Classes

Part of TangoHelena's mission is to sponsor and offer classes to the Helena community. We have a team of instructors who teach classes regularly, and we also bring in guest instructors.

See the calendar or the links at the bottom of the pages for specific upcoming classes. All of our classes and practicas are held at Allegro School of Dance in Helena, at 3750 N. Montana Ave. (See Map.) Friends of TangoHelena receive a $1 discount on every class, practica, and milonga! See the Fee Schedule.

tango_group

Our instructors also teach private tango classes to individuals and couples.  Private classes are tailor-made to the student's needs, and offer focused attention on whatever aspects of the dance you want to work on.  You can take a private class with either a leader or a follower instructor.  You can do just one such class, or a series of them.  Talk to any of the instructors with further questions, or to set up a class:

Sundi West:  sundiwest@tangohelena.com 
Patrick Marsolek:  patrick@irfs.com  or 443-3439
Grace Hodges:   grace@mt.net or 449-5541
Phil Robison:   phil@mt.net

If you are interested in onging, higher level classes, see the guidelines for the Level 3 Classes.
                                          

Upcoming Classes

  • 03/25/2010 - 6:30pm
    03/25/2010 - 9:30pm

    February/March Classes

    Tango 1 classes are a great way to start for anyone wanting to learn this wonderful dance.

    Tango 2 classes are great for continuing dancers wanting to learn new moves and improve the fundamentals of their dance.

    Classes are Thursday evenings, February 25th - April 1st, at Allegro Dance Studio (3750 N. Montana Avenue).

    Tango 1:  6:30 - 7:30 pm, Level I
    Tango 2:  7:45 - 9:00 pm, Level II

    Practica:  9:00 - 9:30 pm, free practice open to all

    You can register online now for these classes. See below.

    Level I:  6:30 - 7:30 pm.  No experience or partner necessary.  We rotate partners throughout class.  Please bring slippery-soled shoes (no street shoes on the dance floor).  $36/single, $62/couple.  Free to Tango 2 students.

    Level II:  7:45 - 9:00 pm.  For more experienced dancers or those who've completed the Level I class.  $45/single, $75/couple.

    Practica:  9:00 - 9:30 pm.  Practice dance open to all.  Free.

  • 04/01/2010 - 6:30pm
    04/01/2010 - 9:30pm

    February/March Classes

    Tango 1 classes are a great way to start for anyone wanting to learn this wonderful dance.

    Tango 2 classes are great for continuing dancers wanting to learn new moves and improve the fundamentals of their dance.

    Classes are Thursday evenings, February 25th - April 1st, at Allegro Dance Studio (3750 N. Montana Avenue).

    Tango 1:  6:30 - 7:30 pm, Level I
    Tango 2:  7:45 - 9:00 pm, Level II

    Practica:  9:00 - 9:30 pm, free practice open to all

    You can register online now for these classes. See below.

    Level I:  6:30 - 7:30 pm.  No experience or partner necessary.  We rotate partners throughout class.  Please bring slippery-soled shoes (no street shoes on the dance floor).  $36/single, $62/couple.  Free to Tango 2 students.

    Level II:  7:45 - 9:00 pm.  For more experienced dancers or those who've completed the Level I class.  $45/single, $75/couple.

    Practica:  9:00 - 9:30 pm.  Practice dance open to all.  Free.

  • 04/09/2010 - 7:00pm
    04/09/2010 - 9:00pm

    The next Level 3 class will be a three-class series on sacadas and giros, taught by Patrick Marsolek and Grace Hodges. It will be offered on Friday April  9th, 16th, and 23rd, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, followed by a practica until 9:00 pm.  Please mark your calendar!  The cost will be $39 for the three-week series ($36 for Friends of TangoHelena), payable the first night of class. Since the classes will build on each other, we’re asking participants to commit to all three.

     We’ll explore the mechanics of giros (turns) and sacadas (displacements), and how to access them from almost any step.  Our focus will be on how to combine sacadas and giros to create a fluid and dynamic dance full of circular movement.  We’ll also work on how to allow more fluidity in the embrace in order to make sacadas possible, and how to express turns and sacadas with musicality.

