The Tango House was established in November of 2003. Since then we have been working hard to create a space particularly comfortable and inviting for Argentine Tango dancers. As surely as the tango found us, The Tango House found us too. Four different realtors told us we could not get what we wanted for the price we wanted to pay. One day motivated by who knows what, we went to Realtor.com and 3617 Osage forced itself onto our screen. From that day to this, The Tango House lives and grows with a life all its own.  We are simply the stewards, watching in amazement while this wonderful venue takes shape.

The building that is now home to The Tango House was constructed in 1890, much like tango itself.  It is situated in the Highland neighborhood of North Denver, the area of Denver traditionally settled by Italian immigrants, much like Buenos Aires.  More recently, North Denver has become home to a largely Latino population.  Spanish is the primary language for many of the area's residents, just like Buenos Aires.  With its history and ethnic makeup, North Denver provides the perfect location for an Argentine Tango venue.

In 1890 the building opened as The North Denver Mercantile Company. If you were a miner or trapper in the area, when you "went into town for supplies" here is where you would have come.

Circa 1920 the building and business were purchased by three Italian brothers, the Cerrones. In 1982, 3617 Osage was designated an historical Landmark for its distinction as the longest running grocery store in Colorado. It would remain Cerrone's Italian Market until 1996 when the last Cerrone brother died and the building was purchased by artists who converted the retail space to their studio. The wall dividing the two adjoining townhomes was removed to create a single urban flat with wood floors, brick walls and 12 foot ceilings.

The Tango House studio now occupies the 1600 square foot former retail space. What was once the grocery store back room and butcher shop is now the 800 square foot kitchen. With no wall between the studio and kitchen/dining room, and the 14 foot ceiling, The Tango House studio has a spacious but not cavernous feel. Plenty of room to move but not so much as to feel lost in space or isolated from the crowd.

We have tried, and by all accounts succeeded, at merging the best qualities of a night club and house party together.

                                                        Photo by Rick Moss 

                                                        Photo by Rick Moss