Tango Lessons in LA

I’ve been dancing tango for a few years now and have been attending the Monday night Practicas in Orange County with Marcos and Ruta. For the last month, these practicas have been the most impactful thing that I do each week for my dancing. I recently did a private lesson with Marcos and I walked away DELIGHTED that he zeroed in on precisely what would make the biggest difference in my dancing. I had a few significant problems in my dancing that were really the root of my struggles with certain steps — I loved that he had the expertise to get straight to the root of the problem. For me, it was a true indicator of his expertise in tango. He seems to really know how to diagnose exactly what is needed most to take someone to the next level.
At the beginning, he took a moment to understand what I was looking for in my dancing. As we got started, I was amazed at how he simplified and clarified concepts for me in a way that made me finally «get it». You can tell that he has deep and extensive expertise with the inner workings of tango — and he’s clearly given a lot of thought to how concepts can be taught so they totally makes sense. So he’s not just a rockstar dancer, he’s extremely smart and thoughtful in how he teaches and presents information.
He shared things that other instructors have never mentioned to me — and these happened to be the very things that have been most problematic in my dancing (I wish I had done this private lesson with him sooner — it would have saved me a few years of struggle). He started our lesson by cleaning up a few fundamentals and then he got into the bigger topics.
I deeply appreciated that he took things that have felt really complicated to me and made them SO much easier to understand and execute. I walked away knowing exactly what I need to practice and work on next. I walked away feeling inspired and rejuvenated instead of overwhelmed (which sometimes happens after a lesson). Marcos is a true professional in how he approaches tango and his students. He greets everyone with the warmest of hearts. He guided me and supported me through the entire lesson with kindness, compassion, and patience as I worked through integrating the things he shared. I was between two other students, and I could tell that his other students absolutely adore him as well — and I can see why. Truly feeling blessed and fortunate to have access to a professional such as Marcos to learn from.
If you’re struggling with your tango, Marcos is an amazing person to help you break through and get to the next level.

I recently started group Argentine Tango classes with Ruta Maria on Monday evenings. Ruta is an amazing instructor and she always takes the time to assure her students learn the proper techniques in each new dance step. Ruta will build your confidence as you strive to learn the beautiful dance of Argentine Tango. After each group class there is a Practica! During the Practica the Fabulous Marcos Questas and Amazing Ruta demonstrate the beautiful perfect connection as they dance passionately across the beautiful ballroom! Marcos & Ruta also dance with all of the students during the Practica. Ladies, you have to schedule privates with Marcos:). I have only had one private and his teaching technique is delightful! Marcos gives you confidence and his detailed instruction teaches you to learn to be a great follower, no matter who you are dancing with. I’m looking forward to many more privates! Thanks to tango maestros Marcos Questas & Ruta Maria for passionately bringing the beautiful dance of Argentine Tango to Orange County!

My busband and I had 10 lessons with Ruta in preparation for our surprise tango dance at our wedding 2 weeks ago. We found them on Unilocal and decided to try out since there was very high Unilocal ratings. We absolutely had a blast! Ruta and Marcos were very professional and patient and cared for us like friends! Ruta taught us mostly and she was very detailed and patient throughout the whole process. I have had some dance background so moves were not too hard for me but my husband had 0 experience before so he found it very hard at the beginning. Ruta was able to work through our differences and help us with frustrations at times. She listened to our requests for choreography and made a huge effort to fit everything during our short time of practicing. I could also see that both Ruta and Marcos are very passionate at Tango which is so important when comes to teaching us. We were able to perform a 1:30 dance at our wedding reception both in Australia and China and everyone was so wowed by it.
Ruta is superb and we highly recommend anyone who wants to learn Tango. We wouldn’t have gone anywhere else! Thank you so much to both Ruta and Marcos for this unforgettable experience!

I have been taking lesson with Marcos for the passed year, I can say with confidence that besides learning a whole bunch, the lessons are a lot of fun … He is very patient and breaks down the technique very well, also I take lesson with Ruta, his wife, she is a sweetheart with a gorgeous figure that makes you feel really good about your progress and also an excellent teacher they make the perfect combination for learning style and techniques in Argentine tango …
I’m very happy with Marcos and Ruta the are the right choice for me !

