Archives: Events

Immersion Weekend
with Damian Thompson and Ani

22 – 25 May 2026

An exciting opportunity for a long weekend of Tango in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with the world renowned Tanguero, Damian Thompson. Supported by Ani, this double act have been working together for over a decade. Known for his unique approach and understanding of the constructs of Tango, Damian’s workshops are always great fun as well as intensely informative and deeply rewarding. With a flare for making the seemingly impossible achievable with ease, he will leave a lasting impression on your Tango journey. Workshops, Private Lessons and a Taster Session plus a Performance with Ani, in Partnership with Embrace Milonga on the 23 May, make up a busy schedule for those who’d like to go all in. And if this is your introduction to Damian and you are dipping in your toes, once you’ve experienced his teaching, you will definitely be wanting more!

The Full Schedule

Please see the schedule below and note that you can create your own package of Workshops to attend. To get the very best out of this program, though it’s not essential at all, we highly recommend taking Workshops 1 with 2 together and particularly 3 with 4. Please do feel free contact Ani with any questions you may have.

Friday 22 May 2026

Edinburgh (Upper Hall)

Workshop 1  6.15pm – 7.45pm

Dynamic Elastic Embrace Fun

Workshop 2  7.45pm – 9.15pm

Smooth Simple Sensational Colgadas

Saturday 23 May 2026

In partnership with Embrace Milonga Edinburgh all proceeds go to charity

Taster Session is Patadas 7.00pm – 8.00pm Dancing till 11pm with a Performance

Sunday 24 May 2026

Edinburgh (Lower Hall)

Workshop 3  11.30am – 1.00pm

Playing With The Backcross

Workshop 4  1.00pm – 2.30pm

Giro Engache Combinations

Monday 25 May 2026

Aberdeen (Function Suite)

Workshop 5  6.15pm – 7.45pm

Little Fast Steps Big Impact

Workshop 6  7.45pm – 9.15pm

Going Around Calesitas With A Twist

Our venues

Edinburgh Workshops, SMCRC, 232 Dalry Road, EH11 2JG

Embrace Milonga, Ukrainian Community Centre, 14 Royal Terrace, EH75

Aberdeen Workshops, Holburn Bar, 225 Holburn Street, AB10 6BL

Workshop fees

4 Workshops or more at £20 each

3 Workshops £63

2 Workshops £44

Individual Workshops £23

To book Workshops and Private Lessons with Damian Contact Ani. See map below of our Edinburgh Headquarters for your Private Lesson.

Note: Embrace Milonga is a drop in and pay at the door event.

In this fun and social Improvers, onwards and upwards class, you will build on what you learnt as a Beginner in the earlier Saturday class. With exciting new moves, developing your social Tango skill sets to dance with deepening confidence and flair.

The first half hour will be dedicated to reviewing and consolidating what we’ve learnt so far in Practica. This will be followed by an hour of new possibilities. Increasing the difficulty of the basic dance into intricate fascinating phrases and learning some of the exciting, dynamic, sophisticated moves that we all associate with Tango.

This class is for people who have a good grounding in the foundational segments upon which all Tango is built, which are covered in the Beginner class. It will propel you forward to enjoy dancing anywhere and with anyone—and there’s a wide choice of social dance events to keep you on your toes!

For those who can’t make the Saturday class, there is a mixed level class on Friday evenings in Dalry, where material is tailor made to the participants, so you may all learn at your own level and pace.

As Bobby Brazier of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 fame states, “if there’s anything to get in your locker it’s a relationship with God or the Argentine Tango….. if you’ve got that in your locker, powerful!!”

Warning: Tango can be highly addictive!

Wear comfortable clothing and either a flat-soled dress shoe, shoes with a low heel, dance shoes or socks.

The creme de la creme of Tango classes. This is the ideal way to begin your Tango adventure. Though these lessons are invaluable at any level. It is fair to say that all the best dancers value their Private Lesson time, on an occasional or regular basis, it is always a delight to work in this intensive and deeply rewarding way. They enhance your learning by keeping you firmly on the right track as your Tango experience grows in complexity and sophistication. Working with Ani, in Aberdeen or Edinburgh, to identify exactly what to focus on when you go onto group Classes and Practicas, ensures you will be progressing your dancing at your very best to give and share beautiful social dances on magical nights out. They heighten awareness in your dance, expand horizons, create great new body memory habits, breaking the not so good ones that may be holding you back and bring you ever closer to the holly grail that is exquisite qualitative dancing. You can work on any aspect of the dance in these sessions be it musicality, improvisation, connection, posture, line, footwork, dynamics, playfulness, style from Classical to Nuevo, swapping roles and of course delicious fun Tango moves with all their endless possibilities! They are bespoke for you!

So if you are just starting out, getting stuck in, or have been dancing many years, to get to know your Tango inside out and take it to the next level get in touch and book a session. Discounted rates apply for regulars.

