Teachers

Born and brought up in Buenos Aires, Tomás shares his nearly 25 years of experience teaching and performing in Buenos Aires and abroad. His knowledge and pedagogy are unique and exceptional. Tomás’ students have described him as an inspiring teacher who makes tango accessible and dancing it a continually renewed experience.

Tomás had the privilege to study with and assist some of the legendary teachers of tango. Along with his knowledge and experience of the traditional, he has studied different dance and movement techniques including Martha Graham Technique, The Alexander Technique, The Feldenkrais Method, and The Franklin Method. On stage, Tomás has worked in several films, tango productions, as well as performed in Paris at Théâtre National Chaillot. Mixing tango performance with other dance forms he also has performed in corporate shows for Cirque du Soleil and taught classes to artists in their show Zumanity.

His latest project is the Tango Learning Program, a multilayered and multidisciplinary approach that integrates the latest teaching pedagogy and psychology with teaching and learning Argentine tango. It is the in-depth tango study program that advanced dancers and teachers have been asking for. To read Tomás’ full CV, or his mini-tango lessons from his blog, visit his website tomashowlin.com

Homer and Cristina Ladas met at the all-nighter in Berkeley, CA, in 2001. Each brings with them over 19 years of social dance experience emphasizing a fusion of tango ideologies, via the ‘one tango’ philosophy. For over 7 years, Homer & Cristina have been providing teacher training seminars on some of their travels and participated in the first Tango Teacher Cooperative event held in 2012. They offer a variety of online resources for tango teachers via their website’s “Teaching Resources” page.

They have studied with numerous teachers as well as practiced extensively with each other and many other dance partners. As teachers, Homer & Crisitna are committed to creating a positive class environment and try to reduce barriers that may inhibit students from really finding their own dance! Small epiphanies can & do occur in their students all the time. They are currently working to develop a more thorough online learning experience via their new website:  theorganictangoschool.org.

Mitra came to Tango in 1998 with no prior dance training. She has learned primarily through social dancing and self-directed explorations fueled by many inspiring people. Her first teacher was Eric Finke in New York who encouraged perseverance despite challenge. Her longstanding partnerships with Stefan Fabry and David Lampson have had the largest impact on her dancing and understanding of Tango and connection.

Her friendships with Rebecca Shulman, Felipe Martinez, Evan Griffiths, and Korey Ireland have illuminated many subtle aspects of Tango over the years. Jaimes Friedgen guided her first explorations into Tango music and DJing. The work of Daniel Trenner and Gustavo Naveira have provided valuable frameworks for understanding. Her understanding of anatomy and movement came from her exploration of Alexander Technique with Anne Waxman, and Contact Improvisation with Stefan Fabry. Her approach to teaching group classes have been informed by Brigitta Winkler as well as Tomas Howlin. Her approach to building a learning culture has been informed by her own Montessori education and teaching in a Montessori school. Her local students have taught her the most about how to teach and how to connect as a teacher.

Mitra has been a featured guest at many innovative national Tango events, including being an invited presenter at the U.S.’s first ever national Tango teacher training conference. Mitra is often invited and trusted to foster authentic connectedness in creative ways at Tango events: facilitating unusual games and creative projects, leading mixers, moderating discussions, offering lecture-presentations and readings. Her credits include inventive, inspired and exploratory events such as the San Francisco Tango Exchange, Tango de los Muertos (Boston), the Tango Teacher Co-Op (Minneapolis), the SFTM, the Heartland Tango Festival, the Baltimore Tango Solstice, Stone Soup Tangotopia, CONNECT, and many others. She has also been an invited DJ for major festivals and marathons across the country.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Mitra has taught Tango extensively (1800+ classes) to build the local community in LA. Mitra is the Director of Oxygen Tango, established in 2009 with Stefan Fabry and shaped by the many contributions of Fabienne Bongard, David Lampson, and Sharna Fabiano. She spearheaded the creation of the Tango Challenge program which enjoys 92% retention, now in its 19th cohort with over 100 local graduates. Mitra personally coached 15 cohorts between 2011 and 2014 and in 2013 worked with Caltech Club leadership to create the Caltech Tango Initiative modeled on the Challenge.

Korey Ireland is a professional composer turned tango-addict. He brings a lifetime of musical experience and an unquenchable thirst for  tango to his teaching. Currently based in Berlin, Germany, Korey has spent the better part of the last 15 years traveling and teaching tango in the U.S., England, Holland, Spain, Germany, Russia, Kenya, Poland and Argentina, sharing his passion for tango, music, expression, and connection.  In recent years, this mission has grown to include work with aspiring tango musicians at festival  throughout North America and Europe to create live music for dancers.   In 2009, Korey led the “Monster Orchestra” of Tango de los Muertos resulting in a live CD of his arrangements and transcriptions.  This project led to the birth of the Community Tango Orchestra project, which in its 5th year now includes about a dozen ensembles throughout the US and Europe dedicated to nurturing the tradition of golden age tango for dancers and musicians. See for yourself at www.communitytangoorchestra.org.

Korey has contributed to numerous teacher training events and organizations in the U.S., Europe, and Buenos Aires. He has shared his broad musical experience at teacher seminars and workshops such as El Corte Teacher Training (2005, 2007), Eduardo Arquimbau (2002), Tango Body, Maui, and Tangotanzen Macht Schôn, Berlin, to name a few.

Michelle Lamb took her first dance steps at the age of 6 at the world renowned San Francisco School of Ballet and continued with such greats as David Howard in NYC. Her dance experience is eclectic, and includes modern, jazz, flamenco, hula, and theatre dance. Michelle spent many years touring with famous musical artists such as Liza Minelli in prestigious venues like Prince Albert Royal Hall in London and off-Broadway theatres in New York.

Her philosophy of teaching: “I believe in doing things anatomically correct and with ease. Incidentally, this is beautiful and has longevity. I will always focus on body alignments, efficiency of movement, and connection. That is what is important to me, and when it is functioning well, the rest is easy. I create a warm and nurturing environment for learning and cannot help my often off-colored humor. I hope to provide you with tools to make your own growth and discernment. I look forward to our work together.”