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Ballet for Tango Dancers

April 18, 2013

Do you ever watch professional tango dancers and wonder how they manage to have such grace and beautiful lines?

Not only did they study and practice Tango for many years, but most likely they also had some classical ballet training.

Ballet truly is the foundation of all dances (okay, well maybe not hip hop or krumping, but you know what I mean).  It is one of the most challenging dances to master but everyone can benefit from learning ballet’s basic elements.

These are some of the benefits of learning Ballet:

  • Improved posture and alignment
  • Increased flexibility and strength
  • Toned core muscles
  • Injury prevention
  • Better balance
“With a solid ballet foundation, classically trained dancers can transfer their skills into jazz, modern dance, or any other dance form they might decide to pursue. Accomplishing that solid ballet foundation is crucial to becoming an outstanding dancer in any dance form.” – The Ballet Academy of Warrenton
 

This is why I was thrilled to learn that one of our local Tangueras is also a semi-professional ballerina who teaches a Ballet for adults class at Studio 1924.  I was so excited to meet her, I immediately asked if she would agree to an interview for SF Loves Tango.  Lucky for all of us, she did agree.  You all may know Stephanie Berg as the dance partner of our local Tango instructor, Nicholas Tapia. They made it to the FINALS, placing 5th, in the 2013 USA Tango Championships here in San Francisco.

Stephanie_BalletStephanie is quite amazing as she has been dancing since she was 3 and not only dances Argentine Tango and Ballet, but also Salsa, West Coast Swing, West African Dance, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Modern and is also a formally trained Ballroom dance instructor.  And, since Stephanie dances Tango regularly, she can help Tango dancers in her class with what they need to DANCE TANGO BETTER.

I asked Stephanie a few questions about her dance experience and particularly about the class, here is what she had to say:

SF Loves Tango: At what age did you start dancing and why?

SB: I started dancing at 3, doing Ballet at my local community center.  From an early age I was lucky enough to be on stage with professional dancers and full scale productions.  From there I did other types of dance including: jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and West African, although I always focused on classical ballet.  Being a dancer was and still is a huge part of my identity.  So for me it isn’t a question of ‘why I dance’, it is ‘of course I have dance’. I have been fortunate enough to have done so my whole life.

SF Loves Tango: Why did you decide to start teaching Ballet at Studio 1924?

SB: I decided to teach Ballet at Studio 1924 because it fulfills several of my main goals as a teacher: getting my students strong, preventing injuries and creating a high level of body awareness.  Ballet is sneaky in accomplishing these tasks.  It is one of the most physically challenging dances I know and yet it looks effortless.  It teaches fundamental posture, body alignment and builds strength evenly across the body.  I find that Ballet is especially applicable to followers in Ballroom and Tango because women are in heels, which requires strength especially in the feet, ankles, and core.  Without training in how to protect the ankles and knees from injury, dancing in heels can affect the whole body for the worse.  Ballet and exercises help prevent this.  Leaders too can benefit from ballet.  It helps to create strength in the legs and core, as well as improving stability and balance.

Dancers practice their technique in Ballet class
Dancers practice their technique in Ballet class

SF Loves Tango: Do you teach dance anywhere else?

SB: I am lucky enough to teach at several studios in the East Bay.  The best way to catch one of my classes is to check out my calendar online.  I teach at Just Dance in Oakland, The Lake Merritt Dance Center for their Birthday Dances, and I assist Jeff Chandler at Allegro with his Bronze 1,2 & Pre-Silver Ballroom classes once a week.  I also work with Nicholas and the UC Berkeley Tango club on Thursdays and we teach together at La Casa Grande (a new Tango class) on Wednesdays.  I am hoping to add a new group class soon, Ballet for Tango Dancers (follower focused but leaders welcome) a class that will strengthen Tango dancers using exercises from Ballet.  I also offer private lessons in any of the dances I teach.  Honestly, I had been training so much recently that I had not been as focused on teaching.  I really wanted to center my attention on my own dancing and journey so that I could efficiently and smoothly help others as they learn.  However, now I am focusing on teaching after this period of growth!

SF Loves Tango: What do you focus on in the Ballet classes?  Do people need any dance experience to take the class?

SB: Students do not need any dance experience to take my ballet class.  I try to start at the beginning with everyone.  I go over the positions, the terms I use in class and the basic body motions we use in ballet.  I try to highlight proper alignment of the body to avoid injury and use muscles efficiently.  Ballet can be difficult because it requires different strength from the usual motions of everyday life.  However, the progress can be seen quickly and the body can transform at any age and from any level of fitness.

