Teachers

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Alex Krebs Alex Krebs teaches Argentine tango for the social dance floor, emphasizing the improvisatory side of the dance through a strong communication between the lead and follow and on musicality. Alex tries to give his students the vocabulary necessary so that each person can find their own unique way of dancing -- dancing the tango of their own body. Alex's teaching is in high demand all over the world. In addition to teaching, he DJs, performs, and directs the Conjunto Berretin in which he plays the bandoneon. Alex will be assisted in classes by Evan Griffiths, about whom he has this to say: "Evan is the West Coast’s ‘secret weapon’. He is one of the most talented leaders (and followers!) around, with a refined ear for the music, and the technical understanding of the dance in order to interpret successfully what he hears. Evan has paid his dues as a dancer, teacher and musician in the Tango and it is obvious when you see/hear him.".          Homer and Cristina Ladas Homer and Cristina started their tango obsession long before the met each other.   Each with over 11 years of experience emphasizing a fusion of social tango ideologies...   As teachers they are committed to creating a positive class environment where small epiphanies can & do occur in their students. Special Note: Homer & Cristina prefer to not use the term 'nuevo' in their approach to tango or in their class titles.   Instead, they like to dance & teach a variety of connected, musical, dynamic, interesting, creative, liberating, etc, ideas/technique/movement.   They both work towards the fusion of all tango concepts via the 'one tango' philosophy in an attempt to reduce barriers that may inhibit themselves or other folks from really finding their own dance... It has been said, on more than one occasion, that few dancing couples improvise with such skill, personality, and fluidity of movement.   Married since May 2002 they continue to explore deeper facets of their relationship to each other and to tango.         Lucas Di Giorgio & Melanie Klaric Lucas Di Giorgio was born in Buenos Aires, June 27th, 1981. He has been dancing Tango for more than 10 years. His main teachers were Ernesto Carmona and Norma Tomassi, Pablo Di Giorgio and Susana Cannataro, Marcelo Varela and Analia Vega. Lucas also studied with teachers and dancers such as Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Chicho Frumboli, Dina Martinez, and Cristina Cortes. In 2004 he joined the Ballet Escuela de Tango Argentino and recieved recognition of milongueros teachers such as Carlos Gavito, Pupy Castello, Chino Perico, Gerardo Portalea, Carlos Perez. Lucas also studied music with the bandoneonista of the orquestra El Arranque, Ramiro Boero. Melanie began dancing Argentine Tango in 2003, but her passion for Tango began as a child, having heard the music all her life. Since she started dancing, she has dedicated herself to taking classes and traveling. She has been to festivals all over the states, Europe, and of course Argentina. Melanie lived in Argentina, studying intensively with her favorite teachers. She has been teaching and performing, and loves to share her many years worth of learning and dedication with others, to spread this awesome thing called TANGO. She is an enthusiastic teacher, and loves Tango, its music, and all the history and culture it represents. Melanie's affection, passion, and respect for Tango are clearly illustrated in her teaching style.         Mari Black Interactive Presentation: "Playing the Feet" - bridging the gap between musician and dancer (Saturday 8pm) Mari Black developed her love for tango as a student at Yale, and is now known off the dance floor as a multi-style violinist, composer, and teacher dedicated to bridging the gap between the musician, dancer, and storyteller.  Her work has taken her around the world in pursuit of new artistic connections, teaching contra dancing to children in Zimbabwe, guiding graduate music students through the art galleries of Yale, exchanging nonverbal folklore with fellow musicians and dancers in China, and jamming on the blues with environmental researchers in the forests of Costa Rica.  Her philosophy centers around the idea that “you can only dance [or play or show or talk about] what you can hear”, so she constantly pushes herself and her students to open up their ears for new ideas to bring to their own artistic expression.  One of the youngest graduates of the Yale School of Music, Mari is currently completing her doctorate at Columbia   University’s Teachers College, where her research focuses on developing a college music curriculum that features the study of many different styles of music. Mari has given dozens of memorable performances across the country as a classical concert soloist, progressive jazz and folk band leader, and collaborative musician with artists such as Mark O’Connor and Willie Ruff.  She has won top awards at the ASTA Alternative Styles Competition and appeared on Fox, CBS, and NPR’s “Here and Now”.  The tango world saw her most recently as “the violinist in the red dress” with the Monster Orchestra at Boston’s Tango de los Muertos.