Photo: Ellen Regal
Robert began dancing tango in 1995 and has participated in the development of Portland’s tango scene since near its beginning. In 1997 he met his most important teacher, Susana Miller, the foremost proponent of the milonguero style. Susana was one of the first to bring this form to the United States and Europe. He has studied and danced this close embrace style of tango ever since.
Robert has spent significant time in Buenos Aires studying with older milongueros. Important influences were Cacho Dante, Nestor Rey, Ricardo Vidort and, most significantly, Tete Rusconi. Other important teachers of the younger generation have been Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Silvina Valz, and Alicia Pons. Alicia is Robert’s other most important tango teacher. His work with Alicia helped him develop a deeper understanding of tango movement and musicality.
He has been teaching since 1997 and is a highly regarded teacher and DJ. His teaching focuses on solid foundations, developing clear elegant movement, and smooth effortless dancing. Classes aim to create a supportive environment where students can develop their dancing and have fun.
Robert enjoys finding the dancer in every student
Robert has taught workshops in many communities and at tango festivals around the country and internationally. He likes working with people of all ages ranging from senior citizens to high school students and has helped build tango clubs in high schools; some of his students have gone on to help built other tango communities when they have gone to college.
Tango is a good therapy for a range of conditions including Parkinson’s and Robert has worked with a number of people developing movement therapy from tango. He has continued this interest by working with people recovering from accidents, using tango for developing balance, and rebuilding movement after injuries.
As a DJ Robert is known for his knowledge and love of classic tango music, and has DJ’d at festivals around the country in addition to hosting and now co-hosting and DJing the long-running Monday milonga in Portland. More recently Robert has been working on DJing with vinyl, another challenge, the great sound of vinyl another pleasure for dancers.