Connected Movement: An Interview with Alex Krebs
Alex Krebs is an Argentine tango instructor based in Portland, Oregon. He has taught and performed throughout the United States and Europe and now owns the studio Tango Berretín in Portland. He is especially known for his focus on musicality in the tango. With a Bachelor’s degree in music and physics from Reed College, Alex has been a musician for most of his life. In 2002, he started playing the bandoneón, the challenging accordion-like instrument that gives the tango its distinctive sound. He is also the director of Conjunto Berretín, a tango orchestra that plays at local festivals and events.
At Portland’s Tangofest in October of 2008, I sat down with Alex in the Tiffany Center ballroom in downtown Portland before Conjunto Berretín’s rehearsal for the Grande Ball. I was especially interested in Alex’s perspective on the concepts of musicality, connection, and flow in Argentine tango based on his unique background and experiences. As we began talking, I immediately formed the impression that Alex has the ability to be analytical and thoughtful when it comes to the tango while simultaneously communicating a great passion for the dance and the music that inspires it. His answers to my questions showed deep reflection and attention to detail, which I immediately identified as qualities that make for an instructor who not only understands what he is teaching but communicates that understanding to his students with great clarity and vision. That vision comes as the result of an interesting journey into the heart of the tango.
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