     We’ll cover most or all of the following:  front sacadas for both leader and follower, performed on the side step, front step, or back step; back sacadas; chains of sacadas; sacadas as the glue for linking multiple turns together; sacadas in cadenas; and shifting from sacadas into colgadas.

    Level 3 classes are designed to move at a faster pace than Level 2 and assume at least an intermediate level of proficiency. Our goal is to provide a higher level of challenge for those who have been dancing for at least a year.  Therefore, you must get an okay from Patrick or Grace before taking this class. 

    Sacadas and giros class prerequisites include the ability to:

    • learn and assimilate new material quickly.
    • lead/follow from the chest with a firm but flexible frame.
    • distinguish between parts of a step – rotation, extension, weight change, and collection.
    • stay on your own axis without leaning on your partner.

    Please talk to Patrick or Grace if you're interested.  It should be a very fun class, and we hope to see you there!

     

  • 04/15/2010 - 6:30pm
    04/15/2010 - 9:00pm

    April/May Classes

    Tango 1 classes are a great way to start for anyone wanting to learn this wonderful dance.

    Tango 2 classes are great for continuing dancers wanting to learn new moves and improve the fundamentals of their dance.

    Classes are Thursday evenings, April 15th - May 20th, at Allegro Dance Studio (3750 N. Montana Avenue).

    Tango 1:  6:30 - 7:30 pm, Level I
    Tango 2:  7:45 - 9:00 pm, Level II

    Practica:  9:00 - 9:30 pm, free practice open to all

    You can register online now for these classes. See below.

    Level I:  6:30 - 7:30 pm.  No experience or partner necessary.  We rotate partners throughout class.  Please bring slippery-soled shoes (no street shoes on the dance floor).  $36/single, $62/couple.  Free to Tango 2 students.

    Level II:  7:45 - 9:00 pm.  For more experienced dancers or those who've completed the Level I classes.  $45/single, $75/couple.

    Practica:  9:00 - 9:30 pm.  Practice dance open to all.  Free.

  • 04/16/2010 - 7:00pm
    04/16/2010 - 9:00pm


    The next Level 3 class will be a three-class series on sacadas and giros, taught by Patrick Marsolek and Grace Hodges. It will be offered on Friday April 9th, 16th, and 23rd, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, followed by a practica until 9:00 pm.  Please mark your calendar!  The cost will be $39 for the three-week series ($36 for Friends of TangoHelena), payable the first night of class. Since the classes will build on each other, we’re asking participants to commit to all three.

     

     We’ll explore the mechanics of giros (turns) and sacadas (displacements), and how to access them from almost any step.  Our focus will be on how to combine sacadas and giros to create a fluid and dynamic dance full of circular movement.  We’ll also work on how to allow more fluidity in the embrace in order to make sacadas possible, and how to express turns and sacadas with musicality.

     

    We’ll cover most or all of the following:  front sacadas for both leader and follower, performed on the side step, front step, or back step; back sacadas; chains of sacadas; sacadas as the glue for linking multiple turns together; sacadas in cadenas; and shifting from sacadas into colgadas.

    Level 3 classes are designed to move at a faster pace than Level 2 and assume at least an intermediate level of proficiency. Our goal is to provide a higher level of challenge for those who have been dancing for at least a year.  Therefore, you must get an okay from Patrick or Grace before taking this class. 

    Sacadas and giros class prerequisites include the ability to:       

    • learn and assimilate new material quickly.
    • lead/follow from the chest with a firm but flexible frame.
    • distinguish between parts of a step – rotation, extension, weight change, and collection.
    • stay on your own axis without leaning on your partner.

    Please talk to Patrick or Grace if you're interested.  It should be a very fun class, and we hope to see you there!

Register with Paypal

  Tango 1 Class   - Beginner                 Tango 2 Class - Intermediate  Tango 3 Class - Advanced Intermediate
Single $36 - Add to cart $45 - Add to cart $26 - Add to cart
Couple $62 - Add to cart $75 - Add to cart  
Single 'Friend of TangoHelena' $30 - Add to cart $39 - Add to cart $24 - Add to cart
Couple 'Friend of TangoHelena' $50 - Add to cart $63 - Add to cart  
Drop-ins are welcome for Tango I and II classes. Single: $8 & Couple: $15 ($1 off each for Friends.)