“I’ve an excellent and extremely patient teacher” Susan McIntosh

“Not many teach Tango like this in the West” Visiting Argentinian

“Ani is an excellent teacher in her guidance on technique with clearly structured and detailed explanations of steps” Sian Broome

Highly enjoyable intensive hour of anything Tango you want jamming it. Supported practice, reviewing material, considering moves, improvisation and music, trouble shooting. I want to hear from you and see you there if you want to practice, play, try, shape things differently whatever the level of dancing you are dancing at. This session aims to cater for whatever the groups and individuals needs and desires takes us. It may be that a few want to review class moves, whilst one couple wants to explore how one phrase can be disseminated and incorporated into their dance, whilst another may want to work on musicality…. You get the idea. This is a jam! Hosted and run by Niall, I am there as often as I can be to guide and support everyone’s progress. Practica makes perfect and you are all very welcome!

There is lots of parking, a plethora of buses and it’s a short walk from Haymarket Station. What’s not to love!!!

This open to all at any stage in your Tango class, offers you the opportunity to work at your own pace and challenge yourself as you feel comfortable and ready. Numbers are kept low so that everyone gets some personal attention, so that by the end of class you can feel sure that you’ve not just made headway but have a good grasp of the moves that are being shared. And how to progress them further. Whilst this is a great environment to support those new to Tango, we can get as advanced as you like in this class!

Of course it is a warm, fun and friendly welcoming group. And as ever you can stick with your partner, rotate, bring one with you or come on your own. Our hall is a short walk from Haymarket Station, there is plenty of parking and it is on a plethora of bus routes.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to know more about this class

What people say

“…following what the class needs rather than a ridged scripted curriculum in a way that really works…”

“motivating and fun! It is great that there are more advanced dancers learning new moves in the same class, because then we can see the progression. We dream of one day, being able to dance like that. Ani, makes it seem achievable and enjoyable.”

Private and Couple Lessons are the Rolls Royce of Tango Class. Working closely one to one with me in either Edinburgh or Aberdeen, they are bespoke intensives, focusing on everything you need right now to enhance your Tango journey. It is never too soon to take Private Lessons and never too late. They will excelorate your learning and enhance your practice by giving you a deeper understanding of the techniques and how to embody them, establishing good habits in your dance to take forward into classes, workshops and onto the dance floor. For seasoned dancers they’ll fine tune your technique, opening up possibilities within your dance and enable you to take your dancing to new heights. You can explore any aspect of Tango you wish in a Private Lesson, improvisation skills, new moves, musicality, role swapping, decorating…… It really is all about you you you!! And I love love love working intensively this way and sharing my know how and approach.

Your dancing will benefit from even the odd session. And as they are all about what you need and what suits you best, you can take them as little or as often as you’d like. I offer discounts for block bookings and have various slots during the week daytime and evening.

“Glad that I met you and have a great teacher like you… such an honour to be your student” Mardhi

“Remembering you every time I dance” Edmond Toubia

Welcome to Ani’s Dance Base, Authentic Argentine Tango Class, which is ideal for beginners, those wanting to revisit the basics, work on their technique and role swop. So for a Beginner, you’ll get all the fundamental moves you need to step out and dance the night away. Or an Improver class for those who’ve done a bit of Tango, who’ll have the opportunity to go deeper into their practice and find exciting ways to use the gorgeous simple moves to create magical dances. You are supported and encouraged to role swap if you choose to. Work close or open embrace and discover how to move between them and dance a beautiful dance whatever your level or chosen personal style. All taught by a professional dancer of almost 40 years experience teaching at a warm and inviting, purpose built for dance building, under the shadow of the Castle. Come along and give it a go!

It is worth a mention that this class is extremely friendly and has developed a weekly post class ritual of drinks after. So yes there is a class and nice glass of Merlo or tipple of your choice option for those who’d like to get to know their fellow class mates in keeping with the social energy at the core of Tango.

For those unfamiliar Dance Base is Scotlands National Dance Agency located in Edinburgh. The building is spectacular and very welcoming. The ethos is all inclusive. To book contact Dance Base 0131 225 5525 https://www.dancebase.co.uk/classes/authentic-argentine-tango/?id=125823 or drop in and surprise us!

This Authentic Argentine Tango All Level Class stretches from beginner to advanced dancers, in a mutually supportive, inspiring and fun environment. As it has no set level it enables everyone to learn at their own pace. You can come with or without a partner and swap or don’t swap in a fluid manner as appropriate to the task in hand.

This truly unique class offers a very rare opportunity to get lots of one to one time as numbers are kept low. So you’ll benefit from Ani’s professional dancer teacher technical tips and experience, made bespoke for you, with all you need to apply them well to your learning and Tango journey. And as dancing Tango well requires understanding it’s structures and moving with integrity, that’s gold dust. With this plethora of information and hands on encouragement in it’s application, you can explore all the nooks and crannies of new and old moves and phrases in-depth, to dance at your delicious very best, no matter what level of experience you have with confidence. Developing sound skills as you go along to make your Tango truly gorgeous. So if you are serious about dancing Tango qualitatively and delighting dancers of all levels on the social dance floor, then this is definitely the class for you. Come and share in this focused, friendly and inspirational learning space by booking your place in advance with Ani.

“Our Tuesday class with Ani is special, an All Sorts bunch of developing to strong dancers held together by Ani’s individual attention” Hannah

“I love this class. Varying levels of dancers and various levels of the moves all working together in the same space, at the same time, to the same end, it’s exciting. I always come out buzzing as it’s a treat for me too!” Ani