The 8th Style School of Tango

Specialties

The 8^th Style School of Tango is known to create the finest and friendliest Tango dancers in Seattle. Not only are our students known in Seattle for their grace, technique, and musicality, but they are also known for their willingness to help newcomers get off on the right foot (no pun intended)!

The 8^th Style’s in depth curriculum is designed to take someone who has never danced a step of tango in their life, to becoming a world class Tango dancer. Many of our students throughout the years have become teachers themselves and have toured and performed internationally.

History

Established in 2006.

How did we come up with the name «The 8^th Style?»

We wanted something kind of vague and mysterious. Now we’re stuck with it.

It all started with a man named Igor Polk, of the Bay Area, who is a prolific tango blogger and passionate researcher of tango history, particularly of the different styles throughout the decades.

As the story goes, after a particularly energetic performance by Jaimes and former partner Rachel Smith at one of the Portland festivals some years ago, Igor, who was hard pressed to place the couple into one of the more clearly defined styles of tango, asked Jaimes what he called his way of dancing. Jaimes said something to the effect of «Uh, uh… I don’t know… uh, it’s just tango, I guess.» This less-​than-​satisfactory response lead Igor to post Jaimes Friedgen of Seattle as the eighth on a list of several styles, also including Fabrizio Forte and Mariana Dragone in this group, and giving it a loose branding of «martial-​arts style» tango, perhaps from Rachel’s fam

Meet the Business Owner

Jaimes and Christa T.

Business Owner

We are a collaboration between two artistic magicians; prolific in both mesmerizing performances and in the continued production of delicious dancers around the world. Out of an infinitely deep well of pure love for what we do, we have been on a roll for years, like a freight train of inspiration, delivering our passion and fascinating concepts across continents, disappearing into the ocean of emotional absurdity we call life, only to rise again on the other side, bringing with us always, the bleary-​eyed dawn of a new Tango day. Although we spend most of our year touring on the road, our heart and shoes yearn for home in Seattle where our beloved 8^th Style School of Tango continue our life’s work of creating the most beautiful Tango Dancers on Earth.