Nice to Embrace You!

ABOUT

Our Actions

Our Organization

Our Aim

Our mission is to connect, foster, and grow the Tango community here in South-Central Texas.

We host events, maintain a comprehensive calendar, offer resources, and welcome all dancers.

We are a Texas nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers who are passionate about Tango as a way of connecting people from all walks of life.

The dance floors of the Tango practica and milonga should be safe and inclusive spaces.

Our Ethics

Board of Directors

San Antonio Tanquer@s was founded as a Texas nonprofit organization in 2023 through the efforts of Tanguer@s Nhora Prieto, Antonio Gragera, Sophia Azoubel, and Raquel Beechner. As of 2024, we are a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3), so your kind contributions to us are tax-deductible.

Our Board of Directors and Advisors are all volunteers with a passion for growing Tango in South-Central Texas.

Antonio Gragera

President

Antonio is a co-founder of San Antonio Tanguer@s, and his main role is organizational development and management. He also manages our WhatsApp group.

A native of Spain, Antonio came to the States in 1996 and received a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts. Four years later he moved to San Antonio to join the faculty of the Department of World Languages and Literatures at Texas State University.

When the long, mind-numbing commute to San Marcos started getting on his nerves, Antonio began studying Tango in 2009, first with instructor Daniela Arcuri and later with Judith Foster, Angela Avila and Roy Montejano.

Antonio’s goal for our Texas nonprofit is to create greater visibility for the growing Tango community in San Antonio and South Central Texas, and to offer more opportunities to study, learn, coach, teach, practice and perform this elegant and precise dance in both informal practice and formal social settings.

N. Sophia Azoubel, Esq.

Treasurer

As co-founder of San Antonio Tanguer@s, Sophia brings her business, legal and organizational development experience to form and administer this nonprofit.

As a relative newcomer, Sophia eagerly embraced the art of Tango, and her passion and dedication for the craft has allowed her to grow as a dancer. Sophia became a student of Angela Avila and Roy Montejano in early 2022, and thanks to that exposure and instruction Sophia now travels extensively to expand her skill set, as well as to promote Tango as part of the world’s “intangible cultural heritage” as declared by UNESCO.

Originally from the small South American country of Uruguay, Sophia relocated to California where she obtained a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Mount St. Mary’s University and a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law. Sophia has been a San Antonio resident since 2003.

Raquel Beechner

Secretary

Raquel Beechner is a local San Antonio artist, born in Mexico City, and raised throughout Central and South America. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Education Degree from the University of Texas in San Antonio. Her teaching career spanned 42 years in which she created learning opportunities through art, theatre, and dance for children of all ages throughout many public schools and colleges in the San Antonio area.

Raquel’s goal for our Texas nonprofit is to create a safe and welcoming community of dancers where all can learn, practice and grow in the art of Tango.

Raquel is passionate about creating art and dancing Tango. Of Tango she says:

“If life should not be measured by every breath we take, but by the moments that take our breath away, then Tango is just the thing to do that all while connecting with a kindred spirit.”