Dardo Galletto Studios

I was a beginner, and teachers have my same level, or knew nothing of tango or how to treat people, and the studio has no air conditioning, no water to drink and bathrooms are dirty, the total disorganization.

I’ve taken tango classes at many places in NYC, Los Angeles and have been to Buenos Aires a few times as well. This studio I would recommend over any other here in NYC.
At this studio you will learn from teachers who are actually from Buenos Aires proven by their accented English. Dardo and Karina are the 2 main teachers. Karina is excellent for beginner classes and also teaches more advanced classes she is very specific and precise with how she teaches, and is very charming and friendly. Dardo’s classes are for all levels and he focuses on individual technique. He pushes his students to ‘discover yourself’ as he puts it. And although there are all levels in his classes he allows people to learn at their own pace and gives each student specific things to work on with their bodies so at times many students may be working on different things in the same exercise. He also focuses on the connection between partners and emotion that are paramount to tango. Students in his classes discover and figure out for themselves how to lead and follow as opposed to him just telling them which foot to step where, so you actually learn to dance through your body and not some intellectual formula.
There are 3 other female teachers, Barbara who’s class is excellent for those with no experience, she too is precise and friendly and the class is fun and non-​threatening. Azul teaches 2 classes for those with a bit more experience and in these classes students learn a few steps that are expanded on week after week. And there is Silvana who teaches a class similar to Azul’s where you learn some steps to put together and practice weekly. Both Silvana and Azul are patient and friendly teachers. Also for more advanced students there is Leonardo’s class, he is friendly and an excellent dancer and a fun teacher. ALL of the teachers are exceptional dancers and it is really great to see them dance.
The studio is also affordable, there is a great deal for first time students and then it is 120 bucks for a month of unlimited classes (open and beginner levels) so you could literally take 10 classes a week if you wanted. And you can take classes in which you’ll learn a step or 2 as well as classes where you’ll learn technique and how to use your body. The studio has great workshops from literally the best tango dancers in the world and also hosts milongas throughout the week.
This is the place to learn Argentine Tango.

I’m a beginner in tango and tried a few tango studios in NYC, and this is the one I stick to for 2 main reasons: 1) it teaches the authentic Argentine style, and 2) it puts a lot more emphasis on THE BASIC whilst many others studios focus on the steps or the sequences. For instance in Dardo’s Tango Technical and Body Training class, you will practice various walking and turning patterns by yourself the entire class. The goal is not just to learn ‘tango’ per se, but to be aware of your own body and hopefully to be a better ‘dancer’ over the time.
I totally understand you could feel frustrated with Dardo’s classes as they can be quite challenging, but if you want to be a good dancer in the long run, stick to it. Or at least, give a try. It’s well worth it.

Loved doing a 10 class groupon series at Dardo’s! The community here feels very regular and family like. Lots of the same students always coming back. They have wonderful guest teachers visiting from out of town and abroad regularly. It was a wonderful re-​introduction to the tango world in NYC as a tango transplant from LA.

A fun, honey space that’s so much more appealing to rehearse in than some of the more traditional venues in town. And the staff is super friendly and accommodating! What’s not to love?

I am a tango dancer. I’m not a novice, that being said I was deeply disappointed with Karina ’ s teaching skills or lack of thereof.
I signed up at the studio on a friend’s recommendation.
She’s got some attitude toward the ‘chicas’ as she refers to the women. Throughout the lesson, it was only criticizing the women. The guys were somehow spectacular and did no wrong. When I asked a simple question about feeling a guy’s lead, she flipped. For almost 15 mins of the class! She concluded her lecture by saying she has been dancing for 29yrs, what about you? This was having everyone’s attention to her irrelevant banter. She doesn’t know diddly squat about who I am not even my name and she turned this into some kind of ugly confrontation. This woman has issues. No one is supposed to talk in the class but her. I walked out and took my business somewhere else. I refuse to worship anyone, there are many good teachers in nyc who can respect you for trying to be a better dancer without trying to belittle or insult you.

Worst class ever! they don’t care at all about the students — just want to fill the hour. class starts with a range of random steps where the instructor is practicaly just doing them herself in the mirror. then she asks everyone to just start dancing — no guidance. at the end, she shows a couple of steps, but again, so fast that she’s just filling up her time. when i asked about her speed, she flatly suggested i try out another class.
waste of time & money, not to mention an incredibly uncomfortable, un-​airconditioned, crowded studio.

Dardo Galletto Dance Studio has friendly people, first rate instructors, and excellent practicas and milongas. It’s my favorite tango studio.

I began taking lessons with Dardo when he was at another studio; when he and Karina opened their studio I followed them there. He is the best tango teacher by far that I have ever had (and in fact the best of any dance teacher, and I have had several, for several different kinds of dances.) I find him unique in the way he is able to make his students feel in their bodies, and in their relationship with their partners, what tango is about. He is able to teach people of all ages, different levels of tango experience, different natural abilities, and to reach people where they are and help them move forward. I try to go three times a week, for classes and private lessons. The studio had some growing pains at the beginning but is now a warm, welcoming and well run place.

