Artists, DJs &
Special Instructors

Paloma & Maximiliano, native from Santiago – Chile, have been dancing together for more than 28 years. Since they were young, they have shared the passion for Argentine Tango as heritage from their parents. They were formed in Chile and in Buenos Aires, with many argentine masters, getting the knowledge and the culture of argentine Tango from them. They won the 2nd place in 2007 in the World Tango Championship in Buenos Aires and the 1st place in 2008 in the Trex Games TAFISA worldwide competition in South Korea. Members of AMBCTA - Association of Masters, dancers and Choreographers of Argentine Tango, in Buenos Aires - Argentina. Nowadays based in Miami - Florida, USA, they have been touring through South and North America and part of Europe, teaching and performing and judging in competitions, in uncountable Casinos, Convention Centers, Hotels and TV shows. Invited to teach, perform in the biggest and the most important Tango Festivals across the US. Their teaching and performance, it’s characterized as energetic, didactic and detailed. Focused on promoting the Argentine Tango and their culture around the world from the connection and the joy through one of the most passionate dances in the world

Rino Fraina and Graziella Pulvirenti are among the most acclaimed Italian tango couples on the international scene, proudly representing Italy with passion and artistry. Dancing together for over 16 years, they have brought their talent to stages across Europe, the Americas, and China.

Based in Catania, they are the founders and artistic directors of the Sicily Tango Winter and the Catania Summer Tango Week. In 2019, they received a nomination at the Premios Tango in Buenos Aires in the category of “Best International Couple.”
 

As teachers, they run their tango school in Catania, where they not only share their knowledge and experience but also train and inspire new generations of dancers. Their school has become a true point of reference for anyone wishing to learn tango in the city.

Jesica is a master of anatomy, John has an encyclopedic knowledge of Tango structure, and together their classes present a clear and integrated understanding of Tango, both in movement and in composition. They have been teaching together for over a decade, and work extensively to foster community, particularly at colleges and universities. They have taught at numerous festivals in the US and abroad, including the Albuquerque Tango Festival, Boulder Tango Festival, Tree City Tango, Windy City Tango, Wasatch Tango Festival, Mountain Milonga Retreat, La Paz Eco-Tango Festival, and Tango Maya in Mexico. They are also the hosts of the Tango on the Rocks festival in Denver.

John Miller has been DJing for over half his life, playing more than 1500 events across nearly every imaginable setting: seedy bars and warehouses, churches and beaches, weddings and funerals, high school sock-hops and wild house parties, beneath bridges, from century-old victrolas, and at scores of festivals.
 

ATUSA Tango Salon and Stage Tango Champions 2019- 2021
Adriana Salgado and Orlando Reyes 
 
Adriana and Orlando have been professional dancers and teachers of Argentine Tango for over twenty-five years. With a background in classical ballet, they started off studying Tango in Buenos Aires under the auspices of renowned tango masters.
International performances include the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Aruba, Argentina, Canada, Indonesia and their native Colombia. They have been based in New York since 2007 where they have taught and performed at many tango venues nationwide. They have also been guest teachers and performers at Holland America, Norwegian and Royal Princess cruises 2012-2013. Other stage performances include Tango Malbec House in New York City 2012-2014. They are currently the official Tango performers of the Pan American Symphony of DC.

Their smooth, romantic, elegant style and solid connection make their Tango Salon and Stage performances outstanding. Their constant dedication for Argentine Tango is palpable and has won them recognition with awards at their native Colombia and more recently in the USA, where they have become the USA Stage Tango (2019) and Tango de Pista (2021) Champions

Jacklyn Shapiro began her dance training at the age of 12 in the Russian community at Universal Dancesport Center in New Jersey, where she became enamored with the art of Ballroom dance. Her instant love for dance and performance led her to become a competitive Ballroom and Latin dancer for ten years. After her competitive stage, she knew her profession lay in sharing her passion with others. To this day, Jacklyn continues to teach Ballroom dancing while focusing mainly on the art of Argentine Tango for the last 11 years. 
 
