Founded by Ellen Mayer in 2000, Providence Tango has become a nationally and internationally known tango destination through events like the 30-hour New Year's Milonga, the Alternative Festival and the monthly All-Night Milonga. These events regularly draw dancers from throughout the United States, Canada and even Europe. In addition to offering these popular events, Providence Tango (PT) has been working steadily over the past 8 years to build the tango community in Providence, Rhode Island (which is 1 hour from Boston and 3.5 hours from NYC). PT offers 6 weekly classes for beginning through advanced students, as well as a weekly practica and milonga. Current tango teachers at Providence Tango include Ellen Mayer and Robin Pfahning. Ben Bogart and Thuy Lam were resident teachers at PT before relocating to Buenos Aires. Guest teachers have included: Homer and Christina Ladas, Eric Jorissen (coming in May 2008), Luciana Valle, Javier Rochwarger, Mariana Galassi, Andres Amarilla and Meredith Klein, Evan Griffiths, Alex Krebs, Jaimes Friedgen, Filipe Martinez and Rosa Corsico, Korey Ireland and Mila Vigdorova, Somer Surgit and Agape Pappas, Robin Thomas, Marika Landry, Carlos and Tova Moreno and Sharna Fabiano.
In 2003, Ellen Mayer bought a converted factory building and transformed a 2,800 sq. ft. space on the first floor into one of the most beautiful places to dance tango in the United States. Upstairs, she renovated a 2,600 sq. ft. space into an absolutely exquisite, award-winning (Rhode Island Monthly Annual Design Awards 2005) loft apartment, designed by architect and tango dancer, Nick DePace. (Please see http://www.providencetango.com/building.html for photos.) The building also includes: a second dance studio (1,700 sq. ft.), an in-law apartment and three commercial rental units. Two of the three commercial units currently have tenants (the other is used as storage space for Providence Tango), and the studios are rented on an hourly basis by local yoga and dance teachers, as well as on an occasional basis for events like wedding receptions. Total monthly revenue from rental of the studio (excluding tango activities) and commercial units totals at least $4,000. Due to its outreach activities to the Providence community over the past 8 years and to the many newspaper articles written about the studio, Providence Tango enjoys excellent brand recognition and a wonderful reputation throughout the city, even among folks who've never set foot in a tango class or milonga. The PT community (students, milonga-goers and teachers) is known for being friendly and welcoming, and PT benefits from a large pool of enthusiastic volunteers who assist with the day-to-day running of the studio and with events. PT is repeatedly asked to teach classes by institutions such as Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island College, Providence College and local community centers and dance schools. There are currently more requests for such classes than the PT staff has time to teach. After 8 years of devotion to the studio, Ellen Mayer is ready to move on to other pursuits and is searching for the right person or people to take up where she leaves off in maintaining and growing Providence Tango. The cost for the building and Providence Tango is $700,000. More information about the sale of PT and the building is available at http://www.providencetango.com/building.html. Please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Mayer at 401-728-9393 or el...@providencetango.com with any questions. I am only one of many, many dancers around the country and globe who would be heart-broken if Providence Tango were to cease to exist. Please help us get the word out about this extraordinary opportunity. Thank you very much!!!! Sincerely, Meredith Klein 617-291-3798 meredithkl...@gmail.com