Friend wanted to take an Argentine Tango lesson on very short notice. Called them up same day to see if they had a private instructor available for an hour. Very friendly on the phone and they called me back within 5 minutes and were able to set up something up. I really liked the instructor (Silvana). I would go back.
The only minor note I would make is they don’t take credit cards for the private lessons but they do take checks (I just paid cash)

Embrace yourself with Argentine Tango to transmit a tender moment of feeling music to your dance partner. Argentine Tango as depicted by 1992 Al Pacino in «Scent of a Woman» was very deliberately elegant and graceful dance movements, which is what inspired me to intake a free beginner’s Argentine Tango lesson as a new student.
Dardo Galletto Studios is small venue performance space, dark and very dingy where as, I myself as a performance poet, never performed in such a uncomfortable space until now. They, however, inhabit very informative instructor, Tony for the free beginner, new students. Note, the free Friday beginner Argentine Tango is free to all new students to Dardo Galletto Studios as a one-​time incentive. No adequate air ventilation as too many bodies in kinetic energy form inhabit to transmit excessive heat in such a small space unbearable. Ladies and gentlemen: do NOT expect to dance with one specific partner (boy/​girl friend or spouse) throughout the entire ordeal as the instructor will rotate dance students for every dance routine. Whilst with this one time beginner’s Argentine Tango lesson I learned the basic technique and steps of this timeless Argentinian classic, yet elegantly graceful craft, dancing is not my abiding passion ergo I shalt NOT choose to further continue.
Upon entering new students are required (without choice) to register their name, email, birthday date, and phone number where it automatically falls perilous prey to an endless mailing list.

I’m not going to lie, I am a little biased toward a different studio in the city. But after seeing the reviews that others have posted here, I felt compelled to stick up for this studio. (At least their tango side, since that’s the only experience I have had there.)
I had only been to this studio once before for a practica and had fun, so I decided to buy their recent Living Social deal for a 5-​class punchcard. I took classes with both Karina and Dardo and had a great time. They are wonderfully authentic teachers and keep even the difficult steps fun and light.
The complaints made on here by other Living Social-​ites are totally bogus.
First, Living Social clearly states in the ‘fine print’ section of ALL of their deals, including this one, that there is a set limit per customer and additional ones can be bought as gifts. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING BEFORE YOU PAY FOR IT. Hence the age-​old adage of «read the fine print.»
Second, they have a very clear system for redeeming these things. I went to their website as directed, where there is a whole page dedicated to ‘how to redeem your voucher.’ All I had to do was email them my contact info and voucher number so they could register me in their online scheduling database. Someone got back to me within 10 minutes to confirm I was set up and could schedule my classes. I HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OVER WHEN I WANTED TO COME (at my corresponding learning level) AND COULD MAKE ANY CHANGES I WANTED as long as it was within their 2-​hour cancellation policy. I don’t think courtesy is an outrageous request — most spas, doctors, etc require 24 – 48 hours! Even if you decided on a whim that you wanted to go to a class, you can show up and sign in — you just have to be registered, so go early if you are new and they can set you up, I’m sure.
And lastly — if you want to learn a SOCIAL dance form, but are going to limit your experience to only dancing with your significant other — save the rest of the class your lame non-​mingling attitude and take a PRIVATE LESSON.

This is not an evaluation of the dance instruction, but the customer service, because my husband and I never got past that point.
We bought four vouchers for classes from LivingSocial, two each, with the idea of taking two basic Tango classes (we’re slow learners) to see if we wanted more. When we went to the studio to register, we were told we could use only one voucher each — that the reason the studio didn’t restrict how many vouchers you could buy from LivingSocial was because «the idea» was to give the rest as gifts. Well, that wasn’t specified in the wording on the deal. There are ways to restrict how many you can buy for yourself and how many can be bought as gifts, but the studio didn’t do it. When I pointed all this out, the studio manager didn’t budge. She kept saying, you can give the rest to friends as gifts. You mean, spread publicity for a place that doesn’t live up to its deal?
Even at that, we were going to return two vouchers to LivingSocial and use the remainder to take the intermediate swing class. Now I see from another Unilocaler that the swing instruction is lousy.
The one star is because the studio manager did respond to my email and then to my phone call.

My boyfriend and I thought it would be cool to learn how to dance, so we bought a living social deal for unlimited classes and signed up for two on the first night. BIG mistake. First of all, the studio isn’t air conditioned, and second, no one told me I was going to have to wear high heels, so I wore regular shoes and got chided by the teacher…
Worst part– we didn’t get to dance together (which was the whole POINT of doing something like this in the first place). Even worse, I had to dance with one of the teachers, who not only was in such poor health that he appeared that he was going to keel over during the class, but was sweating all over himself (and then pulled me close, sweating all over me). In fact, this man wiped his forehead a number of times and then touched my bare arms and waist.
I couldn’t breathe in, and half the time I didn’t have a dance partner, so I stood and watched (since I was told that women don’t learn the steps– men do). The lady teacher (Eva) then chided me in front of the whole class and told me that I didn’t look like I wanted to be there, basically implying that I should leave…
had I been able to dance «closer» with someone who meets basic sanitation requirements, I might have been «wanting to be there.»
NOOOOT HAPPENING AGAIN… at least until they can these two instructors!

Dardo and Karina are two warm and passionate teachers who have love not only in their hearts but also feet. Argentine tango is an embodiment of Argentina — its history, culture, sorrow, love and joy. Not only will Dardo and Karina teach you the steps, but more importantly, they will teach you about the «soul» of tango.
Yes, I review food, not tango studios. Therefore, I will add that Karina makes pasta for the Tuesday night dance practice — open to all — at 9:30PM, and I hear the pasta (or Karina) has a following.

Dardo Galletto and his wife Karina, Argentine tango teachers and performers, have just opened their own dance studio right in the heart of Times Square. It is a gorgeous & spacious studio with two rooms, great ambience, professional staff, mirrored walls, wood floors, CD and iPod connections, 10 foot high ceilings and 3 bathrooms. The studios are great for private classes, rehearsals, auditions, special events, parties, meetings, readings and photo/​video sessions.
The hours are Mon –Fri: 7am-​6pm & 9pm — 12 (midnight)
For Sat. & Sun. you have to call for availability
Studios can be rented in one hour and ½ hour increments
Tables, chairs, and yoga mats are also available.
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