A super-fun exploration of Argentine tango dance & music, including performance, cultural context, and interactive rhythm and dance exercises.
Residency Description
In the residency, we deepen our study of tango dance. A dance form based on walking, we can learn the basics of tango in a few minutes, but it offers infinite room for growth. In tango, the dance is improvised moment-to-moment, through the communication between leader and follower. In our classes, everyone learns both roles, thereby developing the qualities of both leader and follower in themselves. Tango teaches students how to listen to one another, to problem-solve, and to make the dance work through cooperation. Perhaps most importantly, the communication involved requires our total attention. Tango teaches a near-meditative state of complete concentration. This capacity to focus is profoundly needed in our highly distractible modern culture.
Our residencies are customized to the interests and needs of each group. We can include any of the activities listed in our assembly description. We can prepare students to give a performance at the end of the residency, if requested.
Workshop Description
Our workshops are highly active and interactive. Depending on the needs of the group, they may focus on learning tango dance or on practicing tango rhythms and movements, while seated. We have interactive exercises in which students learn to recognize tango steps while we dance, and eventually direct us in our dancing. We can also hone our focus on Spanish language for Spanish learners, tango rhythm and melody for music learners, or communication and cooperation for groups working on social awareness.
Our fun and fast-paced assembly is customized to each school’s needs. The program may contain any/all of the following:
* Tango dance and music performance by professional artists
* Short, interactive presentation about the historical and cultural context of tango
* Spanish language learning & practice
* Interactive improvisation exercises: Argentine tango is a 100% improvised dance
* Communication exercises to explore the leader’s and follower’s role
* A beginner tango dance class (we can get kids up and dancing tango steps in as little as 5 minutes)
* Seated or standing rhythm and movement exercises
* Exercises to learn about tango music: rhythm, accompaniment and melody
The activities are scalable and adaptable for different ages, sizes of groups and settings. Our presentations promote inclusivity and interaction among the students. When we teach dance, all students learn both roles, leader and follower, and everyone gets to develop the qualities of each role in themselves.
Our assemblies involve maximum student participation and interaction. They also promote increased social awareness, with students learning about communication and consent as they practice dancing together.
Philadelphia Argentine Tango School
Since 2008, the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School (PATS) has been promoting Argentine tango as a form of dance, music and poetry that can enrich anyone’s life. Tango dancing is based on walking, and is accessible to people of all ages. PATS also has a repertoire of seated rhythm and movement exercises to help us achieve our motto, “tango for all.”
PATS Founders Meredith Klein & Andres Amarilla have taught and performed worldwide together. Here in Philadelphia, PATS has performed and curated events at all of our favorite Philly landmarks: from the Philadelphia Art Museum, Barnes Foundation and Franklin Institute, to LOVE Park, the Swann Fountain and Independence Hall, where we performed as part of the World Meeting of Families, shortly before Pope Francis took the stage.
PATS Director Meredith Klein is one of very few foreigners worldwide to be named an “Academic” by the National Academy of Tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She runs the Philadelphia Tango Festival and the tango record label, Bochinche Records.