SF Loves Tango: What should people wear to the class?

SB: I am pretty relaxed about dress.  You will need to see your legs, and core the most.  Yoga clothes are great, ballet clothes are best.  Having socks or bare feet are ok for the first few classes, but eventually you will need ballet slippers which you can get at a dance store for about $25.  Hair should be up and off the neck for ladies (or gents with long hair).  I also include a packet for new dancers that will give them a vocabulary list, general notes and pictures of positions.  It may sound like a lot, but I am there to guide and help students every step of the way and the progress is so worth it!

Also, Nicholas and I just launched a new joint website!  You can see our info on there and class schedules too.  Thank you!   www.NicoAndStephie.com

Thank you Stephanie!

The Class: Beginning Adult Ballet

When: Mondays, 12-1PM
$15 includes lunch from Coco Cafe

Location:  Studio 1924  1924 Franklin St, Oakland, CA

Description: “If you have never taken ballet before, this class will teach you the fundamentals used in all western dances. I will especially be focusing on grace of movement, basic dance positions and body awareness.  If you have taken ballet before, I will still include challenging variations in combinations and conditioning that will have you grand jete-ing again in no time!”

 

Filed Under: Learning Tango, Musings, Teacher Spotlight Tagged With: Argentine Tango, Ballet for Tango, Bay Area Tango, Learning Tango, Stephanie Berg, Studio 1924, Tango Class, Tango dancing

Tango scenes in SF

sflovestango

Celebrate #bayareatango community, support everyone involved & share ♥️ of #tango with San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

sflovestango
🧨 New year, new beginnings! One happened yester 🧨 New year, new beginnings! One happened yesterday at @thetangodome – first Women's Gathering hosted by @ayano.yoneda.tango, including folks who identify as women.

Part clothing & shoe swap, and part cultivating a safe space to be vulnerable, be generous, be supportive, and be real with each other.

Looking forward to more of this and building a community that keeps involving what tango events can be beyond the dance! 🙌 
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #tangolovers #womenintango #bayareatango #sisterhood #beyondthedance
As the year-end approaches, many SF local tango ev As the year-end approaches, many SF local tango events have had or will have their last event of 2022 to wrap things up. This year's last Milonga Rubia al Sur happened this past Sunday, Dec 18 with DJ @ayano.yoneda.tango and special performance with visiting artist, @martinalmironartist, and milonga host, Lisette @passion4tango. 

With the holidays coming up and Argentina winning the world cup, dancing tango all night long around Lisette's very own flower arrangements was just the appropriate celebration people needed.

Hosted by Lisette Perelle, Milonga Rubia is held every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month, with current location at Just Dance Ballroom (2500 Embarcadero) in Oakland and a different DJ for each event.

✨ Fun fact - how Milonga Rubia got its name... ✨

Lisette's Argentine friends have always been calling her 'Rubia' because of her blonde hair. One day about 6 years ago, when she was discussing naming this new milonga with @julian_tangosf, he said, “Why not just call it Milonga Rubia?" That's how Milonga Rubia got its name! The event once was in a venue in Emeryville/Richmond. Once Lisette changed venues to a more southern location (Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland), the event's name was changed to 'Milonga Rubia al Sur' accordingly.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #sundayfunday #milonga #milonganight #socialdancing #bailemos #embrace #tangodancers #bayareatango #oakland #keepdancing #dancingislife #weekendrecap
Last Saturday, Saturday Dec 17, @abrazoqueertango Last Saturday, Saturday Dec 17, @abrazoqueertango hosted their Holiday Bash with performances by @mirabtango and Miranda at @tangodome, a cool art gallery and dance space at 951 62nd St in Oakland.

🏳️‍🌈 Abrazo Queer Tangois a volunteer-run organization, and after expenses, all funds are used to pay for their events and offer discounts to students and folks short on cash. To help the org break even in 2022 and fund its 2023 programs, last Saturday's event was positioned as a fundraiser with a sliding scale $20-$40 for folks to choose how they'd like to show their support, offering a sweet night of performance, community and great music in a magical location. 

