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   !! SPECIAL GUEST INSTRUCTORS !!..

J Abling & Rachel Moon — March 18-23, 2025

J and Rachel approach tango with sensitivity, pragmatic skill, and uncommon musicality — don't miss your chance to develop and refine your tango with this wonderful teaching couple!

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J and Rachel have been partners in life and in tango since 2016. Both have been partner dancing since college, and both have thoroughly explored other social dances, including lindy hop and salsa. J draws on his knowledge from fields such as martial arts, body mechanics, and music to create a metaphor that fits every situation and every student. Before becoming a tango teacher, he was a classically trained vocalist and musician, which gives him valuable insight into tango musicality. J also worked as a graphic designer for a few years, and brings together his talent in visual art with his love for tango by hand-crafting stunning animations that reveal the depth & complexity of tango music.

 

Rachel draws on her knowledge of motor-learning and educational strategies from many years as a speech-language pathologist. She also brings a deep knowledge of tango history and culture, gleaned from spending six months in Buenos Aires, extensively researching and presenting on tango history and orchestras, and translating the lyrics of many tango songs into English. Together, they bring a wealth of experience in various types of dance and education, and combined, have spent 34 years teaching tango as their livelihood and calling. 

 

J and Rachel have traveled to teach and DJ across North America and in Europe. During and shortly after the pandemic, they focused on Tango Music Trainer, an online musicality training program. After several years teaching tango in the D.C. area and teaching tango musicality online, they founded Fuego Tango Club in the Twin Cities in early 2024, and it has been thriving ever since!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT J & RACHEL:

www.fuegotangoclub.com

WORKSHOP THEME: 
LISTENING, UNDERSTANDING, & EXPRESSING

A) How do we listen to and understand each other?

B) How do we listen to and express the music?

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A) Developing Listening and Communication Skills in the Partnership

FREEDOM - Let’s start with autonomy and gradually move into interdependence.

FLUIDITY - Find fluidity in the embrace as we move across the spectrum between autonomy and interdependence.

CONNECTIVITY - Learn what powers our connection and how to maintain its effectiveness.

 

B) Developing Listening and Expressive Skills with the Music

PHRASING - Listen to the musical phrases. Phrasing is the key to internalizing the music, and therefore, improving interpretation.

ACCENTS - Hear the accents in the music. Accents texturize our dance.

DYNAMICS - Listen to the evolving intensity and mood of the music, and let this inform your quality of movement.

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WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 
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WEDNESDAY 3/19
Freedom of Movement in Tango
7:30-9pm  /  $30

Finding the balance between autonomy and interdependence in tango is an ongoing exploration for all tango dancers. When you clearly understand the responsibilities of each role, both leaders and followers gain freedom in the dance.  Get clear on what you’re responsible for and what you can leave to your partner - it’s sure to empower more comfort and communication in the embrace.

 
THURSDAY 3/20
Fluid Transitions Between Open and Close Embrace
7:30-9pm  /  $30​

Learn the skills necessary to master the subtle art of transitioning between close and open embrace, and apply these skills to  a classic and versitile combination that requires many subtle cues and a fluid embrace.

 
FRIDAY 3/21
Secrets of Effective Connectivity
7:30-9pm  /  $30​

Want to find out what a “closed circuit connection” is in tango? Curious about how to keep your signal steady and strong, yet subtle? Come to this class and find out! Of all the classes we teach, this one may be the most essential to boosting your effectiveness as a tango dancer.

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SATURDAY 3/22 - afternoon
Presentation: Musicality Secrets from Shakespeare
12:30-2:00pm /  $35

This multimedia presentation includes animated visual renderings of tango music, humorous videos, and other unexpected learning tools to show what dynamic musicality really means. Drawing on examples of great (and some not-so-great) Shakespearean actors, we will examine expressive techniques that are equally applicable in tango. This presentation will help you see music in a new way, inform the way you dance, and deliver some laughs along the way! 

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Musical Phrasing: Suspension & Flow
2:30pm-4:00pm /  $35

Musical phrasing is one of the most important & overlooked skills in tango musicality. It gives us a sense of structure and predictability in the music, and suggests the ebb and flow of our movement as dancers. You’ll learn how to recognize musical phrases and create dynamic pauses between phrases, which will bring more meaning to your dance.

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SATURDAY 3/22 - evening

Topic TBA
8pm-9pm /  $25 (includes milonga)
Class description TBA

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EVENING MILONGA
9pm-1am /  $15

An evening of great tango dancing featuring a demo performance by J & Rachel.


SUNDAY 3/23
Accents: The Musical Spice
12:30-2:00pm /  $35

A single step or a simple combination will become so much more when you learn how to use musical accents! It is one of the keys to improving your musicality and sensitivity as a dancer.

 

Musical Dynamics

2:30-4:00pm /  $35

Musical dynamics in tango are characterized by changes in intensity and mood. Learn how to reflect contrasting dynamics in your dance and bring your musical expression to the next level!

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PRIVATE LESSONS 3/18-21
$120/hr. COUPLES ONLY. Available Tuesday-Friday. Please contact Michael to schedule

PACKAGE PRICING:

In addition to the prices noted on the schedule we offer the following packages:

WEEKDAY PASS: $75  (includes Wed, Thurs, & Fri classes)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON PASS: $60  (includes both classes)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON PASS: $60  (includes both classes)

WEEKEND AFTERNOON PASS: $100 (includes all Saturday and Sunday afternoon classes

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PAYMENTS & REGISTRATION:

All events may be paid for either at the door (cash, check, or Venmo) or in advance. Advance registration helps us gauge and prepare for the class sizes and lead/follow balance.

 

To register: Please fill out and submit the registration form, indicating which classes or packages apply and your payment method.

 

Advance payment via Venmo: You must first download the Venmo app to your phone. Make payment to Michael Wizer by scanning the code below or go to  @Michael-Wizer-Tango-Psych (last four digits 7176). If you have any questions about this process, please contact Michael

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Thank you! See you at the studio!!

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