About Esquina

Seeking to share our love for dance Esquina Tango is a non-profit organization and cultural center established in 2006 that strives to provide the Austin community with a unique dance experience as well as cultural awareness of Latin American countries.  Through a lot of hard work, labor, and community love, we converted an old church building that was located in East Austin and practically falling apart into a tango studio. We intentionally chose East Austin because it is one of the most culturally rich and diverse neighborhoods of Austin, in addition to keeping accessibility easy for the underserved to have the opportunity to join our community.

We also wanted to create a unique experience for everyone walking in through our doors and so the vibrant colorful exterior of our building (which resembles Argentina’s “La Boca” neighborhood) our interior decor, and friendly environment set the scene for our exploits.  Although initially we were only a tango studio, with time, our interests and passions led it to become the cultural center that it is today, hosting a variety of community events focused on Argentine and other Latin American cultures, offering Spanish and Portuguese language classes, and providing a unique variety of Latin dance classes such as Tango, Samba, and Salsa Aerobics.

Today, with our highly-qualified team of professional dance instructors, we have provided the Austin community with over 5,000 classes and more than 240 cultural events and hope to continue to positively change the lives of people through dance and culture.

 

Our Mission

Esquina Tango Cultural Society of Austin is a non-profit organization striving to build a vibrant and diverse community in East Austin and beyond through performing arts and health. With an emphasis on Argentine and other Latin American traditions, we aim to foster personal wellness while promoting an appreciation for Latino cultures. Esquina Tango Cultural Society of Austin is a 501(c)3 compliant organization

Current Board Members: Mickey Jacobs, Glenn Meter, Julie Kimmel, Craig Carr & Monica Caivano

Current Staff: Marcela Vega, Tina Priest, Gracia Tanger, Sara Garcia, Lorena Ortega, Gustavo Simplis & Monica Caivano

Photo Credits: Jonathan Gonzalez, Amanda Bigler & Gabriele Brown