The passes are not transferable. You must present you identification at registration. There are no refunds available on discounted passes. Our costs are fixed and we use the discounts to help with deposits and advanced expenses that must be paid before the festival. You may use them the following or future years if something comes up that you can't make this year!
Tucson Tango Festival Photos and Videos - Release Agreement for Use of Facebook and other online photo and video publishing: In registering for the Tucson Tango Festival, you hereby give my permission to the Tucson Tango Festival to use any photos or videos taken of you during the Tucson Tango Festival. The photos and videos may be posted on the internet, any of our web sites and/or on www.youtube.com, facebook etc... Your photos and videos will not be sold or used in conjunction with any inflammatory content! If for any reason you do not want your photos or videos used, simply submit a request in writing, complete with a current photo of the way you looked at the time of the festival, in advance of postings so we can remove you from any photos/videos that may be pending a post - note once a digital image or video file has been posted retrieval of all copies maybe impossible. Thank you for your participation in the Tucson Tango Festival.
We reserve the right to change any portion of the festival events, milongas, instructors or venues.
Please contact us with your inquiries. We love would love to assist you in making the most of your Tucson Tango Festival experience.
Murat Erdemsel has influenced large numbers of dancers with his unique perspective of dance and instruction. He maintains his teaching position for Dance Manhattan in NYC. Born in Istanbul, Murat followed his parents path to art school. He established himself as an artist before he arrived in the US to complete his Masters Degree in Painting. His art works were sold to collections in Europe and in the States. Even though he has moved from painting to dancing, it is very apparent that his classical education and knowledge of art and art history influences and enriches his ability to teach in general.
Michelle Erdemsel took her first steps in dance at the age of 6 at the world renowned San Francisco School of Ballet and continued with such greats as David Howard in NYC. Her dance experience can only be described as eclectic, ranging from modern, jazz, flamenco, hula and theatre dance. Michelle spent many years touring with famous Musical Artists such as Liza Minelli in prestigious venues like Prince Albert Royal Hall inLondon, Off Broadway theatres in NYC, Stadiums and Arenas inEurope, South America and the US. Her interest in partner dancing led her to competitive ballroom dancing and the more acrobatic style of theatrical dancing in which she garnered many awards including a North American Championship. Michelle has also been reviewed well by the NY Times as a choreographer for off-broadway productions and has assisted with choreography for the Live Televised shows Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Michelle has appeared on major network TV as well as movies, commercials, magazine fashion spreads, night club shows and theatrical productions nationally and internationally. Michelle discovered tango and traveled to learn and dance all over the US and in Argentina. Now Michelle has dedicated her life to teaching and dancing tango with her husband and partner Murat. Michelle’s Website
Daniela and Luis met during her first trip to Buenos Aires. What was supposed to be Luis’s last tanda for the night turned into two hours of dancing together. The magical connection they experienced that night led them to share their tango paths. Daniela left her career as an MIT engineering professor to join Luis as his tango partner. Luis left Buenos Aires to join her in New York City, where they currently reside.
Daniela and Luis’ performances have been described as sensational, passionate, musical, and technically impeccable. Their dance is based on deep knowledge of the different styles of tango: milonguero, salon, nuevo and stage, which they blend with ease and fluidity to create very personal interpretations.
As instructors, they have quickly gained renown for their deep grasp on body mechanics as well as analytical, logical and detail-oriented teaching style. Their ultimate goal is to help students achieve better quality of movement, develop a comfortable, subtle and sensitive connection with the partner, increase their body awareness and find their own unique voice in the dance. Students in their classes can expect a wealth of information on tango technique, encouragement to push boundaries, lots of hands-on instruction and a healthy dose of humor to complement the mix.
Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Luis started dancing tango in 1994 and became a professional dancer in 1997. He taught and performed for several years in Buenos Aires, including performances with leading tango bands Bajofondo and Tanguetto, before tango took him to Brazil, Europe and North America. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Daniela quit her academic career as an MIT engineering professor to fully dedicate herself as a professional tango dancer. She started dancing tango in 1999 and brings lifelong training in classical piano to the partnership.
Daniela and Luis have a full travel schedule that keeps them on the road for most of each year to teach and perform regularly throughout the U.S., in Brazil, Canada, France, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Poland, Netherlands and Norway as well as in Buenos Aires, including several major festivals both in North America and in Europe. In 2010 they also coached World Champions and Olympic Silver Medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White in their Argentine tango-based ice dance routine. In New York City, they are co-founders of “The Tango Zone Dance Company”, which produces shows combining tango, theater, video and comedy.
Oscar was born in Parque Patricios, a well-known tango barrio in Buenos Aires. His parents were avid tango dancers, and, in the 1950′s and ’60′s, they organized three different milongas per week, which regularly drew in 400-500 dancers. Oscar was very much influenced by his father, both by osmosis and discussion. He absorbed the code (codigo) of the milongueros, and when he eventually decided to take up the dance seriously, he already had a background and base that was the envy of many.
Oscar has a distinct style both in his dance and his teaching. He is very milonguero, and is many respected by the old guard in the milongas of BA. He is also extremely popular with his students, who are impressed by his teaching style. He teaches with energy and humor, emphasizing concepts, specializing in improvisation always interpreting the music and respecting the character of the different orchestras. He is especially interested in the dynamics and cadencia of the dance. Everything he teaches is applicable to crowded milongas.
