Luciana Valle and Matias Sotto

May 14-18 | Missoula

Description

Tango Missoula is thrilled to bring Luciana Valle & Matias Sotto back to Missoula in 2025. During their stay, Luciana & Matias will teach a guided practica on Wednesday, Thursday night classes, and a weekend workshop with five classes, three milongas, and closing potluck dinner. Private lessons are available throughout their stay.

Schedule

May 14, Wednesday at Amy Ragsdale’s
- 6:00-8:00pm guided practica
May 15, Thursday at Amy Ragsdale’s
- 6:00-7:10pm Basics of Walking 1: Parallel system and the follower’s cross, 7:30-8:40pm Basics of Walking 2: Cross system and variations
May 16, Friday at Spirit of Peace
- 7:00-8:30pm Axis, Walk and Connection
- 8:30pm-midnight milonga with DJ Patrick Marsolek
May 17, Saturday at Spirit of Peace
- 12:30-2:00pm Bottom to Top: From walking to pivoting
- 2:30-4:00pm Top to Bottom: The secret to spirals and torsion
- 8:00pm-midnight grande milonga with guest DJ Tommy Smith and instructor performance at ~11pm
May 18, Sunday
- 12:30-2:00pm Power Turns: Mechanics and structure at Spirit of Peace
- 2:30-4:00pm Center and Circle: Who’s turning around whom? at Spirit of Peace
- 6pm bbq potluck/milonga (dancing starting around 7:30/8pm) with DJ Buell Whitehead at Second Chance Yurt

Sunday Barbeque Potluck & Milonga

Sunday’s bbq potluck and milonga are free and will be hosted at Second Chance Yurt in Potomac. Please sign up to bring a dish for the potluck.

Pricing and Registration

Practica $15/$12 students
Classes $25/$18 students
Friday milonga $15/$12 students
Saturday milonga $25/$18 students
Sunday milonga and bbq free
Weekend workshop packages are $130 or $100 for students with valid student ID ($155 value)

Friday class and milonga, both Saturday classes and milonga, and both Sunday classes–5 classes and 2 milongas–are included in the weekend workshop packages. Guided practica and Thursday classes are not included in the weekend workshop packages and must be purchased a-la-carte. Dancers can pay online or at the door with cash, Venmo, or credit card.

Private Lessons

Private lessons are available with Luciana and Matias, separately and together. All private lessons are hosted at Shelter Designs, 101 N. Johnson Street (see Venue directions below). Email Luciana, lv@lucianavalle.com, and/or Matias, mstangoargentino@gmail.com, directly to schedule your private lesson. Weekend times may be very limited. Private lessons are first come first serve. Students should plan to pay for private lessons in cash at the time of the lesson.

Tango Missoula will host a private lesson raffle for Missoula dancers. Tickets can be purchased starting April 30 at Wednesday practicas, Thursday night classes, and milongas. Winners will be drawn during the May 10 milonga.

Private lesson prices:

Matias, $100/hour
Luciana, $130/hour
Matias & Luciana, $180/hour

Venues

Classes and private lessons will occur at the following locations:

Amy Ragsdale’s Rattlesnake Studio, 1042 Monroe St. (studio is behind main house, do not park in front of the house or in the Greenough Park parking lot)
Spirit of Peace Center, 506 Toole Ave.
Shelter Designs, 101 N. Johnson St. (Shelter Designs Yurt Company is located in an industrial area of Missoula. Once on Johnson St., enter Shelter Designs parking lot by going through the gate to the right at the end of the cul de sac. Private lessons will take place in both of the demonstration yurts. Park anywhere in front of the yurts.)
Second Chance Yurt, Potomac (directions)

Instructor Bios

Luciana and Matias have been working together for more than ten years. They work as a powerful team teaching in Buenos Aires and abroad. Their understanding of the dance, their deep knowledge and technique, and the way they share it with students shows how much they love to teach. Their classes focus on the structure of the dance, the technical keys to moving comfortably and expressively, and the strong connection between leaders and followers that challenge and benefit dancers in both roles.

Luciana Valle

Considered a Teacher of Teachers, with more than 30 years of experience, Luciana Valle is highly regarded for her unique ability to articulate the nuances of Argentine tango to dancers of all levels. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, she is recognized as an influential advocate and instructor with incomparable energy and insights, inspiring students and teachers alike. She is known for her deep understanding of both the leaders’ and followers’ roles, and her talent to convey the biomechanics of movements, making complex actions accessible. Her classes involve thoughtful and progressive presentations of the mechanics, structure, connection between leaders and followers, and musicality of tango, giving her students a greater understanding and command of this complex dance.

Matias Sotto

Matias is a dancer from tango’s new generation with 20 years of experience dancing, performing, and teaching. He is recognized for dancing professionally in both roles. In 2012, he reached the semifinals as the first man to compete in the world championship of tango dancing as a follower.

During the last 10 years, he has taught extensively in Asian countries, and more recently touring all over the US.

Luciana and Matias performing at:

Portland Tango Festival, 2023
Minneapolis

DJ Tommy Smith

Tommy discovered tango in early 2012 in Boise, Idaho, which he still calls home. His skills and interests run the full spectrum: teaching, performing, and organizing – but DJing edges them all out as his top tango passion.

You won’t find Tommy more animated or joyful than when he’s behind the laptop, watching and grooving along with the dancers he’s playing for. His DJ philosophy is simple: play songs that slap, tandas that get dancers’ feet on the floor, and music that will lead to deep connection. Tommy has a holistic approach to DJing, paying special attention to opportunities to enhance the dancer’s experience beyond just choice in music.

To educate and motivate beginning DJs, progressing DJs, and dancers interested in tango music, he puts on semi-regular DJ workshops, both locally and at festivals. Look for Tommy DJing events around North America, such as Marathon Z (DC), Tango on the Rocks (Denver), Austin Spring Tango, and Abrazo (Montreal).

Organizer

Tango Missoula, contact Lisa Ronald (board president), tangomissoula@gmail.com