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Before soccer fans from all over the globe set foot in Kansas City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a local dance studio wants to help the community groove in the right direction.
Two years ago, Tavier and Amy Haarer opened Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Kansas City’s Northland, where they teach both international and American dance styles.
This summer, Argentine tango and Viennese waltz will take center stage.
"We’re really excited to highlight visiting countries and their cultures," Amy Haarer said. "Dancing is such a big part of a lot of those countries' cultures, so we’re offering World Cup fans — and the Kansas City community — a chance to experience styles like the Argentine tango and Viennese waltz."
Classes in these two styles are already offered, but come June, more will be added. Updates are expected in May, and previous dance experience is not required.
"Argentina is here, so we can do some Argentine tango. I don’t need to speak their language to dance with them," Tavier Haarer said. "Austria? We can do the Viennese waltz. Again, we might not speak the same language, but we can dance together."
Similar to soccer, the framework of the Argentine tango is all about having the right touch and bringing the heat. According to the Buenos Aires tourism website, the tango was born in Buenos Aires' working-class immigrant neighborhoods in the mid-19th century.
"It's (tango) such a conversation with your partner's feet, your feet and the dance floor; unspoken, without words," Tavier Haarer explained.
The Viennese waltz was added to Austria's UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017. The style is elegant and was a favorite among royal families in Europe.
"It was first danced by European royalty, and so that really ... is shown as you're dancing," Tavier Haarer said. "It's very princess, floating or flying across the floor, and that courting feeling."
KC2026, the nonprofit organization overseeing strategy for the World Cup in Kansas City, expects the sporting event to attract 650,000 visitors to the Kansas City region and generate a direct economic impact exceeding $653 million.
"Dancing is using your body instead of words," Amy Haarer said. "You don’t need to speak someone’s language to get up and dance with them. It’s a different kind of connection, and I think that’s really incredible."
Fred Astaire is a franchise studio. Other locations at host cities are also planning to add classes that cater to the style of dance of visiting countries, including Houston.
To learn more, you can call the studio at 816-325-3225 or send an email to kansascity@fredastaire.com.
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