Our Mission
Tango Nexus – Q Tango is a Portland-based Argentine Tango community dedicated to bringing dancers together in a welcoming, inclusive, and creative environment. Rooted in the rich traditions of Argentine Tango, we also embrace modern expression, experimentation, and the evolving nature of the dance.
Q Tango (Queer Tango) offers a queer-centered tango space in Portland that celebrates role fluidity, queer visibility, and authentic self-expression. Tango Nexus welcomes the broader Portland tango community, inviting dancers of all identities, experience levels, and backgrounds who are passionate about Argentine Tango and its continued evolution.
All Tango Nexus and Q Tango classes, practicas, and tango events in Portland are proudly LGBTQIA+ friendly and uphold a zero-tolerance policy for hate, harassment, or discrimination. Our mission is to create safe, joyful, and inspiring spaces where dancers can explore connection, musicality, and movement—honoring tango’s traditions while allowing it to thrive in contemporary culture.
Whether you’re new to Argentine Tango or an experienced dancer, Tango Nexus – Q Tango offers inclusive tango classes and events in Portland, Oregon, designed to build community, creativity, and connection through dance.
Sandy Ninh
She/Her – Queer
Instructor/Founder
Sandy has always had her eye on partner dancing since she was little, however didn’t get to pursue it until she went to college. At UC Irvine, she started with Latin Ballroom, followed by West Coast Swing, and ultimately found her passion in Argentine Tango in 2010.
She took a short break for grad school and restarted in 2018 as an instructor at Bridge City Tango in Portland, OR. This was also the start of her leading and dual role journey. She loves the playfulness and challenge of switching roles and how to incorporate that to one-up her dancing.
Inspired after attending Conexion – Miami’s International Queer Tango Festival in Spring 2024, Sandy came back to Portland with the motivation to build up Portland’s Queer Tango dance scene alongside with providing more alternative tango events.
Steve Carruthers
He/Him – Ally
Instructor
Steve began partner dancing in 1990, majoring in tango beginning in 2012, learning both roles concurrently. He keeps a learner’s perspective by joining all levels of tango classes, routinely participating in introductory beginner-level classes, both to support new learners and to hone and refine technique for partner-connection.
Relaxedness and axis-control support partner connection and make possible in the dance musicality, fun dynamic moves and being “in-the-moment” with the other human as two bipeds may become like one quadruped. Steve is oriented to facilitate, guide and support any and all dancers on their tango odyssey,