Ana Miguel started her Argentine Tango training in the dance school of Moron Jose Neglia. She started teaching with the famous Argentine tango instructor and performer, Pocho Pizarro. From 2005 to 2008, Ana Miguel performed in the Show “Bacanazo†which was held in the Empire Theatre and the Roman Theatre
in BA and she also performed as part of the show at Esquina Carlos Cardel from 2006 to 2010 in BA. Moreover, Ana Miguel has taught tango at various tango festivals and was also a tango teacher at ACETA (Academia de Estilos de Tango Argentino – Academy of Argentine Tango Styles) from 2006 to 2010.
Third place winners at the 2011 Mudial Buenos Aires!
Brian and Yuliana crossed paths at a milonga in 2007. Together they travel to Argentina a few times a year to continue their tango education with maestros. They’ve taught and performed in several festivals and milongas such as El Congreso in Toronto, Valentango in Portland, and La Nacional and Nocturne Milonga in NYC. They are the 2011 U.S. Tango Champions in Tango Salon, and they’ve recently won Third place in the 2011 Tango Mundial World Competition, Salon category. You can find them at Oxygen tango school in Los Angeles where they teach group classes on a weekly basis.
Go to their web site BrianandYulianatango.com
Grisha will be doing his world class musicality classes. All new material. Grisha is a world class guitarist and tango dancer. His take on the dance and music is nothing short of genius!
PLUS: Grisha stole the show at the 2009 Tucson Tango Festival… this year he will play guitar while he dances with Melissa Alejandra as she sings the lyrics! This will be a performance to catch!!!
Known for her joy while teaching and her genuine care for her students, Rachel has been dancing Tango since 1995, when she began working for Daniel Trenner in his “Bridge to the Tango” programs in Argentina (1995) & Cuba (2000 & 2001). She has been influenced by a variety of great teachers*, celebrating a multifaceted view of many masters, and has danced tango around the globe in several cities and countries of Argentina, Cuba, Europe and the United States. Her solid understanding of Tango fundamentals, a rich background of music & the foundation of a wide reportoire of dance styles, combined with her ability to infuse playfulness and creativity into her dance, make Rachel a sought after dance teacher in her home town of Portland, Oregon. Rachel performs professional tango shows with her friend & mentor teacher Alex Krebs, and assists him whenever possible. She has also performed with several visiting teachers, Metin Yazir, Dominic Bridge, Jorge Torres and Paolo Vitalucci.
The owner of her own dance studio, Dance With Joy Dance Studios, and a hostess of her own Milonga, Rachel teaches weekly tango classes, including her beloved Portland State University class for the past 15 years. As an instructor, Rachel focuses on connection, creating a comfortable and positive learning environment so students can experience success in their dancing and discover the lasting joy of life long tango.
*Rachel feels blessed to live in Portland and be close friends with her mentor/teacher Alex Krebs. She has been greatly inspired and influenced by many wonderful teachers, including Luciana, Komala, Stefan, Christopher & Caroline, Homer & Christina, Jaimes & Krista, Marika, Filipe, Murait & Michelle, Fernanda Ghi & Guillermo Merlo, Rebecca Shulman, Sharna Fabiano, Mariano “Chicho” Frumboli, Fabian Salas, Carlos Gavito, Osvaldo Zotto & Lorena Ermocida, Thomas Howlin, Brigitta Winkler, Omar Vega, Tete, Oscar Mandagaran, Jorge Torres, Jorge Nel and Daniel Trenner.
More information can be found at her website: Rachel’s Web Site
Tine Herreman plays devastating tangos, soaring valses and irresistible milongas. And some very groovy alternative, when the crowd is so inclined. She creates a warm and genial mood for the dancers to enjoy each other’s embrace. She has a vast collection, but every song she plays is a greatest hit. As a dancer, Tine likes to lead and follow uncomplicated tango with sophisticated musicality.
Tine deejays at big and small milongas in New York and the Northeast, and occasionally beyond. Festivals included the Portland Tango Fest, NY Tango Festival, Tango de los Muertos, the Atlanta Tango Fest, the Yale Tango Fest, and others. She has played all-night events in Montreal, San Francisco and Europe. She hosts and often DJs Tango Lounge (Friday), Tango Loft (4th Saturday) and Tango Fix (Mondays) in New York.
Tine is pronounced like “Tina”.
Got addicted to Tango in the late nineties. It started with dancing and now it includes being a DJ. Tango music occupies my thoughts and energizes my spirit and I am in constant search for good music.
Although I try to vary the music I play, I am heavily influenced by the style of dance in Buenos Aires as well as the music played at the milongas there so feel free to call me old fashioned. I live for Golden age music. The emotional impact of the music is what I look for in addition to the musicality.
Oddly enough, alternative music has also become a big interest especially world music. Now I DJ both categories at various festivals as well as locally in San Diego.
Homer’s first major alt dj act was to put 50 cd’s (including assorted classic tangos, alternative songs and the ‘Last of the Mohicans’ sound track) into a player and press the random button. People loved it, but that was 1999. On July 9th, 2003, he pumped out the first ‘less than perfect’ dj mixes for the weekly ‘CELLspace alternative Milonga’ in SF. But again, folks were happy to have a venue where two worlds collided.
Today, Homer continues to apply & develop his dj skills at-large, both locally and abroad. Since, his first major alt dj gig in 1999, his focus has been to find the right balance, while making smooth transitions, between music from the Golden Age and the music that lies beyond…
Homer believes that the final goal or outcome, while meaningful, is less important then the road and risks taken to get there!
Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Luis started dancing tango in 1994 and became a professional dancer in 1997. He taught and performed for several years in Buenos Aires, including performances with leading tango bands Bajofondo and Tanguetto, before tango took him to Brazil, Europe and North America.
