La Capilla Del Tango

La Capilla Del Tango is an initiative that transforms the historic Chapel of the Good Shepherd on Roosevelt Island into an active dance hall for the Argentine tango. This site offers an immersive environment where professional dancers and community members gather for workshops and traditional social dances known as milongas. The space hosts sessions where musicians perform in the style of la parrilla, an improvisational method that relies on the deep connection and musical intuition between players rather than written scores. This keeps the performance spontaneous and reflects the historical traditions of Buenos Aires dance halls within the walls of a nineteenth-century chapel. The program is led by Leonardo and Olga Suarez-Paz, who founded the project to integrate the tango into the artistic landscape of New York City. They teach the technical aspects of the dance while emphasizing its history and etiquette, often using a bilingual approach to serve the local immigrant and Hispanic communities. Beyond classes, the chapel serves as a base for multidisciplinary performances that feature live orchestras and contemporary choreography.