Dance legend dips into Eugene.

Byline: KIMBER WILLIAMS The Register-Guard

IN ARGENTINA, Carlos Rivarola is revered not only as a world-renowned tangueros and choreographer, but also as a national treasure.

Such is the value ascribed to tango artists in a country steeped in the passionate Latin American dance tradition, said Russ Desaulnier, a retired language professor who is active in Eugene's burgeoning Argentine tango community and who worked to bring the tango master to town.

Rivarola, a lead cast member in the 1985 Broadway hit, "Tango Argentine," is also acclaimed for his choreography and appearances in several films, including "Tango Bar" with Raul Julia, "Naked Tango" with Fernando Rey and the recently Oscar-nominated "Tango," directed by Carlos Saura.

Desaulnier became acquainted with Rivarola while teaching English at a Japanese university. "I went to a weekend (tango) practica and we were the only two Westerners in the room ... and I spoke Spanish," he recalled.

"I told him, `Look I'm going back to retire in Eugene and think it would be great if you came to our town if you're ever on the West Coast.' '

Desaulnier kept in casual contact with Rivarola by e-mail, never dreaming his wish would come true. Then, the tango master told him that he would be visiting San Francisco in March and could fly to Oregon for the weekend.

That's how the local Argentine tango community achieved a true coup - a weekend of workshops with one of Argentina's tango legends. Classes are expected to draw participants from as far away as Ashland, Medford, Portland and Seattle.

"We're thrilled," Desaulnier said. "Anybody that knows tango knows Rivarola. He is to tango what Stephen King is to scary literature."

Workshops will run from 1 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24, at the InShape Fitness Center, 2681 Willamette St.

Daily instruction will focus on the basics of caminando (walking), ciros (turns) and sacadas (displacements), as well as the Enrosque technique, following and leading techniques, and style and steps.

Partners are not required for class participation. Lessons range from $15 to $20 per class, $35 to $45 for a day of classes and $70 to $80 for the entire weekend.

A public dance is scheduled from 9 p.m. to midnight March 23 at InShape Fitness Center featuring the music of Duo Tango. Duo Tango is a traditional tango duo from Portland that features John Mery on guitar and Mary Rowell on violin. Tickets will be $7 at the door.

"You can put on your glad rags and participate or you could simply come and watch," Desaulnier said. "If nothing else, you can listen to a virtuoso duet play some fabulous classical tango music."

Argentine tango (milonga) is thought to have been born in Argentine barrios and bordellos prior to the 1900s among Italian, Spanish and other Mediterranean immigrants. Tango music still bears those influences.

The dance became a craze among upper classes in posh Paris nightclubs during World War I and has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, revived by social dance enthusiasts around the world.

The Rivarola workshops and March 23 dance also offer an opportunity to check out the local Argentine tango society, an informal but enthusiastic network. For more information, or to register for classes, call 343-4567 or point your Web browser to www.geocities.com/crivarola2002/.

CAPTION(S):

Argentine tango master Carlos Rivarola will be in Eugene next weekend for a series of workshops on the Latin American dance at InShape Fitness Center.