We are open for in-person learning and continue to offer online lessons and classes.
Online classes and ensembles are labeled in the descriptions with the symbol:
Online Class 💻
Tango is about listening and moving as one in each other’s arms. Join award-winning Tango teacher Sonja Riket, as she helps you connect with yourself, your partners, and the beautiful Tango music from the Golden Era (1930–50s). This class, based on the somatic approach to Tango, is appropriate for absolute beginners, and those who already have some experience but want to review the basics. The class serves as an introduction to the Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Argentine Tango Dance class at CMC. After a long and worldwide professional dance career, Sonja Riket has taught Tango for 20 years in the SF Bay Area. www.IntimateEmbraceTango.com
Ages: Adults, older teens.
Movement educators, therapists, health professionals. No dance experience necessary.
Instruments: Your body and comfortable low-heeled shoes with leather or suede soles (no rubber soles or sneakers).
Musical Styles: Tango, Vals, Milonga
Prerequisites: Ability to walk and interest in Tango music and dance.
Class size: 4–10 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch. Mondays 5:30–6:30 pm*
Instructor: Sonja Riket, Argentine Tango Teacher and Somatic Movement Therapist®
Tuition:$559 Fall (14 weeks), $399 Winter (10 weeks), $399 Spring (10 weeks), $319 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
*This class will not meet Spring Quarter 2022
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
This course is a continuation of the Introduction to Argentine Tango Dance class. Advanced Beginner/Intermediate students are admitted by audition only. Tango is about listening and moving as one in each other’s arms. Join award-winning teacher Sonja Riket, as she helps you connect with yourself, your partners, and the beautiful, rich Tango music from the Golden Era (1930–50s). With the basic steps of the three styles and rhythms of the Argentine Tango, we will learn how to feel the music in our bodies and express it through our movements in an improvised dance. Cultural and historical elements will be woven into the teachings. After a long and worldwide professional dance career, Sonja Riket has taught Tango for 20 years in the SF Bay Area. www.IntimateEmbraceTango.com
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Your body and comfortable low heel shoes with leather or suede soles (no rubber soles or sneakers)
Musical Styles: Tango, Vals, Milonga
Prerequisites: Admission with instructor’s consent. Contact Sonja Riket for more details: (415) 661-1852.
Class size: 4–10
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 6:30–8:00pm
Instructor: Sonja Riket, Argentine Tango Teacher and Somatic Movement Therapist®
Tuition: $559 Fall (14 weeks), $399 Winter (10 weeks), $399 Spring (10 weeks), $319 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Learn, perform, and hone your skills playing all styles of popular Cuban and Cuban-inspired dance music, including cha-cha-chá, danzón, guaracha, songo, timba, bolero, son-montuno, salsa, and other Afro-Cuban popular dance music. Charanga, or Tipica ensembles, ensembles incorporate violin and flute (usually instead of brass instruments, although trumpets and trombones are often used in modern charanga), along with bass, piano, vocals, and Afro-Cuban percussion. In this advanced class, students will learn and perform modern and traditional charanga music, learn about Cuban music history in a performance-focused environment, much like professional band rehearsals.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Voice, woodwinds, brass, violin, cello, bass, piano, and percussion (bongo, congas, guiro, claves, and timbales)
Musical Styles: Cuban salsa, charanga, and other Afro-Cuban music
Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, reading skills, and interest in Latin music. Pianists should be able to play basic montunos and bassists should be able to play tumbao. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class Size: 6–15 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Wednesdays, 7:15–8:45pm
Instructor: Tregar Otton
Tuition: $493 Fall (14 weeks), $422 Winter (12 weeks), $352 Spring (10 weeks), $281 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
This class is designed for musicians that would like to learn about the basics of Cuban music and Salsa music. We will discuss rhythms that are key to Afro-Cuban music, including how clave and percussion parts relate to each instrument’s role, and improvisation within the style. We will also focus on learning the form of Cuban dance music, the historical context, and how different dances influence and fit into the musical form. Students will learn the key rhythms of Cuban danzón, cha-cha-chá, and son montuno as well as how to approach improvisation in Cuban music. Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Voice, woodwinds, brass, violin, cello, bass, piano, and percussion (bongo, congas, guiro, claves, and timbales)
Musical Styles: Cha-cha-chá, danzón, guaracha, bolero, son, songo, timba, salsa, and other Afro-Cuban music
Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, reading skills, and interest in Latin music. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class Size: 4–8 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Wednesdays, 5:30–7:00pm
Instructor: Tregar Otton
Tuition: $559 Fall (14 weeks), $479 Winter (12 weeks), $399 Spring (10 weeks), $319 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Online Class 💻
Develop a solid foundation on all of the major Latin percussion instruments through a variety of musical styles and rhythms, including son, salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, Brazilian, and timba. Learn technique on congas, bongos, timbales, bells, and other auxiliary percussion instruments.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Congas, bongos, timbales, bells, and other auxiliary percussion instruments. Class is open to vocalists as well.
Musical Styles: Latin grooves typical of son, salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, Brazilian, Latin jazz and timba
Prerequisites: None
Class size: 4–6 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Instructor: Omar Ledezma Jr.
Tuition: $559 Fall Quarter Only (14 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Develop a solid foundation on all of the major Latin percussion instruments through a variety of musical styles and rhythms, including son, salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, Brazilian, and timba. Learn technique on congas, bongos, timbales, bells, and other auxiliary percussion instruments. The class will explore soloing techniques and typical breaks, song forms, team work, and musicianship. Students will also work on singing while playing percussion. This class provides a good foundation for the Cuban Charanga Ensemble.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Congas, bongos, timbales, bells, and other auxiliary percussion instruments. Class is open to vocalists as well. Bring your instruments if you have them!
Musical Styles: Latin grooves typical of son, salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, Brazilian, Latin jazz and timba
Prerequisites: None
Class size: 4 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00pm*
Instructor: Omar Ledezma Jr.
Tuition: $559 Fall (14 weeks), $399 Winter (10 weeks), $399 Spring (10 weeks), $319 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
*This class will not run Spring Quarter 2022
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Explore the unique style and techniques of Argentine Tango. Students will use arrangements of classic tangos to learn musical, rhythmic and stylistic elements of tango performance practice and ensemble playing. Students will also learn a form of tango improvisation called “A La Parrilla.”
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Strings, winds, fretted instruments, piano, and accordion
Musical Styles: Tango, Vals, Milonga
Prerequisites: 2 years of instrument study or competency on your instrument
Class size: 4–10
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 7:30–9:00pm
Instructor: Scott O’Day
Tuition: $559 Fall (14 weeks), $399 Winter (10 weeks), $399 Spring (10 weeks), $319 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
If you’d like to be matched with other students in a small Latin music ensemble or receive coaching for an existing group, please fill out a Chamber Music Inquiry Form.
