Tango fans learn Latin moves downtown
The Tango Center, Eugene’s
only facility specializing in
the Latin dance, features
classes and open sessions
By Natasha Chilingerian
Pulse Reporter
Recreational dancers who are ready
to move on from "bumping and grind
ing" at parties have a new option: get
ting down the sultry, Argentine way at
The Tango Center downtown. The all
ages venue, located at 194 W. Broad
way, opened in August and offers class
es throughout the week, with open
dances Friday and Saturday nights.
Tango Center founder Greg Bryant
said he created the dance facility as a
service to the community. Tango has
been offered at various dance studios in
Eugene; but The Tango Center is the first
club in town specializing in the dance
"It's the only street-level, down
town, all-volunteer dance venue in
Eugene," Bryant said. "I wanted to cre
ate a place where people can dance
tango on Friday and Saturday nights
— when people feel like dancing."
He said that tango is a "very con
nected partner dance" and has a
prominent place in the Eugene dance
community. Eugene even has a tango
band, Mood Area 52.
"The tango scene is quite robust for
a town this size," he said.
Bryant said The Tango Center sup
ports the musical side of tango as well
— the venue hosts "tango jams,"
where audience members can learn
the elements of tango tunes.
The introductory classes on Friday
and Saturday nights begin at 8 p.m.,
followed by an open dance from 9
p.m. to 1 a.m. The cost for the evening
is $5. For a complete class listing,
visit the center's Web site at
http ://www. tangocenter.org.
Tim Bo bosky Photographer
Rebecca Smith and Andrew McCollough have been tangoing for numerous years.
University dance Instructor Vicky
Ayers, who fell in love with tango
while visiting Argentina, recom
mends dancers of all levels experi
ence the Latin moves. She said tango
has a strong cultural background. It
was developed by young European
men in the 1800s, who accompanied
the moves with their native Italian
and German music.
"Tango was born in the slums of
Buenos Aires, at the height of the im
migrant era," she said. "It was a re
flection of a culture. It was a street
dance about an intense connection
with a partner."
She added that the familiar image of
the rose in the mouth came much later.
"Tango was an icon in French cine
ma," she said. "The concept of the
rose in the mouth was invented in
Hollywood as an expression of the
dance's passion."
Ayers teaches beginning and inter
mediate tango in the University's De
partment of Dance. Both classes will
be offered in the spring.
Tango Center dance instructor
Andrew McCollough encourages
dancers who are looking for a way
to connect with people to try tango.
He discovered the dance while at
tending the University of Arizona,
where he witnessed the powerful
moves of a tango dancer in a down
town club.
"Some people try tango because it's
sensual, like love and passion, and be
cause it's part of the Latin world," he
said. "Other people take it because it's
fun and good exercise, and some peo
ple take it for the music, which has a
dark, melancholy flavor."
McCollough said tango music of
ten features a "bandoneon," which is
like an accordion, but purer and
sweeter and with no keys. This can be
accompanied by a piano and guitar or
violin. He said the dance consists of
improvised forward, back and side
steps, which can match either the
melody or rhythm of the music.
"(Dancing tango with a partner) is
like dancing with who they are," he
said. "It can be quiet, or it can be ex
plosive, it's different with every per
son. It's a way to connect to the per
son's heart and soul."
Contact the Pulse reporter at
natashachilingerian@dailyemerald.com.
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