Jennifer, Peter & Tango South

our beginnings and intentions…
Tango South was conceived during the Summer of 2007, with the aim of forming a Tango community in Central Southern England.  Based in and around Farnham, our goal is to foster the Salon style of Argentine Tango through a range of classes, prácticas and special workshops.

This website gives a wide range of information about Tango and Tango South, but the quickest way to find out what’s on is through the Weekly Schedule and the Diary. The latest news and important messages are posted on the News page.

who are we…
Peter & Jennifer met through Tango in 2005 and started teaching together soon after in order to share the fun and passion we have for this dance with others. We are fascinated by the original Salon style of Argentine Tango, which, as a totally improvised dance, relies on the connection and understanding between the man and the woman to create a unique and very special experience. We have both studied Tango in Buenos Aires as well as with visiting Maestros in the UK. There’s more about our approach here.

Meanwhile, a bit more about us individually…

Jennifer Hudson
During her teen years Jennifer danced Ballroom socially, with a little disco dancing on occasions, then spent over 40 years in either a career or bringing up her family.

She found Tango by accident when she was in her 50’s.  But Tango for her at that time was disappointingly stuck in the tradition of teaching choreography based steps, with a gymnastic approach often taught by classically trained dancers – rather than on the Salon style of improvisation and connection.

With many breaks from Tango along the way, after five fruitless years she gave up.

Then a chance opportunity came for her to teach Tango, where she met Peter.  Through Peter she found renewed enthusiasm, and discovered they could both have a profound influence how this dance can be learned – and taught.

Peter & Jennifer began Tango South in 2007 and from the outset taught Tango in the traditional improvised Salon style.  During 2009 they studied together in Buenos Aires where they gained new insights into their own dance, which they now share with their students.   It was only at this time Jennifer bought her first real pair of Tango Dance Shoes!

Now over 60, with her own physique and flexibility more limited, she has developed her Tango within the possibilities of her own body and movement, and this has helped her develop even greater empathy with students of all ages, helping them to create their own dance and protect it.

So it’s never too late to start.

Jennifer’s special skill as a teacher is in fine observation of the technical movement in the dance. She believes that good basic technique is the essential pre-requisite on which to build Tango and its more creative and expressive elements.  She has adopted this same approach to the challenges of leading and is comfortable dancing and teaching in the leader’s role.

Jennifer originally trained in modelling, beauty therapy, colour, image and style. She is very aware of the physical movement of the body, with many years’ experience of body building and weight training.

Over the years, her additional training in the arts and her shamanic work has helped her to understand people’s differing needs and reactions to learning. Her further development as a Master Reiki healer as well as Graphology and Tarot have all added to her intuitive understanding of the emotional and psychological aspects of Tango.

 

Peter Okell-Walker
Peter’s involvement in Tango – dancing, teaching, playing and DJing – allows him to combine the major passions in his life. Originally trained as a classical musician (he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London) he discovered Argentine Tango in 2002 whilst teaching at a Summer School for classical guitarists and was immediately hooked. Since then he has immersed himself in Tango and has studied with a number of teachers and visiting maestros in the UK and in Buenos Aires.

Totally enchanted by some of the most wonderful popular music ever written, he has embarked on an ongoing study of Tango music and, as a keen performer, has played at many Milongas throughout the south of England, combining guitar and vocals.  He DJs regularly at Milongas, and runs workshops on various aspects of Tango music for a range of audiences.

Peter’s teaching style is largely influenced by another passion –  adult learning. He has been an organisation consultant, trainer and coach for many years.  His special interest is in releasing the energy and creativity we all have, but which so often remain unexpressed.  In Tango he finds a wonderful combination of discipline and freedom – fundamental to creative expression in any artistic field.  He is always ready to explore innovative ways of teaching:  he has used African drumming to help people dance in time with the music, and taught Tango to top management teams to help them experience leading and following in their bodies as well as in their heads!