What is ContactTango Laboratory?
This is an experiment. We are a diverse group of dancers aiming to explore movement at the intersection of two well established dance forms: Contact Improvisation and Argentine Tango. Do we know precisely what ContactTango is? No, not quite yet. But we do KNOW when it happens, and so will you if you are courageous enough to join us.
Current Collaborators Include:
Chantelle Hougland - Principal Investigator, Teacher, Instigator/Organizer
Melih Sener - Co-Conspirator In Charge of Poetry and Creative Non Sequiturs
Jeff Wallace - Resident Artist, Teacher, and Captain of Airborne Exploration
Rob Welcher - Chicago Crew Captain. Fasten Your Seat belts.
Dorothy Martirano - Resident Artist/Musician/Spiritual Levening
David Lakein - Artist, Teacher, and Rukusmaker
Bruno Pavanelli de Azeredo - Inspiration Embodied
Tajal Patel - Dancer and Sparkling Muse
Sandra Hendrix-López - Vivacious Researcher, Teacher, and Thought Leader
Kuruvilla George - Smoldering Tango Dancer y Corazon del Jam
Patricia Hruby Powell - Resident Artist, Teacher, Grapefruit Roller
Chris Reyman - Resident Artist/Musician and Crazy-Talented Dancing Non-Dancer
Yuki Yoshida - Dancer and Bubbling Muddle Puddle Bump Builder
Emeritus Collaborators Include:
Hallie Aldrich - Artist, Teacher, Executive Mischief Maker In Charge of Removing All Boxes, Impediments and Limitations
Cheryl Cameron - Powerhouse of Fabulosity In Charge of Executive Inspiration, Community Building and Outreach
Jan Saam - Virtual Collaborator and CEO of the European Office
Drew Wagner - Virtual Dancer and Harmonica Wrangler
Current Collaborators Include:
Chantelle Hougland - Principal Investigator, Teacher, Instigator/Organizer
Melih Sener - Co-Conspirator In Charge of Poetry and Creative Non Sequiturs
Jeff Wallace - Resident Artist, Teacher, and Captain of Airborne Exploration
Rob Welcher - Chicago Crew Captain. Fasten Your Seat belts.
Dorothy Martirano - Resident Artist/Musician/Spiritual Levening
David Lakein - Artist, Teacher, and Rukusmaker
Bruno Pavanelli de Azeredo - Inspiration Embodied
Tajal Patel - Dancer and Sparkling Muse
Sandra Hendrix-López - Vivacious Researcher, Teacher, and Thought Leader
Kuruvilla George - Smoldering Tango Dancer y Corazon del Jam
Patricia Hruby Powell - Resident Artist, Teacher, Grapefruit Roller
Chris Reyman - Resident Artist/Musician and Crazy-Talented Dancing Non-Dancer
Yuki Yoshida - Dancer and Bubbling Muddle Puddle Bump Builder
Emeritus Collaborators Include:
Hallie Aldrich - Artist, Teacher, Executive Mischief Maker In Charge of Removing All Boxes, Impediments and Limitations
Cheryl Cameron - Powerhouse of Fabulosity In Charge of Executive Inspiration, Community Building and Outreach
Jan Saam - Virtual Collaborator and CEO of the European Office
Drew Wagner - Virtual Dancer and Harmonica Wrangler
Just a thought...or two...
"Tango is, of course, more than just a dance. It is the heritage of an entire culture. Countless works of art, stories, compositions, and choreographies are created within its context. Countless people dance it every day in awe and gratitude. With a very respectful nod to the origins of the tango, let me say that what is proposed here is not meant to be a replacement for any of this. It is simply something...different. Perhaps it is something new..." -Melih
"Line, shape, space, movement, velocity, rhythm, pattern, speed, punctuation - the tools a dancer uses to express something deep, profound, and personal; the "essence" of any dance. I find Tango irresistible because these elements are always present, but their full expression requires collaboration. Whether my partner and I fly around the dance floor executing jumps and lifts, or we simply stroll into and through the music, cheek to cheek, it is our deeper connections to one another and to our third partner, the music, that creates the beauty of the dance. I want the WHOLE experience of Tango. The old and the new. The beautiful history (traditional technique) as well as the evolved forms of Tango in their entirety. I want to know Tango at its core, and explore all its edges. I believe it is the only way I can truly express my full love and respect of this captivating art form." -Chantelle
"Line, shape, space, movement, velocity, rhythm, pattern, speed, punctuation - the tools a dancer uses to express something deep, profound, and personal; the "essence" of any dance. I find Tango irresistible because these elements are always present, but their full expression requires collaboration. Whether my partner and I fly around the dance floor executing jumps and lifts, or we simply stroll into and through the music, cheek to cheek, it is our deeper connections to one another and to our third partner, the music, that creates the beauty of the dance. I want the WHOLE experience of Tango. The old and the new. The beautiful history (traditional technique) as well as the evolved forms of Tango in their entirety. I want to know Tango at its core, and explore all its edges. I believe it is the only way I can truly express my full love and respect of this captivating art form." -Chantelle