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Tango weekend with Rino Fraina & Graziella Pulvirenti, Sicily ,Italy

Hartford Argentine Tango Society Welcomes for the second time Rino Fraina & Graziella Pulvirenti special guests from Italy. They will be touring The USA , we are glad to host them for a special weekend in August for four workshops and Milonga performance and Sunday milonguita .

GET TO KNOW OUR GUESTS:

Rino and Graziella met in 2010 and they started dancing together at the end of the year with the clear aim to create a stable couple to consolidate their qualitative and personal growth in Tango. After dancing other dances like ballroom at a Professional level , they decided to dance Tango to enjoy of a greater ( superior ) interpretative freedom of music and movement. The discipline and training learned from other dances have constantly led the to deepen the basic technical elements and to research a defined and recognizable teaching method. After a two years preparatory course of ballet , at the age of five , Graziella dedicate herself to synchronized swimming , winning numerous championships.

Rino began dancing when he was 10 , specializing mainly in ballroom dances. He won his first Italian Championship in 1998 ,and from that moment on, his national and international carreer went on. He competed in England , Austria , Belgium , Poland , Russia , Lithuania and Spain winning numerous competitions. He became a professional and also a Fids specialist , leaving contests to become a judge.Exactly during a competition he met Graziella , creating a couple in life and then in Tango. His previous experiences allowed him , quickly , to refine his technique and to personalize it.TOGETHER. Rino and Graziella have been teaching in several Italian Tango schools and they preside over En Tus Brazos association in Catania and Eboli (Salerno). Their goal is to deepen the technical evolution of Tango through lessons and practices giving the fundamentale tools to manage and create everyone’s Tango.

They are organizers of events such as Catania Summer Tango Week and they have participated as teachers and performers at various national and international Tango Events touring in EUROPE , USA and CHINA. Ideators and choreographers of the theatral Tango show “Which Tango are you?” on stage in Italian theatres.

Registration details  Click Here

August 30 – 31 2025

SaturdayAugust 30

1:00 – 2:15 pm :  Techniques to combination of Soltadas – all levels

2:30- 3:45 pm :  Improvisation: New ways of interpretation and creation, exploring new possibilities of expression through body movement and interaction with the part – Intermediate

4 – 5 pm practice

Milonga 9 pm – 1 am –  professional performance at 11 pm

Sunday August 31

1:00 – 2:15 pm  –

Milonga : Impactful Sequences for Social Dancing, Learn dynamic and stylish sequences to make y our social dancing more engaging       —- intro/Adv

2:30 – 3:45 pm  –  Syncopa Combination

4 – 7 milonguita

Registration details  Click Here

Whole weekend $160 , All day Saturday $100, All day Sunday $80, One class $35, Milonga Only $ 30, Milonguita Only $15

Private lessons are available . please contact Muna Swairjo to arrange time .

Tango Intensive with Claudio Cortes and Muna Swairjo

 

You’re Invited: Tango Intensive Workshops

Ready to take your tango to the next level? No fluff, no frills—just pure, intense learning that’ll push you to grow as a dancer.

Join us for a 30 hours of Tango Intensive Workshops where creativity meets technique. This is not your average class. We’ll dive deep into the essence of tango, exploring advanced moves, style, and connection in a focused, hands-on environment. For each lesson (15 lessons) we will customize your learning based on your experience. 

    Expect:

  • Real, practical learning
  • A space to push your boundaries
  • Creative exercises to get you thinking differently
  • No BS, just quality instruction

Whether you’re looking to refine your skills or immerse yourself in a deep dive, this is your chance to experience tango in a new, challenging, and rewarding way.

Come ready to work hard, move differently, and leave inspired.

      Promise: 

We promise that after this Tango Intensive, you will leave with more than just new steps—you’ll leave with a new mindset. A mindset that fuels your growth, pushes your boundaries, and keeps you inspired to continue your tango journey.

We promise to give you the tools and techniques to not only improve your level but to ignite a deeper passion for learning. You will feel more connected, more creative, and more confident in your dance than ever before. By the end of this workshop, you’ll see how far you’ve come—and be excited for how much further you can go. Your inspiration for tango will be renewed, and your dance will never be the same.