I love the way the studio space feels, is as if you were learning tango in buenos aires, Argentina! It’s a really is a conducive atmosphere and the instruction it’s super high quality ! Marcos and Ruta are really fun and friendly… No wonder they are so many people taking lessons from them…
As a data point if you ever have he opportunity to see these two masters dancing live, don’t miss it I warn you, you might get addicted to tango !

I have studied tango in different cities with different teachers and these two are right up there. However, there are many good teachers, what I find more important is that this is a welcoming, fun and friendly atmosphere. If you are looking for tango instruction with a heart, this is it!

My now husband and I first met Ruta & Marcos in January of 2015. We first fell in love with tango on a trip to Argentina to visit my husbands family. When he gifted me with actual tango lessons I was overjoyed. Little did I know that we would also be lucky enough to find the most talented, kindest and most passionate mentors and tango experts that we could have ever imagined. We ended up working closely with Ruta, as well as Marcos to master a beautiful choreographed tango as our first dance for our wedding on September 25. Following our vows, it was honestly the most magical moment of my life. We are still receiving compliments from our friends and family about this memorable and uniquely special moment — they can’t stop raving about our tango! Ruta guided us in not only learning our wedding «first dance» but truly allowed us to experience what the dance of tango is truly all about– the feeling, the emotion and the passion. We are hooked, and owe it all to them. Thank you Ruta and Marcos for sharing your love of tango with us. We will continue to «tango on» and feel truly blessed to share this experience together throughout our lives together.

Bouquet list item #15…“Learn how to Tango”. Well to my luck, I came across this wonderful people. Marcos & Ruta, 2 excellent individuals and prime teachers! They make the learning experience a fun one. I agree with previous review, their compassion and patience is showed throughout.
Item 15… checked! and now I’M Addicted to Tango… I love it! Thanks Marcos & Ruta!

Yes, yes, and yes! There are so many thoughtful, heartfelt and specific reviews written here for Marcos and Ruta. I agree with all of the notes and want to add my voice to the collective thumbs up and appreciation for their teaching. After all, it was these Unilocal reviews that led me to reach out and ask for instruction. Time to pay it forward…
I have been taking private lessons once a week with Marcos for about 4 months now, and I am very impressed with what I have learned already in this short amount of time. I have no dance background but had studied in Argentina briefly, a few years ago, and felt a connection to the culture and especially the dance. I feel very lucky that Marcos is willing and patient and effective at teaching a beginner. I console myself by thinking it might be nice to work with someone who has no bad habits! Thankfully, I am athletic and committed and so it works, one lesson and new step and little improvement at a time.
It is great fun to see progress and develop skill, learn patience (with myself; this is a long, valuable journey), get to know Marcos and Ruta (who are so talented and bright and loving), experience the depth and passion of this particular dance, and feel like I am really living. It is a very rewarding investment in time and money — I am very careful about how I spend both.
As you can see, everyone who spends time learning to (or improving their) dance with Marcos and Ruta feels nothing but fortunate for the opportunity. I hope you will find the same joy too, someday soon. Just call or email Ruta from the website. She is really great about connecting with you and getting you into the mix.

