Local Teachers

After 50 years as a dancer, Michael Walker could teach just about any style of dance he wanted. He chose to specialize in Argentine tango — and has become one of the most sought-after teachers and performers in the Southwest. “Thirty years ago, I saw ‘Tango Argentino.’ At that moment I fell in love!” Michael says. “I was teaching modern ballet and jazz, and tango changed the direction of my dance.” Today, Michael works to instill the passion and the intensity of Argentine tango in his students. “Tango,” he says, “continues to thrill me.” To schedule a lesson with Michael, call him at (505) 479-8257.

Liz Haight began dancing at the age of five. She performed with the Jose Limon Dance Co. at Lincoln Center and later through the Julliard School of Dance. As an adolescent, she was a scholarship student at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, where she trained with Judith Jamison. Liz began Latin social dancing in 1991 and taught all forms of Latin social dance from 1997-2007. She has been studying and dancing Argentine tango since 1998. While she has studied all forms of tango, her love lies in close-embrace Milonguero-style tango - the tango of the Golden Age and the tango of the crowded dance floors of Buenos Aires. In this style, she has studied extensively with Ricardo Vidort, Alicia Pons, and Osvaldo & Coca Cartery (2004 world champions). She has been teaching tango since 2002 and works full-time teaching exclusively Milonguero Style Argentine tango both privately and in group classes. In addition, she teaches tango nationally in weekend workshops and Encuentros. She and Masami taught for a number of years at tango festivals in the US. Liz assisted Ricardo Vidort, her teacher and renowned Milonguero, in two of the Denver Tango Festivals in 2005. In 2010, Liz developed, with a team, a national network of Milonguero Style tango events called "Encuentros" providing opportunities for Milonguero Style social dancers to create community and dance together in North America. Liz has now developed "Study Encuentros" where people interested in this style can gather and study intensively and where people new to this style can study and integrate with more ease in the Encuentros. Liz's love of people, her technical ability in both leading and following, and her passion for the energetic and emotional elements of the dance have led her to develop effective ways of teaching not only the physical and functional aspects of the dance, but also its more elusive, transcendent qualities. Her exploratory form of teaching allows for a visceral experience of tango as a form of communication, creativity, connection, and the joy of self-expression. For question call Liz at 505-699-0106

Christa Rodriguez embarked on her tango journey in 2003 in Seattle, where her passion for the dance quickly flourished. Almost immediately, she began assisting in classes, demonstrating her enthusiasm and dedication to the art form. By 2006, Christa had become one of the main instructors at The 8th Style School of Tango, taking on the added responsibility of managing the school, where she nurtured countless dancers in their tango pursuits. In 2013, Christa took her love for tango on the road, embarking on a transformative tour across Europe and North America, where she taught and performed, sharing her expertise and passion for the dance with diverse audiences. In 2016, she settled in the enchanting town of Santa Fe, where she continued her mission to teach and grow the local tango community. When the world shifted in 2020, Christa embraced the digital age, launching online tango classes via Zoom, offering her expertise and support for donations. This initiative remains active today, reflecting her commitment to providing accessible education and fostering connection through dance. In recent years, Christa has concentrated her efforts on revitalizing the tango scene in Santa Fe and Taos. Her dedication to bringing new dancers into the fold and creating a vibrant tango community continues to thrive, as she welcomes friends and newcomers alike into the captivating world of tango. With her passion and expertise, Christa Rodriguez stands as a beacon of inspiration in the dance community, making her mark one step at a time.

I’ve been dancing Tango since the mid-nineties, and it’s been a lifelong love affair ever since. From my teenage years to now, dancing Tango has given me countless joys—especially the music, the movement, and the incredible people who share the passion. There’s something deeply special about the intensity and dedication of the Tango community. We get crazy intense about our practice, and that’s what makes us such extraordinary dancers. Over the last three decades, I’ve had the privilege of studying with some of the best Tango dancers and teachers in the world. As I’ve grown both as a dancer and as a person (I’m now in my 40s!), my relationship to Tango has evolved. While I still love the intensity of our dance, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty in simplicity and elegance. Now, the focus for me is on taking care of my body while still expressing the passion and connection that Tango brings. That’s why I’ve put together this course for you. These solo drills and exercises are some of my favorites, gathered from years of experience and carefully selected for their effectiveness, practicality, and infallibility. They’re designed to help you improve your technique, build your confidence, and make your practice more mindful and enjoyable. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just beginning your Tango journey, these exercises will support you in making consistent progress, while ensuring you remain connected to the essence of the dance. I’m so excited to share these with you, and I hope you’ll find as much joy in them as I have over the years. Let’s dance!

