Elizabeth Wartluft Tango

Elizabeth Wartluft teaches Argentine tango in Portland with 36 years of experience teaching more than 5000 people to dance. She holds an M.A. in dance and an M.A. in cultural anthropology, with research focused on tango in Buenos Aires. She is also a certified yoga teacher who completed 200-hour teacher training with Do Yoga With Me in Victoria, B.C. and began teaching group yoga classes in 2022.

Her approach rests on understanding how people learn. She recognises that kinesthetic learners benefit from feeling movement one-on-one, visual learners from watching and building pictures, analytical learners from thinking about movement, and auditory learners from spoken word cues and sung patterns. She teaches alignment and body mechanics in every class, so you understand why you are doing each movement. Her training in anatomy and kinesiology shapes her teaching; she aims to build your confidence, balance, core strength and elegance while developing what she calls "in-body" experiences.

Group Argentine tango classes run Thursdays at Shabu Studios, 6055 NE Glisan. Beginner's Mind starts at 7 PM and is open to those brand new to tango, dancers ready for ongoing study, dancers learning the other role, or advanced dancers focusing on fundamental technique. The class begins with a quick warmup and solo drills, then moves to partner work where you practise technique in the dance. The Advanced Intermediate & Up class at 8 PM tackles difficult combinations, deeper musicality, lead/follow technique and creativity. The beginner class is free to dancers in the all levels class; if you attend the 8 PM class, the other class is free for you.

Private lessons are available for individuals and couples, taught in her home studio as well as other locations in Portland. Elizabeth also teaches private yoga and dance lessons, and offers wedding preparation. She works one-on-one with clients to create and carry out exercise plans to optimise balance, strength and flexibility for continued mobility. She has extensive experience helping people with learning issues or old injuries, and is happy to work with your physical therapist, athletic trainer or doctor to build a programme that protects and strengthens your body as you develop as a dancer.

If you're new, Elizabeth recommends a combination of private lessons for solid technique, group lessons to practise, and attendance at practicas or milongas to dance socially. Group classes begin with a warmup and solo drills, then move into partner work focused on using technique in the dance.

Elizabeth Wartluft is a dance teacher, certified yoga teacher and anthropologist with 36 years of teaching experience. She earned an M.A. in dance and an M.A. in cultural anthropology researching tango in Buenos Aires. She completed 200-hour yoga teacher training with Do Yoga With Me in Victoria, B.C. in 2022.

The Beginner's Mind class welcomes those brand new to tango, those learning the other role, and advanced dancers refocusing on fundamentals; Elizabeth has training in helping anxious or shy people learn to dance.