Elias Navas

Elias always considered tango as a unique dance, synonymous of “abrazo”. He thus oriented his search towards the communion of the couple, using fundamental pillars: “abrazo”, elegance, communication and musicality.

Elias was formed in tango by outstanding his teachers: Los Dinzel, Aurora Lúbiz and Jorge Firpo, Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Héctor Falcón, Raúl Bravo and Ana Maria Schapira.

He also nourished his studies, through seminars with distinguished dancers and teachers amongst whom were: Cristina Cortés, Silvia Toscano (la Cachorra), Melina Brufman and Claudio González and Vidala Barboza and Omar Cacerez.

At the same time, Elias explored classical dance, modern dance, jazz dance as well as the argentinean folklore. All of this with renowned teachers like Cristina Barnils, Alfredo Gurquel and Liliana Barboza.

During my many years of exploration in dance, no discipline reached me as deeply as the Argentine tango. It encompasses the precision and control of the classical ballet, the strength and intensity of the flamenco, the creativity and improvisation of contemporary dance, and the introspection and presence of the technical challenges of mime. All of these dances are assets which I had the pleasure of practicing but the tango offers me the challenge to concentrate on all of these attributes while at the same time respecting its origins and its roots.
Like any art, the mature Argentine tango presents itself through it’s subtleties, refinement and smoothness. Since 1992, the tango continues to offers me surprises and challenges and it keeps me as impassioned as at the time of my beginnings. It is always with this passion and pleasure that I wish to transmit this marvellous mode of expression to you.

My experience with the Tango dates back to 1999 and I have been a partner to Lyne Renaud and principal instructor at the school since 2000.  My tango experience and development have been influenced and by the many tango instructors and world class dancers who have visited our school and others that we have visited and studied with elsewhere. Their styles vary from traditional tango, the Milonga, Canyengue, Nuevo Tango and they have all enriched my Tango. My passion in the tango continues to develop and grow thanks to the challenges and pleasure that it continues to offer and that I wish to share with you.

Together Suzanne and Jacques have a combined 18 years of ballroom experience with Suzanne having 8 years of dance experience and Jacques 10 years respectively. They then went on to take Argentine Tango and Canyengue lessons at Al Sur Tango with instructors Lyne Renaud and Marcello Lucidi for over a period of seven years. Suzanne and Jacques went on to further their experience and understanding of Canyengue by studying with Martha Anton and el ” Gallego” Manolo El Salvador. Martha and Anton are from Argentina and they have been teaching Canyengue for over 50 years. They are recognized universally by their numerous teaching and performing tours as they continue to teach and promote the preservation of the Canyengue style from the period of 1920 to 1950. In March 2008 Jacques went to Argentina to further his Canyengue training with el “Gallego” Manolo El Salvador and Martha Anton and with Mirta Ground (Solpérez Azucena) wife and partner of Shine Grondona a very well known and respected Canyengue instructor.

Irem Bekter, is a multi-disciplinary artist, born in Istanbul. At the age of eight, Irem and her mother, Mrs Ayfer Gursoz, an artist – painter now living in Québec since more than 25 years, left Turkey to settle in England.

Irem completed her studies in classic dance and jazz at Elmhurst Ballet High School of Camberley and received a degree from the Royal Academy of Dancing. In addition, she obtained a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she studied theatre, singing, radio, TV and direction.

In 1984, she moved to Argentina where she was involved in numerous productions ranging from musical comedies, theatre, television and five movies. Her fascination with the autochthonous motivated the artist to dedicate herself, body and soul in Argentinean folklore. She became particularly interested in « Zapateo » (Argentinean rhythmic footwork) and the folkloric dances which she studied with Koki and Pajarín Saavedra. She has been teaching Argentine dances and rhythm work for the Al Sur Tango Company since 2006. For a complete biography please visit: http://www.myspace.com/irembektermusic.

Appreciated by his students for his natural enthusiasm and his unlimited patience, Jacinto is enthused with a true passion for the latin dances, especially the salsa that he has been teaching since 1998.

Jacinto will guide you so that you can quickly learn the correct basic technique and to develop your own personal style. Thanks to his strong teaching experience, this dancer will accompany you to your satisfaction throughout your dance development as you progress to the more advanced salsa levels, while at the same time adapting his teaching methods according to your rhythm and your way of learning. If you are looking for an instructor who uses a personalized approach, someone who can easily explain the steps, the movements and the many figures of this original dance that is the salsa then Jacinto is for you.