For Jacklyn, Tango has been an eye-opening experience giving her the opportunity to bring all of the elements together: the sensuality, connection, and the desire to express the inner-self. Not long after taking her first Tango steps, Jacklyn realized this dance offers something unique. The ability to dance from the heart, be yourself, and feel as though no one is watching. She has performed and competed in tango all over the United States, and holds a finalist position in the Argentine Tango Championships in 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2017. Jacklyn also performs as a tango singer featured in multiple stage tango productions and showcases. 
 
Cristyan Quiroz is an established international dancer and choreographer. He directs Taborda Dance Company and is the founding director of the Pa’Corrientes adult ballet company. He started dancing at the age of 12 studying Argentinian folk dance, Argentine Tango, and contemporary dance. His dance work experience includes dancing, competing and choreographing for international dance companies, tv programs, and judging international festivals & competitions majority in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Currently, he continues to dance and teach the art of folklore and tango in the United States. 
 
Today, Jacklyn and Cristyan take every opportunity to learn from each other, maintain an open mind, and grow together as they continue on their tango journey. They also love to perform, teach and entertain using their versatile skills to showcase all of the different styles tango and folklore has to offer. With each passing day, they aspire to become more versatile dancers and performers, and most importantly stay true to what tango and folklore is at its core: Love, Passion, Creation, and a form of Expression. 

Jael Montilla and Jesús Matías Aranguren are professional Argentine tango dancers who have performed at renowned festivals across the United States, including the Pittsburgh Tango Festival, Tango on the Rocks (Denver), Queen City Tango Festival (Charlotte), 6th Holiday Tango Weekend (Dallas) , Las Vegas Tango Festival, and the Windy City Tango Festival (Chicago), sharing the stage with acclaimed maestros and artists.

Their competitive achievements include:

Las Vegas Tango Festival 2024:
🥇 Jack & Jill (Follower) + awards in Vals, Milonga, Adagio & Variación, Stage Tango & Tango de Salón

Argentine Tango USA (ATUSA): 
🥇 Stage Tango 2024 | 
🥈 Stage Tango, Tango de Pista & Vals 2025

SoCal Tango Championship 2025:
🥉 Tango Escenario |
🥇 Jack & Jill (Follower)

Through every performance, they strive to embody the essence of tango—connection, emotion, and authenticity—both on stage and on the dance floor.

Igor “El Espejero” started dancing tango in 2011, and DJing in 2012. Since then he has been invited to play his music to over 400 milongas and major events in England, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Czechia, Poland, Serbia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, North Cyprus, China, Taiwan, ten US states, and Argentina (Salon Canning and Club Fulgor, Buenos Aires), while actively DJing at various milonga venues and organizing own events in Toronto, the city of his residence.
His musical selection is firmly grounded in the classics of the Golden Age, with occasional, yet necessary departures into the naive warmth of Guardia Vieja sextetos and raw energy of a few carefully selected modern orquestas, while his style is influenced by the profound and sensual choices of the younger generation of Buenos Aires musicalizadors.
Igor says: “I believe that it is the dance floor that dictates the choices to the DJ, not the other way around. Thus, I neither program my music in advance of the event, nor I attempt to ‘educate’ or ‘challenge’ the dancers. My only goal is to deliver the best danceable music and abundant energy to the floor, from the first tanda to the last, without a single exception.”

Rodrigo “DJ Charrua” Saraibe, originally from Uruguay, studied sound and light engineering in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rodrigo has been working as a sound engineer, DJ, and stage manager since 1995, and has ample experience as a promoter of rock and Tango events in Buenos Aires and Miami, Florida for various local bands and TV shows as a music designer. Rodrigo has resided in Chicago IL since 2002, where he has been working in the integration of audio and visual arts using his sound and lighting design skills. As a native Uruguayan, Rodrigo began discovering his origins by exploring tango music. His passion for Tango music has lead him to acquire an extensively impressive collection of music.
He has been a DJ at some of the most prominent Tango Milongas and Festivals in the US including: Chicago Tango Week, Florida Tango Festival, Albuquerque Tango Festival, Boston Tango Festival, Las Vegas Tango Festival, Seattle Tango Marathon, Twin Cities Tango Marathon, Florida Tango Encounter and many many more.

Koichiro Suzuki earned his Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Duquesne University and has performed the euphonium internationally. With a rich musical background and a deep understanding of musicality, he seamlessly integrates these elements into his DJing.

