The San Francisco Bay Area once again welcomes Mimi Santapa to the United States. This will be Mimi's second trip to the U.S. Mimi is one of Buenos Aires most beloved teachers. In Buenos Aires, Mimi is known as the "teacher of the teachers". Almost every professional dancer has worked with Mimi at some point in their career. She has been the "Maestra" for many shows including the Sr. Tango Dinner Show. (The Maestra executes the choreography) Her classes in Buenos Aires are among the most popular with the locals. As Mimi will proudly tell you, she is working all the time.
Mimi is known for her work with technique, posture, and footwork. Her father, Mariano was one of the most famous teachers and dancers of tango. He developed a plan of 40 steps that has become the foundation for how Argentine Tango is taught. Mimi carries on his tradition referring to the points as "the secrets of my father." Anyone who has take a class with Mimi will tell you how she can make even the most difficult step easy. Mimi will tell you herself, she will not teach you steps; she will teach you to dance. The following classes will be offered: Wed Oct 20 Posture Form Technique - This is Mimi's signature class for all levels of dancers. Mimi stresses posture and form in order to create balance. Without this foundation it is impossible to dance well. Mimi incorporates exercises as well as tango technique. These are the exercises that Mimi uses when she works with profesional dancers. Learn what Mimi calls the secrets of her father. Location TBA - Call for updates Workshop $25 Thursday Oct 21 Close Embrace and Footwork The tango embrace continues to be a mystery fo most tango dancers. Mimi will show you how to look good and feel good when you dance. In Buenos Aires the tango is all about your feet. Mimi breaks down the basic concepts of footwork. Level I 8:15 - 9:15pm Level II 9:30 - 10:30 Renaissance Ballroom San Francisco 285 Ellis St , San Francisco Workshop $25 Saturday Oct 23 - Technique for Women 1:15pm - 2:30 pm This is Mimi's famous class that she teaches in Buenos AIres the first Saturday of the month. She draws up to 75 women (most are local dancers) to her class. This class will focus on the technique of the follower. It incorporates posture, footwork, and frame. All Levels Technique for Men 2:45 pm - 4:00pm Men need technique too. This class will help the leader focus on the technique to lead the dance. Emphasis is on the embrace and posture of the man. This excellent class is one of the first to be taught in the Bay Area. It is a great opportunity to learn how to acheive the posture of profesional dancers. All Levels Both Classes taught at the Renaissance Ballroom San Francisco 285 Ellis St , San Francisco. Sunday Oct 24 The Musicality of Tango 3:00 - 4:30 pm Do you ever wonder why some dancers look like they are running through the music, while others seem to be gliding with passion? Mimi explains the musicality of the 3 most important dances; Tango, Vals, and Milonga con Traspie. When you understand the music, you understand the dance. Working with a partner this workshop will help you understand how to translate the music to your dance. This workshop will concentrate on the basic movements of each dance and how the work with the music. Level II & III Studio Gracia 19 Heron St. San Francisco $30.00 (BAtango Members $28 with card) Wednesday Oct 27 Milonga con Traspie In the milongas of Buenos Aires how you dance the milonga defines you as a dancer. Traspie is one of the hardest movements to master. Mimi breaks down this dance to make it simple to understand. Using her concepts of posture and footwork along with understanding the changes of the music will help you dance a traspie. Mimi will also demonstrate a style of footwork that is almost never taught here. Level I 7:45 - 8:45 Level II, III 9:00 - 10:00 Renaissance Ballroom San Francisco 285 Ellis St , San Francisco Thursday Oct 28 Mastering Vals The Tango Vals is a completely different dance than tango. Learn the Vals as it is danced in Buenos Aires. Danced with giros and molinetes it is the most beautiful but most difficult of the dances. Level I 8:15 - 9:15pm Level II 9:30 - 10:30 Renaissance Ballroom San Francisco 285 Ellis St , San Francisco ***** All workshops $25 except the Sunday Musicality Workshop which is $30. Prepay for 4 workshops and receive a discount of 5%. Prepay for all the workshops (6 workshops) and receive a discount of 10%. BAtango Members receive a discount of $2.00 on the Saturday and Sunday Classes. (Cannot be combined with discounts)Contact: Deby Novitz 510-839-6148 or [email protected] for more information. Private lessons are $75 per hour not including any studio fees. Please call to schedule. ****** Milonga Classes: October 22 - Monte Cristo San Francisco October 23 - Golden Gate San Francisco October 24 - Studio Gracia San Francisco *******
