Tango Los Angeles Edmundo & Elizabeth Thomas

Great tango teachers! Informative, enriching and fun! They moved to Vegas but still give a class here in LA once a month on a Sunday.

I regularly thank my lucky stars that Edmundo and Elizabeth are my teachers. I’m an avid tanguera and have taken classes with them for years, yet I’m always learning more from them. As instructors they combine a deep understanding of technique with a great love for the dance as well as vast knowledge of the history of tango. In class, they work with each student according to that student’s level and know how to discern and analyze movement; that is, they can make that little correction that makes all the difference. Besides their tremendous skill, integrity, and generosity in teaching, they are wonderful people, full of humor, compassion, and intelligence. Their Tuesday night class at Hama Dance focuses on close embrace. On Sundays, students can take a 3-​hour sequence of classes (or opt for just one or two segments) covering: (1) Stretching and technique, (2) milonga, and (3) tango, the latter usually focusing on open embrace movements. Typically, Edmundo and Elizabeth also give students extra time after class to practice. I recommend them whole-​heartedly to anyone wanting to learn tango, whether beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

Edmundo & Elizabeth are a cornerstone to my tango development. Edmundo’s teaching style is very light hearted and he brings an essence of purity that is hard to find. It’s rare that I find someone who loves his job so much, and what he loves to do is share his knowledge. He reminds me of the some Italian uncle in the movies who slaps you on the cheek and tells you that you’re doing a good job. He has a way to make you feel like family and everyone there is very encouraging. Elizabeth is very technical. She is a hawk on technique and she accepts nothing but excellent execution. When I see her smile at a technique I’m practicing, I’m crying inside because all my efforts were not in vain.
If you want to learn Argentine Tango, by far, Sunday’s are the best quality for dollar value. 3 classes for $ 25? That’s unheard of. The first class is a stretch and technique class. Now some men might think, why do I need to stretch and walk by myself, but I will stress that this is not just a warm-​up class, but a class that builds awareness and sensitivity. I use it to wake up the connections in my body and be aware of limitations and work on my technique and balance. This 45 minute class will help you absorb the materials for later classes and we can all work on our individual technique.
What I also love about Sunday is that there is a class dedicated to milonga. Milonga in general is quite intimidating for most people and many instructors do this dance a disservice by just saying it’s «just a fast tango» Edmundo can help you crack the code and demystify milonga. If you want to stand out in a pool of amazing dancers, get good in milonga, and this is the place to do it.
What I love most about these 3 classes, there’s 30 minutes of practice in between the classes. Most studios boot you out after the class, and when do you practice when it’s fresh in your mind? And this practice time doesn’t cost a thing. So, 3 classes for $ 25? How can you lose?
Check out their website at
. They teach Tuesdays and Sundays at the Hama Dance Center.