LEBANON DANCE ACADEMY
Regular classes
Monday & Friday: Tango Beginner & Intermediate (7:45 pm to 9:30 pm)
Private lesssons
Upon request, please contact the instructor
Contact
Tel: +961 (03) 872 013
Email: yves.samaha@gmail.com
Address: Lebanon Dance Academy – The Cosmopolitan Hotel – The Private Club, Dekwene – City Rama street
Location: Please click Here
About Ivan
History
Ivan SAMAHA began teaching Ballroom Dancing in both Latin-American and Standard styles in 1995. He earned his Licentiate degree from ISTD (UK) in 2001 and 2003. In October 2001, Ivan became the first post-war teacher to introduce Argentine Tango in Lebanon through formal and academic training, founding Lebanon Dance Academy (LDA), which he has directed ever since. Since 2004, LDA has hosted other prominent Lebanese and international dance instructors. From 2009 to 2012, Ivan co-organized the Beirut International Tango Festival (BITF) under the direction of Mazen KIWAN. Additionally, Ivan has been organizing Milongas at LDA on an irregular basis since 2004.
Teaching approach
Since 2019, Ivan has been developing a new teaching methodology for Tango, primarily drawing from his extensive background in DanceSport (Latin and Standard), as well as classical ballet and contemporary dance—both of which serve as the foundation for Tango techniques. His research has led to significant progress, particularly in enhancing the connection and lightness between partners. At LDA, we offer three Argentine Tango programs, each designed for different levels of technical ability:
- Level 1: A beginner-friendly class aimed at social dancers with minimal technical elements.
- Level 2: An intermediate class designed to refine technique, which also requires students to take classes in 18 other Ballroom dance styles to improve their understanding of musicality, enrich their movement, and inspire creativity.
- Level 3: An advanced class for talented students aspiring to become professionals. In addition to the Amateur program, these students must also take Classical Ballet and Contemporary Jazz classes.
Pedagogy
Dancing is inherently connected to life itself, and our teaching philosophy reflects this. We adopt a historic, thematic, and narrative approach to pedagogy, encouraging creative, cultural, musical, and emotional awareness. Our method emphasizes developing natural, instinctive, and spontaneous movements from everyday life, refining them, and channeling them into a more communicative, harmonious, and sensitive version of ourselves, ultimately sublimating frustrations and desires through dance.