Organic Tango:  SAN FRANCISCO
Click on Orange to return to the HOMEPAGE

Highlights      Calendar      Bio     Travels      Old Photos      Videos      Links        Contact       
New Students      Private Lessons      My Interviews      Tango Articles      Music Jam      My Bass      Online DJ Resource      Organic Tango      The Cookbook      Class Ideas      Tango Games      Visit Planner

Radio.Tango      Alt.Radio.Tango      Tango in SF (Polo's List)      Tango in SF (Calendar)      My SF Friends      SF Teachers & Organizers Group      		Project Tango Homepage:

Homer's Current Tango Class Ideas List:

This ever-growing list represents classes that have been already taught, tested, and somewhat refined.   Some titles are slightly (or mostly) redundant - sorry, but reflect a slightly different process in teaching ideaology.   They can be used to give you ideas for developing a specific class syllabus for your tango community.   We can adjust and modify the class titles and topics as needed to tailor to your special needs.   Just let me know your class ideas (after reviewing our list) and we'll work from there...
  1. All Levels - Tango Games
    Think of this workshop as the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down.   You will work on tango skills such as balance, creativity and connection through a variety of playful exercises led by the masters of tango games.   Learn activities you can use later to practice with a partner.   Have a more equal dose of concentration and laughter - tango is supposed to be fun, remember?

  2. Intermediate - Elasticity, Groundedness, & Loose Women
    The floor, the follower's free leg, and an elastic frame: these are the key elements of this workshop.   Students will work on feeling solidly connected to the floor and using that floor connection in addition to an intelligently malleable frame to generate action and reaction.   Followers will work to create a toned looseness in the free leg so that leaders can (and will in this workshop) play with movements that stem from this grounded looseness.

  3. Intermediate - Expressive Musicality & Impulsiveness via the Staccato/Legato Connection (a.k.a. Flavors of Walking):
    This class focuses on creative walking ideas that enhance musical interpretation.   By varying Staccato (sharp) vs. Legato (smooth) walking movements Leaders and Followers develop a variety of interesting and sometimes contrasting (to each other) movements.   These movements, initiated by either the Leader or the Follower, can positively influence the development of a musical phrase or the outcome of an entire song.   Impulsive actions (such as Linear Boleos) that stem from this walking relationship can also be explored.

  4. Int/Adv - The Sacada Experimentation Lab
    An exploration of possibilities via The Sacada Game...

  5. Beg./Int - Intro to Colgadas Class

  6. Int/Adv - Colgada Odyssey - Different Kinds/Different Ways

  7. Beg/Int - Circular Movement in Open Tango
    Developing the Earth/Moon relationship in the Open Tango Molinete from very slow to very dynamic.   Applications from Close embrace to Open will be considered.   Alterations may also be introduced...

  8. Int/Adv - Alterations Explored - Different Kinds/Different Ways

  9. Int/Adv - Ochos in 3 flavors (from plain to impulse)
    The development of leader/follower Ocho technique from simple to more complex based on need.   Their use from Close embrace to Open and overturned will be explored.

  10. Int/Adv - Linear Boleos (forward/Backward/Sideways)
    Developing & refining linear Boleos with impulse leads and follower's responses...with musical intention emphasized!

  11. Int/Adv - The anatomy of the Circular Boleo (forward & backward)

  12. Int/Adv - Open to Close Embrace Transitions

  13. Int/Adv - The general theory of Follower's Sacadas (forward, sideways, backwards)
    One theory will be developed that makes it easier to understand and apply Follower's Sacadas in a variety of different positions!

  14. Int/Adv - Soltadas and the anti-Molinete
    Letting go of the embrace (think Salsa & Swing turns here) and creating a new one (Sweet-Heart holds, etc), and the anti-Molinete ideology from these new embraces!

  15. Tango Play - Different ideas to get you having fun with each other and the music.

  16. Leader's and Follower's Secrets Class(es)

  17. Leader's and Follower's Fundamental Technique Class(es)

  18. Musicality Classes (Multiple Themes)

  19. X-session (moderated by Homer & partner) to creatively explore different and sometimes new movements/concepts.

  20. Games to get you Connected – Have fun and enhance your dance?! (All Levels)

  21. An Introduction to Tango Play a.k.a. Getting to Know Ourselves, the Music, and Each Other… (All Levels)

  22. Enhancing the Communication – Taking it to the next level (Beginner/Intermediate)

  23. Getting Creative thru Advanced Interplay! (Intermediate/Advanced)

  24. The Elastic Embrace via a Single Axis Turn. (Intermediate)

  25. Developing & Releasing Torsion thru Ochos and Sacadas and Other Tango Niceties. (Intermediate/Advanced)

  26. Secrets of Tango Flow – Partner Interactions with Fluid Motion and Continuity (can be broken into 3 classes taught at 3 levels, beg, int, adv)

  27. Stops, Catches, & Grabs – A Guided Exploration (for all levels, but can also be a master class/exploration session).

  28. Creative Embraces and the anti-molinete (intermediate/advanced)

  29. The Matrix Molinete plus one leg wrap (intermediate)

  30. Really Letting Go - Exploring the Soltada effect (intermediate/advanced)

  31. Tango Vals - Introduction, syncopation, phrasing, & alterations (this can be a two part class from beginner to intermediate/advanced)

  32. Milonga - a musical tool kit (rhythm, phrasing, technique, style, free-style - also can be a two part class from beginner to intermediate/advanced)

  33. Tango Phrasing (using Di Sarli and other tango orchestras to explore the common structure of tango music)

  34. Piazzolla and beyond - a practical guide to dancing to non-traditional rhythms, accents, & melody.

  35. Intentions & Invitations (Beginner/Intermediate)

  36. Quality of Movement (Beginner/Intermediate)

  37. Playful Elasticity (Beginner/Intermediate)

  38. Transitions (Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced)

  39. Dynamic Turns in Close Embrace (Intermediate/Advanced)

  40. El Huracan Colgada (Advanced)

  41. The Floating Head & Paper Weight Embrace (all-levels fine tuning class)

  42. The D'Arienzo Reach (an all-levels walking technique class)

  43. Find the 'One' (an all-levels musicality development class)

  44. Ocho Boot Camp (an intermediate body spiral awareness class)

  45. The Volcada Stretch (an advanced Volcada/Sustanita class)

  46. Tango Phrasing (all-levels - How to Listen, How to Respond)

  47. Milonga Phrasing (intermediate - simple tools to tell a fast story)

  48. Milonga con Traspie (int/adv - get your touch-steps tuned & connected)

  49. Vals 1,2,1 Syncopation (int/adv - simple to complex 1,2,1 vals syncos)

  50. Wrap Lifts (adv. couples only - social tango catches & partner-lifts)
NOTES:
All classes will be adjusted to fit the average abilities and desires of the participants.   Some classes may have to be "re-structured" to best fit the needs of the students.   An emphasis on partner connection, musicality, and floor craft will be developed throughout the workshop.   The open & close embrace tango similarities and differences will be made where ever appropriate (or when asked about) and transitions from each will be worked on (unless the class desires otherwise).