Living Tango - Argentine Tango lessons, Coaching & Wedding Dance prep

Living Tango is run by Ilona Glinarsky, an award-winning dance educator and Argentine Tango specialist based in Torrance. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Ilona grew up in a family of professional musicians and trained as a classically trained pianist and accompanist for the world-renowned Virsky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble before immigrating to the United States. Over the past 27 years, she has expanded her artistic journey through Latin dances—Salsa, Mambo, and Argentine Tango—and has taught Argentine Tango for over 25 years at 3rd Street Dance Studio, The Aerospace Corporation, Mattel, and the Agape International Spiritual Center. She is also an 18-year veteran guest instructor at The Music Center (Active Arts) and a performer educator for the LA Public Library system.

Ilona's teaching approach emphasizes authentic communication from the heart, the ability to trust and surrender, to lead and follow, and to be fully present in each moment. She sees Tango as a dialogue between two equal partners. Her studies in Spiritual Psychology and Life Coaching, along with her yoga and mindfulness practices (MBSR), inform her holistic teaching method, which she calls the LivingTango(R) Method. She uses this custom-tailored approach to identify personal blocks that may hinder students' progress and help unlock the path to their next level of growth on the dance floor and beyond.

Classes run weekly on Tuesdays at the studio location in Torrance. Beginner Tango classes (levels 1-2) meet from 7:30–8:30 pm with no partner or dance experience needed, while Continuing Level classes run 8:30–9:30 pm. Drop-in cost is $25 per class, or $20 per class with a 10-class pass. A Beginner Tango Boot Camp is also offered periodically at $35 with pre-pay or $40 at the door, and students can bring a friend for free. Private 1-on-1 coaching sessions are available, with special discounts for packages of 5 or 10 sessions.

Beyond classes, Ilona is a producer of Argentine Tango social dance events, including Milonga LAX, The Tango Experience, and the LA Summer Tango Marathon—an annual international 5-day event held on Memorial Day Weekend that has attracted dancers from around the world for over a decade. She also organizes practicas and dance parties featuring Argentine Tango, Salsa, Bachata, and West Coast Swing. Wedding dance choreography and coaching are available, along with life coaching sessions offered both in person and via Zoom.

Ilona's dedication to the community has earned her multiple honours, including the Excellence in Arts Award from the City of Torrance & LA County (2024), the LA Tango Community Builder Award (2019), and recognition as a finalist in the SoCal Argentine Tango Championship (2018). She is a passionate advocate for social partner dance and community building, offering free introductory classes throughout Los Angeles and appearing on radio shows to promote dance as a path to connection and self-expression.

A beginner Tango class welcomes you with no partner or dance experience required. Ilona's teaching emphasizes connection, mindfulness, and authentic communication alongside footwork, creating an environment where you learn about partnership and presence as much as steps. Classes are warm and accessible; testimonials highlight how she makes something potentially intimidating feel fun, light, and easy.

Ilona Glinarsky is the founder and lead instructor. Originally from Ukraine, she is a classically trained pianist who trained as an accompanist for the world-renowned Virsky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and has spent 27 years deepening her expertise in Latin dances and Argentine Tango. She holds certifications in Spiritual Psychology and Life Coaching and integrates yoga and mindfulness (MBSR) into her teaching.

Beginner classes require no partner or dance experience and are designed to welcome newcomers in a warm, accessible environment.