About Us

In January of 2006 Chris Peake, Kendra Kambestad and Michelle Loughlin found themselves huddled together at a local Sacramento coffee house discussing the Sacramento tango scene and its future.

Perhaps out of the desire for something fresh, or merely the inspiration of a new year’s resolution, they suddenly found themselves brainstorming plans for a unique and alternative milonga.

Individuals goals melded into a burst of collaborative ideas.  Firstly, to provide an opportunity for growth in the Sacramento tango community and to offer a blend of traditional and non-traditional tango music.   Secondly, to introduce various tango instructors and DJs to the Sacramento community, and ultimately, to have a great time! The enthusiasm and drive to meet these goals was so great that within a week the first AlterNATIVA milonga was held.

Michelle Loughlin began training formally, (in ballet and jazz), as a teenager and as an adult took up the art of Kenpo Karate.  Michelle studied Kenpo for eight years, while at the same time expanded her dance and stage experience by working with children and adults choreographing, managing and/or directing musicals and variety shows. Michelle became intrigued with Argentine Tango in the spring of 1999 and, by the fall of 2002 was the principal dancer in the Sacramento based Los Tangueros Dance Company. That same year (2002) she met and began teaching and performing with the incomparable Argentine Tango Maestro, Roberto Riobo.  Her partnership experience with Roberto took her dance “to the next level” by opening up her creative side and helping her to discover the true meaning of “improvisation”.  Michelle is also very proud to have been a founding member and performer with the innovative all-female group, Tango Con*Fusión.  This collaboration with premiere San Francisco Tangueras Christy Coté, Debbie Goodwin, Chelsea Eng and Pier Voulkos was both unique and inspiring.  Michelle currently teaches in Sacramento and the foothills both privately and with local instructors Chris Peake and Peter Baldridge and co-hosts Tango AlterNATIVA events in Sacramento.

Chris Peake  picked up Argentine tango quickly and passionately, and has found a way of incorporating soccer techniques into his repertoire giving him a unique and innovative style.  He began his tango studies with local maestros Ed Loomis and Rebeca Basave, and has since trained with some of the most renowned and progressive tango instructors in the world, including Sebastian Arce & Mariana Montes, Esteban Moreno & Claudia Codega, Mariano “Chicho” Frumboli & Mariana Dragone.  He currently teaches in Sacramento and Auburn, runs the Firehouse 5 Studio on 9th Street in Sacramento, and DJs the AlterNATIVA and Firehouse 5 Milongas.

 

As co-found, Kendra Kambestad was an integral part of forming Tango AlterNATIVA.  Currently she is obtaining a Master of Science in dance/movement therapy in New York City and is the co-host of NYC Tango X-Sessions.  For further information visit http://www.dancespiral.com/X_Session_Page.html

Tango AlterNATIVA

Sacramento’s Alternative Tango Scene