It has been a little more than 20 years ago, since I began to study dance.
At the beginning of my study I was living in New York and the closest and best studio in New York was Paul Pellicoro’s «Dancesport».
Ironically, also at that time, some of the best Tango dancers in the world were coming to New York to perform in the new Tango musical on Broadway called, «Forever Tango». In the following interview one can read about these dancers and the Argentine Tango and how it came to New York and evolved.
«Interview with Paul Pellicoro who taught Al Pacino the American Tango for the movie «Scent of Woman».
In the article you will see many statements, such as the following:
«In New York there is more freedom, and mixtures of «tango fantasia,» (where the couple can part and do things separately) and the soft, on the floor tango, as well as the Milongaro style are seen, with elements of stage tango thrown in. «
Of course this is in contrast with the close embrace style that developed in the crowded Buenos Aires Milongas through the 1980s, 1990s.
So there is this tension between styles so much so that
you will hear the whispers, «Oh that is stage Tango, that is not authentic Tango, only the close embrace is authentic».
The truth of the Tango is to find the style that appeals to you. And I know of no one
that is more authentic and who can teach whatever style you desire than Marcos Questas.
How do I know this, well the Tango dancers
from the show would teach at Dancesport, and after befriending
some of them, the star of «Forever Tango» actually
came to my apartment. He told me many things especially about
balance. But words are abstract, actions often speak louder than words;
so what impressed me the most, was when he was instructing
me and dancing with me as he played the part of the woman,
I realized that he was the best woman I ever danced with.
Many years later I traveled to Buenos Aires where I spent a few months
and I met Gustavo and Paola, performing in an offbeat theater, before they became famous. Even though it was wonderful to dance with Paola,
still the star of «Forever Tango» was the best woman I had
ever danced with, that is until I met Marcos Questas. Of course I do not
mean this with any sexual overtones, maybe with a little humor,
but primarily as my experience of dancing with someone else, who had achieved perfection in the Tango. Sometime later I learned that Marcos
was not only good friends with this star of «Forever Tango»; but they were both the première young Tango dancers of their generation. Marcos could just as easily have been the star of the Broadway show.
But greatness does not just happen. Both Mozart and Picasso were educated from an early age by their fathers, who were already masters in their
professions. Picasso’s father a master painter, Mozart’s father a master violinist. Nijinsky began dancing at the age of 5 in his father’s troupe as part of the Setov opera company.
I am mentioning this, because Marcos Questas’ father was a well respected dancer in his time, and he began teaching Marcos the Tango from the time Marcos was five years old. By the time Marcos was 17 or 18 he was performing and dancing Tango, before large audiences on the stage in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It does not matter whether one is an musician, artist, or dancer, greatness does not just happen, it almost always begins with the best instruction and intensive study from an early age.
So what you have in Marcos Questas is not just a Tango teacher, but a true
Master and Artist of the Tango, which is almost impossible to find.
Whatever style Marcos is dancing, whether «improv,» or Salon or show Tango,
you will see in his dancing, that not only is his technique impeccable, but his
passion and his artistry, will always flow through to charm and enrapture you.
If one still has any doubts, then look at Ruta Maria; she has become an incredibly wonderful and beautiful Tango dancer. Who taught her, of course, no other than Maestro Marcos Questas.
So whether you want to just dance a simple, but elegant Tango, or you aspire
to much more; whatever path you take, I believe you will not find better teachers than Marcos and Ruta.
Finally irrespective of Tango, Marcos and Ruta are the most genuine and loving couple I have ever known.
There is a saying that once you grow up «You cannot go home again»,
but whenever I go to Marcos’s house, he gives me a big hug and then
Ruta gives me a soft kiss on the cheek, suddenly I am filled with
the warmth of their love, and I know I have come home again.
The Ostrich — the name affectionately given to me by Marcos and Ruta

My wife and I have been taking Argentine tango lessons for more than 7 years now and at least 6 years with Marcos and Ruta. We have not found any other teacher or teachers that compare with these two. They don’t just teach you steps or figures, but rather how to position yourself and recognize what are the possibilities for the next step being on the music and on the tempo. If you want to really learn how to dance tango, Ruta and Marcos are the best. For those of you that are thinking about Tango, as a beginner, there is no one better than Ruta. If you are advanced and want to excel, Marcos is the best.

Marcos and his wife, Ruta, teach Argentine tango in LA. Three days a week, they drive to the OC and teach private and group classes in OC. I recently started private lessons w/​Marcos in OC 2 dys/​wk. He is extraordinary. He explains things in a way no other tango teacher has, and I have noticed significant improvements in my dancing in a minimum of time. Marcos is genuinely interested in making sure that his dancers improve and he does that with humor and patience.
He is the ultimate teacher. Not every good dancer can teach but Marcos can, in a way that is easy to understand. I cannot recommend Marcos & Ruta highly enough. They are top-​notch dance instructors, and a pleasure to know and work with.

I have been taking Argentine tango lessons for two years with Marcos and Ruta … Especially with Marcos, I’ve taken lesson with other tango teachers but in my opinion Marcos it’s the best, no questions ask, very patient and clear in his approach, he is the real deal, not to mention he was a professional tango dancer with credits on Broadway NY as well as the most prestigious tango festivals in the U.S. and Europe …
My husband Tommy Chong takes argentine tango lessons with Ruta and if you watched dancing with the stars his tango with PETA was his best dance…
Highly recommended!!!

