the sustained note in an aria not singing? Is the silent beat before the crescendo not music? Is the stopping to hear the noises in the forest, not hiking?

Carlos Gavito is quoted by Ricardo Plazaola in his book, "I Wanted to Dance: Carlos Gavito: Life, passion and tango"

"...tango is what remains when you remove all movement, when the only thing that is left is feeling."

How is Tango not dancing....?

Wisdom

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Testimonial

You are an artist as a coiffeur. Only you can give me this incredible look. You must come more often to Argentina so we can also go to milongas, since it's a pleasure to dance with you. You really know how to lead a woman and immerse her in the wonderful dance that tango is. I would even dare to say that you have more musicality than many of the locals. Thank you. You will always be welcome in Argentina.

Silvana Allievi, professional tango dancer
Tango-Pasión, Tango X2,
Tango Rouge

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