J Abling ~ Shared Dynamics & Communicating Musicality: 2 More Saturdays

Two Saturdays remain in our series exploring how to share dynamic impulses and musical interpretation with a partner. Shared Dynamics, and Communicating Musicality, are TWO topics J has taught in other cities to great acclaim. We are lucky to have J visiting NYC for a few more weeks this spring ~ I've been learning a lot from him during his stay, and hope many of you will join us, and be inspired to imbue your own dancing with greater shared musicality and dynamics. Or the other way around 😉 We'll do a bit of each topic in each class. We expect most dancers to come without partners and rotate, but if you want to bring a partner, that's okay too. More about dates/times/rooms/prices below J's class description and bio 🙂 ~ About J ~ J Abling is an Argentine Tango instructor with over 26 years of teaching experience across North America and Europe. He has taught, performed, and DJ’d in major cities throughout the United States and has been invited to teach in Sweden, Switzerland, and Lithuania. His pedagogical approach is shaped by a multidisciplinary foundation in classical music, martial arts, and graphic art. By integrating auditory, kinesthetic, and visual learning, he offers students multiple pathways into understanding tango — structurally, musically, and physically. As a classically trained vocalist and musician, he brings particular sensitivity to phrasing, dynamics, and orchestral interpretation. J is especially valued for his ability to communicate complex technique with clarity and patience, creating an environment where students feel both challenged and supported. His teaching emphasizes structure, connection, and musical dialogue, helping dancers develop not only refined movement, but deeper awareness and confidence in the embrace. Shared Dynamics: Every dancer has their own range of movement qualities—smooth or sharp, light or grounded, expansive or contained. But tango becomes truly magical when those qualities are shared between partners. We’ll explore how to recognize, communicate, and co-create dynamics within the embrace. We’ll focus on how we move together—discovering how shared dynamics can turn tango into a true dialogue. Communicating Musicality: We’ll also explore how partners can share their musical ideas without losing connection. We’ll look at ways to create a dialogue where both dancers can contribute to the musical expression through timing and subtle signals in the embrace. The goal is a dance where individual musical expression is not suppressed but amplified through collaboration. Workshops will be Saturdays from 2:30-4:30 around the corner from Mariela's Practica, at: 520 Eighth Avenue between 36th & 37th Streets. Please bring ID to show security downstairs to enter the building. DATES: Saturday April 11 (J will teach this one alone) Saturday April 18 (Rebecca will be back in town for this one) Prices: $65 drop-in price Both Saturdays: $120 (paid by the first of the two) If you're curious about the level: anyone from intermediate on would benefit from these classes. Message Rebecca here on FB with questions or to tell us you're coming, or email me at [email protected], or 917.828.1250 Rebecca will teach with J on April 18, so here's a bit about her if you don't know her. April will see Rebecca completing 35 years dancing tango, and she's been teaching almost as long. She learned first from Danny Trenner and then from all his many teachers in Buenos Aires, legendary milongueros all of them. She's also worked with many partners from North and South America and Europe, and likes to share the best tips and teaching she heard in their classes. She's known for a light touch and expressive musicality. She coordinated a team of 10 tango teachers at Dance Manhattan for two decades, has taught every level and style of tango for many years, has taught workshops and at festivals all over the country, and has performed both theatrical tango and many improvisations