ALEJANDRA ARMENTI    –   DANIEL JUAREZ

Alejandra and Daniel both began the study of dance at the age of 6, in folklore, classical, jazz and tango.

Their professional career took flight in the National Folklore Ballet between 1991 and 1997, company which brought them on the most prestigious stages of Buenos Aires, such as Teatro Colon, Cervantes, San Martin, Luna Park.

From 1997 on they began working as a soloist master tango couple, touring the world ( Brasil, Mexico, USA, China, Russia, New Zeeland, Turkey, Japan, all of Europe) while in Buenos Aires continued performing in well-known tango stages such as La Ventana, Taconeando, Esquina Carlos Gardel, Hotel Faena ( Rojo Tango).

Between 1998 and 2001 were integral part of La Nueva Compania Tangueros under the direction of Mariachiara Micheli with whom participated in the most important dance festivals, among which was the Torino Fiat Centennial, and with an audience of thousands. They continued to tour Italy, Switzerland, USA.

Summer of 2002 brought them working in ‘Prefumes de Tango’ with Compania Tango x 2 directed by Miguel Angel Zotto.

In August 2003 they created their own company called Corporacion Tangos. They took their company performing in many, many shows and all over the world.

In 2007 Corporacion Tangos was elected best group choreography to perform at the World’s Championship Finals for the stage category in front of an audience of 5000 people.

In 2008 Alejandra and Daniel were elected as choreographers for the closing night of the World Tango Championship where they directed 20 dancers performing on live music by the Osvaldo Berlingieri orchestra.

Also in 2008 they had a very successful season in the theatre El Cubo.

2009 was another busy and very successful year for Alejandra and Daniel, bringing them more career rewards: They arrive on the famous Avenida Corrientes, in Teatro Broadway with their show, Vibraciones del Alma where they performed for 5 consecutive months and received excellent reviews. They performed in a gala organized in the honour of Mrs. Christina Kirchner, President of Argentina. They were chosen by the CID UNESCO to represent tango as Intangible Patrimony of Humanity.

In 2010 and 2011 Alejandra and Daniel participated in the Festival International de Tango de Todi, Italia.

In December 2012 the Government of the city of Buenos Aires invited them to perform at the closing ceremony of the National Day of Tango, on a large stage, for an audience of several thousands.

During 2010, 2011, 2012 they toured extensively as masters of tango throughout Europe: Italy, France, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey.

Between October 2012 and March 2013 they had the ‘Farewell Season’ for their show Vibraciones del Alma in the Cultural Centre Borges, Buenos Aires.

In August 2013 the Government of the City of Buenos Aires celebrated them and paid them homage for 10 years of artistic trajectory. The celebrations concluded with a performance in Luna Park at the opening of the night for the World’sTango Finals.

From 2010 to present Alejandra and Daniel dedicate themselves to the preparation of young dancers for stage tango, creating two innovative schools:

“Stage tango for the Salon Tango Dancer” and “Salon Tango for the Stage Dancer”.

Short excerpts from critics published

Revista Noticias : “Tangueros de Ley, rigor, experiencia y belleza visual” – “Tango dancers of rigor, experience and visual beauty.”

Diario Clarín: “Un trabajo exhaustivo, atractivo y además muy original.” – A work exhausting, attractive and also original.

Diario Página 12: La originalidad radica en un uso ingenioso del espacio, la creative interacción y técnica firme” – “ The originality lies in the ingenious use of space, creative interaction and firm technique.”

Buenos Aires Herald: “Coreografías imaginativas y marcada musicalidad, elegancia

  y emoción allí donde es necesario” – ” Imaginative choreographies, and punctuated musicality, elegance and emotion there where it is necessary.”

Balletin Dance: “Creatividad deslumbrante, ideas brillantes y resultados a la vista” -“Dazzling creativity, brilliant ideas and visible results.”

  Diario La Prensa:“Con ellos, el tango aún puede ser original. Lograr un equilibrio

entre  tradición y modernidad, es un reto difícil de superar en propuestas de este estilo, puede decirse con certeza que Armenti y Juárez se acercan al  balance ideal” – “With them, tango can be even original. To succeed a balance between traditional and modern is a difficult challenge to overcome in such style proposals. It can be said with certainty that Armenti and Juárez come very close to the ideal balance.

