Argentine Tango in Asheville
Leanna Joyner and Barbara Durr teach tango in Asheville to beginner students as well as those continuing their Argentine Tango dance progression.
Upcoming Class Series
September 24 – October 29
| Thursdays | |
|---|---|
| 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Introduction to Argentine Tango |
| 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Practice |
| 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Level-Up Tango |
| Location: | 966 Tunnel Road, Asheville NC 28806 |
Information About This Series
Barbara and I are excited to be focusing the classes on Milonga and Vals, respectively for the Intro to Argentine Tango class and the Level Up class for experienced dancers.
New or Returning to Tango
If you’re new to tango, or returning, the six week series beginning Sept. 24 will focus on milonga, the style of dance as a genre of tango.
Classes are Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30, plus a 30-minute practice period to incorporate what you’ve learned.
Milonga is one of three musical styles – milonga, tango, vals – that is played at a social dance event (also called a milonga).
We’ll teach milonga as the tango on-ramp for the Intro to Argentine Tango Series. Everything you learn in this series can be deployed on the tango dance floor; we’re just using this genre of music as the foundation and the structure for this 6-week series.
Level-Up Tango Class is from 8 -9 PM, also on Thursdays, and is intended for dancers with a foundation and recent tango experience. We’re excited that the focus of the series will be on dancing the vals genre. We’ll be working toward smooth, effortless, flowing vals for a dreamy dance. Feel free to arrive early to warm-up or also join the Intro class.
More About Classes
What kind of shoes should I wear?
Please wear leather-soled shoes, suede-soled shoes, or heavy socks to more easily pivot. Sneakers or shoes with a lot of grip are not recommended. Please do not wear any shoe style that has an open-back such as a clog or a flip-flop.
Do I need a partner?
No partner is needed.
The flexibility of more advanced dancers to lead or follow is appreciated in order to maximize learning opportunities for everyone. The exposure to both roles helps you become a better dancer more quickly.
What’s up with the music?
The class will use traditional Buenos Aires tango music from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. It’s nostalgic and unique to our contemporary ears. If you want a playlist, check with Leanna after class; she can share one with you so you can listen on your own.
What should I expect from classes?
Social style tango – rather than performance style – is a lead-and-follow walking dance and is creatively improvised based on the music, space, and your partner. Barbara and Leanna focus on teaching elements that are reliably successful so that you can quickly enjoy having fun on the dance floor without overly complex choreography. We offer kind, constructive guidance and lots of opportunity to practice throughout class.
Do I need to register for the whole series?
We really want newcomers to sign-up for the whole series. We teach a foundational language for this dance, and just like other literacy, it takes time to gain proficiency. Your commitment is met with ours: by the end of the series you will be able to dance and have a good time. It’s also helpful to learn and grow with a committed cohort of students.
Level-Up (experienced) students may drop in for $15/class. Level-up students may attend the intro class for no additional fee.
How do I register?
It costs $72 for the series of six classes.
First time couples registering as leader and follower get 20% off for the Intro to Argentine Tango series ($58/pp)
Pay Barbara Durr electronically:
- PayPal: barbdurr422@gmail.com
-Venmo: @barbtang - Or, pay cash the evening of the first class.
Who is a Level-Up student?
If you’re unsure, check with Leanna and Barbara. Generally, it’s a participant of at least one Intro to Argentine Tango Series with us. In some cases, we may recommend a second Intro series to stabilize your preparation for the next level of learning.
What are the benefits of learning tango?
- Benefits to learning are numerous!
- Build confidence
- Find a friendly community
- Gain familiarity with your body’s language
- Practice being in the moment, each moment
- Figure out how to make a mistake and keep going
- As a leader, make intentions clear.
- As a follower, receive signals and contribute meaningfully
- Learn new things, develop a new hobby, flex the brain’s neuroplasticity
- Gain technique refinement that improves other dances
- Enjoy a healthy activity that’s social
- Find a milonga (tango dance party) anywhere in the world
What else can you tell me about the teachers?
Leanna Joyner has taught other styles of dance for 15 years, is a yoga teacher, and has been teaching tango alongside Barbara since 2024.
Barbara Durr has been teaching tango for more than 25 years and has taught across the US. She’s also making a documentary film about Argentine Tango. You can learn more about the film and consider making a donation to support the project here.