Maria Elena Ybarra
TANGO
WHAT IS TANGO?
Tango is a unique social dance, an art form and a cultural movement.
Music, Dance and Poetry englobe one of the most exquisite and collective expressions a community could create. Originated in Buenos Aires in the late 1800’, Tango conjugates a melange of traditions, folklore and essence of immigrants, slaves and criollos settling around and beyond the Port of Rio de La Plata.
The School
At MY ARGENTINE TANGO we promote and teach Tango with love and respect for our culture. We aim to inspire the curious offering them the tools to develop their own style and uniqueness. With generosity, patience and understanding we receive with open heart the novice, the intermediate as well as the more experienced.
Maria Elena Ybarra, Owner, Founder and Teacher.
(+1) 646-546-5400
Photo by [ideasrojas]
Schedule
* Group Classes in NYC
Starts February 13th
Mondays 7-8:30 pm- Open Level
@Ripley Grier 131 w 72nd Street
* Milonga Workshops in NYC
(Collaboration with Maria Jose Sosa and Alejo de los Reyes)
Saturday February 11st @ Ripley Grier 520 8th Ave 17H
* FEB: 2-5 Workshops in Upstate New York
Ithaca, Rochester and more
More info: mygotango@gmail.com
Photos
Videos
Maria Elena Ybarra the instructor engages with Tango dancers effectively providing clear instructions and demonstrations of the art of Tango dancing.
Maria the performer is a spectacle to behold.
She is one of VivaTango’s favorite guest artists.
- Dennis Matthies
Organizer at VivaTango
It was a combination of her rhythm and musicality, her quickness, playfulness, timing, her posture, embrace, balance, her walk.
I was taken out of the physical plane and catapulted to another dimension. I was transformed, transfixed, transcendentalized.
She is an accomplished leader of men and women.
A few times in a private lesson she led me for over an hour with my eyes closed...and I'm a big guy.
When she returns to NY I will study with her again. She is high on my short list of tango teachers and dancers to recommend.
- Batt Johnson
New York, New York
Testimonials
TEACHER | PERFORMER | SOCIAL DANCER
Apart from being a terrific dancer, Maria provides me with a strong foundation; detailed, thorough and intensive technical background.
Recuerdo
Maria Elena Ybarra & Facundo Barrionuevo
Al Verla Pasar
Maria Elena Ybarra & Facundo Barrionuevo
Milonga
Maria Elena Ybarra & Facundo Barrionuevo
It was a pleasure to receive María Elena Ybarra at Carthage College for a series of performances and classes. She is an exquisite tango dancer, displaying a wonderful stage presence, a flair of grace, subtle delicacy, and a distinctive style.
Authentic tango dancing is challenging, yet she made it simple when teaching basic skills to a beginners class.
- Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Chair of Music Dept. at Carthage College
The technical aspect is always at the service of the ultimate artistic purpose...
which Maria is able to convey when her sophisticated musical interpretation transforms into tango choreography.
Maria is the ideal teacher for someone who is looking for a highly professional and demanding teacher, who would be engaged in every step of the process.
- Renana Gutman
Musician
No Me Extraña
Maria Elena Ybarra & Orlando Reyes Ibarra
De Pura Cepa (Milonga)
Maria Elena Ybarra (Leader) & Naomi Harris
About
MARIA ELENA YBARRA
I am a professional tango dancer, teacher and choreographer from Argentina. I have been dancing for over twenty years and teaching for more than twelve. My traditional technique has been influenced by great Argentine Tango teachers and masters such as Carlos and Maria Rivarola, Carlos and Rosa Perez, and Natalia Games and Gabriel Angio with whom I have studied and still study.
I have taught tango in Buenos Aires and throughout the US, participating in several festivals and workshops: Boston Tango Festival, Valentango, Portland-Oregon, Denver Labor Day Tango Festival, Princeton Tango Festival, Ann Arbor Fire & Ice Tango Festival, Portland October Fest, Tango Sutra DC, Albuquerque Tango Festival, San Diego Tango Festival, and Tango Element. I Have also taught workshops at CU Tango-Illinois, University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt University, as well as regular classes at Yale, Princeton, and Columbia University.
In 2016, I had the honor to go on tour, teaching Tango Dance, Tango History and performing along with Facundo Barrionuevo and two renown argentine musicians from Buenos Aires - Eduardo Tami and Leandro Marquesano - taking our show to Le Moyne College NY, Goucher College Maryland, Grand Valley State University Michigan, Carthage College Wisconsin and Missouri Western State University.
My classes are dynamic and fun and provide my students with a solid but versatile technique that allows them to enjoy the dance, connecting with the music and their partners. Teaching and performing as both a leader and follower, I aspire to an elegant yet earthy and playful dance. I live in New York City and Buenos Aires; where I teach, perform and dance.
I speak English, Spanish, French and Italian.
TEACHING METHOD
I teach people of all ages and all levels. I teach those interested in the social form as well as the stage form of the dance. In my classes, roles are not associated with gender and I strongly encourage leaders to follow and followers to lead. Starting from simple steps my classes are designed so the students are able to fully comprehend more complex sequences.
From the beginning I emphasize connection with the music and as the students advance I add deeper elements like phrase, rhythm, melody, syncopation.
As a teacher, I believe partner connection and technique are fundamental to succeed in enjoying the dance individually and socially.
Contact