Luz Castiñeiras is a tango dancer at heart, a musician, and a music therapist. In addition to dancing tango she plays and teaches piano and has composed several tangos. Her first tango teacher was Rodolfo Dinzel, who taught her how to improvise and create dance, instead of reproducing it. She also finds inspiration in Chicho Frumbolli and Gustavo Naveira who brings an intimate understanding of tango music and dance.
Luz first connected to tango as a music therapist working with cancer patients in Buenos Aires. During that time she collaborated on a 5-year research project that studied tango as therapy. “I became interested in looking at how tango practice can change lives,” says Luz, “and how it can help you learn to move your body in different ways.”
In addition to tango, Luz has studied ballet and modern dance, and she integrates these forms into her tango practice. In her classes, she creates a friendly, inviting atmosphere and invites feedback from her students which she uses to tailor the class to their needs.