Daniela
Dancing has always been a part of Daniela’s life. She performed her first solo at the age of four and began making dances at 10. But it wasn’t until graduate school that the Argentine blood in her veins manifested itself in a love and pursuit of the Argentine Tango. Once the tango spell had been cast, she went wherever possible in pursuit of its lure, and in the journey she discovered that her grandfather (who passed away shortly after she was born) was a milonguero.
2012 marks her 14th year loving this dance and she has been fortunate to study with many great maestros of varied styles including: Graciela Gonzalez, Luciana Valle, Fabian Salas, Fernanda y Guillermo, Brigitta Winkler, and Tomas Howlin to name a few.
After receiving a Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from Arizona State University in 2000, she moved to New York City and began teaching this exquisite couples dance.
What has always interested her about Argentine Tango is the internal communication and negotiation of the couple that takes place within the dance. A language that people find so personal and captivating that they become obsessed with learning how to tango, obsessed with a desire to understand the music and wanting more – more dances more embraces more information more tango.
She too continues to explore the dance – through theoretical frameworks, through the music, through writings and by visiting Argentina yearly.
For several years, she has been intrigued by the idea of the “evolution” of tango. After presenting a paper at a Dance Conference that explored this idea, she continues to be fascinated with and eagerly watching an emphasis and possible division within the dance due to style variations.
All these factors influence her pedagogy and her teaching methods. The student is first. Learning tango is a lifelong journey. She emphasizes the connection and a basic understanding of walking. She also believes that as a student begins to feel comfortable within the framework of the dance they discover their style.
Her theoretical and technical background in contemporary dance, her enthusiasm and passion, intuitive nature, and artistry contribute to her methods as a dance instructor. Teaching Argentine Tango is her full-time profession. She teaches both the leaders and the followers’ roles locally in Arizona. She receives grants to study in Buenos Aires and returns each year for professional growth. With her unique style and strong focus on social dancing she has taught workshops in San Diego, CA; Charleston, SC; Flagstaff, AZ; Washington DC; Las Cruces, NM; Ann Arbor, MI; and El Paso and Houston, TX as well as assisting classes in Buenos Aires.
