April 2025
Have you ever longed for a really good teacher? Still & Moving Center dancers and wanna-be dancers felt that longing for many years when it came to Tango. Every so often, a local Tango teacher would hold a Milonga in our Barefoot Ballroom, but it was just a taste of an exotic dance, not even a full bite for someone who would really LOVE to intently study under a master Tango teacher.
In 2023, Stewart Yerton, a writer for Civil Beat and a Tango aficionado, came to propose a regular Wednesday night Tango program at Still & Moving. He was taking lessons from Argentine Tango dance instructors and wanted to pass on what he was learning. Director Renée Tillotson jumped at the opportunity to present a regular Tango program to our students.
Stewart had no profit motive in his heart, he just longed for Honolulu students to be able to study under teachers straight from Tango’s homeland: Argentina. Continuing to seek out such teachers, Stewart kindled a fire that eventually shone brightly enough to attract the inside-and-out-beautiful Josefina Stellato to our dance floor at Still & Moving Center!
In Stewart’s words: “Josefina’s approach to tango focuses on body mechanics, grounding, balance, and most of all harmonious connection between two partners. Far different from approaches that focus on external movements, Josefina conveys internal aspects of movement and dance.”
That’s the kind of teacher I’d like to study with!
It took a while, though, for Josefina to finally arrive here.
It was 2021, and Josefina along with the rest of the world had taken a pause from in-person instruction for quite some time. International travel was just beginning to open up. Having never traveled to Hawai‘i, professional dancer Josefina Stellato didn’t hesitate when she got the call from Stewart. He asked whether she would be willing to fly from her home in Buenos Airas, Argentina to the islands to offer his students a more authentic Tango experience in person. He had only a small home studio – really more of a backyard. Yet the timing worked.
Over the previous decades, Josefina had traveled the world performing and instructing. Her dance experience flows with the flavor and senses of Argentina. Stewart and his students eagerly awaited their incoming teacher. However, just 10 days before her flight to the island, Josefina took a bad fall and fractured her leg in multiple places, putting a pause on her travel plans.
Over the following months, Josefina had to stay off the dance floor and within the confines of her home in Argentina. “I went through a hard period,” shares Josefina. “Not just frustration for not being able to come to Hawai‘i but also from not being able to work, dance, or even walk.” Already having been teaching Stewart and his students via online platforms, Josefina continued to instruct from her resting bed, bringing in fellow dancer friends to demonstrate the moves to the students. She taught and healed. Finally, after nearly a year, Josefina was ready to travel.
“In July of 2022 I made it to Hawai‘i,” says Josefina. “And I visited several more times, always thanks to Stewart supporting the teaching and providing the space and accommodations.” They held classes in the small but mighty studio space at Stewart’s home.
Finally, in 2024, Stewart, Josefina, and Renée came up with a plan to welcome Josefina as our first-ever dance artist in residence for a 6-month stay! And that’s how Josefina landed at Still & Moving Center, gracing the space with her teaching. Hurray for Tango students!
We are very fortunate to have Josefina teaching here in Hawai‘i and at Still & Moving. She is currently the only authentic Argentinian Tango instructor on the islands. Her teaching method – genuine, patient, thoughtful and grounded in mindful awareness – brings a symbiotic addition to our community. Her classes are growing, and local dancers have a unique opportunity to study authentic Tango without making the long trek to Buenos Aires.
During our Diwali performance this past year, a group of women and men of various ages and experience levels performed a Tango choreographed by Josefina. Her dancers amazed me with their calm and confidence, regardless of the fact that few of them seemed to be long-time dancers. One even seemed to be dancing with a disability! Nevertheless, I could feel the artistry of Josefina’s direction and choreography, as well as the dancers’ joy coming through their faces and movements.
Her classes not only welcome all levels and ages, but Josefina also seamlessly adjusts who is leading or following in the partner dance. She leads her classes with ease and creativity.
As a teacher who is always cultivating her skills and understanding, Josefina has just joined the spring 2025 Academy of Mindful Movement Instructor training. Here she will get to bring her dance teaching expertise and combine it with mindful teaching principles.
Meanwhile, Josefina has discovered that Hawai‘i and its students have taken such a special place in her heart that she wants to stay longer. “In January of 2025, Stewart and I talked with Renée about moving forward with my work at Still & Moving,” Josefina describes. “Six months just isn’t long enough!”
Josefina plans to continue teaching in Hawai‘i in the coming years, and help grow the island’s Tango dancing. Though being so far from home, loved ones, and her first language sometimes feels a bit lonely, she’s energized by the community she’s found here, and by the ocean and mountains that she gets to call home for now.
“I feel very thankful to Still & Moving Center and the Academy of Mindful Movement for the philosophy of connecting mindfulness with movement,” says Josefina, “and for Stewart’s dedication and generosity to the Tango community in Hawai‘i.”
Stewart put into words how Josefina fulfills the wishes of our dancers earnestly longing for a wonderful Tango teacher: “Her approach truly embodies the T.S. Eliot quote at the Center’s entrance: ‘At the still point of the turning world… there the dance is.’ Imagine two people sharing this still point in an embrace as the universe whirls: this is Still & Moving Tango.”
Ah… a true teacher for us at last.
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This post is also available in: 日本語 (Japanese)