About Jay Lee

Hello, I am Jay Lee and I am originally from New York City.

 

I grew up with the Feld Ballet (now is known as the Ballet Tech) and I was part of their dance company at the age of 9 for 4 to 5 years.  I have performed at Joyce Theater, NY in my early age with the Feld Ballet dance company. 

 

Later in High School to College years, I have learnt and dance Bachata, Blues, Lindy Hop Swing, Merengue, Salsa On1 & On2, American Smooth & Argentine Tango to name a few.  I have also studied Tai Chi, contact improv and many other movement forms. 

 

During and after college, I started to travel to learn these dances at their original roots.  Out of all these dances, Argentine Tango is the only dance that many people find it to be extremely difficult.  Perhaps my ballet background has helped my Tango fundamental understanding faster than most or it could also be other dances that I do that shaped my Tango.  But my gratitudes go out to every Argentine Tango instructors, coordinators, Milongas, and even tango dancers from beginning level to advance level, whom I have encountered in the Tango scenes, whom had helped me learn. 

 

I have traveled to many part of the world to learn Argentine Tango through Tango Festivals, Marathons and Local Milongas.  I have participated in the Mundial Argentine Tango Festival in Buenos Aires, C.I.T.A., Brussels Tango Festival, Lausanne,CH Tango Follies Festival, Tango Elements Festival just to name a few, but the list goes on and on.  

 

I have taught at New York Sports Club dance exercise, as well as the actual dances like Argentine Tango, Bachata, Cha Cha, Lindy Hop Swing, Merengue and Salsa.  Plus I was a dance instructor,  a personal and group exercise instructor there for over 4 years. 

 

I was also a dance instructor for over 6 years at New York University to undergraduates, graduates and alumni and have taught at Hostra University in Long Island, NY., plus many other places that I have traveled. 

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I am new to Basel and I like to established myself as an Argentine Tango Instructor here and around Basel.  I have several tango workshops that I like to offer to the Tango community in and around Basel.  Also, I am hosting a once a month guided practica or Practica Improv to share, explore, improve and help those who like to become natural in his/her form of Tango dancing.  The guided Practica Improv might extend to a weekly practice if there is a need. 

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Tango Argentino is unique and special; therefore, my teaching philosophy is simple for the art of dancing Tango Argentino: connectivity, effortless, elegant, fluidity, improvisational, natural, playful, simplistic, stylistic and most importantly having fun while at it.  

 

From my very first day of dancing Tango Argentino to now, as natural as can be, my tandas with beginners to advanced dancers are nothing but improvisational.  I strongly encourage all Milongueros/ Tangueros at all level to keep it natural and improvisational, because all movement and Tango Argentino are a form of chi, so embrace them and start breathing.