Mariano Chicho Frumboli, Juana SepulvedaJon Lambert, Dana FrigoliLjubljana International Tango Festival

Roots to rise

by Jon Lambert and Dana Frigoli

ROOTS TO RISE is a progressive tango learning experience designed to give dancers a refined, biomechanically sound foundation from which to explore movement, connection, and musicality.

Developed from over 15 years of teaching experience at DNI Tango, this 3-part seminar and 4 open group classes offer a deep dive into tango's structure, mechanics, and expressive potential.

The program follows a clear progression: from grounding and body awareness to spirals, turns, ochos, sacadas, ganchos, boleos, and shared-axis movements.

Each class integrates somatic exploration, real-time partner experimentation, and repeatable patterns that help students internalize technique in a musical, embodied way.

This is not just tango training.
It is movement intelligence in action.

Before: Disconnected movements, habitual dancing, limited trust in technique
After: A connected body, flowing improvisation, and a deeper understanding of tango’s invisible architecture

Seminar
part 1 Finding the Axis: Grounding, Walking & the Embrace as Dialogue
part 2 Spirals, Pivots & Sacadas: Unlocking Clarity in Movement
part 3 The Tango Variation: Integrating Structure & Musicality
Open classes
class 1 The Embrace as a Living Bridge: Connection, Energy & Intention
class 2 Turns & Shared Axis: Coordinating Energy in Motion
class 3 Free Leg, Free Expression: Ganchos & Boleos with Intention
class 4 Musicality in Action: Dancing the Pause, Playing with Accents

Seminar

SEMINAR PART 1
Finding the Axis: Grounding, Walking & the Embrace as Dialogue
Before
  • Searching for balance
  • Unclear embrace dynamics
  • Passive walk with uneven rhythm
After
  • Confident axis control
  • Functional embrace (closed & open)
  • Grounded, musical walking
Key takeways
  • Recognize and adjust your vertical axis
  • Transmit/receive energy clearly in the embrace
  • Develop a walk that feels as good as it looks
SEMINAR PART 2
Spirals, Pivots & Sacadas: Unlocking Clarity in Movement
Before
  • Pivots feel unstable
  • Sacadas disrupt flow
  • Unclear spirals
After
  • Coordinated spiral mechanics
  • Smooth sacadas with no loss of axis
  • Refined proprioceptive timing
Key takeways
  • Understand how spirals generate clean pivots
  • Learn the body logic of entering space
  • Improve timing and partner sensitivity through spatial awareness
SEMINAR PART 3
The Tango Variation: Integrating Structure & Musicality
Before
  • Elements feel disconnected
  • Difficulty transitioning between movements
  • Musicality feels secondary
After
  • Repeatable, expressive phrase
  • Clean transitions anchored in technique
  • Personal musical interpretation
Key takeways
  • Build a structured phrase from previous material (ochos, turns, sacadas, boleos, shared-axis)
  • Explore musical variation (suspension, syncopation, elasticity)
  • Leave with a customizable sequence to rehearse, teach, or evolve

Open classes

OPEN CLASS 1
The Embrace as a Living Bridge: Connection, Energy & Intention
level intermediate
Before
  • Disconnected contact
  • Over-controlled leading or following
  • Confusion between close/open embrace roles
After
  • Responsive embrace that adapts
  • Clarity of energy flow
  • Relaxed, secure connection in both roles
Key takeways
  • Redefine the embrace as a communication channel
  • Practice with micro-adjustments and intention
  • Adapt to changes without losing presence
OPEN CLASS 2
Turns & Shared Axis: Coordinating Energy in Motion
level intermediate
Before
  • Unstable giros
  • Off-axis work feels dangerous
  • Turns lose rhythm
After
  • Reliable pivot technique
  • Smooth entry/exit from colgadas & volcadas
  • Musical phrasing in rotation
Key takeways
  • Explore single- vs shared-axis turns
  • Learn energy management in spirals
  • Apply technique with awareness, not effort
OPEN CLASS 3
Free Leg, Free Expression: Ganchos & Boleos with Intention
level intermediate-advanced
Before
  • Chaotic free leg
  • Invasive ganchos
  • Disconnected boleos
After
  • Free leg becomes responsive
  • Ganchos flow from the connection
  • Boleos are clean and musical
Key takeways
  • Refine the base to give freedom to the free leg
  • Coordinate torso/leg for safe and elegant embellishment
  • Reclaim musicality in free leg play
OPEN CLASS 4
Musicality in Action: Dancing the Pause, Playing with Accents
level intermediate-advanced
Before
  • Movement outpaces the music
  • Milonga becomes repetitive
  • Accents are accidental
After
  • Phrased, intentional dancing
  • Articulation through pause and weight
  • Confidence to play
Key takeways
  • Practice stillness as power
  • Interpret rhythm through weight and pause
  • Find your voice inside the music