Pine Creek City will gain its first dedicated Argentine tango space this spring when Marina Delgado and James Chen open Tango Creek Studio, a single facility with two dance rooms, at 442 Willow Street. The downtown location, set to open in March, aims to fill a gap the co-owners say has long existed in the city's dance scene.
From Empty Warehouse to Tango Hub
Delgado, who trained with Carlos Gavito in Buenos Aires before dancing with Forever Tango on tour, and Chen, a 2019 finalist at the Mundial de Tango in Buenos Aires, signed the lease in November 2023. They spent three months converting a former textile warehouse into a dance-specific space.
The result: two 1,200-square-foot studios with sprung maple floors, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and a custom-installed Meyer Sound system with floor-level subwoofers. A small lounge area with Argentine-style seating separates the two rooms.
"We kept looking for a place to practice and teach here, and it just didn't exist," Delgado said. "So we built it."
Class Schedule and Pricing
Tango Creek will offer classes six days a week, divided into four levels: introduction, fundamentals, intermediate, and advanced technique. Drop-in classes run $20; eight-week session packages cost $140. A dedicated couples' workshop meets Sundays at 5 p.m.
Chen will lead the advanced classes and a monthly performance prep intensive. Delgado will teach fundamentals and lead a practica—an informal guided practice session—on Wednesday evenings. Guest instructors from Seattle and San Francisco are scheduled quarterly.
Weekly Milongas Open to the Public
Starting March 15, the studio will host weekly milongas—social dances rooted in Argentine tango tradition—every Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $15 at the door; a beginner lesson precedes the dance at 7:30 p.m. for no additional charge.
"Our goal isn't just to teach steps," Chen said. "It's to build a community where people actually use what they learn."
Grand Opening Event
The official grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. The event includes a 45-minute performance by Delgado and Chen, open dancing, and studio tours. Registration is free but required via the studio's website, tangocreekestudio.com.
Tango Creek Studio
- Address: 442 Willow Street, Pine Creek City
- Opening: March 2024
- Website: tangocreekestudio.com
- Instagram: @tangocreekstudio