Missed the event yet still would like to support Queer Tango? Donations always totally work! Please write *donation* in the comment via your favorite method:
Venmo ➡️ abrazo-tango (Karen Curtis)
Paypal ➡️ abrazoqueertango@gmail.com
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevents #milonga #saturdayvibe #socialdancing #bailemos #embrace #tangodancers #bayareatango #queertango #oakland #keepdancing #dancingislife #weekendrecap
💫 #motivationmonday is not over yet so here is 💫 #motivationmonday is not over yet so here is a quick recap of the International Day of Tango at @greatnorthernsf last night! 💫 Milonga hosted by @julian_tangosf with DJ @loco_chung. 
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#diadeltango #tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevents #milonga #sundayfunday #socialdancing #bailemos #embrace #tangodancers #bayareatango #sanfrancisco #keepdancing #dancingislife #weekendrecap
This Friday night in the heart of San Francisco, t This Friday night in the heart of San Francisco, tango dancers and the public who are curious art lovers had a unique experience with live music performed by local tango musicians and the strategic mix of TANGO • VALS • MILONGA • ALTERNATIVE music by DJ @jonas.aqui of @jxtango at @drawingroomsf_annex, an art • gallery • studio in the Mission district – a free event by the collaboration of @chetangosf, @drawingroomsf and @artistmigration. 

Artists featured:
Sumi Lee (piano) @sfsumi
J Ramada (bass)
Basma Edrees (violin) @basmaedreesviolin
Verónica Freidkes (vocal) @veroverofreidkes

Check out our stories and story highlights for snippets of the performances and tango dancing around art pieces!
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❣️ about Che! Tango SF❣️

All events created by Ramada Salieri and Elaine Chiu are dedicated to providing an inclusive and friendly dancing and learning environment in San Francisco and the Bay Area regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or any other characteristic or trait.

ONGOING EVENTS
Che! Milonga: Every 1st and 2nd Saturday of the month 
Che! Música + Milonga: Once every quarter on a 2nd Saturday
Milonga Uno: 3rd Saturday of every other month
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❣️ about The Drawing Room SF ❣️

MISSION
The Drawing Room connects community through art to help improve the overall human condition by making art accessible and part of the daily fabric of our lives. 
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❣️about Artist Migration❣️

ANTI CAPITALIST ART
Artist-led curatorial project providing performance and exhibition opportunities to international artists.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #concert #milonga #specialevent #onenightonly #livemusic #fridaynights #art #tangomusic #contemporarymusic #contemporarytango #womenintango #womeninmusic #artislife  #tangomusicians #musiciansofinstagram #sanfrancisco #california #bayareatango #sflovestango #jxtango
Those who came out to @tangolabruja last night had Those who came out to @tangolabruja last night had an epic evening of dancing and live music with three highly skillful tango musicians’ improvised music – Trio Tangazo, a dynamite tango trio made up of Sascha Jacobsen (bass), Seth Asarnow (piano), and Adrian Jost (bandoneon). 

~~Fun fact~~
Sascha, Seth and Adrian all performed at La Bruja previously - either with other tango ensembles or in duo - but it was the first time all three of them taking the stage together!

📍 @berkeleycityclub 
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#tango #concert #milonga #milonganight #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusic #improvisation #travelingmusician #musiciansofinstagram #california #berkeley #bayareatango #tangomusicians #tangodancers #socialdance #dancingislife #sflovestango
🥧 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so @milongamalevaje 🥧 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so @milongamalevaje is closed for that matter, but here is something different & fun from last Thursday 😉 with DJ @jonas.aqui, courtesy of hosts @tanguera_e, Ramada Salieri and Adolfo Caszarry.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #milonga #milonganight #tangoevent #tangoalternativo #alternativetango #tangonuevo #embrace #bailar #bailemos #socialdance #partnerdance #tangodancers #dancingislife #bayareatango #sanfrancisco #sflovestango
✨ FRIDAY NIGHT TANGO ✨ It’s been awhile sin ✨ FRIDAY NIGHT TANGO ✨

It’s been awhile since Milonga La Genesis (hosted by @julian_tangosf) has live tango music. Last night LEO TANGASSO QUARTET was in the house, featuring @leogassomusic from Montevideo, Uruguay on bandoneon,  @smurfetteshum on piano, Stella Bonilla on violin,  @digsmahler on double bass.

(🎥 @tangonnection, edited by @sflovestango)
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#tango #argentinetango #tangoargentino #specialevent #bayareatango #tangomusic #livemusic #tangomusicians #bandoneon #piano #doublebass #violin #quartet #onenightonly #milonganight #sanfrancisco #sflovestango
👏 The all-female tango ensemble, 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨, wrapped up their 2022 concert tour at @alameda_elks1015, playing for a full house of guests at the @housetango Community Milonga.

𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is a collaboration between powerhouse female tango musicians @sfsumi (piano), @heynisolera (bandoneon), and @teagbby (violin). Their concert on Sunday featured guest bassist @fabricanfabricant and vocalist @teresatam.sing.

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The mission of 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is to present contemporary Argentine tango through virtuosic artistic performance and educational events.  Sumi, Heyni, and Teagan originally bonded in Buenos Aires, drawn by a mutual love of tango music, as well as by a realization of the inequality of professional opportunity for women in the tango genre. They studied under the same maestros and performed with prestigious tango orchestras in Buenos Aires.  They now frequently perform around the world, including in their respective adopted cities of San Francisco (Sumi), Washington, DC (Heyni), and NYC (Teagan). All of the musicians also produce their own music. 
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#tango #concert #milonga #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusic #contemporarymusic #contemporarytango #womenintango #womeninmusic #travelingmusician #heynibando #tour #beautifulwomen #musiciansofinstagram #sanfrancisco #california #berkeley #oakland #bayareatango #tangomusicians
🎉 Saturday, October 22 marked the grand re-open 🎉 Saturday, October 22 marked the grand re-opening of Vecher Tango at the Russian Center of SF!

After a long pause of two and a half year, the magnificent grand ballroom was filled with tango energy again. What made the occasion extra special was the incredible performances by another visiting master couple @javierchikk & @moiracastellano. To top it off, @virginiaychristian "Los Totis" joined Javier & Moira on the floor for a mixed maestros dance!

Shout-out to our dearest friend Davood Yazdani, Julia Schiptsova of Tango Element, and all the local organizers for making this weekend feel like a mini tango festival in San Francisco!
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#tango #argentinetango #argentinetango♥️ #tangoargentino #milonganight #tangoperformance #bailar #bailemos #bailando #tangoshow #tangoevent #tangodancer #tangocouple #specialevent #onenightonly #tangophoto
✨It's a star-struck tango week in SF!!✨ @vir ✨It's a star-struck tango week in SF!!✨ 

@virginiaychristian "Los Totis" have been teaching in San Francisco (brought to you by our very own Davood Yazdani who's in collaboration with Julia Schiptsova of Tango Element!) And we were mesmerized by their fantastic performances last night at the special edition of @milongamalevaje at @verdiclubsf ! 🤩👏
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#tango #argentinetango #argentinetango♥️ #tangoargentino  #tangoperformance #bailar 
#bailemos #bailando #tangoshow  #tangoevent #tangoperformance #tangodancer #tangocouple #specialevent #onenightonly #tangophoto
💫 Exactly a year later, 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨, an all-female tango musician collaboration, has returned to the SF Bay Area!! 

Last night they took the audience on a magical journey to Buenos Aires with a concert-milonga at @tangolabruja in Berkeley. Check out our stories to see more snippets of their performance!

𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is a collaboration between powerhouse female tango musicians @sfsumi (piano), @heynisolera (bandoneon), and @teagbby (violin). The concert last night featured guest singer @veroverofreidkes.

The mission of 𝙇𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨 is to present contemporary Argentine tango through virtuosic artistic performance and educational events. Sumi Lee, Heyni Solera, and Teagan Faran originally bonded in Buenos Aires, drawn by a mutual love of tango music, as well as by a realization of the inequality of professional opportunity for women in the tango genre. They studied under the same maestros and performed with prestigious tango orchestras in Buenos Aires.  They now frequently perform around the world, including in their respective adopted cities of San Francisco (Sumi), Washington, DC (Heyni), and NYC (Teagan). All of the musicians also produce their own music. 

Catch them for the rest of their tour!
🔸10/20 (Thur) 10pm, World Folk Jam concert w/ ten other world music groups, Oakland
🔸10/21 (Fri) 7pm, Sebastopol Center for the Arts
🔸10/22 (Sat) 7:30pm, Sunset Music and Arts, San Francisco
🔸10/23 (Sun) 3:30pm, houseTango Community Milonga @ Alameda Elks Lodge, Alameda
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#tango #concert #milonga #specialevent #onenightonly #tangomusic #contemporarymusic #contemporarytango #womenintango #womeninmusic #travelingmusician #heynibando #tour #beautifulwomen #musiciansofinstagram #sanfrancisco #california #berkeley #oakland #bayareatango
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