Since opening on December 27, 1993, El Mundo Del Tango has operated as the only Argentine Tango academy in the United States devoted exclusively to the tango dance, now located at 3567 Del Rey St in Pacific Beach, 92109. Founder Maestro Ive Simard built the school from the ground up in what was then virgin territory for tango in Southern California, creating a ten-volume syllabus that spans three levels across Tango, Milonga, Vals Cruzado, and Pecho Argentino. Couples heading to an evening lesson often begin the night with Mediterranean plates at Cafe Athena before walking over to Del Rey St. Accredited by the Argentine Tango Master Association, the academy has graduated instructors at Affiliate, Associate, Licentiate, Fellow, and Master Degree levels, and an estimated 95 percent of qualified tango teachers in San Diego County trace their training back to this studio. The current faculty includes Kirk Parker, a former principal dancer with TangoCentric who performed at The Old Globe and the La Jolla Arts Festival, alongside educators with backgrounds from UCLA Nursing to fine art degrees from Kean University. Originally headquartered on Miramar Road with a 4,000-square-foot facility and a faculty of 27 teachers, El Mundo Del Tango relocated in 2008 to its current Mission Bay location, known locally as Tango Del Rey. The studio hosts milongas, group classes from strict beginner through advanced, private lessons, and workshops led by visiting masters from Buenos Aires and Montevideo. A glass of wine after the last dance pairs well with an evening stroll to Enoteca Adriano for a nightcap. The academy remains open seven days a week, with Sunday afternoon sessions rounding out the weekly schedule.