Dancing in the park under the spell of tango music

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Instructor Michael Nadatochi dances with Carolynn Chetkin, of Long Branch, during a lesson in Argentine tango at Riverside Gardens Park on West Front Street in Red Bank. Below: A couple practices tango moves Aug. 4 during a lesson presented by the Red Bank Tango Club. RED BANK — To share her love of dancing the tango with others, Joyce Diamond founded the Red Bank Tango Club.

Diamond fell in love with the Argentine dance after she took tango classes in New York City and saw people dancing in Central Park.

"I was walking by and I thought, 'Why can't we have this down here?' So I connected with the Parks and Recreation [Department]," she said.

Beginner and intermediate courses are taught at Riverside Gardens Park on West Front Street.

Angeles Chanaka and Michael Nadatochi teach the dance classes, and Diamond also teaches some as well. Diamond took flamenco dance classes but her interest in Argentine tango was sparked after attending a performance that inspired her.

"This couple came out and danced to tango music but I thought, 'Wait a minute, that's not the tango I know,'" she said. "It was Argentine tango and I couldn't stop thinking about it so I kind of explored it."

Diamond said students learn the tango embrace, tango walking, tango posture, and some history of the Argentine tango is included in the lessons.

Courses are offered on Monday and Wednesday nights. Beginner workshops are held Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and intermediate courses, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Classes are $20 for one-hour beginner workshops and $70 for those who pre-register for four weeks of classes. Classes are held outside weather permitting.

Diamond said taking the classes is a good way to exercise, and is also a great health program.

"You're working every muscle of your body. It works on your mental, your spirit, it releases your endorphins in your brain," she said.

The number of students per class varies. Diamond said her intermediate class attracted between eight and 13 people on a recent week, and a free course drew about 24 people.

Diamond said the tango music infiltrates the core of people's hearts once they start dancing.

"If you look at people that are dancing, they have a smile on their face and you don't quite understand it until you get into it," she said.

Diamond said students can wear whatever clothing they want to the classes but should wear shoes with leather soles. She said it is helpful for women to wear shoes with a small heel but a tango gown is not required.

Though tango dancing is done in pairs, students do not need to bring a partner to participate, she said. Those interested in the classes need to be 18 or older.

For more information about the Red Bank Tango Club, visit www.redbanktango. com or call Diamond at 732-245-1072.