Argentine Tango with Mira Barakat

- Dover St &, 58th St, Oakland, CA 94609

Introduction / Overview

Argentine Tango with Mira Barakat provides a highly respected and specialized dance school experience for the passionate and growing Tango community in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Focused exclusively on the intricate and beautiful dance of Argentine Tango, this studio offers professional instruction from Mira Barakat, a teacher with deep roots in the art form, having studied and lived in its birthplace, Buenos Aires. The essence of the school is to go beyond mere steps, teaching students the fundamental connection, musicality, and technique necessary for authentic social dancing.

The instruction caters to a wide spectrum of the California community, from absolute beginners taking their first steps to advanced dancers seeking to refine their artistry. Mira Barakat is recognized by her students as a gifted and exquisite teacher who conveys the intricate and powerful movements of Tango in a practical, clear, and friendly manner. The school proudly operates with a holistic approach, drawing on other movement arts to help students grow and fully embody the dance. Whether you are looking for a new hobby, a unique way to connect with a partner, or serious technical development, this Oakland-based studio is a foundational resource for the Argentine Tango in Northern California.

Location and Accessibility

The primary base for Argentine Tango with Mira Barakat is located in the vibrant city of Oakland, California. The physical address is listed as Dover St & 58th St, Oakland, CA 94609, USA. This location often indicates a North Oakland presence, which is centrally positioned for residents across Oakland, Berkeley, and the wider East Bay area. While the specific accessibility features of the studio space itself (often a private studio or a rental space within a community facility) should be confirmed upon booking, the Oakland location provides convenience for local California dancers.

In addition to instruction from her private studio in North Oakland, Mira Barakat also conducts group classes and workshops at various venues around the Bay Area, including popular spots like the Berkeley City Club (often associated with 'La Bruja' and 'Abrazo Queer Tango'). This multi-location approach ensures that the high-quality instruction is accessible to dancers throughout the region, from San Francisco to the East Bay. The studio embraces both Onsite Services for in-person learning and provides Online Classes, offering maximum flexibility for busy California schedules, especially for those seeking private or specialized coaching from home.

Services Offered

Argentine Tango with Mira Barakat provides a comprehensive suite of services focused entirely on developing proficient and connected Argentine Tango dancers, catering to the specific needs of the Bay Area community.

• Group Classes: Regularly scheduled classes offered at various levels, including Beginner Class, Beginning Class, and Intermediate Class, often held at community venues in the East Bay.
• Private Lessons: Highly recommended one-on-one instruction for faster improvement, personalized attention to specific issues, and focused coaching on leading and following roles. Package discounts are often available.
• Technique Classes: Specialized instruction focusing on the mechanics of movement, posture, balance, body awareness, and the intricate, powerful foundations of Tango dancing for both leaders and followers.
• Argentine Tango Instruction: Core classes dedicated to learning the dance, covering everything from the fundamental tango walk and close embrace to complex figures and floor navigation (essential for Social Dancing).
• Online Classes: Offering instruction remotely, providing accessibility and flexibility for students who prefer to learn from home or those outside the immediate Oakland area.
• Social Dancing Opportunities (Practicas): While the main focus is instruction, the classes often integrate or precede practicas (practice sessions) to encourage students to immediately apply what they are Learning To Dance in a social, less formal environment.
• Role-Inclusive Teaching: Emphasis is placed on supporting students to learn and dance the role(s) of their choice (leading or following), regardless of gender, especially through her extensive work with the queer Tango community.

Features / Highlights

The quality of instruction and the unique teaching philosophy are the defining features that draw students from across California to Mira Barakat's school.

• Exceptional Teacher Expertise: Mira Barakat is an experienced professional who lived and studied Tango extensively in Buenos Aires, providing a depth of knowledge that ensures authentic and high-quality instruction.
• Clear and Practical Instruction: Students praise her ability to provide "clear, practical, and friendly information" that is effective for both beginners and advanced students, covering both leading and following roles.
• Personalized Attention: The teaching approach is deeply customized, particularly in private lessons, where Mira has "an eye and a feel for what you really need to change in your dancing," focusing on the dancer's individual needs beyond simple foot placement.
• Holistic Approach to Movement: Drawing on her background in other movement arts like modern dance and yoga, she teaches a holistic technique that fosters body awareness, integration, connection, and musicality, leading to profound personal growth.
• Focus on Fundamentals Over Figures: A key teaching philosophy is pacing lessons well, ensuring students can "actually do the fundamentals before moving on to the things that depend on them," guaranteeing a solid, sustainable foundation.
• Inclusive and Supportive Community: Mira Barakat works actively with the queer Tango community, promoting an inclusive environment where individuals are encouraged to explore both leader and follower roles freely.
• Flexible Learning Options: The availability of both In-Person Class and Online Classes, along with Private Lessons and Group Classes, provides optimal choices for Bay Area residents with varying schedules and learning preferences.

Contact Information

California residents interested in starting or advancing their Argentine Tango journey should use the following contact details to inquire about class schedules, private lesson availability, and tuition.

Address: Dover St &, 58th St, Oakland, CA 94609, USA

Phone: (510) 318-0160

Mobile Phone: +1 510-318-0160

Prospective students are highly encouraged to contact the studio directly, especially regarding private lessons, which are often the fastest way to begin or improve their dance, and to check the schedule for various group class locations around the East Bay.

What is Worth Choosing

For California residents committed to learning the art of Argentine Tango, choosing Mira Barakat is choosing mastery, connection, and an individualized path to proficiency. What is truly "worth choosing" here is the quality of the instruction, which is professional, insightful, and deeply rooted in the authentic tradition of the dance. Mira’s approach—prioritizing strong fundamentals over rote memorization of steps, and offering personalized feedback—ensures that students develop genuine skill and artistry, not just choreography.

Furthermore, the supportive, all-inclusive atmosphere, particularly the open exploration of leading and following roles, makes the studio an enriching environment for all dancers in the diverse Bay Area community. The ability to seamlessly integrate different movement models into instruction means that students with existing athletic or dance backgrounds can often accelerate their learning. By choosing Argentine Tango with Mira Barakat, local users are securing a high-value, transformative dance education that quickly prepares them for the joy and intimate connection of the social dancing experience.

Argentine Tango with Mira Barakat

Dover St &, 58th St, Oakland, CA 94609, USA