Karen began dancing Argentine Tango in 1997 after an extensive history of theatre, gymnastics, and an eclectic mix of dance disciplines. As a result of working with many world class, highly skilled and inspirational teachers over the years, she now greatly values a dance in which the partners coexist in its creation, where the follower’s role prioritizes the connection with the leader, but also is active and expresses individual personality and musicality. Honing the skills of leading, as well as following, have given Karen a unique and valuable perspective.
Her reputation in both the SE region and wider Argentine Tango community is that she is an engaging partner with well refined technique and musicality, as well as a fun, knowledgeable and capable instructor. Always seeking further education and refinement in the dance, Karen travels annually or more to Buenos Aires, where she works with a variety of skilled practice partners, continues to study with various high level teachers and enjoys dancing in the popular milongas in the heart of the Tango world.
She enjoys working alone as well as with a variety of partners, striving to bring new ideas and creativity to the dance itself and to teach in a way that makes the dance accessible and enjoyable to all who are interested. As the owner of Tangogypsies, Karen is committed to share her passion for the social dance. Starting in 2003, she taught Fundamentals and upper-level classes and hosted a milonga in Asheville, NC. (Weekly from 2005-2015). She also organized numerous large events with guest teachers in her local community. She continues to work in and outside of Asheville, offering private lessons, workshops (from fundamentals to intensive courses). Since 2013, Karen tours the US with her partner Tate Di Chiazza, a native of Buenos Aires when he is in the US. Karen also loves to DJ! Her vast exploration of both traditional and alternative music, over many years, allows her a great range of possibilities to create an environment for optimal enjoyment! She strives to create a stimulating and emotional journey for the dancers, encouraging them to go deeper in their connection with both their partner and the music, for a richer, more quality experience.

Zoë Lechucita© of Queen City Moves© has been dancing, performing & instructing social dance across North America and Europe for 21+ years. She teaches as both a lead and as a follow. Lechucita is known for her connection based approach to teaching. As a trained Orton-Gillingham instructor, Zoë caters to variety of learning modalities. She applies radial and hierarchical didactics to the kinesthetic language that is social dance and its biomechanical retention. Most importantly her knowledge in kinesiology focuses on working within the body’s natural range of motion to establish solid partner communication. Her goal is to make your dancing *feel* comfortable.

Her formative professional experiences include teaching and performing abroad at Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden, (influential to both the formation and curriculum development of one of the largest dance events in North America). Zoë is well-known for teaching Lindy & Blues social connection classes and performing tango at Lindy Focus. She helped form Lindy Focus and organized it's very first venue & curriculum. Lechucita worked as a period dance consultant, choreographer & dancer on the set of George Clooney's movie Leatherheads. She directed two years of Orton Academy's social dance program (in Asheville, NC). She started student dance organizations and taught at both UNCA and UNCC. Lechucita choreographs weekly in addition to teaching social tango, blues, balboa, lindy and waltz most regularly in Charlotte, NC after making it her home in 2004. 

Some of her tango fusion events have included teaching the Beyond traveling series with Integral Center instructor Mihai Banulescu (of CELLspace, San Francisco ) which last stretched from Raleigh, NC to York, Pennsylvania. She has performed along with conducted master classes in tango & blues at Blango Nuevo, in Nashville at Buenos Aires Blues and across the greater south-east with Mike Eblen. She also taught with Daniel Arredondo for The Charlotte Tango Co-op.

Her current ardor is DJing and teaching Uruguayan tango. Frequently spotted at Lynn’s Dance Club on Mondays with Passion for Tango, she encourages you to cabeceo. Most recently she has hosted Charlotte’s annual Candlelight Alternative Milongas along with seasonal Queen City Alternative Milongas. Her last public workshops were co-taught with Gabriel “El Huracán” in association with Queen City Moves Dance Company©. For more information on her upcoming events please visit: www.queencitymoves.com