This is your time to bring your level up. Let’s make it happen.

When: 

  • May 23-25: Workshop#1: 5 lessons (10 hours)
  • June 27-29: Workshop#2: 5 lessons (10 hours)
  • July 11-13 : Workshop#3: 5 lessons(10 hours)

Where: Muna’s House – Fridays / Garage Dance studio  – Saturdays and sundays


Cost:

Single lesson (2 hours) $80, One weekend  (10 hours): $380, Full series (30 hours) $1050

 To Purchase Lessons Click Here  

Attendees :  Couples only –  10 couple max
RSVP: Muna Swairjo 860-883-9020  – 

 

Print Workshops details :

Tango Intensive Workshop printout description click here 

WORKSHOP#1:   May 23-25 2025

Tango Workshop: Mastering the Embrace, Walking, and Core Connection

Overview: Join us for an immersive tango workshop focused on three of the most fundamental aspects of the dance: the embrace, walking, and core engagement. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, this workshop will help you elevate your tango by refining your connection, improving your movement flow, and strengthening your core to enhance your balance and precision.

 

Lesson #1: Theme Embrace (2 hours): Embrace in tango is a fundamental aspect of the dance, influencing both the connection between partners and the flow of movement. Here are key elements covered in this session. 

  • How do we enhance our connection through the embrace? Posture, pressure of the embrace.
  • What are the functionality of different embraces? Space allows us to move freely, while still maintaining a close connection: 
  • How relaxation, flexibility, and fluidity in our frames allows us to better communicate?
  • How can we increase intimacy (under certain boundaries) in our embrace and communicate emotionally and physically through their movements?
  • How do we protect ourselves during tango? Tips of how to creating boundaries 

 

Lessons #2 and #3: Theme Walking (4 hours): Walking is a fundamental movement that requires precision, balance, and connection between partners. Here are key elements that are important in tango walking:

  • What are the components of walking (from basic to more advanced concepts)?.  How we can navigate and connect with your partner. 
  • How does our body connect in walking? From bottom to top :  How our feet, joints, hips, core, chest,  arms are essential in walking.
  • What does a type of walk influence our dance and interpretation of the music? 
    • How do we create density in the walk? 
    • How does the standing leg and free leg play a role?
    • How does level affect hour walking (projection)?
    • How Does Weight Transfer Work?
  • How do we enhance our intention so followers can follow freely? Useful tips to help you improve transferring intentions to followers. 
  • Do the steps direct the movement or the movements direct the steps?

 

Lessons #4 and #5: Core (4 hours). Core engagement is a vital aspect of tango, as it helps maintain stability, control, and fluidity in movement. Here are key elements that are important in core engagement in tango:

  • The essential of the core to create Connection
  • How does the core affect our dance interpretation in our dance?  Walking (density, elasticity, micromovements, pivots and more etc.  

 

WORKSHOP#2:   June 27-29 2025

Tango Workshop: Mastering Axis, Pivots, Molinetes, and Enrosques

Overview: Dive into the heart of tango technique with a workshop dedicated to mastering the essential elements of Axis, Pivots, Molinetes, and Enrosques. These core movements are vital for both the leader and follower, allowing you to dance with fluidity, precision, and elegance. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your technique or deepen your understanding of these dynamic elements, this workshop will provide the tools and exercises to elevate your tango to new heights.

 

Lesson #6 (2 hours): How to find axis and balance

  • Defining axes and its functionality in dance
  • How does the axis change connection and communications?
  • How to create a comfortable axis with our partners in resting, walking position?
  • Why and how axes have to be flexible on the dancing floor? 