He has DJed at tango events across the United States, Argentina, Canada, Cyprus, Mexico, Japan, and Italy. As the founder of Pittsburgh Tango Connection, a tango school based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he is dedicated to growing the local tango community. He also organizes the annual Pittsburgh Tango Fierro Marathon & Festival, bringing together dancers from around the world.

Facundo Agüero Maisano has been dancing for 13 years and exploring tango music and DJing for the last 11. He has DJed in Argentina and across the U.S., always prioritizing the dancers’ experience and maintaining a balanced flow throughout the night. While deeply rooted in the classic Golden Era, he specializes in tango music from the latter half of the 20th century, seeking out its polished and evolved period—yet always with one goal in mind: keeping it as danceable as possible.

Why did I start DJ-ing post-Covid?  We were all itching to resume dancing, and we wanted more inspiring music. So I decided to play the tandas my friends actually wanted to dance to.

My method remains simple. If l listen to a particular tango while sitting at my desk, and my feet start moving on their own - it goes on my playlist. And I agree that classics are classics for a reason, and roads less traveled are sometimes less traveled for a reason.

I prefer what I consider scenic routes, in travel and in music. Allow me to invite you tango travel with me.

Loelle Lim is originally from South Korea. She discovered her passion as a dancer from 30 years of her dance experience with jazz dance, Latin dance, ballroom dance. Since her heart has been attracted to this fascinating dance in 2003, Argentine tango is now her one and only love.
She’s been dancing tango for 20 years and performing, teaching, competing, and DJing for 6 years. She became a finalist in Tango de Pista at Argentine Tango USA competition in 2022 and won 3rd place in Jack & Jill
category at Southern California Tango Championship and Festival in 2025.

The music she plays to tune up the dance floor reflects broad learning experiences from her tango journey including about one and a half years of studying tango in Buenos Aires through 13 times of visit. She presents
extensive collection of classic and traditional Argentine tango music from the golden age era, also brings delightful taste of tango from global modern orchestras at the traditional milongas. In addition to that, she introduces
unique and sophisticated alternative music at the Alt milongas.

Her music will guide you to tango fantasy where you will embrace your partner, feel your heartbeat, burn your passion, and make an unforgettable tango moment.

Mariela is acclaimed and established as one of the most distinctive voices of her generation for her vocal quality and deeply personal artistic expression. 

  With an outstanding career, Mariela has captivated audiences from the most intimate concert to the most multitudinous, in different stages; and the most prestigious festivals in this country, and around the world. 

  Her stage presence and passionate delivery have led her to be recognized as an authentic Argentine ambassador of its popular and citizen music. 

 Mercedes Sosa in Cosquín '93 praised her talent and uniqueness, highlighting her ability to connect with the heart of the public. 

  Raúl Garello, Director of the Buenos Aires Tango Orchestra, highlighted; her glamour and passion for our music are intertwined in each of her performances making us live an unforgettable moment. 

  Mariela Marcó has presented, and continues to present her art, as a soloist and as a member of outstanding companies; Polly Fernan “Glamour Tango”, Los Villagra “Tango’s Heart Company”, Alejandra Armenti & Daniel Juárez “Corporación Tango” among others, throughout the United States enchanting audiences in iconic cities such as New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Boston, Chicago and Washington DC.

• Former Artistic gymnast.

• Dancer

• Fashion Designer

• Tango event creator Neo-milongas &

• ‘Bellas Tango Weekend’ co-founder

• Studies: Bachelor Fine arts, MIU

Started at 6yrs training for gymnastics and developing fashion sense from fashionista couturier mother. Became designing own outfits for gymnastics exhibitions, later creating dresses and outfits for Latin dance shows, & exhibitions. Contemporary, Latin rhythms, Middle Eastern & Argentine Tango, dancing for 15+yrs

Won local and National Competitions in Gymnastics
Won medals best ‘Athlete of the year’
Sud-American Championship
2nd Sub-champion at Salsa Latin group
Danced Tango company ‘Tango Times Dance Company;’ 4yrs
‘Solo & variety shows – TV Ads
Tango Hearts dance company 2024-present

