This tango journey which I started more than a decade ago has been an amazing adventure. My life changed in so much that New Year's Even in 1996. Sitting in the dark watching "Forever Tango", the tears streamed down my face. I couldn't believe the passion of the dance and the music. And the women were so amazingly strong. What an inspiration!
I left my career as a middle school teacher to follow this passion. Tango has taken me to Buenos Aires and Guatemala, Seattle to Los Angeles, and into the lives of a lot of wonderful people, helping them to live their dance dreams.
I never thought I would dance with my husband, Warren, with whom I'd watched countless hours of home remodeling shows. I NEVER thought that he would become my tango teaching partner. His nickname is "St.Warren", by the way. He's earned it!
Tango has brought into my life such talent and dedication to the dance arts. I've learned as much from the newest of students as from the stars of Argentine tango whom we've hosted over the years. The dance people who've become dear friends are Brooke Byrne, Amanda Almonte, and Juan Dominguez. Their experience in the worlds of classical ballet, Eastern European folk dance, and Mexican folklorico somehow have come to be the support net of experience on which I depend. The staff of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival is always there to listen, advise, and offer their support as our fiscal sponsor.
The biggest debt of gratitude I owe to my maestro, Pampa Cortes. His generosity of dance vision and skill development have made my life one of fulfilling the dance dreams of which I dreamed as a four year old begging for ballet lessons. One never knows... I started ballet at age 41! Mil gracias, Maestro, for your constant reminder to be true to dance.
To help
realize our goals to preserve and share Argentina's dance
traditions, we are fiscally sponsored by World Arts West,
the non-profit organization that produces the San Francisco Ethnic
Dance Festival and People Like Me programs. We are excited about where
we've been and even more - to where we will go during this next decade. Join us on the journey!
This tango journey which I started more than a decade ago has been an amazing adventure. My life changed in so much that New Year's Even in 1996. Sitting in the dark watching "Forever Tango", the tears streamed down my face. I couldn't believe the passion of the dance and the music. And the women were so amazingly strong. What an inspiration!
