8th Style Tango Instructors

Christa Rodriguez embarked on her tango journey in 2003 in Seattle, where her passion for the dance quickly flourished. Almost immediately, she began assisting in classes, demonstrating her enthusiasm and dedication to the art form. By 2006, Christa had become one of the main instructors at The 8th Style School of Tango, taking on the added responsibility of managing the school, where she nurtured countless dancers in their tango pursuits.

In 2013, Christa took her love for tango on the road, embarking on a transformative tour across Europe and North America, where she taught and performed, sharing her expertise and passion for the dance with diverse audiences.

In 2016, she settled in the enchanting town of Santa Fe, where she continued her mission to teach and grow the local tango community. When the world shifted in 2020, Christa embraced the digital age, launching online tango classes via Zoom, offering her expertise and support for donations. This initiative remains active today, reflecting her commitment to providing accessible education and fostering connection through dance.

In recent years, Christa has concentrated her efforts on revitalizing the tango scene in Santa Fe and Taos. Her dedication to bringing new dancers into the fold and creating a vibrant tango community continues to thrive, as she welcomes friends and newcomers alike into the captivating world of tango. With her passion and expertise, Christa Rodriguez stands as a beacon of inspiration in the dance community, making her mark one step at a time.

Jaimes Friedgen is one of the most accomplished and influential Tango teachers in the United States. Starting Tango as a teenager in the mid-Nineties, Friedgen had the opportunity to study with many extraordinary dancers and teachers, many of whom are no longer with us. He has carried forward their teaching as well as his own innovations by either founding or consulting for some of the most successful Tango schools in the U.S. and abroad. Though widely considered to be one of the best dancers in the world, Friedgen continues to drill solo exercises every day and take classes of all levels in both roles. His uniquely effective system of teaching draws the most dedicated Tango students from all over the world; no matter the level, from absolute beginner to professional Tango dancer, Friedgen has a knack for finding the most useful challenges to improve one’s Tango.