CLASS ORGANIZATION AND POLICIES

On this page you will find information about how our classes are organized, how you might expect to progress through the classes and levels, and our general class policies. The information is organized into the following sections:

Background
About Our Classes
Class Organization
Pricing and Policies

BACKGROUND

If you don't know what Argentine Tango is, please read this short introduction and the links referenced there. In our classes the teachers generally emphasize connection, comfort, and musicality over fancy moves. We recommend that students progress through the courses at a pace that allows them to learn each new movement or concept well before moving on to the next one. We believe it is better to be able to dance a few simple steps well than many different figures badly. For this reason at Beginning and Advanced Beginning levels we offer 50% discount on any courses in the level after completing all other courses in the level.

ABOUT OUR CLASSES

Our classes are open to everyone, not just MIT students. All genders and sexual orientations are welcome.
Generally you do not need a partner (an “Advanced” class might require one, but the class description will say so).
We seek to maintain a good lead/follow ratio in our classes, and often our classes fill up quickly, so you need to pre-register if you want to take them. Links for registration are located on the class schedule page.
The instructors like to have all students switch partners throughout the class so that everyone gets more experience dancing with different people. If you would rather not switch partners, please contact the instructors beforehand.
There is no dress code: we suggest you wear something comfortable, and something that does not inhibit your movements (for example tight jeans, and very tight skirts might make it difficult for you to move).
You should wear “tango-compatible” shoes to class: something that will stay on your foot, and something that pivots easily: thin leather soles are ideal for this. If you have a pair of tango shoes, wear them, but they are not necessary.

CLASS ORGANIZATION

MIT Argentine Tango Club classes are organized into four levels: Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.

People with little or no tango background should take first take Beginner A followed by Beginner B and Beginner C. After that the students can either repeat the beginning-level courses (at a 50% discount), or start taking Advanced Beginner-level courses.

At the Advanced Beginner level the Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B courses are required. Advanced Beginner C is not required, but is very much recommended. The Advanced Beginner C course may be taken after completing the other two Advanced Beginner courses, or by students who are familiar with all of the elements taught in those two classes. Like with Beginner level, after a student has completed all the Advanced Beginner courses, she or he may re-take any Advanced Beginner course (somethng that we encourage) at a 50% discount.

After completing at least Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B courses a student may take course at theIntermediate level. Unlike Beginner and Advanced Beginner level, at the Intermediate level there is no set curriculum, and the subject matter varies. Please see the course description for more details. Some Intermediate-level courses will be labeled as “Advanced Intermediate.” Generally this means that a student should take the course only after completing at least two Intermediate level courses, accompanied by an appropriate amount of social dancing (more on this below).

Taking Advanced-level courses is generally only appropriate for people who have been dancing more than 1.5 years, and have been regularly attending milongas at least once a week. Admission to these courses is generally at the discretion of the instructors. Overall, our curriculum is organized as follows:

Level Classes

Beginner Beginner A
(required) Beginner B
(required) Beginner C
(required)

Advanced Beginner Advanced Beginner A
(required) Advanced Beginner B
(required) Advanced Beginner C
(recommended)

Intermediate See specific course descriptions

Advanced Intermediate See specific course descriptions

Advanced See specific course descriptions

For people who have taken classes elsewhere, these are the guidelines:

If you have taken one tango class series, you should take the beginner class in the embrace with which you are less familiar before taken other classes, after which you will be considered to have completed the Beginner level.
If you have taken 2-3 class series, you should take Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B classes, after which you may start taking classes at the Intermediate level.
If you have taken more classes and dance regularly you may take Intermediate classes as long as you are familiar with material in the Advanced Beginner A and Advanced Beginner B classes.
For all other inquiries, please contact the instructors.

PRICING AND GENERAL POLICIES

Each class series costs $60 ($45 for students, and $30 for MIT students).
Payment is due on the first class and is non-refundable.
All classes are open to the public.
No partner is needed for most classes. Classes that require a partner will explicitly say so in the description.
Most classes have limited room and are lead/follow balanced. For this reason you need to pre-register using the links on the schedule page.
Classes series are five weeks long. Each class is an hour and fifteen minutes.
Drop-ins are generally not allowed. If you feel you have the pre-requisite knowledge and particular needs requiring you to drop in on a class, contact the class instructors.
For Beginner and Advanced Beginner series, if you have taken all the classes in the series you may re-take a class on the same level (with any instructor) for 50% of the appropriate price level.