Your Hosts & Instructors
Martina Sommer, M.Sc., seniors' fitness instructor with CCAA (Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, UWO) has studied with tango masters from Buenos Aires, Europe and Canada. She developed Tea&Tango in 2013 after her father, living with Parkinson's for 25 years, told her about a TV program exploring the therapeutic benefits of Argentine Tango.
Martina's childhood dream was to become a dancer but it was not before reaching her forties, that she started dancing Flamenco, Contemporary, African Dance and Argentine Tango. Movement for her means life and she explores many forms of somatic body work like Laban/Bartenieff, Feldenkrais and Continuum which deeply influences her approach to teaching movement to students with different physical abilities.
Lorne Buick, seniors' fitness instructor with CCAA, holds a Master's degree in music and has been a professional clarinetist and music teacher for more than 30 years. He discovered Argentine Tango travelling with a youth choir to Buenos Aires in 2005. He has danced and studied tango with many notable teachers nationally and internationally. Lorne has developed a deep understanding of traditional tango music which makes him a beloved DJ in our local tango community. He brings his gentle and supportive attitude as dancer and teacher to Tea & Tango, creating a supportive and caring environment together with his wife, Martina, and the many volunteers, who are an integral part of Tea & Tango's teaching and community building.
Together, they have been teaching Argentine Tango since 2010 in Halifax and beyond - visit their Website YouTwoCanTango for more information.
Jackie Webster, a certified Stott Pilates instructor has been a volunteer with T & T since its inception in 2013 supporting participants with her deep knowledge of body mechanics and dance. Being a life-long dance instructor herself, she has been recognized for her work with dancers with special needs by the Minister of Health and Abilities NS. Jackie discovered Argentine Tango in 2012 and continues to study it to this day.
Martina's childhood dream was to become a dancer but it was not before reaching her forties, that she started dancing Flamenco, Contemporary, African Dance and Argentine Tango. Movement for her means life and she explores many forms of somatic body work like Laban/Bartenieff, Feldenkrais and Continuum which deeply influences her approach to teaching movement to students with different physical abilities.
Lorne Buick, seniors' fitness instructor with CCAA, holds a Master's degree in music and has been a professional clarinetist and music teacher for more than 30 years. He discovered Argentine Tango travelling with a youth choir to Buenos Aires in 2005. He has danced and studied tango with many notable teachers nationally and internationally. Lorne has developed a deep understanding of traditional tango music which makes him a beloved DJ in our local tango community. He brings his gentle and supportive attitude as dancer and teacher to Tea & Tango, creating a supportive and caring environment together with his wife, Martina, and the many volunteers, who are an integral part of Tea & Tango's teaching and community building.
Together, they have been teaching Argentine Tango since 2010 in Halifax and beyond - visit their Website YouTwoCanTango for more information.
Jackie Webster, a certified Stott Pilates instructor has been a volunteer with T & T since its inception in 2013 supporting participants with her deep knowledge of body mechanics and dance. Being a life-long dance instructor herself, she has been recognized for her work with dancers with special needs by the Minister of Health and Abilities NS. Jackie discovered Argentine Tango in 2012 and continues to study it to this day.
