Assistant professor offers free tango lessons

Puerto Rico Tango Marathon Photo courtesy to Okkephoto.comPuerto Rico Tango Marathon Photo courtesy to Okkephoto.com

By Stephanie Cruz
Contributing Writer

Increasing tuition rates, paying triple per hour over 138 credits, the $2.50 one-way ride to and from the Biscayne Bay Campus and the inability to redeem coupons on campus offered by off-campus food establishments all point to one fact: Florida International University loves our money.

An interview with Radu Jianu, an assistant professor in the computer sciences department, added something else to this growing list: tango lessons.

After giving tango lessons at Brown University, the tango enthusiast and his partner decided to give free lessons at FIU as well, but it was a bust. Only four students showed interest.

To say the least, Jianu was disappointed. In order to promote his lessons, he reached out to a GC coordinator for assistance in spreading the word, but their answer was no.

We have all seen the infamous couple giving salsa lessons in the GC atrium at night. Like most things at FIU, these dance lessons cost money. The Graham Center endorses the lessons through banners and on their site, because they are “a revenue-generating” service.

The couple from Salsa Kings charges $20 for the first three lessons and $10 for each lesson thereafter. They also ask students to buy appropriate shoes and attire.

On the other hand, Jianu has no interest in profiting from his work, he wants to offer free tango lessons to the student body here at FIU.

“I’m not asking to be paid for this service because I understand a student’s budget, and my end goal is to get more students involved in our tight-knit tango community,” Jianu said.

Jianu spoke passionately about why Argentinian tango was close to him.

“I liked dancing, but I was always too shy. I need rules and tango has a lot. I think rules make tango easy for college-educated scholars to follow,” said Jianu.

Jianu’s passion for teaching, years of experience with tango and willingness to be of service to the community make him an experienced dance instructor.

He smiled shyly and admitted that his interest in giving lessons is also for selfish reasons.

“The tango community at FIU and in Miami is rather small, so I would love to teach and have the opportunity to dance with different partners,” said Jianu.

In Providence, he had the pleasure of watching his inexperienced class grow from shy to active invested dancers in the tango community. He feels confident that FIU students would be able to do the same.

“I have a different mentality from the people in GC. I think it should be about the students and honestly want nothing to do with GC anymore,” said Jianu.

To make his class happen on his own terms, Jianu created a website: fiutango.com. He would love students to experience at least one lesson and see how their body can move.

“Even if I have to hold a class outside on campus with my own radio, I’ll make it happen,” said Jianu.

To get involved or for more inquiries: contact Radu Jianu at rdjianu@cis.fiu.edu. Tango lessons are free.

Photo courtesy by Radu Jianu

Radu Jianu dances with partner Erika Latham on the beach.

 

2 Comments on "Assistant professor offers free tango lessons"

  1. Astrid Arraras | February 24, 2015 at 9:14 AM | Reply

    Ms. Cruz,
    After reading your article about free tango classes at FIU, I was disturbed with your comment about “the infamous couple giving salsa lessons in the GC atrium at night.” First of all, I do not know why you used the term infamous. Your article does not explain it. I happen to know who are the salsa instructors and the tango instructors and they are not the same. The salsa instructors come from a company called Salsa Kings. The owner is a man. The tango teachers are a couple, Maria and Angel. They are professional tango dancers. Angel has been receiving tango lessons since he was a kid in Argentina. He has certificates in Tango and has taught Tango and Argentine Folk dance for many years in Argentina and the US. He has periodically traveled to Argentina to update his training in Tango. Many of my students and some of my colleagues at FIU have learned tango thanks to them. They charge because they are professionals and have an insurance to pay. Would you not charge if that is your profession? If someone wants to teach tango do it for free, I am glad that the students could benefit from it. However, that is not a reason to use negative comments against artists who are just teaching others about their craft. Please do research before you publish your article.
    Best,
    Astrid Arrarás

  2. I agree with what Dr. Arrarás has written. I have studied with Ángel and María for many years and know that with them you get the most for your money. Try researching how much tango lessons actually cost. I am also outraged that the university would allow for tango lessons to be taught by another teacher when they already contract the services of this couple.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*