About Us
Andrew Flojo & Angela François
When Andrew started attending dance classes in Olympia in 2002, Argentine tango was never a dance on his radar. It was swing, Lindy hop, and salsa that interested him. That is, until his ballroom instructor friend Karen Idecker said to him, "You should try Argentine tango, I think you’re going to love it!" He went to his first tango lesson with Karen, taught by Sonny and Nancy Newman, and it intrigued him. The music and the dance brought out a freedom of creativity and expression that surprised him. Andrew was then introduced to Eva Lucero and Patricio Touceda of Buenos Aires, who wowed him with their style of dancing and connection. He became one of their ardent students--he was hooked! He studied with them for several years before beginning to teach. Other teachers and dancers that have influenced Andrew are Gustavo Naveira & Giselle Anne, Carlos Barrioneuvo & Mayte Valdez, Julio Balmaceda & Corina de la Rosa, Alicia Pons, Ariadna Naveira & Fernando Sanchez, and the late Gavito.
Andrew has also been a full-time licensed massage therapist for over twenty years. He brings his knowledge of body mechanics, posture, and injury prevention/rehabilitation into his teaching. In 2007 he decided to share his passion for tango, and began teaching in Olympia, WA. Andrew is excited to teach a dance that he is passionate about with his wife Angela, and is grateful to be building a wonderful community of tango dancers in Olympia.
Angela was inspired to begin her tango journey in 2006 after watching the Sally Potter film The Tango Lesson. The passion and longing expressed through the music and dance deeply moved her. Intrigued, she sought out her first tango lessons with David and Elizabeth Walsh at the Evergreen State College, and quickly fell in love with tango. Andrew was one of her first teachers here in Olympia in 2007. His enthusiasm for the dance and love of tango music inspired her, and after taking lessons for a period of time, she became his teaching assistant. They became good friends and have been dancing together ever since! Influential instructors include Carlos Barrionuevo & Mayte Valdes, Jennifer Olson, Maureen Munoz & Carlos Urrego, and Patricio Touceda and Eva Lucerno.
Angela enjoys the playful creativity and intimate connection experienced through tango. She loves the sensual and improvisational nature of the dance, allowing both lead and follow to express themselves in an exciting conversation without words. Angela loves sharing her knowledge of this unique dance with students, building confidence and connection. She strives to make tango accessible and fun for everyone that takes her classes, and is grateful to be teaching classes and hosting milongas in Olympia with her sweet husband. She loves to dance and also enjoys Dominican bachata, salsa, blues, swing, and ecstatic dance.
Andrew has also been a full-time licensed massage therapist for over twenty years. He brings his knowledge of body mechanics, posture, and injury prevention/rehabilitation into his teaching. In 2007 he decided to share his passion for tango, and began teaching in Olympia, WA. Andrew is excited to teach a dance that he is passionate about with his wife Angela, and is grateful to be building a wonderful community of tango dancers in Olympia.
Angela was inspired to begin her tango journey in 2006 after watching the Sally Potter film The Tango Lesson. The passion and longing expressed through the music and dance deeply moved her. Intrigued, she sought out her first tango lessons with David and Elizabeth Walsh at the Evergreen State College, and quickly fell in love with tango. Andrew was one of her first teachers here in Olympia in 2007. His enthusiasm for the dance and love of tango music inspired her, and after taking lessons for a period of time, she became his teaching assistant. They became good friends and have been dancing together ever since! Influential instructors include Carlos Barrionuevo & Mayte Valdes, Jennifer Olson, Maureen Munoz & Carlos Urrego, and Patricio Touceda and Eva Lucerno.
Angela enjoys the playful creativity and intimate connection experienced through tango. She loves the sensual and improvisational nature of the dance, allowing both lead and follow to express themselves in an exciting conversation without words. Angela loves sharing her knowledge of this unique dance with students, building confidence and connection. She strives to make tango accessible and fun for everyone that takes her classes, and is grateful to be teaching classes and hosting milongas in Olympia with her sweet husband. She loves to dance and also enjoys Dominican bachata, salsa, blues, swing, and ecstatic dance.
“We ought to dance with rapture that we should be alive and in the flesh, and part of the living, incarnate cosmos.”
— D. H. Lawrence
Our Teaching Philosophy
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Passionate and elegant, magical and meditative, Argentine tango is a complex and exciting dance beloved by dancers around the world. Our goal as teachers is to create a friendly and encouraging environment for you to learn this fun and unique art form. Learning tango has been compared to learning a mindful martial art, and is both challenging and rewarding. Tango, like all forms of partner dance, is about connection and communication. Connection first with ourselves, then with our partner, the music, and the other dancers on the floor. Argentine tango asks us to drop deeply into our bodies while still maintaining a relaxed connection to the mind, developing presence and sensitivity to our own inner state and then to our partner.
In class we focus on building a strong tango foundation, helping you develop the skills needed to dance socially at any milonga with confidence. Connection, the embrace, posture, technique, musicality, floor-craft, and self-awareness are emphasized. Teaching proper technique and working hard is important to us, as is also learning to dance with gentleness and compassion for ourselves and others. Mistakes are encouraged! Play, fun, and an experimental attitude are highly encouraged! We are excited to create a space where we can all practice cultivating harmonious connections within ourselves and with others, allowing us to express our own unique essence while experiencing the joy and aliveness of dancing with another human being. Yay, the spice of life! |