Join the Center for Latin American Studies for a night to explore the movement mechanics of Argentinian tango, its history, and much more!
In this workshop, Erin and Doruk will cover the fundamentals of Argentine tango in a way that helps you use the dance knowledge you already have. Explore the concepts of grounded movement and partner communication through the lens of tango, learning a bit about its world and history along the way. Learn in the role of your choice; it is recommend to choose one role for the duration of the workshop. Please plan to wear socks or shoes that will pivot easily (avoid rubber soles).
Stay after the fundamentals workshop for time for Q&A with instructors Erin and Doruk. Continuing at 6:30, there will be movement prompts & Golden Age / Alternative Tango music provided by CLAS team member Emma Rodseth during a guided práctica, a time to put into practice what we learned.
This event is free and open to the public. No partner or tango experience is required.
About the Instructors
Erin Malley & Doruk Golcu are an internationally touring teaching couple based in the United States. Partners on the dance floor and in life, "E&D" are known as dancers for their flow, their turns, their ability to make complex sequences look effortless, and their chemistry that has continued to grow in the 20 years they have been dancing together.
Erin and Doruk are generous teachers, known for the approachable way that they share their knowledge of both the body in motion and the structure of the dance. With a breadth of experience from the local to the international levels, they have taught and performed extensively in the United States, Europe, Asia and Buenos Aires, Argentina. They are routinely sought out by the more experienced dancers in the communities they visit for their skill at helping students progress at every level. As artists and teachers, Erin and Doruk are always seeking to discover more about themselves as dancers and learners. The evolution of their growth in turn informs and deepens their teaching, making each encounter with their students more enriching than the last.
Erin's dancing has been compared to a Ferrari, as well as a warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookie. It can't hurt that she has been dancing since she was three. Her tango life, which is now a freshman in college, has largely been shared with her partner and husband Doruk. They met on the dancefloor at the All Night Milonga in NYC, where she refused to dance with him on account of being "too tired." Such a tango baby! Don't worry, they worked it out. She has trained largely in "Estilo Naveira," which is nuevo in substance, but anything you want in style. Erin's 'Bacon number' is 2, thanks to being in a play with Anna Chlumsky (the "My Girl" girl) in 2006.
Doruk once heard the term "Renaissance Man" and took it as a personal challenge. He has degrees in science and a side career as a fantasy illustrator. He started tango as a way to relax but then got too obsessed, as is usual for him. He has been dancing for over twenty years, and teaching for eighteen. If he ever has free time, he does martial arts and fencing. His "Bacon number" is 3 because he performs with Erin.
Emma Rodseth (fiscal and administrative assistant at CLAS) began tango in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2017. With a background in synchronized skating, a certification in hot hatha yoga, and most recently engaging in the martial art of capoeira, movement arts involving connection are central passions in her life. Emma co-taught a tango workshop in February's "Afro Diasporic Dances: Latin America and the U.S." workshop series with CLAS and the Department of Dance. In addition to dancing socially, Emma is experienced in organizing tango events and prácticas, teaching beginning dancers, exploring its history and Golden Age of music, & DJing milongas in the Midwest.