 

Lesson #7 and #8 (4 hours): Pivots (Forward and back ochos, giros) : Pivots are an essential part of tango, allowing for dynamic changes in direction and flow. Here are the key elements that are important in executing pivots effectively in tango

  • How can we be balanced before pivoting?
  • Describe what part of the body can help in pivots using ochos as a model (using the ground (feet: anchor), muscle tone, axis and dissociation (core) and hands

 

Lesson #9 and #10 ( 4 hours): Molinetes and intro Enrosques 

  • Type of movements when you go around a leader
  • Type of movements when leaders go around follower
  • Why is the supportive role of followers and leaders in enrosques and molinetes  a must?
  • Enrosques: why and when? Why is location essential to create giros and enrosques

 

WORKSHOP#3:  July 11-13 2025

Tango Workshop: Exploring Saccades, Musicality, and Creativity

Overview: Step into a transformative tango workshop where we dive deep into the intricate relationship between saccades, musicality, and creativity in tango. This workshop is designed to open new pathways in how you express yourself through the dance, drawing connections between the precision of your movements, the music that guides you, and the endless possibilities for creativity in every step. Whether you’re looking to refine your musical interpretation, unlock more spontaneous expression, or incorporate fine-tuned details into your dance, this workshop will give you the tools to elevate your tango to the next level.

Lesson #11(2 hours): Sacadas 

  • How to use the intention of walking to induce sacadas?
  • Role of the walking in sacadas. We will use examples of sacadas
  • Type of sacadas –   When is it more appropriate to have sacadas in music? 

 

Lessons #12 and #13 (4 hours): Musicality 

  • Basics of music in tango? From Measure to fraseos
  • How can we better interpret different orquestras?
  • How to interpret an instrument? 
  • How “pausing” (actually slowdown) allows better connection and musicality?

 

Lessons #14 and #15(4 hours): Let’s create: Poetry, community and review 

  • What walk, embrace, axis, etc, changes when interpreting different orquestras?
  • How do we compose a tango on the dancing floor?
  • How do we become free and respectful in tango? 
  • How can we create together versus alone on the dancing floor? How to “slowdown” the dance? 
  • Why is community important in tango? What can we do to build it?
  • Review 

Purchase Lessons Click Here

 

Bachata Tuesday

Join us for Bachata classes at the Garage Dance Stop this Tuesday at 7:30 PM! Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, come and enjoy a fun evening of leaning to  dance.
Don’t miss out on the chance to learn and connect with fellow dance enthusiasts!
Tuesdays 7:30 -8:30 followed by practice social time until 9:30+.
more information call Nicole 860-818-9294

HARTS TANGO PRACTICAS Wednesdays 7-10 pm $10

 HARTS  Practice Wednesdays  

For the months of June – July 2025  7 – 10 pm  $10

It’s time to Combine practice  for all of those amazing things that you’ve learned in the HARTS Mastering Tango Series and HARTS Special Topics, Workshops you attended.

 
DJs local or guests will bring on Alternative Music, to spice up your tango style palate It is a practica as a learning environment, we play music for everyone to dance, following the tandas system ( 3 songs per tanda with cortinas between tandas) some guidance from teachers and experienced dancers will be provided if needed but no instructions given during the tandas played.
 
Beginner Friendly
If you are new to tango, or only know two moves, this is great place for you to experience the Milonga social dance scene and break through the fear factors , practice and develop your dance.
 
Event Overview
Cost; $10 pp  

The Garage Dance Studio & Gallery
1385 East Street
New Britain, CT 06053
(860) 505-8194
email : muna.swairjo@gmail.com

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It’s A Sunday Soiree

Ballroom Dancing classes each class cost is $15 or both for $20

 

Mondays 6:00 pm Ballroom Techniques followed by  6:45 pm  Smooth or rhythm class

 

Your teacher is Wendy Nielsen Professional Ballroom teacher and award winner  , She gained recognition in the American style Rhythm and smooth dance categories .

Sunday Soiree   

is hosted by Wendy Nielsen- call for more details 860-202-4648 every First and Third Sunday of the month .

The dance/party at 2 pm –  6 pm .( 4-7 pm after memorial day)

Come and Practice your ballroom dance, smooth, rhythm, Socialize with your friends.

All levels of dancers are welcome and urged to attend!

Normal admission for the general public will be $20

The Garage Dance Studio & Gallery
1385 East Street
New Britain, CT 06053
(860) 505-8194
garagedancestudio.com

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