Sara Thomsen & Greg Thomsen

email: puresarat (hotmail.com)
phone: (206) 354-5266

Greg took his first swing lesson 45 years ago from his mother, an instructor for Arthur Murray studios. But swing gave way to bop, and then to dancing that no longer really required a partner. Slow dancing became a monotonous shuffle without style or imagination. Other interests replaced social dancing. His focus shifted to certification as a ski instructor, sailing, designing and constructing houses, and raising a family.

Several decades later he and his daughter Sara revived a family tradition when they learned ballroom dance, including international tango. Seven years ago, he read an article describing Argentine-style tango, which piqued his interest. He wanted to know, for example, why a dance would stimulate colloquialisms such as, "it takes two to tango." After attending a few classes it became necessary to study tango in some depth. Living on Orcas Island at the time, he began commuting to lessons and the Friday night dance in Seattle. Over the next few years, he attended classes with all the local instructors and nearly all the seminars and workshops featuring visiting talent from Buenos Aires to learn the elements and figures of tango. He now lives in Seattle and teaches tango with his daughter Sara.

Although the tango steps are important, they are not especially more remarkable than the steps to many other dances. He believes posture, balance, timing, attitude, and attention to the movements of the woman are the sine qua non of tango. It is those elements that give tango its elegance, its style, its sensuality, its distinctiveness.

Sara has trained and performed in dozens of dance styles however, Argentine Tango is her favorite to dance and teach. She has the usual background of ballet, jazz, and modern dance, martial arts, and partner dancing spanning the last 11 years. In addition she studies and teaches Yoga.

Sara's teaching focuses on the enjoyment that dancing can bring. She works on removing the struggle from learning, and concentrates on relishing the music, connection, and sensuality of the dance. This is gained through clean technique and the wonderful feeling of movement which comes from understanding both leading and following. Throughout her five years of teaching Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Tango, Sara has maintained a strong passion for teaching and sharing her knowledge of dance in a friendly, non-competitive environment.