Elli began partner dancing in May of 1998 at the teen center Warehouse 21 in Santa Fe, NM and fell in love with this art form! Initially learning then teaching swing dancing, she later also dove into Argentine Tango. Elli has since taught, danced, performed, and competed in these styles and in places as far flung as Argentina & Sweden.

Mike started partner dancing in a ballroom studio in Santa Fe in 1997, teaching all ballroom styles before focusing on swing dance. His dedication to teaching and growing the swing scene in Santa Fe is remarkable. He is also passionate about Argentine Tango.

Shahin Medghalchi is a well-traveled Argentine Tango dancer in North America, Europe and Argentina. A sensational dancer and a skilled teacher, Shahin was trained by masters of tango from Buenos Aires through her travels since 1998. Since 2002 she has been very successful in teaching musicality, rhythm, connection and, more than ever, the basics and fundamentals of movement for Argentine Tango dancers at all levels. Shahin’s expertise is Social Floor Technique – teaching people to enjoy dancing at milongas (dancing tango universally) while maintaining a harmonious flow with other couples on the floor. This includes creativity, interpretation of the music, connection to one’s center, one’s partner, and to the music. Her approach facilitates confidence in and enjoyment of tango dancing. Extremely detail oriented, her lessons are engaging and technical. Shahin believes that every step out there being taught to be danced on an open floor or stage can be danced in the embrace and in a smaller, contained version on the social floor. This is her specialty of focus. Her workshops have been described as "unforgettable". Shahin teaches lessons at her studio "The Tango House of Santa Fe" (located at 1201 Don Diego Avenue on the corner of Cordova Road), on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Santa Fe lessons are private for singles and couples. To learn about details, please call Shahin at (505) 920-9987. You may check the calendar at http://www.thetangohousesf.com/classes-events/ for Contact information: (505) 920-9987 Or ellatidodeltango@artsfe.com

Carolyn Stoklosa, P.T., has been a licensed physical therapist since 1992 with a specialty in dance-related injury. She has vast experience treating a variety of medical conditions and owned a busy outpatient physical therapy clinic for 20 years. Carolyn has treated professional dancers from companies including Hubbard Street, The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Momix, The Hong Kong Ballet, and Juan Siddi Flamenco. She has been a member of The International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) since 2018 and has taken continuing education for medical professionals treating dancers since 2008. She will be presenting on tango therapeutic interventions at the annual IADMS convention in 2024. Carolyn began ballet lessons at the age of 4 and went on to study at The San Francisco Ballet School on full scholarship, attended The Robert Joffrey Summer Intensive Program, and Majored in Dance at the Juilliard School. Carolyn has performed in theaters across the US and was a professional ballerina with the Pacific Northwest Ballet and The Texas Ballet companies. She began dancing tango in 2003, studying tango in the US and Buenos Aires, and has attended tango events all over the world. Carolyn combines her knowledge as a physical therapist, ballerina, and tanguera to help dancers optimize their technique and prevent injuries. To learn more about Carolyn, schedule a class (group or private), and to see a full resume, visit physiodancer.com or check out her YouTube channel, @physiodancernm. Contact: physiodancer@gmail.com

Peter is a long-time Santa Fe teacher, who studied Argentine tango for many years in New York City with American, Argentine and European teachers, some famous, some obscure. In his instruction he uses both basic and more advanced steps to teach the fundamentals of connection, balance, and poise that create ease, comfort, and beauty in the dance, and open up myriad possibilities for improvisation and musical expression. Peter is available for private lessons. phone: (505) 474-2801 email: connecttango@aol.com

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