A dancer for over 19 years, including Argentine tango since 2000, Jonathan Yamauchi was privileged to study privately in Buenos Aires with Carlos Gavito for three years before his mentor passed away in July, 2005. Gavito's internationally renowned sensuous and intimate close embrace style constitutes the core of Yamauchi's tango. Shortly before his death Gavito shared with Jonathan that "He would be a good representative of his style in the United States".
Yamauchi has also studied, privately and intensely, with the following individuals in Buenos Aires: Oscar Mandagaran; Mimi Santapa, an expert on the physiology of movement and body mechanics; and locally with Gavito's former partner -- Marcela Duran. Yamauchi has also studied with Susanna Miller, Oliver Kolker, Yanina Messina and Genarro Perez Marino, Paulo Araujo and Nora Denzelbacher. Jonathan has participated in group intensive classes with Monica Paz, Alicia Pons, Pulpo and Luiza, Luciana Valle, Ed and Corina Balmeceda, Dan Lapadula, Orlando Paiva Jr., Graciela Gonzales, Nito and Elba, Pampa and Valeria, Jorge Torres, Natalia Hills and Gabriel Misse, Claudia and Esteban, Cecelia Gonzales, Carlos Rivarola, Jorge Nel, and Gustavo Naveira.
Olivia Levitt's dancing is exquisite. With over 25 years of classical ballet training, Olivia was a principal dancer in the New York Theater Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and the Oakland Ballet, and has toured and performed in Russia, Venezuela, Aruba, Australia, and Canada. Her classical training gives her an astute insight into technique that allows her to create beautiful adornments and express delicacy in movement.
Olivia is a co-owner of Studio East West Pilates (studioeastwest.com) and a certified Pilates, Yoga, and Gyrotonic practitioner who teaches others to utilize their body mechanics in a way that delights the eyes with sensuality and intimacy in movement and response. Olivia began her initial tango training in San Francisco with Nora Denzelbacher and Roberto Riobo. She has learned the Gavito style (Salon Milonguero) and Tango Milonguero style from Yamauchi and has also studied with Marcela Duran, Maria Plazzolla, Susanna Miller, Monica Paz, Alicia Pons, Oliver Kolker, Marianna Dragone, Oscar Mandagaran, George Garcia, Pulpo and Luiza, and Claudia and Esteban.
Together, Jonathan and Olivia focus on teaching the physiology and fundamental technique behind their sensual and intimate movements in the tango milonguero, salon-milonguero and tango nuevo styles of intimate close embrace, sharing with their students the key that will allow them to fully express their internal sensuality through the external form -- tango.
Jonathan and Olivia host a milonga every Sunday afternoon at the Belrose Theater in downtown San Rafael. They offer a lesson from 3-4 pm, and the milonga is from 4-7 pm. The Belrose Theater is located at 1415 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA. Here is a Mapquest map.
They also host the El Beso milonga on the third Friday of every month at the Allegro Ballroom in Emeryville. All-levels technique class from 7:30 to 8:30 pm, milonga from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am. El Beso milonga
For more information contact Jonathan at 415.947.9458, yamagatotango@gmail.com, or Olivia at 650.834.5658, livtango@gmail.com.
