Tango Butterfly is a Tango ONLY school started by Dana Parker, after she moved to Melbourne in 2010.
Her idea was to establish a space to support the cultivation of the dance, and to respect the music and history, of contemporary Argentine Tango in Australia.
Dana’s desire is to engender a love for an all-inclusive form of social Tango, that is, one that emphasises the individualisation of the dance and its unique ‘experiencing’ as it unravels. Highlighting its origins, as an improvised form of couple’s dancing.
The mission is to provide classes focussing on social tango; including, an understanding of roles in the dance (lead/follow), how connection is established (embodiment), the importance of musicality (timing), and an awareness of etiquette (relating) in social Tango.
Experiencing tango at a Tango Milonga (social dance) is the ultimate goal – as classes are for learning the ‘art’ of tango, and attending Practicas (or practice sessions) acts as a ‘half-way house’ between classes and the Tango Milonga.
While the Tango Butterfly Studio was originally opened up in Glen Iris, VIC, Dana is now based in the Northern Rivers area of NSW, Australia.
Business Profile: Tango Butterfly
First began: in Melbourne, December 2011
Specialty: Contemporary social Argentine Tango: tango as danced in the salons of Buenos Aires, in Australia and around the world today.
Primary Focus: To provide dancing lessons, support services and advice to those who want to learn and experience authentic social Tango.
Secondary Focus: To cultivate respect for the lead/follow relationship, and an awareness of relating through touch, movement and dance.
SOCIAL Focus: To espouse a culture of respect for men and women by delivering classes that emphasise social skills, relational techniques to maximise interaction satisfaction, intimacy and enhance the feeling of personal safety on the social dance floor.
Principal Teacher and founder: Dana Parker, B.A hons.
Social Tango in Australia 