Portal Mujer Milenium: “Por fin un show para todo público, un espectáculo con todas las letras!!” – “Finally a show for all publc, a performance with all the verses!!”

Ivan Terrazas – Sara Grdan

Ivan is from Mendoza, Argentina, where he started his artistic career as a soloist at  12 years of age.  He was trained by his parents Eduardo Terrazas and Beatriz Herrera in competition Malambo and other forms of Argentine Folklore, as well as classical ballet and Argentine Tango.  Upon his arrival in the United States, Ivan added salsa and tap to his repertoire.

Kinetic since an early age, Sara studied regional folklore dance and classical ballet technique in Zagreb, Croatia.  Her obsession with Argentine Tango started in the late 1990s at the milonga, and she subsequently learned Argentine folklore. In order to better understand body mechanics and to teach movement technique, Sara also became a GyrotonicÒ  and GyrokinesisÒ instructor.

Ivan and Sara met in New York City and have dedicated themselves with passion and intensity to Argentine Tango. Trained primarily by Diego DiFalco, Pablo Pugliese and Natalia Hills, and also drawing from many other influences, such as Jorge Torres, Roberto Herrera, Guillermina Quiroga, Gabriel Misse, Carlitos Perez and Raul Bravo, together they are among the youngest and most recognized teachers and performers in the world of Argentine Tango.

As instructors, they have developed a modern systemic approach to teaching traditional tango.  Their goal as teachers is to instill strong fundamentals by emphasizing technique, analytical thinking, logic, naturalness and comfort in both the close and open embrace. Ivan and Sara encourage students to look for connection, quality of movement, creative expression and musicality to make their dance uniquely their own.

After living for 7 years in United States and Argentina, Ivan and Sara are currently based in Europe, and in addition to being members of the prestigious company ‘Tangueros del Sur’ directed by Natalia Hills, they have recently performed with ‘Tangox2’ and ‘Miguel Zotto in Concert’ directed by Miguel Angel Zotto, ‘Obsesion Tango’ directed by Tamara Bisceglia, and ‘Compania Roberto Herrera’ directed by Roberto Herrera.

In addition to their theatre credentials, Ivan and Sara are festival and workshop favorites, and have participated, among others, at the Belgrade Tango Encuentro, Sultans Tango Festival in Istanbul, Perugia Tango Festival, and Puerto Rico International Tango Festival.

Their latest project involves creating a curriculum for the online tango video instruction giant Tangomeet.  Ivan and Sara’s online teaching videos will appear in the spring of 2016.

Lovely Vivian Konstantakos is a world citizen, who loves dancing as much as loves DJing.  As a dancer she can’t keep her self off the floor. When she DJs her intention is to keep the dancers on the floor in a tango high, in the tango buzz, one song at the time.

We are so happy to have the contagious bubbly, energy-filled, tango-fired personality Vivian among us during this special weekend.

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.

Tatiana Balashova, a dancer herself with 13+ years of Argentine tango experience, has been been DJ-ing on regular basis since 2009 at various milongas in Vancouver (traditional and alternative), and at some special events in North America (San Diego Tango Festival 2012, 2013; Milonga Querida (LA, USA), Milonga LAX (LA, USA), Milonga La Vida (Seattle/Bellevue, USA), Montreal Tango Nuevo Festival 2011 (traditional, alternative), Vancouver Tango Marathon 2012, Magic Tango Weekend 2011, 2012, La Garufa Festival 2011).

Her DJ-ing style is to look for music which fits the moment best depending on dancers & ambiance. She likes to combine the tango music of golden age with some personal touch & cortinas for a  variety of moods. She enjoys creating a positive, romantic and relaxed & yet dynamic atmosphere so that enthusiastic dancers are inspired to keep on dancing every tanda and newcomers can’t wait to get on the dancefloor, whether it is an evening, a late night or a matinee milonga.

Jessie has been a dedicated and faithful presence in our tango community for many years. Throughout this time, she has shown much generosity towards all of us, and she has shared her music and her love of tango. Her greatest joy is to see the seats empty and the rondas flowing.
Modestly, in her own words: “The music I choose to play at a milonga is to invite, inspire and entertain the dancers.  Nothing more.”

