Bronx Arts Ensemble teaches kids that it takes two to tango

The Bronx Arts Ensemble provided a free dance workshop for kids between the ages of 7 and 12 Monday in Vladeck Hall at the Amalgamated Houses.

The workshop, led by Evangelina Rivera, was designed to introduce the building blocks of modern dance and the rudimentary steps for the tango, waltz and polka.

Ms. Rivera, a veteran dance instructor for the Bronx Arts Ensemble, said her passion for dance and teaching enable her to motivate students and reach their potential.

“I take my instruction to a higher level,” Ms. Rivera said. “I challenge them because I know they can do it, and in challenging them, I raise their self-esteem.”

The workshop welcomed dancers of all levels, but no experience was necessary to participate.

Ms. Rivera started with the basics of rhythm, demonstrating to the young students how body movements are timed to the beat of the music and instructing the kids to count out loud to eight with her and repeat.

Ms. Rivera then introduced the concepts of “shapes” and “levels.”

A dancer’s shape involves the position of the limbs and torso in relation to each other. Ms. Rivera displayed three shapes to the class: straight, circular and curved.

Levels refer to the position of the dancer’s body to the ground. Once again there were three levels — this time they were known as low, middle and high.

The students combined these concepts to position their bodies and improvise dance moves.

Once the dancers felt more comfortable moving between these shapes and levels, music was added. Ms. Rivera then encouraged the students to move between the levels from low to high, stopping at each one to form a shape to the beat of the music.

Before leaving, the students learned basic steps for the tango, waltz and polka. The students paired with a partner and practiced leading the dance and following.

Although the workshop was a one-time event, Ms. Rivera and the Bronx Arts Ensemble hope to schedule a series of classes for those students interested in enhancing their dancing skills.