Dear Maleva,
I enjoyed reading your website and would like to request some advice.
I plan to travel to Buenos Aires the end of February with my husband. We would like to learn close embrace tango during our stay there. Could you recommend some teachers?
Thanks for your kind help.

Dear Reader,

Lucky you to be going to Buenos Aires! You should try to take as many lessons as you can while you are there because they are very cheap compared to US classes -- and I think you will find being able to dance close invaluable for navigating the crowded dance floors there and fitting in.

I would recommend you try out the group classes at the Academia of Susana Miller, the person who has been credited with putting more social dancers on the floor than any other single teacher. It is a large school located on with regular classes almost every night of the week at all skill levels. See the schedule and address at www.susanamiller.com.ar.. (This studio is also host to a couple of weekly milongas, including the all famous El Beso on Wednesday and Sunday nights.) There are a couple of different teachers on staff there, all trained by Susana, and when she is in town Susana herself teaches. The classes are of course all in Spanish, but even though I speak only very basic Spanish I was still able to get the general gist of what was being said. I learned some really great steps that I use all the time when I lead and I also teach some to my students. The teachers were personable and tried to give everyone individual attention. Most of the students were Argentine (one of whom, upon finding out I was American said, "I never understood why people from other countries like tango." ?!? He was nice though.)

The beginner classes were quite basic and began with posture and exercises, and focused a lot on walking and rhythm. However I think this is good for everyone, even if you have been exposed to close embrace before. The intermediate and advanced focused more on step patterns, and they showed some really neat things that you don't see as often on the dance floors in the US.

If you are looking for privates, Susana Miller is wonderful (and very opinionated - she will whip you right into shape!) and there is another teacher named Laura Grinbank who is also very good although I believe she spends a lot of time in Rome nowadays. (click her for her web site) They both speak English. I believe that Tete, considered one of the greatest of the older milongueros, also gives private lessons, although I don't know what kind of teacher he is.

You can learn a lot by just watching of course. One the best places to go to see people who have been dancing for a long time is an 'afternoon' milonga called Lo De Celia. When it gets crowded there, the whole room seems to be dancing as one and its really beautiful to see. Usually the men sit on one side and the women on the other, and the 'cabaceo' is in full effect. You can go there Saturday and Sunday and the address will be in any of the tango guides you pick up there.

Have a great trip!