UPDATE: 1st SoCo Tango Co-Op Dance Set Sept. 19

At least, that’s the idea behind SoCo Tango Co-op, a new group planning to host regular practice nights in Sonoma County for Argentine Tango dancers from throughout the Bay Area.

Practicas, as the practice sessions are known in tango-speak, are regular events in many other tango communities on the East Bay, in San Francisco, Marin and many other locales.  The practicas are informal dances that serve to prepare the less experienced dancers for the more challenging milongas – or formal tango dances. 

Dancers in Sonoma County have not had their own practicas for several years, said SoCo Co-op organizer Dyana Foldvary, a longtime tango dancer and teacher in the Bay Area.  As a result, local tangueros and tangueras have been forced to drive long distances in order to connect with other dancers and to make progress in their tango studies – a process that can take many months or years.

“We are very excited,” Foldvary said of the growing interest in SoCo Tango Co-op, which has its second organizational meeting on Saturday, Aug. 17. 

“The rewards of realizing our dream of a practica are many,” she added. “Developing a true community of tango dancers; saving gasoline; and creating the possibility of not only having regular practicas, but even having our own regular milonga in the foreseeable future.” 

Lorna Ho of Santa Rosa, one of about 20 people at the first SoCo Tango Co-op organizational meeting on Aug. 3, said she used to dance Argentine Tango three or four nights a week when she lived in Eugene, Oregon. But, since moving to Sonoma County six or seven years ago, she rarely dances except if she drives into San Francisco, she said.

“I’m really glad we’re doing this,” Ho said.

Dyana Foldvary told the group on Aug. 3 that she wondered “why don’t we have a robust tango community in Sonoma County” when other, smaller areas – such as Mendocino and Ukiah, for example -- have regular practicas and milongas. The difference, she said, is that the other areas have set up regular practicas. 

“The practica is the bridge to the milonga,” Foldvary said. “The newer dancers need a safe place to practice until they’re ready for the milonga.”

While the practica is intended for all levels of dancers, Foldvary said she hoped that the experienced dancers in the Co-op who come to the practicas would help the beginning students by dancing with them. 

“Beginners will not rise up if they only dance with other beginners,” Foldvary said.

SoCo Tango Co-op is planning to set up a weekly or thrice-monthly practicas, likely Thursday nights or Saturday afternoons in Santa Rosa. The group is in the process of polling its members to see which times and which locations would work best.

The organization also intends to offer mini-lessons before the practicas, possibly engaging other area Argentine Tango teachers on a rotating basis. Each practica would also have a tango teacher on hand as a “guide” if dancers have questions on form or technique during the course of the practice sessions.

For more information on SoCo Tango Co-op, email Foldvary at socotango@gmail.com