Shall We Dance?

Tango, Salsa, & Samba

Words by Sommer Brugal Photos by Eric Morales

Monica Caivano didn’t think she was going to be the ambassador of Argentinian culture in Austin. Yet, as the co-founder and current director of Esquina Tango, she’s embracing her role, using dance and community gatherings to do just that.

Caivano was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and moved to Austin with her parents at 17. Having danced tango for years prior, she continued to dance—and ultimately began teaching—upon arriving in Austin.

Operating as a non-profit dance studio since opening its doors in 2006, Esquina Tango initially set out to teach tango. Though the growth has been completely organic, the current schedule has expanded to offer samba, bachata, and salsa lessons.

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“Growing up in Argentina, I was close to Brazil, so I grew up loving Samba. So after a while, I wanted to [offer] samba classes here, too,” Caivano explains. “The growth was a combination of our interests, the desires of our students, and the talent of our friends.” In addition to dance, they even offer a Spanish language class at the request of their students.

While dance and movement remain at the center of Esquina Tango’s operations, its mission is about much more than just the steps of a dance routine. Instead, its aim remains to bridge between cultural and human elements, offering educational and social events regularly, like concerts featuring Latin American bands, or screenings of Latin American movies, and most recently, an Argentinian orchestra performance.

In opening and growing Esquina Tango, Caviano has created a warm, inviting space where people of all ethnicities, ages, and genders can start relationships, become friends, and dance partners. Caviano admits fostering a safe place for her students to learn and grow is the most important thing she’s accomplished.

Without hesitation, Caviano enthuses that her favorite aspect of the studio is “the people.” “Teaching someone to dance is an amazing journey,” she leans in. “It’s amazing to see how much of a gift it is to people, to see the enrichment they get when they discover they can dance.” She smiles and adds, “Esquina Tango is more than just a dance studio; it’s a community.” esquinatangoaustin.com

To read more about the social activities Austin has to offer, click here.