My passion for Tango being part of my roots, & having a tanguero father, who won many competitions from ‘la vieja guardia’ in the Buenos Aires’ outskirts; was within me from the start point. I grew up listening and learning all kind of tangos music and the like; although, I developed more sense of it later in life. As I started learning tango and dancing I’ve noticed the need of proper dresses for such a sophisticated and graceful art dance. That took me to start creating my own outfits that later I developed as clothing line Tanguera Chic by Verosel. After that, I started creating whole tango collections through the years, & through social dancing and exhibitions I refined tango outfits in order to get the most wanted ones! Always looking for creating new pieces for adding to the Chic tangueras’ closets and for them to enjoy as much as I enjoy while making them or dancing with them. Tanguera Chic one of kind outfits, nightlife, cocktail, dancing, specially for Tango allowing freedom, and joy!
For the love of Tango & passion for fashion,
Verosel

📧 verotango10@gmail.com
🌐 tanguerachic.com
🌐 https://bellastango.com

Michael Saltus brings a vibrant energy and a deep love for tango to every dance. His playful yet precise style resonates with both the music and his partners, creating an enjoyable and memorable experience. As a taxi dancer, Michael's enthusiasm and dedication make him an excellent choice for anyone looking to share a spirited and connected tanda.

Mari Hodges is a certified Alexander Technique Teacher, Art of Running instructor and pain management specialist.
She is passionate about empowering people to enhance mobility and performance, discover personal transformation and increase freedom of choice by changing long-standing habits of posture, movement and thought.
Mari teaches anatomy-informed mindful movement, embodied awareness, natural breathing and self-care and self-development skills in addition to pain and stress reduction. Her Alexander Technique training and extensive teaching experiences give her unique insight into human movement and how to help people eliminate unconscious, habitual interferences for greater whole-body coordination, comfort, vitality and calm presence. In group and individual classes, she helps dancers and others “rediscover” integrated movement and mind-body wholeness.
Mari taught and performed Brazilian dances around the world for over 20 years. She has studied and danced tango since 2005 in Buenos Aires, where she lived until recently. She is now based in Montana and is available for individual coaching by appointment.
Mari will be teaching The Goldilocks Zone for accessing postural tone and movement that’s relaxed, engaged and free as you dance tango.
Visit www.DiscoverEase.how for more about Mari and Alexander Technique.

Louis has been dancing tango and shooting portraits since 2009, and his work reflects a deep understanding of the nuances of both artistic media. He has a keen eye for both the drama and tenderness that characterize tango embrace, movement, and artistry. His shots capture the allure, sentimentality, form, and fluidity that are characteristic of Argentine tango.   With his wife Jennifer (also a tanguera) providing editorial support, they form an uncommon team, able to visually tell the story of a tango event as experienced through the hearts of dancers.
In 2024 alone, they have been busy traveling, dancing tango, and shooting at the Windy City Tango Festival, Tango on the Rocks and both the Cleveland and Detroit Marathons. 
Enjoy some highlights and follow Louis’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/louistangophoto/
​
If you are into Tango photography check out his Class for photographers Friday at 5. A festival First!

Since beginning his Argentine Tango journey in 2005 in the Pacific Northwest, Dominic Bridge has become one of North America’s most respected Tango artists, sharing his passion for the dance across 30+ countries and five continents. Now based in Denver, Colorado, he remains deeply committed to the art of Tango locally and internationally.

Having lived in cities such as Paris, Berlin, Florence, and Moscow, Dominic’s artistic residencies have shaped a global perspective on Tango. He has also contributed to the development of Tango communities in Armenia and India. Fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, he connects with dancers and communities across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Dancers from around the world seek his guidance for his holistic approach, which blends technical mastery with artistic creativity, while also emphasizing the therapeutic and healing aspects of the dance. In a new collaboration with Colorado-based non-profit Parasol Arts, he holds special classes for persons afflicted by Parkinson’s and other movement disorders.

Beyond teaching, he organizes events, builds Tango schools, and mentors both teachers and performers, fostering a new generation of dancers.

He is also the exclusive distributor of world-class tango shoes: @MonoMyTangoShoes. He helps both amateur and professional dancers alike get the footwear worthy of their passion and wellbeing.

