Tango Colorado

Tango Colorado is a nonprofit organization centred in the Denver metro and Boulder area, dedicated to sharing Argentine tango and its traditions across Colorado. They host weekly tango classes every Tuesday from 6:30–7:30 PM at the Denver Turnverein with a rotating roster of teachers, drop-in practicas on Tuesday evenings from 7:30–10:30 PM, and monthly milongas on the second Saturday from 8 PM to midnight.

Classes rotate through Beginner 1, Beginner 2, and Advanced Seminar offerings. Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 classes introduce fundamentals and technique; Advanced Seminar Series bring visiting instructors and specialist topics—recent offerings have included "Creating Fluid Conversations in Tango" with Julianne Kim and "Milonga Moves" with Michele Delgado. The organisation emphasises in-depth study with many teachers for well-rounded dance development.

Practicas are structured social dancing sessions where you can practise what you've learned. Each practica features a guest DJ: past DJs include Mete Saka, Grisha Nisnevich, Michael D'Elia, Donna Kleinman, and Xiaoli Quispe. Milongas are formal social dances with live DJ, often preceded by a pre-milonga lesson. Milonga del Sol, held in August, is a signature event running 8 PM to midnight with a 7 PM lesson option.

Tango Colorado's teaching roster includes Lorita Travaglia (professional ballet master at Colorado Ballet since 2006, dancing tango since 2005), Michele Delgado (trained in Buenos Aires, known for teaching emotion and communication within movement), Brian and Deb Sclar (teaching together since 1998, delivered over 7,500 hours of private lessons, organised sixty-nine Buenos Aires TangoIntensivo Sessions since 2005), John Miller and Jesica Cutler (teaching together over a decade, hosts Tango on the Rocks festival), and many others. Advanced seminar teachers include Diana Cruz, Dominic Bridge, Facundo Agüero Maisano, Giselle Anne, Grisha Nisnevich, and Jonathan Bruneau.

The organisation maintains an extensive roster of DJs specialising in Argentine tango music. Dave Jones has been DJ with Tango Colorado since 2009; Martin Rubbiolo danced tango for 30 years in Argentina before beginning DJing; Fatima Hirji (DJ FAH) has played at TTX (Toronto Tango Exchange), Tango on the Rocks, La Nuestra Tango (Philadelphia), and Encuentro Close Encounters (Denver); Sarah Genung started tango in 2005 and DJing in 2013; others include Xiaoli Quispe, Michael D'Elia, Grisha Nisnevich, Martin Rybczynski, John Miller, and Tom Stermitz (one of the founders).

Tango Colorado operates under a Safer Spaces Policy and is SCFD Sponsored and a certified Denver metro area nonprofit. The organisation is led by an elected board including President Dan Shaner, Secretary Mez Charney, Vice President Analii Stermitz, Treasurer Varvara Vanessa, and Directors Loki Lebedenko, Julianne Kim (Director of Communications & IT), and AJ Spencer. They welcome volunteers to help with practicas and events—contact the organisation to get involved.

Drop into a Tuesday class (6:30–7:30 PM, $10, no reservation needed) or practica (7:30–10:30 PM, $10, free for Beginner One attendees) at the Denver Turnverein. You'll dance with a rotating instructor and a community of dancers at all levels, in a welcoming environment built on low cost and accessibility.

The organisation rotates teachers through Beginner 1, Beginner 2, and Advanced Seminar classes. Notable instructors include Lorita Travaglia (Ballet Master at Colorado Ballet since 2006), Michele Delgado (Buenos Aires-trained), Brian and Deb Sclar (teaching since 1998, delivered over 7,500 private lesson hours), John Miller and Jesica Cutler (teaching partners for over a decade), and visiting advanced teachers including Diana Cruz, Dominic Bridge, Giselle Anne, and Grisha Nisnevich.

Dedicated Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 classes, drop-in Tuesday sessions with no reservation required, and free practica entry for Beginner One attendees.