The smell of worn hardwood and the dimly lit red walls inside the old downtown fire hall create an ambiance that transports you to an old world Europe.  Push through the heavy wooden doors and you’re welcomed right on to the dance floor at the Savoury Milogna Dance Café.

Bogdan and Gosia Gorny are the husband and wife team who own and operate the newly opened dance café.  The pair offers beginner and advanced classes in Argentinian tango all while serving up a menu that was created with dancing and nutrition in mind.

The Gorny’s spoke about their new venture with a vibrant enthusiasm and a clear passion to make every experience memorable for their clientele, even if it means being in the kitchen and on the dance floor simultaneously.

 “We are cooking and teaching until business picks up, we do everything!” said Gorny.

The couple met while studying biology at university in their native Poland but didn’t cross paths again until a few years ago.  When the pair reunited, love blossomed and so did their love for the passionate dance.

“It’s not about sex, it’s about intimacy.  You are close because of the movement and the music and the feelings you both share about the music.  The lyrics in the music are very dramatic, it’s always he’s dying, she’s dying, he killed her, she killed him, it’s very emotional.” said Gorny.

Classes are open to anyone at any skill level, but like anything, practice makes perfect.

“Your homework this week is to practice right together pivot, left together pivot, right together pivot, left together pivot.” said Gorny to his eager Tuesday night beginner class.

Tango student and local business owner Eileen Abbott was thrilled to see the dance classes being offered.

“Dancing is my passion, I love it.  I took ballroom and salsa maybe 15 years ago, but nothing since then so this is great to see.”

 The Gorny’s learned the Argentinian tango from masters of the dance at intensive workshops in Calgary, France and Poland.  According to the International Dance Organization (http://www.ido-dance.com/ceis/webHomeIdo.do ), there are more than 250,000 registered members representing over 90 countries in the competitive dance realm.  The Latin dance fever in particular, is slowly making its way around the world to people of all age groups according to Gorny.

 “Tango is an explosion in Europe and thankfully in Canada.  I have a friend in Calgary who teaches to high school students and university students, so it’s not just for old people anymore,” said Gorny

 The Gorny’s would love to see more people walking through their doors to take up the art of tango, especially more male dancers.

 “The women are easy to get in to dance, its the men who are more difficult.” said Gorny with a cheeky smile.

 With light hearted and often humorous instruction from the husband and wife team, the lesson felt more like a fun night out with friends says Abbott.

 “It was great, it’s always fun when you can learn and have a laugh at the same time.

 You can find out more about the Savoury Milango Dance Café on their Facebook page or at the Downtown Lethbridge website.