Robert began dancing tango in 1995 and has participated in the development of Portland’s tango scene since near its beginning.

Robert has spent significant time in Buenos Aires studying with older milongueros. Important influences were Cacho Dante, Nestor Rey, Ricardo Vidort and, most significantly, Tete Rusconi. Other important teachers of the younger generation have been Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Silvina Valz, and Alicia Pons. His work with Alicia helped him develop a much deeper understanding of tango movement and musicality.

As a DJ Robert is known for his knowledge and love of classic tango music, and has DJ’d at festivals around the country in addition to hosting and DJing his own long-running Monday milonga in Portland.

Gregory (Grisha) is a classically trained, concert-level musician, professional dancer and DJ.

For years, Grisha was teaching and performing with Daniela Arcuri, renowned tango dancer and teacher from Buenos Aires, with worldwide tango experience. He maintains an active touring schedule with tango classes, performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician, and giving his unique Concert-Lecture-Class about the “Structure of Tango Music”.

We are happy to welcome Grisha at our festival and look forward to his music and his presentations.

A long-time dedicated tango dancer herself, DJ Marina always puts dancers’ interests first. She believes that her dancers deserve only the finest music where melody, beat, nerve, strength, and character are all balanced to perfection to please dancer’s ear and feet. She is known for her carefully selected, storytelling, mostly traditional tandas, sometimes with unexpected touch. Her ultimate DJ’s goal at the milonga is to see every single person in the room on the dance floor, and her success measure is a number of dancers wanting more at the end of the night.  Marina is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. She was introduced to tango in 2003, and her affair with tango music quickly evolved into passion for DJing. Since 2007, she served tango communities at the milongas in Canada, USA, and overseas.

SARA THOMSEN

Sharing the passion of dance with people of all ages is the driving force of Sara’s life’s work. Having studied a variety movement styles (ballet, jazz, modern, karate, yoga, contact improv, ballroom, salsa, swing, and argentine tango) she blends over 17 years of experience in arts to help students find connection, expression, and joy in any style they want to pursue.
Sara travels the country and world teaching and learning the art of dance. Well respected locally for her integrity and professionalism, Sara continually works to build community through dance and yoga around the area’s studios, schools and dance halls.

ALBANO GOLDENBERG

Originally from the province of Mendoza, I inherited my love of tango from my grandparents. They organized milongas in their home and I grew up watching them dance and listening to tango after tango on my grandfather’s record player. At 18 I began to study tango, classical and contemporary dance and theater. I organized several milongas in Mendoza and San Luis and I directed, choreographed and danced in various tango shows, including “Tangoneón”, with the renounced bandoneon player Juan Pablo Jofré Romarion, and “NN Tango”. I went on tour to Bolivia in 2006 with María Eugenia Gómez and the Tangastor quintet, in 2007 I participated as a contemporary dancer in the National Vendimia Festival and in 2008 I traveled to Chile as an invited teacher and dancer in the Valparatango festival. I moved to Buenos Aires in 2008 to perfect my dancing. There, I had the opportunity to study with distinguished maestros such as Carlos Gavito, Sabrina and Rubén Veliz, Guillermina Quiroga, “el Pibe” Avellaneda, Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne, Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Mariano “Chicho” Frúmboli and Juana Sepúlveda, and Pablo Verón. I have also worked as a teacher in the Escuela Carlos Copello, Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa’s Zarasa Studio and the Argentine branch of Pepperdine University. In 2012 I went on my first European tour, giving intensive workshops and performing in France, Germany and Switzerland. I currently teach three group classes per week in addition to private classes. I am also co-organizer and teacher in the Milonga Antimufa and in October and November 2014 made a tour of Canada. In 2015 participates as a dancer of 24M under the Cambalache festival and also the dancing Tango Show Añoranzas entire 2015 season.

ALBANO GOLDENBERG

Our story is like that of many others who discovered tango and never looked back. Partly rooted in  childhood and partly acquired, tango holds a special place in our hearts. We believe that Argentine tango is one of the reasons why the world can be a better place because it reminds us again and again to stay human and compassionate. For many  tango  may represent many things. To us it means family and it evokes the nostalgia of times past, present and hope for the future.

We are the hosts of this festival and we have taken on this project to give our city and our community here a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend and an opportunity for new experiences and learning.