by Mitra Martin

The Most Stupendously Convivial Individual Oxygen Tango knows : Solomon Lamont Russell !

I [That's me, Mitra] met Solomon Russell at Orlando Paiva’s Tango Masquerade festival in Burbank in 2008. My friend Nick Jones introduced us; Solomon had taken Nick’s very fun intro classes at the fest and was intrigued to learn more Tango.

Since then, Solomon has become involved in the Tango community in LA and at Oxygen. With a graduate degree in Computer Science from UCLA, Solomon is a dancer, a meditator, and a high school teacher. He’s currently working on a book and the working title is “The Best High School Computer Science Book Ever.”

Solomon has won Oxygen Tango’s community-growing contest Tango KaBloom three years in a row, by inspiring the most individuals each year to try Tango. So for his unmatched persistence, determination, and coolness in growing the Tango community, we honor Solomon Russell with the Stupendous Conviviality Award !

Mr. Russell took the time to speak with me from his home in West LA. Our conversation touched on topics like how Tango and salsa are different; how Tango and meditation are similar; and what a different Tango can make in someone’s life.