I have been taking Argentine tango lessons with Marcos for about 6 months. He teaches in a way that demonstrates the beauty and sensuality of tango and takes learning to a whole other level. He stresses that there is more to tango than just learning the steps, he teaches one to feel tango. The journey itself is an art form. When the connection is made it’s magical.

Yup! The real deal! You ll be at right place, right time and day if you start learning Argentine Tango with Marcos and Ruta. One of the best Tango Masters in the world known and excellent Performers also ;)

I have known Marcos and Ruta for many years and I can tell you first hand that they are not just beautiful dancers and teachers, but also people. They are really invested in their students which gives amazing results. And to top it all off, there is never a dull moment with these two! If you want to learn tango or even just perfect your technique, I would really recommend taking class from these guys. I love them and you will too!

I’ve been taking argentine tango lessons from Marcos Questas on a weekly basis for half a year. During this time he taught me very well the fundamentals of argentine tango. His main focus was on teaching me how to follow his lead and how to improve my technique instead of overwhelming me with different step sequences.
Besides being a tremendous instructor, he has a magic drive and a great sense of humor, which makes his lessons a great pleasure.
I started as an absolute beginner, and now I feel enough confidence to attend milongas every week. I cannot objectively evaluate the progress I made in these few months, but another well recognized tango instructor and several gentlemen with whom I had the pleasure of dancing at milongas have told me that Marcos did a very good job with me.
Marcos provides high quality lessons and I feel that I’m getting a great value for my money. I would recommend him to anyone who is willing to take argentine tango or chacarera lessons.

Marcos & Ruta are excellent teachers and dancers! It is not often you find someone who can teach just as well as they can dance. They are fun, and have just the right amount of «push» at the same time as compassion and patience. They are always looking for ways to improve, and motivate their students. Their creativity is unsurpassed, and they teach from the very simple basic steps, all the way to performance style, for every level!
I feel like my lessons provide me with exercise, laughter, and the right amount of hard work to continue to progress in my dancing. And for beginners, I have sent my boyfriend to them, and have never witnessed anyone learning so fast. They have a method that works for anyone. I have been going to them for many years, and I still feel like they are my lifeline in dance, I am so grateful for teachers and people in my life like Marcos & Ruta!

Marcos and Ruta are outstanding dancers. For me it is even more important that they are also excellent teachers because these two skills rarely come together. Marcos and Ruta very well understand what and how everything should be explained to the students and they have an individual approach to each of their students. Marcos and Ruta use a teaching method of their own that is extremely successful with students of all levels. Marcos and Ruta constantly work hard to improve their method and to reach the higher level of teaching mastery. For me it is very helpful to have private lessons with Ruta to learn musicality, how to lead and connect movements.
Argentine tango is now my passion and favorite hobby. They are great teachers, nice people and good friends. I am very thankful to Marcos and Ruta for this wonderful change of my existance.

I first met Marcos and Ruta almost five years ago. They had a weekend workshop and as I had been dancing Tango for about a year it seemed like a good idea to take the workshop. The workshop was amazing, Marcos had a way of breaking down, explaining and teaching even the most difficult moves that he made them look simple to learn.
I was hooked on the QMethod (tm pending) way of learning. I immediately wanted to take private lessons from them, but at that time they were based out of Las Vegas and came to OC only once a month. No problem, I booked TEN lessons for each month for that weekend. Intense? Yes, it was and well worth it.
Fast forward a couple of years, and Marcos and Ruta moved to Southern CA. Now, I could take lessons every week and multiple sessions at that and I was happy. I even made it to their group sessions.
After hundreds of sessions, my Tango journey continues on with Marcos and Ruta in the present day. I have danced at Tango festivals around the world with a multitude of partners. I do get compliments, and have even been mistaken as an Argentinean due to the way I dance.
I owe it all to Marcos and Ruta that have patiently guided me throughout my journey, and still guide me today. They also are more than just instructors. They have become dear friends.
Needless to say, I recommend them to anyone wishing to learn Argentine tango. I have taken a lot of lessons from different teachers, and without reservations I can say that they have no equal.