Paul Akmajian (Albuquerque, NM) has been dancing tango for over 10 years and teaching for the last five. He has been a DJ for most of his tango life and in the last 3 years he has DJ’d in Seattle, Phoenix, Tucson, as well as on a regular basis in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Recently, he was a DJ for the Denver > Albuquerque Labor Day weekend Tango Festival. He is excited to return to his hometown of Tucson to DJ for the Tucson Tango Festival.
Martin’s DJing at the Tucson Tango Festival in 2011 was met with rave reviews. He is a quality DJ that pays very close attention to the pista de la milonga as the milonga is under way and he has a knack at keep the energy in the room just right. His music is solid gold. His variety is pure tango!
Jay loves to DJ and his tandas have been known to melt butter in refrigerators three states away! J Abling believes that a milonga is a “party where tango is danced”. Whenever he DJs, he intends to keep a good party going with select choice of music to inspire both lovers of traditional and alternative music. When not teaching or DJing, he is constantly organizing and listening to his music or looking for more music to add to his extensive collection. He has learned to dj from some of the best DJs in the country including Jaimes Friedgen, Alex Krebs, Dan Boccia, Shorey Myers and Vijay. He has DJd at festivals and regular milongas in Portland, Seattle, Houston, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Maui and Ashland, OR.
Jo’s DJ philosophy is a product of her personal Tango journey as a follower and, recently, a leader. Although her beginnings came from Alternative/Nuevo Jo has evolved over time to develop a deep passion and love for the traditional Argentine Tango music specifically, the Golden Age era. She prepares 100% traditional tandas concentrating on fully danceable music with a mix of the playful, the romantic, the high energy, the sweet and melodic, with maybe a touch of drama. Her goal is for the dancers to leave the milonga with a happy heart, a satisfied craving and an eagerness for more.
Murat Erdemsel has influenced large numbers of dancers with his unique perspective of dance and instruction. He maintains his teaching position for Dance Manhattan in NYC. Born in Istanbul, Murat followed his parents path to art school. He established himself as an artist before he arrived in the US to complete his Masters Degree in Painting. His art works were sold to collections in Europe and in the States. Even though he has moved from painting to dancing, it is very apparent that his classical education and knowledge of art and art history influences and enriches his ability to teach in general.
Michelle Erdemsel took her first steps in dance at the age of 6 at the world renowned San Francisco School of Ballet and continued with such greats as David Howard in NYC. Her dance experience can only be described as eclectic, ranging from modern, jazz, flamenco, hula and theatre dance. Michelle spent many years touring with famous Musical Artists such as Liza Minelli in prestigious venues like Prince Albert Royal Hall inLondon, Off Broadway theatres in NYC, Stadiums and Arenas inEurope, South America and the US. Her interest in partner dancing led her to competitive ballroom dancing and the more acrobatic style of theatrical dancing in which she garnered many awards including a North American Championship. Michelle has also been reviewed well by the NY Times as a choreographer for off-broadway productions and has assisted with choreography for the Live Televised shows Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Michelle has appeared on major network TV as well as movies, commercials, magazine fashion spreads, night club shows and theatrical productions nationally and internationally. Michelle discovered tango and traveled to learn and dance all over the US and in Argentina. Now Michelle has dedicated her life to teaching and dancing tango with her husband and partner Murat. Michelle’s
Gustavo Benzecry Sabá & María Olivera are a couple of young dancers representing an authentic way of experiencing an artistic expression known around the world for its elegance, sensuality and expressiveness. Dancers of the so-called “Tango Salón”, they show this dance the way it is danced in its original ambience: the “milongas” of Buenos Aires, the Capital city of Argentina. They teach regular classes at one of the most prestigious dance halls of that city, the “Salón Canning” located in the Palermo quarter.
During 2008 and 2009 they’ve toured more than 20 cities including New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago and Portland, where they got the highest ratings for their instruction in the several of the Festivals.
Besides teaching and performing, Gustavo Benzecry Sabá has written two tango-related books, the Tango Danza Glossary – Key Tango Argentino Dance Terms (Abrazosbooks – 2004, endorsed with a prologue written by Carlos Gavito and Juan Carlos Copes, and an epilogue by Miguel Angel Zotto) a dictionary containing more than 300 terms, and Embracing Tango – Techniques and metaphors between Tango and life (Abrazosbooks, 2006 – prologue by María Nieves and epilogue by Aurora Lúbiz). This last one, translated by María Olivera, is the first written approximation to the original Tango Salón (also known as “close embrace”) style, that has been danced in Buenos Aires for over a hundred years. It includes the explanation of 6 basic sequences as well as articles related to the embrace, the improvisation, the dance floor and the surrender. It is finally the first written guide to the so-called “milonga codes”, the rules of behavior and interaction of people in the context of the “milonga”.
During 2009 Gustavo produced a documentary film: “The history of Tango Dance: 1940 -1960”, edited by María. This piece contains a profound research about the way Tango developed in the Golden Years, and includes interviews to several of the living legends of that period, as well as footage of the iconic dancers who made the Tango become the social phenomenon of those two decades.
Gustavo and María have both studied from world-wide prestigious Masters such as Rodolfo Dinzel, Roberto Herrera, Dany García, Alejandra Arrué, Nito & Elba, Omar Vega amongst many others.
