Tango Dance Classes in Atwater Village, Los Angeles
Join a welcoming, creative community and learn from top instructors in an intimate, structured setting.
We offer Argentine Tango dance classes for brand-new beginners and advanced dancers every week.
We also have practice sessions, socials, and live music events every month.
Wednesdays:
7:00 - 8:00 pm | Level 2 (Tango 200) | Emma Bogren & Richard Cepeda
8:00 - 9:00 pm | Level 1 (Tango 100) | Emma Bogren & Richard Cepeda
9:00 - 12:00 am | Milonga Arrabal | FREE with any class! | LATA (LA Tango Academy)
Thursdays:
6:45 - 7:30 pm | Legday | Open Level | Emma Bogren
7:30 - 8:30 pm | Level 2 (Role Switching Class) | Emma Bogren
Sundays:
1:30 - 2:30pm | Level 3 (Tango 300) | Emma Bogren & Richard Cepeda
2:30 - 3:30pm | Level 2 (Tango 200) | Emma Bogren & Richard Cepeda
3:30 - 4:30pm | Level 1 (Tango 100) | Emma Bogren & Richard Cepeda
4:30 - 5:30pm | TangoFit | Open Level | Richard Cepeda
5:30 - 7:30pm | Practica | FREE with any class! | LATA (LA Tango Academy)
Level 1 | Tango 100
No partner or experience needed to join!
An introduction to Tango concepts, connection, musicality, and movement. This course is for anyone who's never danced Tango before, but also for the experienced Tango dancer to learn the other role.
Level 2 | Tango 200
A deep exploration of dancing in close embrace while maintaining comfort and connection. Dancing in small spaces, exploring rhythm and musicality, this course is designed to prepare the tango student for the milonga.
Pre-requisite: Tango 100 or assessment:
Salida básica, Ocho cortado, Turn to the left, Media luna, Pasadas, Forward ochos, Back ochos, Abanico.
Changing between cross system and parallel system
Walking in close embrace
Level 3 | Tango 300
Tango 300
This course focuses on axis and how it's used to create dynamics and direction in the dance. It explores shared axis movements and how the free leg responds to changes of the axis.
Pre-requisite: Tango 200 or assessment:
The molinete timing and mechanics as a solo drill, Media vuelta with 2 sacadas, Media luna with 1 sacada, Basic vals timing: 121 & 131, Milonga lisa & traspié, Milonguero groove in close embrace
All 100 material in close embrace.
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Membership
LATA Membership is $145/month and includes all Tango drop-in classes, curriculum classes, weekly Milongas & Practicas. LATA members also receive 20% off on tango workshops organized by Motivo LA. The membership activates at first use.
Drop-in price
Meet Your Instructors
Emma Bogren | Tango
Emma Bogren challenges her students to stay open, available, and present throughout their tango journey. She thrives on helping dancers develop a deeper understanding of connection by demystifying the more intangible aspects of the dance.
Born and raised in Sweden in a family of artists and musicians, Emma was first introduced to tango music through her grandfather, who had a beloved collection of tango records from his travels in the 1940s and played them often. Years later in Los Angeles, she discovered that there was a dance to accompany this beautiful music, a discovery that would grow into a life-changing passion.
Since founding LA Tango Academy in 2015, Emma has been teaching tango full-time and has introduced hundreds of students to the art and philosophy of the dance. She specializes in individual coaching and loves working with dancers who are eager to deepen their exploration and excel on the dance floor. Passionate about sharing movement mechanics in a way that feels accessible and empowering, Emma brings a grounded, human-centered approach to her teaching. Having learned to dance as an adult, she feels connected to the learning process and delights in supporting students of all ages and backgrounds as they find a deeper connection to themselves, their creativity, and the beauty of tango.
Richard Cepeda | Tango
An explorer at heart, Richard Cepeda is driven by curiosity and a love for solving complex problems. He believes that forging meaningful connection is at the core of both tango and teaching, and his superpower as an instructor lies in translating complex ideas into clear, accessible concepts through self-corrective exercises and mindful practice.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Richard discovered Argentine Tango in college in 2007, when a chance encounter with a campus class sparked what would become a lifelong passion. His fascination quickly turned into dedication—traveling the world to festivals and marathons, he became one of the most sought-after social dancers in the country before eventually settling in Los Angeles, where he co-founded LA Tango Academy.
Since its founding in 2015, the academy has grown into one of the most successful tango schools in the nation, introducing hundreds of new dancers to the art of tango. For Richard, teaching is an act of sharing something deeply personal—a way to guide others as they fall in love with the same dance, music, and community that have shaped his life.
About Argentine Tango
Argentine Tango is a partnered social dance that originated in the late 19th century in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Born from a rich cultural blend of African rhythms, European influences, and the soulful melodies of the bandoneón, tango emerged as an expressive language of connection and emotion.
Unlike ballroom tango, Argentine Tango is characterized by its natural posture, grounded movement, and deep sense of improvisation. There is no single standard or prescribed way of dancing it - each partnership creates its own dialogue through the embrace, the music, and the moment.
Over the past century, Argentine Tango has spread far beyond its birthplace. Today, it is danced in cities all over the world, from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles, Paris to Tokyo. And while the dance is more than a hundred years old, it continues to evolve - there are now more tango dancers than ever before, drawn to its timeless beauty, its music, and its profound ability to connect people through movement.
Join LA Tango Academy and Motivo LA to begin your Tango journey, a dance form celebrated and danced across the globe -uniting people through music, movement, and the joy of shared rhythm.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No partner required! In class we rotate frequently so everyone gets a chance to dance and practice with different people. If you do come with a partner and prefer to stay together, that’s totally fine too. Just let the instructor know at the beginning of class.
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Wear shoes that are comfortable that you can move in. Dance shoes with suede soles are great, but not required — sneakers or flats with a smooth sole work just fine. Avoid shoes with a sticky, rubbery bottom, heavy boots, flip flops, or anything that sticks to the floor.
We also have shoes available for purchase at the studio when you’re ready to invest in a good pair of dance shoes!
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You can reserve your spot directly through Motivo LA’s app for iPhone or Android.
We recommend signing up in advance to guarantee your place and to make checking in before class quick and easy, but walk-ins are welcome!
We offer single drop-in class packages, 8-class packages, and 16-class packages. All classes expire one year from purchase, so you have plenty of time to use your credits!
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Yes! Motivo Dance LA offers weekly social practice sessions where you can apply what you’re learning in class in a fun, relaxed environment. It’s the perfect way to get more comfortable dancing with different partners and to enjoy the community.
Open practice sessions are included when you take any class that evening at the studio!