I’m an experienced dancer with no knowledge of tango. Given my years on the dance floor (my aunt owns a dancing school in NJ) and 10 years doing salsa and swing, I can say with confidence that Marcos is an excellent instructor. I feel like I’m getting great value for my time/​money. Highly recommend working with him!

I have been taken lessons for a little over a year with Marcos & Ruta … It has been a life changing experience, because of the subtleties of the dance, which relates so much to life, that’s its just the truth …
The way Marcos and Ruta teach it prepares the mind an the body to connect, not just to do steps… Also you Learn how to listen to the music and move to it with grace…
Marcos and Ruta really care about theirs students, about how we progress also they are very sensitive to our needs …
I highly recommend anybody that wants to start tango to do it with this two extraordinary people and teachers

The first time I had a lesson with MQ & RM was at a workshop in a tango festival out of town (Boulder tango fes) I knew immediately these were going to be my mentors, their understanding of the art of AT is so deep and inspiring to the people learning, I am grateful to learn from these two great masters.
I also respect the fact that they only teach people that commit to learning, meaning they won’t take people that only want to «try it» for a couple of lessons or to see if they like it … I’ve seen them politely turn people away … The only bad thing, if you can call it that, it’s kid of hard booking a lesson with either of them because they are always busy teaching …
They are the best in the area, when it come down to the real art of tango argentino

Having taken lessons from Marcos Questas & Ruta Maria for the past seven years, I can attest to the professionalism with which they approaches the craft. As World Masters they are nonetheless able to relate to students with technical skill and a relaxed attitude. Under their tutelage, I became an accomplished dancer and a US national Argentine champion. This achievement would not have been possible without their patience, knowledge and style.

I have always enjoyed dancing, from ballroom dancing to country dancing even a little latin salsa. I started looking at Argentine Tango because I wanted to learn a romantic dance that expressed feelings and emotions combined with grace and beauty. Argentine Tango is all that and more, and finding the right dance instructor was my top priority. Marcos Questas and Ruta Maria have a website that just popped, they were my first choice and I haven’t looked back since. Ruta is a sensational dancer and truly a remarkable, patient instructor. She takes pride in her profession, but most of all she genuinely cares about me as her student and her teaching skills are always on a personal level with my capabilities and advances the focal point of her lessons. Ruta, not only makes learning Argentine Tango a rewarding experience filled with building my confidence as a dancer, but every private class is so much fun and filled with lots of laughs. Marcos is an amazing dancer and instructor who often steps in to see how I am progressing. Marcos and Ruta together have a teaching technique, that even before I realized it, I was dancing basic Tango and remembering the steps. Their emphasis on technique, posture, tempo and energy were exactly what I was looking for. If you want to learn Argentine Tango from the best, I highly recommend that Marcos and Ruta are your choices for Tango instructors. You will not be disappointed and your Tango experience will be fulfilling, rewarding and most of all fun. Argentine Tango is a beautiful, romantic dance and a life experience that everyone should pursue, I have, and I am so very happy that Marcos and Ruta will be my lifelong instructors.

Dance has been a huge part of my life since age 14…
I studied with many great teachers, George Balancin was my first teacher…
About 6 years ago I started my journey in Argentine Tango, I was scare to death to dance with a patner and never went to a milonga.
One year and half ago I was fortunate to discovered Marcos Questas & Ruta Maria.
I started lesson with Marcos & Ruta three times a week and that change my life, I’ve learn to relax and at the same time be strong also trough connection
I’ve learn that two partners are really one. I’ am no long frighten and I look forward to every lesson and even attending a milonga…
They know how to solve any problems that I might have with the dance, Marcos is serious and at the same time humorous and that makes the learning a joy…
You will never regret spending time learining the argentine tango with Marcos and Ruta
I highly recommend these great masters of the art of argentine tango

I have taken private dance lessons for almost 15 years with 15 different instructors. Marcos and Ruta… hands down the best. I’ve taken about 50 privates in other places on Argentine Tango, and still had no real clue how to properly tango. It’s not about them or about a studio system or steps. It’s about creating an incredible culture of technique and learning — which not only has helped with leading in all of my dances and even better, as a trained classical pianist, has drastically improved the way I play using the centering of energy from tango. So amazing. Highly, highly recommend!