Jaimes Friedgen & Christa Rodriguez
Jaimes has been a full-time tango teacher for most of his adult life. Before that, he traveled from town to town with a suitcase and his guitar, sleeping on rooftops and singing songs for bus fare. A dancer of extraordinary accomplishment, Jaimes is hailed for his beautiful movement and musicality. His teaching career began early in his life, giving classrooms composed of various stuffed animals and plastic toys lessons in reading, writing, and basic arithmetic. He has since passed this responsibility on to his daughter, Ravenna, who was born in the fall of 2006.
Christa began her affair with tango as a completely incompetent beginner. Of course all beginners are incompetent at what they are beginning, by definition; that’s the freedom and pleasure of being a beginner. But Christa was really bad. The veterans of the scene thought she might not make it, despite her extraordinary enthusiasm and hard work. A few years later, she is one of the most influential dancers in the U.S. and serves as the primary inspiration for a whole generation of female dancers (not to mention keeping the guys in line). She takes great pride in the progress of her students and continues to pursue her study of dance with the same voracious appetite as when she was that wobbly, wide-eyed teenager years ago. Those who know Christa well know her to be a master of creating beauty out of anything; be it sheet metal, a beat-up old guitar, oil on canvas, the intricate movements of tango, or a friend with two left feet.
Varo Boyajyan and Naomi Hotta
Varo and Naomi met in 2006 as student and teacher in a tango class. Throughout the years they taught/learned from one another, danced and shared the passion of tango. In 2010, they started traveling and teaching together. Varo and Naomi cherish the abrazo and the connection; through their love of music and expression of creative musicality, their dance expresses the emotion, the sensuality and the elegance of tango.
Varo’s immersion into the world of Argentine Tango started in 2004 in Los Angeles, California. Over the next few years he has become an active participant and an integral part of the Los Angeles tango community. He devoted himself to becoming a skillful social dancer, mastering floor craft, musicality, and establishing connection with the partner.
TEACHING: Varo’s rapid progression and extensive knowledge has led him to being invited as an instructor for the UCLA’s Argentine Tango classes, as well as becoming permanent staff member at the “Tango Room”, one of premier Tango studios in Los Angeles. Varo has taught and performed at numerous tango and dance related events in Los Angeles and Southern California, including the recent “Flamenco Loves Tango” production at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center.
Naomi was exposed to Argentine Tango while teaching salsa, swing, and ballroom dance classes at Southern California’s West Los Angeles and Harbor Colleges. Her attraction to Argentine Tango was instantaneous. In 2004, in order to further her tango abilities, she traveled to Buenos Aires, the Mecca of tango, where she spent 5 months in rigorous training and nightly milonga dancing. There she attained top-caliber techniques and absorbed the essence of tango. Her great maestros included Jorge Dispari, Carlos Perez, Fabian Peralta & Virginia Pandolfi, Francisco Forquera and Carolina Bonaventura, alongside numerous milongueros. She competed in the Second World Tango Competition Salon Category, where she surpassed more than 280 couples, ranking in the top 20 of the world. Since 2004, she has been periodically returning to Buenos Aires to maintain and further her tango skills and expression.
Naomi’s love, passion, and devotion for the dance is everlasting. She teaches and performs on a regular basis in Los Angeles as well as in other cities around the world. Her fluidity and grace are second to none. She strives to continuously explore and evolve as a dancer. Naomi’s goal is to one day become an old milonguera, expressing her life’s experiences through tango.
We’ve been professionally dancing tango together since 2007. We studied with and learned from master teachers of several different styles until we were intrigued and eventually seduced by the Tango Salon coming from Villa Urquiza.
In 2010 we’ve been invited to participate in the 6th edition of the National TANGO SALON CHAMPIONSHIP of Zona Norte of BUENOS AIRES where we won first place. This toke us to participate in the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP for Tango Salon where 450 were participating and placed us 9th among 96 couples in the semi-finals and into the 40 finalist couples.
We focus our tango on the subtleties of the embrace, the elegance, the connection and the quality of movement. Instead of putting together
and collecting dozens of sequences, we challenge ourselves and our students to create steps in the moment, coming from a place of rudimentary knowledge and deep technique. We try to transmit in our dance and lessons the importance of celebrating tango from the intimacy of the embrace and the unique encounter of two people.
After traveling to the States for the first time with tango, we witnessed almost a different dance being danced. Since then our curiosities and fascination with culture, human behavior, and art have led us to investigate our teaching from a unique and important perspective. Our deep love for the traditions and origins of Argentine Tango bestow upon us a feeling of responsibility to carry on and transmit the knowledge we have.
Sensitive to the individual learning process of each of our students, we’ve developed a method of teaching which supports the student in his/her own environment. We try to create a space where the pressures to advance are relaxed and the journey of tango becomes more accessible to everyone. Though classes can be intense and challenging at times, we never lose sight of the trust our students have placed in us and the desire we have to accompany their progress.
Each class we give, whether its with 4 students or 40, is charged with motivation, focus and heartfelt spirit!
Jorge Nel Joins Tucson Tango Festival
Jorge will be teaching a milonga workshop at the festival!! You must catch this fabulous instructor/performer in person. I assure you it will change your milonga dancing for ever!!
Jorge Nel Giraldo, professor of physical education and dance in his country of Colombia, he is considered one of the best instructors of tango dance in the United States since he has been teaching and dancing for over 30 years.
The city of Miami has given him a proclamation naming the 15th of May as “Jorge Nel Day” for being the pioneer of tango in Florida.
He has participated in films dancing tango, one of the films is Random Hearts with Harrison Ford, another film with Celia Cruz and Al Pacino. Jorge directed his own dance company, Tango Fever, for over 10 years.
