The Beginner Level is recommended for people who have never taken tango (or any dance lessons) or for those with little experience in tango. To complete the level, you need to take all three classes offered: Beginner A, Beginner B, and Beginner C. You must start with Beginner A; however, Beginner B and Beginner C can be taken in any order. After completing all three classes you may re-take any class in this level at a 50% discount.

BEGINNER A

This class covers the following material:

• Posture, balance, and basic techniques
• The embrace and its variations, open and close
• Fundamentals of connection, and leading & following
• Walking, weight changes and rock-steps
• Parallel versus Cross-system
• Principles of navigation and tango etiquette
• Leading and following fundamentals

BEGINNER B & BEGINNER C

These classes, cover the following (but not limited to) concepts:

• Dancing in open and close embrace
• Pivots
• Ochos
• La Cruzada (cross)
• Ocho Cortado and rockstep turns
• Molinete and changes of direction
• Introduction to tango rhythms (Milonga, Vals, Tango)
• Development in floor craft

ADVANCED BEGINNER LEVEL

To take classes at the Advanced Beginner level, students must complete the three beginner level classes, or similar level classes outside the MIT program. With the completion of Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B, students may take Intermediate level classes. Advanced Beginner C is not required, but is highly recommended. As with Beginner level, after a student has completed all the courses at this level, she or he may re-take any (which we encourage) at a 50% discount.

ADVANCED BEGINNER A

In this class students will build on the steps, concepts and skills developed at the Beginner level. As always, musicality, connection, and partnering will be emphasized.

• Check steps
• Check step turn
• Calesita
• Molinete and variations
• Changing directions (esp. in turns)
• Low boleos
• Ocho Cortado
• Introduction to Paradas

ADVANCED BEGINNER B

This class also builds on material from the beginner level. Note that you do not have to take Advanced Beginner A to take this class.

• Refined walking technique
• Exploring cross and parallel systems
• Cross variations
• Corrida
• Ocho variations, including no-pivot (a.k.a. "hooking") ochos
• Getting into/out of the Molinete
• Introduction to Tango Rhythms: Vals, Milonga, Tango.

ADVANCED BEGINNER C

This class reviews and refines concepts developed during Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B courses, both of which are strongly suggested prerequisites. Students will develop a better understanding of the structure of tango and work more with combining elements to build improvisational skills for the social dance floor. Rhythmic variation for musicality will also be discussed. Throughout we will work on improving skills for creating a comfortable embrace, freedom of movement, and clear partnering.

Prerequisites: Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B or you must be familiar with all of the general concepts listed in those classes. Please contact the instructors if you have questions.

GETTING A GRIP ON MILONGA AND VALS

This class will help you relax and enjoy dancing the flavor and the spice of tango’s sister rhythms, tango vals and milonga. You’ll develop an understanding of the characteristc features of these dances and assemble vocabulary and technique that connects you to the music. Then we’ll use this understanding to explore surprising accents that heighten the flavor. 

IMPROVISING IN CLOSE EMBRACE

This class is for those who want to notch up their creativity and comfort in close embrace. We'll look at the essential technique for making sure your open embrace vocabulary is working in close embrace. Then we'll focus on communication between partners and the tools to create rhythmic and textural variation, improving your ability to put the pieces together for a musical and expressive dance.  Prerequisites: MIT classes through the advanced beginner level or equivalent experience. Participants must be already dancing socially and using close embrace at least some of the time. Please contact us at psslavsky@gmail.com for details about requirements if you have any questions.