Rebecca Niemier
rebzebb_at_msn.com 360-739-0685
Facebook: RebeccaNiemier
TANGOLIFE
Bellingham Herald article/video
Current classes in Bellingham, WA:
Tuesdays at TangoLife Home Studio, 2610 Likely Ct.: Intermediate Tango: 7 – 9 pm. Prerequisite: 6 months current tango experience. First time students please RSVP to rebzebb@msn.com. Singles, couples, ongoing classes, drop-in OK. $10 per class, $5 college students.
Wednesdays at TangoLife Home Studio, 2610 Likely Ct.: Beginning Tango: 7 – 9:00 pm. Everything you need to know to get started: posture, embrace, steps, culture, music, where to tango. New students may begin any week, please email to RSVP. $10 per class, $5 college students.
Thursdays at Bellingham Athletic Club at Cordata, 4191 Meridian St, Bellingham: 7-9:30 pm: TangoFit, an all-community SuperPractica — first half hour are tango drills and exercises (tango boot camp!), second half hour is tango instruction for beginners and all levels, final 1.5 hour is practice time, with coaching by request from Rebecca, Joel, or Karly. Large wood floor, huge mirror, great sound system. $10 BAC members/$12 non-members + tax. Pay at front desk.
MONTHLY TANGO DANCE : First Sunday of every month: Rebecca’s TangoLife Milonga at the marvelous Majestic Ballroom, 1027 N. Forest St, Bellingham. An elegant, monthly gathering place averaging 60-70 Northwest tango dancers from Vancouver to Seattle, Pt Townsend to Bellingham. Traditional tango music by the best NW DJ’s. 6:30-10:30 pm, $12 entrada.
Private Tango Lessons: Afternoons, some evenings, weekends. $40/hour for one person or one couple, $50/1.5 hour. Beginning through upper intermediate. Posture, embrace and walking tune-up, then coaching on how tango works to create comfortable, creative steps.
Also: Field trips to other Northwest area workshops and Milongas (tango dances), Guerrilla Tango events, charity dance demonstrations, and counseling for those developing a tango shoe fetish…
Why I love Argentine Tango:
This dance is designed to put men and women in a highly respectful yet playful relationship to one another. Whether we interpret the music fast, slow, serious or silly, we are always striving to be conscious of our partner’s needs and desires. On the receiving side, it is unconditional adoration to great music. In suits, black fishnets and high heels. How cool is that?
But seriously, my symptoms of Argentine Tango addiction include a certificate from the Seminario Intensivo de Oscar y Georgina Mandagaran in Buenos Aires, 3 months intensive tango training and dancing in Los Angeles in 2008, private and group lessons from Eva and Patricio, Alicia Pons, Robert Hauk, Susana Miller, Mariam Larici, Tete, Facundo Posadas, Christy Cotes, Elba & Nito, Alex Krebs, Jennifer Olsen, Carlos & Mayte, Mateo & Patricia, Natalia Hills, Aurora & Luciano, Rebecca Shulman, Brigitte Winkler, Nick Jones and others. I attend several major tango festivals each year to continue my training (and joy!), which draw 300-600 dancers to their grand tango milongas. And I own an embarrassing number of tango shoes.
My dance history:
Ballet—I worried I could not tie my ballet shoes at 4 yrs old, which built empathy for all newcomers to the dance world.
Jazz—Yea, baby, this is fun stuff: kicks, turns, cartwheels, the art of placing bodies in shapes that represent the music.
Modern dance—further freedom to dance the musical story. Have you danced like an elephant? Ostrich? Sadness? Ecstasy?
Rock and Roll—“She was a black magic woman…”
Belly Dance/Hula—Need I say more? Fabulous exercise, full-body expression.
Ballroom—Can you do it with a partner?? At 45 I discovered boys who would engage in dance.
Argentine Tango—All of the above. Fear, fun, freedom, expression, engagement, magic, ecstasy. Since 2005, from Buenos Aires to LA to Vancouver, BC. Plus that time in Orlando…