He was the last dancer acting alongside Libertad La Marque, diva of the Hispanic cinema and Jorge was one of the first tango entrepreneurs to start the Tango Festivals in the United States.
At present he is considered one of the best salon tango dancers in his country and is currently well recognized in the United States as one of the best Milonga dancers in the USA.
Emily Ortiz and Vladimir Estrin
From LA Vladimir and Emily are important instructors on the LA scene. You will be happy we invited them!
Emily Ortiz-Gorcie started developing her passion for the tango at 5 years old, recalling Carlos Gardel’s breath-taking voice over her Argentinian father’s record player on Sunday afternoons. Once she grew up and learned the art of the Argentine Tango, she realized her true passion for the dance. Emily has performed tango exhibitions in several cities around the world in places such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Greece, Hungary, and Spain. In 2008, Emily performed to the music of Astor Piazzolla on the world famous stage of the Hollywood Bowl alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
In Buenos Aires, Emily has studied with many great maestros including Carlitos Perez, Gabriel Misse, Javier Rodriguez, Geraldin Rojas, and Milena Plebs to name a few. In 2009 and 2010, Emily had the honor and pleasure of working with and assisting Maestro Pablo Veron, star of the award-winning film ‘The Tango Lesson’. Emily has also assisted renowned maestros such as Raul Bravo, Ricardo Barrios, Jorge Firpo, Eduardo Capussi, Hugo Patyn, and Graciela Gonzalez “La Leona Del Tango” for festivals and workshops in Buenos Aires and the United States.
Emily has also worked behind the scenes as Executive Producer and Dance Company Manager with Natalia Hills’ production company, Tangueros del Sur, and their production, “Romper el Piso”, which was featured in New York’s City Center as well as the Vail International Dance Festival and received outstanding reviews in the New York Times.
In May 2010, Emily co-founded Tango Smith and produced the Santa Monica International Tango Holiday, aka “The SMITH”, an annual international tango dance and music festival in Los Angeles which attracted hundreds of dancers from all over the country, and featured professional dance couples from Argentina and U.S. based tango musicians. In 2011 Emily will be directing a new tango festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico which will debut in October 2011.
An acclaimed Argentine Tango Instructor, performer, organizer, and producer, Vladimir Estrin, has been an integral part of the LA’s tango community since 2001. His detailed approach to tango education, in-depth understanding of both leader’s and follower’s roles and techniques, kinesiology and musicality, have earned him great respect among the students and the peers.
Originally from Russia, and growing up in a very musical family, Vladimir has been exposed to the sounds of Tango from the earliest age. After taking his first Argentine Tango lesson, he knew that he had found his passion.
In 2001, Vladimir founded www.TangoAfficionado.com – International Online Tango Resource, that has become one of the most visited Tango-related websites in the United States.
Currently Vladimir is a full-time Tango instructor, and runs the Argentine Tango program at the 3rd Street Dance studio in Los Angeles, California.
He continues to advance tango education, as well as promote local and international instructors and performers in Los Angeles, Southern California and United States.
Delisa Myles
Delisa Myles, M.F.A., is a professor of dance at Prescott College where she focuses on dance as an avenue for personal inquiry and a communicative pathway for connections between people and environment. She is a founding member of Human Nature Dance Theatre and has been choreographing and performing in Northern Arizona since 1992. She is a certified yoga instructor and meditation practitioner. Delisa has been dancing tango for five years and teaches with her partner Earl Duque in Prescott, Flagstaff, Jerome and Sedona. www.delisamyles.com
Morning warm up and stretch will focus on gently opening, relaxing and rejuvenating the body for long days and nights of dancing. Particular attention will be focused on the spine feet, and shoulders. Please wear clothing that allows you to comfortably sit on the floor.
Sabah Chamas DJ
Sabah got addicted to Tango in the late nineties. It started with dancing and now it includes being a DJ.
Tango music occupies my thoughts and energizes my spirit and I am in constant search for good music. Although I try to vary the music I play, I am heavily influenced by the style of dance in Buenos Aires as well as the music played at the milongas there so feel free to call me old fashioned.
Paul Akmajian
Paul has been dancing tango since 1998 and teaching for the last six years. His love for the music and travels to Buenos Aires led him to begin building an extensive collection of songs and become a DJ. He has been a steady in DJ in Albuquerque for almost 10 years and in the last five years he has DJ’d at festivals around the country including Denver, Seattle, Chicago, St. Louis, Phoenix, and the Tucson Tango Festival. Paul has also DJ’d for numerous special events and milongas in Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, Tucson, Salida, CO, and Santa Fe, NM. As a DJ, Paul strives to keep everyone energized and dancing by playing the best, most familiar, time-tested and dancer-approved music from the Golden Age of Tango.
Varo Boyajyan DJ in action!
Varo’s DJ Bio
As an avid dancer himself, Varo has a deep appreciation for the tango music as a crucial part of the overall milonga experience for each dancer. As a DJ, Varo strives to create a musical atmosphere that inspires the dancers and connects with them on the emotional level.
While DJ-ing, Varo is always connected to the dancers-either by observing the energy and the interactions of the dancefloor, or dancing in the middle of it. In addition to selecting good tango songs, Varo pays detailed attention to the structure of the playlist.
Varo comprises the tandas and the relationship of tandas to each other in a way to establish a harmonious flow of the energy, and to develop emotional-energetic contrasts with a tasteful climax and rise that resonate within each dancer.
Varo regularly DJ’s at milongas in Los Angeles and Southern Calfornia. He has DJ’d along with Otros Aires and Narcotango. Varo is also invited to DJ at festivals all over the US.