His instruction prioritizes the essence of Tango as a social dance and art of human connection, with a methodology focused on the mastery of embrace, connection, floorcraft, musicality, and improvisation. Through his work, Dominic empowers dancers to discover deeper connections to both Tango and their own artistic expression.​

Jamie-Lynn took her first yoga class in 2007. She disliked being told to breathe so much it took her two years and a serious neck injury to lead her back to the mat. The second time around, she begrudgingly admitted it made her feel better and dove in. Developing a regular practice gradually transformed from "required body maintenance" that allowed her to continue the activities she loved into a passion of its own for intentional movement and patience with the consequences of being human. In 2016 she moved across the country and struggled to find a teacher she connected with, so she became one. In addition to teaching yoga, she's a facilitated stretching specialist and dance teacher. Like you, she's a long-time tango addict, which helps her build festival classes geared toward dancing more tango for longer hours. Her tango-yoga resume includes Connect: Ashland Tango Festival and Mountain Milonga Retreat. In all areas of her practice, she seeks to help people feel safer in, more comfortable with, and better integrated between their brains and bodies. She loves bringing her knowledge of anatomy, injury, movement, and recovery onto the mat to meet her students where they are and offer accessible variations as well as creative challenges. ​ Where tango is the practice of connecting to others, yoga is the practice of connecting to oneself. Take a moment to breathe some life back into your pieces this weekend and join us on the mat.

Lela began dancing before she was born. At the age of 2, her mom put her in Ballet classes and she has been dancing ever since. She received a BFA in Costume Design and Technology and a Minor in Dance from the University of Montana in Missoula in 2010. While at university, she studied a variety of dance forms including Modern/Contemporary, Tribal Belly Dance, Hula, East Coast Swing, Ballroom, and Contact Improvisation in addition to continuing her Ballet training.

In 2013, Lela was introduced to Argentine Tango when she was going through a very difficult time in her life. She firmly believes that reconnecting with dance and finding the Montana Tango community saved her life. Since then she has taken tango classes with instructors from all over the world, and she seizes every opportunity to learn more about tango. In 2021, she founded Butte Tango where she teaches tango classes at 5678 Dance Studio and hosts monthly tango events at the Clark Chateau in Uptown Butte. Her tango journey has included the exploration of traditional tango music and its beautiful intricacies as well as experimenting with alternative tango music and its infinite possibilities. She thinks that tango can be danced to almost anything, if you just listen. She loves the technicality and improvisational nature of Tango as well as the opportunity to connect and dance with a partner to create a piece of ephemeral art each time you step on the dance floor.

When she’s not dancing, Lela can be found playing with her horse and her dogs (a German Shepherd and a giant Golden Retriever) as well as running her own business, Lela Rae Designs. She creates engaging web designs, graphic designs, and creative content for small businesses to tell their stories and grow their audience. To learn more about Lela, find her on social media @lelaraedesigns or @buttetango and at lelaraedesigns.com and buttetango.com.

Yoga enhances strength, flexibility, balance, focus, and awareness—all essential for tango dancers. After five years of attending tango festivals and workshops across the U.S. and internationally, I’ve discovered how yoga can help dancers prepare for and recover from a weekend full of dancing. I’m excited to share these yoga tips and techniques to enhance your tango experience.
I’ve practiced yoga for most of my life, finding it to be an invaluable complement to various physical activities, such as running, martial arts, rock climbing, and hiking, as well as a powerful tool for mental well-being. I began teaching yoga in 2011, offering a range of styles at local studios in Missoula. For the past ten years, I’ve taught semester-long yoga courses at the University of Montana through the Activity Class Program in the Department of Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training.
In 2016, I discovered Argentine tango in Missoula, and it quickly became a passion. I’ve
since applied yoga principles to tango, enriching both practices. I also began teaching
tango classes and have been offering yoga for tango dancers at the Montana Tango Festival for the past two years.
When I’m not teaching or practicing yoga or tango, I manage MissoulaEvents.net, the city’s online community event calendar.

I look forward to seeing you at the festival this year!

Deborah Goslin is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide with ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs) since 2020. She has been fascinated by nature since she was a child, nurtured by her rural home in northern New York’s Adirondack Mountains. She studied Ecology and Environment and was fortunate to work with birds and botany for her career. Deborah sees Forest Therapy Guiding as a natural next step in her love of natural places and the more-than-human world. She offers these immersive experiences to provide opportunities for people to slow down and relax for personal wellness, to notice the other beings we share our beautiful planet with, and to take in and benefit from the restorative qualities of nature.