Argentine Tango Workshop

with Christy Coté & Darren Lees

Singles welcome, no partner required.


Friday, October 24th
Derek's House, 1343 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo

8:00 – 9:00 pm Chamuyo and
9:00 – 11:00 pm Milonga

There is so much more to Tango than just dancing! Kick off the weekend with a free discussion group (chamuyo). Christy and Darren will discuss the music, culture, history, and future of Tango, and maybe even some stories from their trips to Buenos Aries. Bring your questions and enjoy this informative chat.

Continue the evening with great food, drink, music, and most of all dancing. There is no cover for this social dancing event. Please bring a dessert or beverage to share.

Please see this map for directions. Questions for Derek? 805-550-6632


Saturday, October 25th
Central Coast Dance Studio, 2004 10th St., Los Osos

From Hwy 101 (north or south), exit on Los Osos Valley Rd. Proceed 10 miles Northwest to Los Osos and turn Right on 10th St., continue 2 blocks to Central Coast Dance on the corner of Santa Ynez Ave., above Los Osos Liquor. Please park on the street, because the lot is reserved for convenience store customers.

11:30 – 1:00 pm Follower's Technique

Follower's Technique and Warm-Up with Christy (all levels welcome). An invigorating warm-up focusing on the follower's technique of Walking, Cruzada, Ochos, Molinetes and Boleos plus Embellishments! Leaders are encouraged to attend this workshop…as all experienced leaders will tell you…the key to being a good leader is knowing what you are leading!

2:00 – 3:30 pm Dancing with Ghosts of Tango Past

Elegant Tango pasos to dance and understand the musicality of the great orchestra leaders of the past: Carlos DiSarli, Francisco Canaro, Osvaldo Fresedo, Juan D'Arienzo, Osvaldo Pugliese, Ricardo Tanturi & Alberto Castillo. Plus ghostly visits!

3:30 – 5:00 pm Milonga x3

Three solutions for interpreting this fun and playful music: Single Time Steps, Syncopations & Traspies! Mix them all together for an amazing Milonga.


Sunday, October 26th
Central Coast Dance Studio, 2004 10th St., Los Osos

From Hwy 101 (north or south), exit on Los Osos Valley Rd. Proceed 10 miles Northwest to Los Osos and turn Right on 10th St., continue 2 blocks to Central Coast Dance on the corner of Santa Ynez Ave., above Los Osos Liquor. Please park on the street, because the lot is reserved for convenience store customers.

11:30 – 1:00 pm Canyengue Fun

Join the fun as we visit the past and dance this original style of Tango; Canyengue. Playful pasos that everyone can enjoy.

2:00 – 3:30 pm Darren & Christy's Favorite Pasos

If you like the way Darren & Christy dance you'll love this workshop. Darren & Christy share with you their tips for technique and styling to make these pasos work for you too!

3:30 – 5:00 pm Colgada-Volcada Combination

Colgada and Volcada combined into one fluid paso. For advanced dancers with experience dancing Colgadas and Volcadas. Partner required (see note below).

Note for Workshop Classes at Central Coast Dance

The last 15 minutes of each 90-minute class will be for practice and/or warm-up for next class. Please try to arrive early so you don’t miss anything. The first five group classes do not require partnered dancers and frequent rotation will be encouraged. The last group class strongly recommends partnered dancers and rotation is not expected. Private instruction is available, please contact Rich to schedule.

Cost for 90-Minute Group Classes: $30 per person per class. Register for multiple classes at once and save: 2 for $55, 3 for $75, 4 for $95, 5 for $110, or all get all 6 for $120.

Individual Private Instruction is $80 per hour per instructor, maximum of one couple per instructor. Semi-private classes are $60 per couple per hour, led by both instructors with a minimum of three couples. Please contact Rich to schedule private and semi-private classes.


Norm & Anne's House, 1309 Pasadena Dr., Los Osos

6:00 – 10:00 pm Potluck Dinner Event

Enjoy a dinner in honor of our special guests with thanks to Norm and Anne for hosting all us tango enthusiasts. Bring your dance shoes just in case! Questions for Norm, (805) 534-1501.


Monday, October 27th
SLO Vets’ Hall, Grand Ave. & Monterey St., San Luis Obispo

7:00 – 9:00 pm Review and Guided Practica (All Levels)

Christy is staying with us Monday to lead an All Levels review & guided practica, $10. This will include a review of all the weekend’s classes to help those who attended those classes solidify the material and ask any questions that may have arisen. This takes the time and place of our regularly scheduled Monday night class and practica at the SLO Vets' Hall.

9:00 – 10:00 pm Open Practica (All Levels)

Even if you cannot join us for the review, please do join us for open practice and dancing, $5.


Christy Coté has been dancing, choreographing and teaching professionally for more than 25 years. For the past 12 years, she has devoted her love of dance to Argentine Tango becoming one of San Francisco's most respected dancers and teachers. Christy co-hosts San Francisco’s longest running milonga, the Mariposa Argentine Tango Club now in it’s 12th year and has been featured locally on KVTU's Segment 2 Report with Bob MacKenzie, KPIX/Channel 5 Evening Magazine and nationally in Dance Spirit Magazine.

As the creator and director of the Argentine Tango program at San Francisco's popular Metronome Dance Center, she oversees and teaches a full schedule of group and private classes, workshops, practicas and Milongas. Christy's teaching method has been published in the Argentine Tango Manual by Dance Vision and is complimented by a series of 20 instructional DVDs by Christy & George Garcia of Honolulu.

Christy is also a founding member of the all female tango company, Tango Con*Fusión.

Darren Lees lives in San Diego and has been dancing Argentine tango for 6 years and for the past 3 years he and Christy have enjoyed traveling together, teaching at various tango communities including San Francisco to Boston and at festivals such as Reno´s Tango Brujo, TangoFest Maui, and on the Tango at Sea Cruise.

Christy and Darren perform regularly with MonTango, Tango No. 9 and produce monthly Tango shows at San Francisco's Peña Pacha Mama restaurant. They also choreograph for and perform with their professional performance group, The LiberTango Dancers who were selected from over 150 auditioning groups to perform in the 2006 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.

Christy & Darren look forward to returning to San Luis Obispo once again to share their love of this wonderful dance!

Christy’s web site is www.ChristyCote.com.

 For more info: Contact Rich, (805)783-0569.

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