“Derrick Del Pilar took his first tango steps in Buenos Aires in 2006. After half a year’s immersion in the birthplace of tango, he returned to the University of Arizona and began to dance locally, and also attend festivals around the country. After completing his B.A. in Creative Writing and Spanish Literature, he spent two years in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he earned an M.A. in Latin American Studies (with a focus on 20th century Argentina) from Berkeley, and also managed to dance almost every night in one of the U.S.A.’s largest and most diverse tango communities.
As a DJ, Derrick strives to fulfill two promises: to the dancers, to pull them out of their seats with thoughtfully arranged tandas; and to the Golden Age musicians, to let their music shine with the best fidelity recordings available. He has kept people dancing at popular venues in the Arizona and the Bay Area, and also in his hometown at the 2010 Chicago Mini Tango Festival.
You can read Derrick’s translations of Golden Age tango lyrics and listen to the best dance versions at http://poesiadegotan.wordpress.com.”
Larry Richelli Tango DJ
Larry loves Tango!
He started the tango community on Kauai HI. He was a DJ at the first 3 Maui tango festivals. Now living in Southern California, dancing and DJing all over the southland. From El Encuentro in Los Angeles to Milongas in San Diego and Palm Springs including the Tango Mundo tango Festival.
Larry’s fondest DJ moment. At a milonga on Oahu, HI. It was during the running of Forever Tango. At about 11pm the great Carlos Gavito and three other couples from the show came in to dance at the milonga. After about an hour, Carlos came up and complimented me on the music and shook my hand… Wow.
“My passion for tango stated 5 years ago. I was on Kauai and someone called and said that there was a demonstration of tango going on. Well, I went but it was already going on. As I was walking across the grass with a full moon above I got into range where I could hear the music and I just stopped with goose bumps all over…I had heard this music before. It was when I was a child staying with my Italian grand parents.
It hit me right in the heart! From that day on, tango has been about the music for me. The music of those old masters is the heart of tango. Watching videos of Anibal Troilo (Gordo Pichuco) and others leading their orchestras makes my hair stand on end. I feel so privileged being able to hear their music and enjoy dancing to it. This is one reason that dancing to alternative music is something I just can’t enjoy…that golden age music is the heart and soul of tango for me.”
Socially Conscious Hip Hop Artist Momo Smitt fell in love with Argentine Tango in October of 2009. With an extensive background in music but no experience with partner dancing of any kind he quickly jumped head first into studying, enjoying, and writing music about the dance.
“From the hole there formed a hold in tango/ Gotta grab and master this craft of the soul/ Gotta open my own/ To this deepest abyss of bliss/ I’ve gotta find it, at least just an inch of it.” He raps in his song titled “A Hold In Tango” a powerful track detailing the heartbreak leading up to his discovery of tango as well as his frustration and success making the transition from open to close embrace.
Dancing for many hours everyday and performing his original “Tango Raps” at various festivals around the U.S. he shares his enthusiasm with a childlike innocence through clever rhyme schemes and danceable rhythms.
Momo will be performing during the Saturday Alternative Milonga.
Tucson Tango Festival Flier
Tucson Tango Festival Flier
Thanks to Judy Miller all of our guests were welcomed as they arrived!!!
Posted 1 year, 5 months ago at 10:56 am. Add a comment
We choose instructors that are community builders. We choose instructors that dance with the community where they are teaching. We choose to bring to Tucson the type of Argentine Tango instructors that are gifted at saying the right thing at the right time. Nothing is left to chance, no detail is ignored in our instructor selection. We know the different styles of tango and we choose instructors that will enhance everyones style of tango. Pay attention here, and you may find your tango has improved for a life time.
Murat Erdemsel has been described as one of the strongest leads in the United States as a dancer and Argentine Tango instructor. He has taught in most of the major Argentine tango events in North America and has influenced large numbers of dancers with his unique perspective of dance and instruction while he maintains his teaching position for Dance Manhattan in NYC. Born in Istanbul, Murat followed his parents path to art school. He has partnered with well known dancers and including with Michelle, has shared the stage with the masters of tango. Performed to the live music of important Tango orchestras such as Hector Del Curto, Raul Haurena and Color Tango. Murat can also be seen on TV and in Movies with his dance.
Michelle Erdemsel took her first steps in dance at the age of 6 at the world renowned San Francisco School of Ballet and continued with such greats as David Howard in NYC. Her dance experience can only be described as eclectic, ranging from modern, jazz, flamenco, hula and theatre dance. Michelle spent many years touring with famous Musical Artists such as Liza Minelli in prestigious venues like Prince Albert Royal Hall in London, Off Broadway theatres in NYC, Stadiums and Arenas in Europe, South America and the US. Michelle has dedicated her life to teaching and dancing tango with her husband and partner Murat. Together they travel to teach at major festivals and perform at the milongas as well as with live music such as the Color Tango Orchestra.
Murat and Michelle have been living on the road and teaching for 6 years now. Their teaching and performing style is in high demand in Europe, Australia and the USA.
Oscar was born in Parque Patricios (a well-known tango barrio in Buenos Aires). His parents were avid tango dancers, and, in the 1950′s and ’60′s, they organized three different milongas per week, which regularly drew in 400-500 dancers. Oscar was very much influenced by his father, both by osmosis and discussion. He absorbed the code (codigo) of the milongueros, and when he eventually decided to take up the dance seriously, he already had a background and base that was the envy of many. Mary Ann came to tango eleven years ago from a background of ice-dancing. Coincidentally, her favourite ice-dance is the Argentine Tango. Oscar and Mary Ann have spent the last years living and teaching 6 months in Bs As and 6 months in Toronto and the US. Oscar has a distinct style both in his dance and his teaching. He is very .milonguero., and is respected by the .old guard. in the milongas of Buenos Aires. He is also extremely popular with his students, who are impressed by his teaching style. He teaches with energy and humor, emphasizing concepts, specializing in improvisation, always interpreting the music and respecting the character of the different orchestras. He is especially interested in the dynamics and cadencia of the dance. Everything he teaches is applicable to crowded milongas.
