The Longer Version...

The Family:
My Father ( Gerasimos Ladas , 4/251937 - Present) and Mother (Theodora Ladas, 11/19/1936 - 9/10/2001) were born in Greece and immigrated to the United States in the sixties.   On April 4th, 1969 in Bridgeport, Connecticut my mother gave birth to twins.   The first one was still born but soon after that I was born screaming and kicking.   About a year and a half  later on December 10th my only sibling Andreas was also born.   At first I used to play around with him, then he out grew me and kicked my butt!

The Pre-Tango Addiction Years (1969 to 1997):
I grew up in Southern Rhode Island.   During these wondering years I experimented with different activities from many water-related persuits  (hence my email name - "Dolfdude") to martial arts.   I also enjoyed teaching both swimming lessons and martial arts and even tutoring math and science to children and adults alike.   After graduating college as an engineer I worked in several engineering firms eventually taking me from the East coast to Arizona and finally to California.

The Early-Tango Years (1997 to 1999):
I can still remember my first Tango lesson.   Dave and Shelley Little, were my first teachers and I was one of their first students.   They were local Tucsonians & long-time students of Micheal and Luren.   After almost three months of study with Dave and Shelly & Micheal and Luren, I took a workshop with Pablo Veron.   When I saw him dance with Luren, I had no idea what he was doing!   It just seemed like two ghosts were floating across the floor to the music.   Honestly, I was more captivated by authentic "Milonguero" & "Salon" styles of tango.   By the end of the summer I was hooked.   I got a job transfer to Los Angeles and continued to get more involved in the dance.   Over the next year, I studied with Sandor, Marcos Questas, Daniela & Armando, Orlando Piva & his understudies, Ceasar & Patricia, Felix Chavez, and a host of other local and visiting teachers.   I went out social dancing often - almost every night at times.   Usually I did at least one tango related activity like solo/couple practice, class/workshop/private, rehersal (yes I was learning "Tango Fantasia" a.k.a. stage choreography), or social dance.   Sometimes I would do two or three things in the same day, especially on weekends!   However, I was still unsatisfied with what L.A. had to offer in terms of growth.   To end a long & sometimes twisted story on a positive note, I had a great learning experience in L.A. but decided it was time to create a more personal tango lifestyle for myself.   A fortuitous job opportunity & relocation back to Tucson, Arizona was just the thing I was looking for to embark on my next tango voyage!

The Return to Tucson:  The Shoebox Tango Club (1999 to 2000):
Almost immediately I found a live/work studio space, in downtown Tucson at 108 E. Congress St.   It used to be a stationary supply store, long, narrow, with high ceilings, and a loft living space in the back...  

Under Construction!!!

Back to LA:  The discovery of Organic, loss, Cristina, change of career... (2000 to 2002):
Under Construction!!!

Organic Growth in San Francisco - The Beat, cellspace, travel, Project Tango. (2002 to 2004):
Have a look at The Old Organic Tango Guestbook!

Under Construction!!!

Organic Changes - The LA/SF connection, Cristina cooks, my bass, a friendship ends! (2004 to 2006):
Under Construction!!!

A New Chapter in Organic Tango History (2006 to the present...):
Under Construction!!!