Our Story
DATS was founded in 2000 by a group of enthusiasts who were so impressed by a visiting tango show, Tango Pasión, that they decided: We want to do that too!
DATS' first home was in the Turk’s Head pub on Parliament Street near City Hall. Over the years DATS has migrated through a number of venues – first Mother Redcap’s off High Street, followed by The Castle Inn on Christchurch Place, the Pillar Room of the Rotunda, The Belvedere Lounge in Great Denmark Street, Arthur’s Pub near Guinness’s Brewery, The Bar 51 in Haddington Road, The Arlington Hotel in Lord Edward Street, before finally returning to its original home in the Turk’s Head.
Besides running classes and milongas, DATS has organised special events such as the Mansion House Ball, Summer outdoor tango at the bandstand in St. Stephen’s Green and balls over the years.
DATS is a voluntary society owned and managed entirely by its members.
Our Mission
At Dublin Argentine Tango Society, we are passionate about sharing the passion and joy of Argentine tango with the community. Our mission is to promote traditional Argentine tango within the city.
Motto
We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity, where everyone feels welcome and supported. The motto of DATS is 'Tango by the dancers, for the dancers'.
I have often asked myself, 'What makes tango in Ireland Special?'. This is an international as well as an Argentine dance. I would like to offer my observations on this question: tango is a dance that emerged as Ireland was changing during the Celtic Tiger years. It has been a time of open-mindedness to the new, the exotic and the alternative.
Thomas Rasche
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The tango night was a birthday party, held in Waterford, for the oldest tango dancer in Ireland. Jim McManus had turned 103, the same age as Ireland’s independence. Prior to coming to Waterford, I had read a couple of articles about him and found out he was a WWII veteran.
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I gave Jim a Ukrainian flag as a birthday gift. He genuinely thanked me saying that he’d display the flag in his window. And he made everyone laugh with his birthday speech in which he said, "Tango is very important. It’s the most important thing in the world..."
Antonia Gunko Karelina
Ireland has welcomed the tango. Milongas here are always a special night out, but what makes the experience different from other places is the unique warmth and welcome that I have always found in Ireland and for which Ireland is well known.
Thomas Rasche