El estilo de tango de Oscar Casas esta basado en una constante improvisación sin perder la esencia milonguera respetando sus códigos desde sus raíces. Este estilo Milonguero Moderno de Oscar reflejan las actuales técnicas utilizadas por diferentes estilos de hoy, sin perder el espíritu de la vieja guardia.
Mary Ann Casas nacida originalmente el Canadá realizo patinaje artístico sobre hielo por mas de 25 anos. Su experienioa como bailarina y patinadora fue muy importante en el desarrollo y crecimiento de sus 13 anos de carrera con el tango. Mary Ann y Oscar Casas coinciden que el tango es un sentimiento que se baila, una danza nacida por el tremendo choque de culturas que ocurrió en Buenos Aires el siglo pasado
Como lo quieran llamar, Nuevo, Milonguero, Salón etc., cuando dos cuerpos se unes en armonía a través de la música, para poder representarla, siempre hay un sentimiento. Ese sentimiento el lo que nosotros los Argentinos bailamos y llamamos tango.
Varo’s immersion into the world of Argentine Tango started in 2004 in Los Angeles, California. Over the next few years he has become an active participant and an integral part of the Los Angeles tango community. He devoted himself to becoming a skillful social dancer, mastering floor craft, musicality, and establishing connection with the partner.
TEACHING: Varo’s rapid progression and extensive knowledge has led him to being invited as an instructor for the UCLA’s Argentine Tango classes, as well as becoming permanent staff member at the “Tango Room”, one of premier Tango studios in Los Angeles. Varo has taught and performed at numerous tango and dance related events in Los Angeles and Southern California, including the recent “Flamenco Loves Tango” production at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center. See Videos
DJ’ING: Knowing how important music is for a good social tango experience, Varo has been extensively studying the music, composers, band leaders, and styles. He has become a very well respected DJ in the community, regularly playing music at the “Tango Fusion” alternative milonga, UCLA Milonga and many other elegant and traditional milongas in Los Angeles. He has also been invited on many occasions to guest-DJ at the “DIVO” Milonga and the “El Encuentro” Milonga in Los Angeles. Most recently, Varo was a featured DJ at the 2009 Tucson Tango Festival for traditional and alternative milongas.
J. Abling has been teaching Argentine tango since 2001, first in Seattle, then in Portland.
His teaching focuses on the relationship between movement and the music, with an emphasis on technique. His methods is influenced by his study as a pianist and vocalist, his training in sports, and experience in performance arts and teaching other social dances. Some of his influential teachers include Jaimes Friedgen, Luciana Valle, Cecilia Gonzales, Cristina & Homer Ladas, Rosa Corisco & Felipe Martinez and Tete Rusconi to name a few. J. has taught in Seattle, Portland, Ashland, San Francisco, Reno and Los Angeles. He has performed with Carrie Whipple, Silvina Vals, Jennifer Olson, Tara Fortier & Luiza Paes. He aslo has dj’d in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Ashland, OR.
Currently, J. is traveling and teaching at different cities in the U.S. See Videos
Daniela is one of two Argentine Tango teachers in Arizona who has a Master’s Degree in Dance and it is her full-time profession. She has taught over 2000 people to dance, primarily Argentine Tango.
Dancing has always been a part of Daniela Borgialli’s life. She performed her first solo at the age of four and began making dances at 10. It wasn’t until graduate school that the Argentine blood in her veins manifested itself in a love and pursuit of the Argentine Tango. Once the tango spell had been cast, Daniela went where she could whenever possible in pursuit of its lure, and she discovered that her grandfather (who passed away shortly after she was born) was a milonguero.
Her studies have led her to great teachers including Luciana Valle, Cecilia Gonzalez, Fabian Salas, Fernanda y Guillermo, Brigitta Winkler, Alex Krebs, Tomas Howlin, and Eric Jørissen, to name a few.
After receiving her Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from Arizona State University in 2000, she moved to New York City and began teaching this exquisite couples dance. Her theoretical and technical background in modern dance, her enthusiasm and passion, intuitive nature, and artistry contribute to her abilities as a dance instructor.
Daniela currently teaches and performs locally in Arizona. She travels frequently to Buenos Aires to continue her professional development as a teacher. In the spring of 2005 she went to Buenos Aires on an Adjunct Faculty Professional Growth Award to further her professional development as a teacher of the Argentine Tango. She is interested in the art of teaching and attended several teachers’ conferences in 2006, including Teacher’s Week at El Corte in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
In September 2005 she was invited to teach in San Diego where she conducted a workshop on close embrace and a follower’s technique workshop. In 2008 she was invited by Sharna Fabiano to be on the faculty of a Follower’s Weekend where she conducted a class on “musicality and listening to the music”. She has taught in Charleston, SC; Washington, DC;, Houston, TX;, Flagstaff, AZ; as well as regularly teaching 2 levels of Argentine Tango to over 80 students at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.
