Ilona Glinarsky
Originally from Kiev, Ukraine, Ilona is no stranger to music and dance. Growing up in the former Soviet Union, she was exposed to dance and music education from the age of four. Years later, as a classical pianist, Ilona went through rigorous training learning to accompany dancers of the Virsky Folk Ensemble, a world-renowned Ukrainian dance troupe, where she developed her true passion and reverence for discipline and form, which sets great dancers apart from the rest.
Over the past 15 years Ilona continued to expand her artistic expression through her own discovery of Latin dance, specifically Salsa, Mambo and Argentine Tango. Having studied with many acclaimed Argentine Tango instructors (Sandor, Fernanda and Gillermo Merlo , Sergio and Gachi Cortazzo, Chicho, etc.) greatly contributed to a strong foundation and deep respect for the “basics” on which this unique dance is structured.
Ilona’s desire to share her love for this art form led to teaching Argentine Tango since 2004. Her passion lies in introducing ordinary people to Tango, the most extraordinary dance, often called the Dance of Life, a dance that’s led and danced straight “from the heart”. An added background in Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, based on her studies as the University of Santa Monica, brings yet another unique element to Ilona’s teaching approach. Seeing Tango as a metaphor for a relationship between two equal partners, Ilona’s emphasis is on developing and expanding one’s capacity to communicate and listen, to trust and surrender, to lead and follow – all life skills essential to creating a meaningful and fulfilling relationship on and beyond the dance floor.
Presently Ilona Glinarsky teaches Argentine Tango and Dance Musicality in Los Angeles at 3rd Street Dance, South Bay Adult School, the Agape International Spiritual Center and as a guest instructor at the Music Center, Downtown LA.
She appeared in TV programs such as MyLA – Channel 4, That Morning Show – E Channel, and The Medium – NBC.
More information on Ilona can be found here:
http://LivingTango.com
http://facebook.com/ilonag