Two Christas ~ Leading & Following

Christa Rodriguez embarked on her tango journey in 2003 in Seattle, where her passion for the dance quickly flourished. Almost immediately, she began assisting in classes, demonstrating her enthusiasm & dedication to the art form. By 2006, Christa had become one of the main instructors at The 8th Style School of Tango, taking on the added responsibility of managing the school, where she nurtured countless dancers in their tango pursuits.

In 2013, Christa took her love for tango on the road, embarking on a transformative tour across Europe & North America, where she taught and performed, sharing her expertise and passion for the dance with diverse audiences. In 2016, she settled in the enchanting town of Santa Fe, where she has concentrated her efforts on revitalizing the tango scene in Santa Fe & Taos. Her dedication to bringing new dancers into the fold and creating a vibrant tango community continues to thrive, as she welcomes friends & newcomers alike into the captivating world of tango. With her passion & expertise, Christa Rodriguez stands as a beacon of inspiration in the dance community, making her mark one step at a time.”(Courtesy 8th Style Tango)

On a personal level, Two Christas (& Gus), is a celebration of my primary long-time tango teacher & one of my best friends. The world of tango has been rapidly changing: whereas traditionally men led & women followed; Christa is at the vanguard of a movement in which students learn & practice both roles. Hence, in the spirit of Frida Kahlo’s Two Fridas, I wanted to create a portrait of Two Christas- one leading & the other following. Christa herself chose the advanced ‘back posada’ move for the piece. All of the ephemera references her life- both privately & professionally. I layered in flyers from some of the many workshops & milongas she has organized- both with her longtime dance partner & co-teacher Jaimes Freidgen, as well as with Argentinian tangueras such as Lorena Ermocida & Gaby Mataloni. There are Frida exhibition tickets from Palermo, Sicily; Mexican scorpion loteria cards (referencing her astrological sign); the Eight playing cards (referencing the ‘Ocho’- a foundational move in tango dancing); Honey Mamas chocolate packaging; fireworks wrappings; a ‘Viva Mexico’ book cover (referencing her Mexican heritage); a pamphlet from the very first tango class Anthony & I ever took in Buenos Aires in 2003; references to visual art (because she paints & draws in addition to dancing); & even references to some of her New Mexico colleagues (Double Time Dance Studio, & Las Puertas, both in Albuquerque). At Christa’s feet is Gus- her inseparable canine companion of 11 years.