Along with Beginner and Intermediate classes, she enjoys exploring Tango’s life metaphor as a unique way to develop team-building and leadership skills, and interpersonal relationships. She is also interested in using tango to further improvisation and partnering skills with trained dancers. See Video
Clay Nelson is probably most famous nowadays for being the organizer of the Portland Tangofest – which has spread into several festivals per year.
Beth Anne Osborn studied Classical ballet and Modern Dance at the University of Cincinnati. She began studying tango 10 years ago with Homer Ladas in Tucson at the Shoebox Studio. I caught tango fever like so many others – apparently, there is no cure.
Clay and Beth Anne became partners two years ago. Currently they do two festivals in Ashland (Turkey Tango and Labor Day’s Grape Escape.
As instructors, they travel together to emerging tango communities sharing the secrets of social tango through the fundamental core values associated with “Close Embrace Style” Clay is committed to helping build healthy tango communities wherever he can. His “How to build a tango community Lecture” is a must for newer or smaller communities.
Clay and Beth Anne have obviously been bitten by Tango Fever and continue to explore the music, culture and the infinite possibilities that our beloved mistress, Argentine Tango, bestows upon us.
Clay and Beth Anne will be collaborating to bring us the quality of Solid Gold Tango we have come expect at quality milongas.
Solid Gold DJs:
Why these DJs?
I know for a fact that good DJs can make or break a festival. I have been diligently studying and DJing for a few years now and as time goes by I have become more particular and more aware of the energy that a well timed and properly mixed tanda can bring to the milonga floor. These are the qualities I looked for in the DJs I invited to keep our festival guests dancing. I know our group of DJs will keep our guests in the best of spirits, the purest of passion, while coaxing them to be blending and moving together on the crowded milonga floor.
To help you know how and why I chose these DJs, let me share what I want love in a “fantastic” milonga: I love dancing to well blended mix of golden, early, revival, transitional and progressive: I love pure tango! And these DJs play what I love! For a traditional milonga I love the golden era of tango coupled with a healthy helping of early tango then infuse this with an infrequent tanda of transitional tangos, mixed with a small measure of revival and a splash of progressive later in the night depending on the crowd. I like my tandas to be all of the same year, style, mood and rhythm. I want a playful grouping in a tanda that gets me ready to milonga, follow this with a romantic blend that pulls us close and prepares us for a vals.
I like a DJ that is aware and hip to the mood and tempo of the milonga floor, someone that is keeping an eye on the numbers dancing, their styles and fellowship on the floor thus introducing tandas that keep the seats empty and the floor moving. I want a DJ that knows when to pull the curtains and inhibit flying bumping when the floor is crowded as opposed the DJ that can put on a dramatic Pugliese when the floor is so crowded you can barely move!
I assure you that the creatively structured tandas at the milongas of the Tucson Tango Festival will leave you with a warm moist glow, a sparkling gleam and a desire for more! If you leave here with a wish, it will only be that you wish it would never end!
Vijay was one of the key instructors and DJs in the Ann Arbor tango community. He is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He teaches the traditional Milonguero style of dancing that employs subtle body movements to generate complex choreography in a compact space. His classes have a strong emphasis on Connection, Musicality and Navigation that help students to quickly grasp the fundamentals of social dancing. His dancing style has been influenced by many teachers including Robin Thomas, Christopher & Caroline, Alex Krebs, Jaimes Friedgen in the US and by Susana Miller, Cacho Dante, Ana Maria Shapira and Javier Rodriguez in BsAs. As a DJ, he has been a part of several festivals in the US including the Portland and Denver tango festivals (http://festivals.tango.info/VijayNamas)
Paul Akmajian (Albuquerque, NM) has been dancing tango for over 10 years and
teaching for the last five. He has been a DJ for most of his tango life and
in the last 3 years he has DJ’d in Seattle, Phoenix, Tucson, as well as on a
regular basis in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Recently, he was a DJ for the
Denver > Albuquerque Labor Day weekend Tango Festival. He is excited to
return to his hometown of Tucson to DJ for the Tucson Tango Festival.
Sabah got addicted to Tango in the late nineties. It started with dancing and now it includes being a DJ.
Tango music occupies my thoughts and energizes my spirit and I am in constant search for good music. Although I try to vary the music I play, I am heavily influenced by the style of dance in Buenos Aires as well as the music played at the milongas there so feel free to call me old fashioned.
Varo’s immersion into the world of Argentine Tango started in Los Angeles, California. Over the next four years he has become an active participant and an integral part of the tango community in Los Angeles. He devoted himself to becoming a skillful social dancer, mastering floorcraft, musicality, and establishing connection with the partner.
Knowing how important music is for a good social tango experience, Varo has been extensively studying the music, composers, band leaders, and styles. He has become a very well respected DJ in the community, regularly playing music at the “Tango Fusion” alternative milonga, UCLA Milonga and many other elegant and traditional milongas in Los Angeles. He has also been invited on many occaisions to guest-DJ at the “DIVO” Milonga and the “El Encuentro” Milonga in LA.
Jay loves to DJ and his tandas have been known to melt butter in refrigerators three states away! J Abling believes that a milonga is a “party where tango is danced”. Whenever he DJs, he intends to keep a good party going with select choice of music to inspire both lovers of traditional and alternative music. When not teaching or DJing, he is constantly organizing and listening to his music or looking for more music to add to his extensive collection. He has learned to dj from some of the best DJs in the country including Jaimes Friedgen, Alex Krebs, Dan Boccia, Shorey Myers and Vijay. He has DJd at festivals and regular milongas in Portland, Seattle, Houston, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Maui and Ashland, OR.
Posted 1 year, 9 months ago at 11:14 pm. Add a comment
