named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
AdapTango®
Evidence-based adaptive tango program designed for older adults and individuals with neurodegenerative and neurotoxic conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and cancer survivors, focusing on balance, mobility, cognitive engagement, and social connection.
DJ Services
Professional DJ services for private, corporate, and senior center events, featuring curated Latin music playlists to enhance dancing and event energy.
Interactive Workshops and Performances
Custom choreography and workshops for private and corporate events that include dance instruction, live music, and performances.
Latin Social Dance & Exercise Classes
Weekly dance classes in Tango, Salsa, Bachata, and Cumbia for older adults at senior centers across New York City, combining seated warmups, fundamental steps, and rhythmic music.
Tango for Cancer Survivors
Program offering gentle movement, improved body awareness, emotional well-being, and social engagement for individuals recovering from cancer treatment.
Tango for Parkinson’s
Specialized program using Argentine Tango to improve balance, gait, coordination, and confidence in individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
- Delivering adaptive tango programs for people with health conditionsProvides specialized dance programs including Tango for Parkinson’s and Tango for Cancer Survivors to improve physical function, emotional well-being, and social connection for individuals managing chronic conditions and disabilities.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Organizing and presenting tango performances and eventsProduces and presents tango performances and showcases, including featured artists and international performers, at venues such as Dardo Galletto Studios, and co-organizes the NY Queer Tango Weekend, a four-day international festival held annually since 2015.
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Dance Performance and Community Engagement 1 activity
- Providing dance instruction and entertainment for private and corporate eventsOffers interactive dance workshops, choreography, DJ services, and live music for private, corporate, and senior center events to create engaging Latin dance experiences.
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Supporting organizational capacity for access to Latin danceEngages in organizational development and capacity-building initiatives to expand access to Argentine Tango and Latin social dance for underserved communities, including leadership oversight and program infrastructure.
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Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
- Teaching Argentine Tango and Latin social dance classesOffers weekly dance instruction in Argentine Tango, Salsa, Bachata, and Cumbia, including warmups, fundamental steps, and rhythmic training through music, with 17 classes taught weekly across more than 10 senior centers in New York City.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Training and certifying tango instructors for adaptive programmingConducts AdapTango® teacher training programs, including a two-day training in July 2025 for 15 instructors, and certifies tango teachers to deliver adaptive tango programming for older adults and individuals with neurodegenerative and neurotoxic conditions.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$100K
Contributions & grants$18K18%
Program service revenue$82K82%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$106K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$50K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$38K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -6.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Perez | Founder/Artistic Director | 10 | $34K |
| Leonardo Sardella | Founder/Program Director | 10 | $26K |
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Alvin Ailey Extension Partner — Institution where Susan Ettenheim studies New York style Mambo under Katherine Jimenez.
- Board Of Directors Partner — Responsible for organizational leadership and oversight.
- Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Works with the Brooklyn Public Library’s Creative Aging programs.
- Cothoa Luncheon Club Partner — Host site for weekly Exercise class.
- Dardo Galletto Studios Partner — Hosted a tango performance by Walter Perez, Leonardo Sardella, and Maria Blanco.
- Dyckman Senior Citizen Center Partner — Host site for weekly Dancexercise class.
- Graciela Gonzales Partner — Toured, taught, and performed tango internationally together.
- HANAC Harmony JVL Innovative Senior Center Partner — Host site for weekly Dancexercise and Latin Dance & Exercise classes.
- HANAC NORC Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise classes.
- LMCC Funder — Recurrent grantee of LMCC Su-Casa and Creative Learning programs.
- La Mama Partner — Organization where Susan Ettenheim first encountered the work of Ping Chong and became committed to supporting nonprofit arts organizations.
- Lifetime Arts Partner — Works with Lifetime Arts on programs for senior communities.
- Lise Woudhari Partner — Trainer for the AdapTango® Fundamentals teacher training program.
- Madeleine Hackney Partner — Lead trainer for the AdapTango® Fundamentals teacher training program.
- Mary McLeod Bethune Center for Older Adults Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise class.
- Maryam Lustberg Partner — Trainer for the AdapTango® Fundamentals teacher training program.
- Mott Street Senior Center Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance class.
- NYC City Tango Partner — Tango school where Susan Ettenheim studies Argentine Tango with instructor Maria Jose Sosa.
- POLO Grounds Older Adult Center Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise class.
- Park Slope Center for Successful Aging Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise class.
- Ping Chong Partner — Nonprofit arts organization for which Susan Ettenheim served as a Board Member.
- RAIN Inwood Older Adult Center Partner — Host site for weekly Latino Dance class.
- RAIN Mt. Carmel Older Adult Center Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise class.
- Ralph J. Rangel Social Club Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise class.
- Tricia Creel Partner — Trainer for the AdapTango® Fundamentals teacher training program.
- Turtlestitch.org Partner — International digital embroidery initiative of which Susan Ettenheim is a team member.
- Walter Perez Partner — Co-founded multiple tango organizations and events including Friends of Argentine Tango.
- Y 14 Street (East Village) Partner — Host site for weekly Ritmos Latinos dance class.
- YM & YWHA (Inwood) Partner — Host site for weekly Latin Dance & Exercise class.
- senior centers Partner — Provides weekly dance classes in partnership with over 10 senior centers across New York City.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Adaptive Tango for Neurological and Physical Healthmethodology: adaptive_tangoBy using an evidence-based adaptive tango methodology that modifies movements to individual abilities, the organization improves physical, cognitive, and social outcomes for older adults and people with neurological conditions because structured partner dance simultaneously engages multiple neural and motor systems.
- Non-Performance-Oriented, Access-Oriented Dance Educationmethodology: non-performance-oriented-dance-educationBy teaching Argentine Tango as a relaxed social activity and healthy exercise—without performance expectations—the organization reduces participation barriers, especially for those anxious about traditional dance, thereby increasing access and engagement among diverse populations.
- Therapeutic and Inclusive Dance Programmingmethodology: therapeutic_and_inclusive_dance_programmingBy introducing Argentine Tango and Latin social dances to underserved and vulnerable populations, the organization promotes physical and emotional therapy, social inclusion, and community building because rhythmic movement, partner connection, and musicality engage motor, cognitive, and emotional systems in a supportive social context.