Javier Antar
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Javier Antar has been traveling the world since 2000 to inspire students and audiences through his teaching and performing of Argentine Tango. When Javier discovered tango it quickly became a nightly obsession. While he studied with several well known instructors, Gustavo Naveira became Javier's most important influence, a source of inspiration and learning.
Now, after many years of intense training in Buenos Aires, and armed with a very strong knowledge of technique, music and a sense of the dance as a whole, Javier is at the top level as a dancer. His message and philosophy: conquer your own style. His musicality, grace and elegance make Javier a riveting dancer to watch. his technical knowledge makes his dance fluid and precise.
Javier is known for his generosity as a teacher. While his group lessons require focus and work, he also gives students an important degree of freedom so that students can use what they have learned and add their own new material. Based in Buenos Aires, it is easy to find Javier performing and teaching at local milongas or practicas, when he is not touring. These days it's not unusual to find international and well respected tango instructors taking group or private lessons with him in Canada, Europe or in Argentina.
Kara Wenham
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Kara was first introduced to tango in 2000. Prior to that she worked professionally in the theatre, with acting and dance forming the primary components of her artistic training. She received her BFA in theatre from Emerson College before founding the Concrete Stage Company in Chicago.
Once immersed in the tango in Buenos Aires, her primary teachers have been: Gustavo Naveira, Andrea Misse, Pablo Villarraza, Dana Frigoli, Julio Balrnaceda and Corina de la Rosa. For six years she danced professionally with Matias Facio, with whom she participated in International festivals in Argentina, Europe and Asia.
As a dancer, Kara moves with great presence and vitality. Hers is a subtle and communicative dance that is inspired and guided by the music, as well as the nuances of the embrace. She aims to achieve a personal tango aesthetic that clearly transmits and evokes her inner sensibility.
As a teacher, Kara has developed a hands-on approach that allows her students to immediately entrain to a technique that they can both feel and understand. Her pedagogy is designed to give students the necessary tools for continued training and for developing their own dance style.
Kara has lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina since 2001. When she's not touring abroad, she often teaches and performs in different venues around Buenos Aires. In 2009 she formed her partnership with tango dancer Javier Antar.
Nick Jones & Diana Cruz
Denver, CO, United States / Paraguay
It is impossible to ignore the inherent magnetism of Nick and Diana's dancing and teaching. From the moment they step onto the floor until they leave, you are caught in a story that is a discovery every moment, that you do not want to end.
As enthusiastic teachers, choreographers, performers, djs and musicians Nick and Diana are invited to tango festivals and workshops around the world. To list a few of their recent endeavors: they have performed the show "Tango Times" with Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne at the St. Louis Tango Festival "Hot Winter Tango", as well as at their own "Natural Tango Festival" in 2011. They taught and performed at the "Vantango Fest" in 2011. Also, they were special guest artists and choreographers for the show "The Tango Zone" in NYC in 2010.
Diana Cruz incorporates her multi-disciplinary techniques (including: Ballet, Contemporary dance, Modern dance, Latin American folk dances, Pilates, Yoga, Singing and many Tango styles) into one cohesive dance. She uses these techniques to create powerful, musical, unique performances. Her understanding of biomechanics gives her an astute approach as a tango teacher.
Nick Jones has been dancing and studying since 1996. He was one of the first North American tango dancers to have been invited to teach in festival in Buenos Aires (Pulpo's Tango Week 2005, 2006, 2007). Leading the NaturalTango Orquestra has given him a singular look into the inner workings of tango music, and has greatly influenced his dance.
Nick and Diana share, unreservedly, their technique and structure so that each individual student can ultimately reach their own expression in the dance. They believe that the goal of a teacher is to give everything away to the student, while the goal of the performer is to hide their secrets so they can enamor and bedazzle the audience. Nick and Diana do both with fluid ease and grace.
Ney Melo & Jennifer Bratt
New York, NY, United States
Ney Melo and Jennifer Bratt are two of today's most talented young Argentine Tango dancers and teachers. They are known for their innovative teaching methods and passion for teaching. Their tango instruction is sought out by beginning and advanced dancers, as well as other teachers and choreographers from all over the world. The atmosphere in their classes is relaxed, personable and lively, and they place equal emphasis on the lady's role as the man's. Technique and the essence of tango, both fundamental to dancing well, are stressed in whatever step is being shown. They are dedicated to inspiring students to dance tango with feeling, musicality, cadencia, and connection - the way it is danced in Buenos Aires.
Julio Otero & Carol Horowitz
Montreal, QC, Canada
Julio Otero and Carol Horowitz are among the most experienced tango teachers and performers in North America today. Dedicated to preserving the aesthetic of the traditional Argentine tango, Julio and Carol are much admired for their ability to convey the intimate intensity associated with the classic argentine tango style, even while executing the most creative and avant-garde movements. Graceful and elegant, Julio and Carol are recognized for the very strong connection and dynamic energy that they share.
Julio and Carol's goal is to provide students with the keys necessary for a great dance experience. They emphasise the importance of building a strong connection with one's partner, of perfecting lead and follow techniques, and of the developing of the skills necessary to comfortably navigate crowded dance floors. Believing that dance is more than 'just steps', Julio and Carol encourage students to enrich and personalize their tango to enrich and personalize their tango by showing them how to use subtle changes of dynamics, small details, and musical interpretation in order to colour and add texture to their dance.
Julio and Carol teach at studio TANGO montreal, one of the largest and most established tango schools in North America. There, they give classes year-round, both together and with other tango teachers at the school and when time permits, tour giving workshops and performances in various locations in Canada and the US.
Julio began teaching in 1997 at the Tangueria (another well known tango studio in Montreal), and then co-founded Tango Mylio before joining the studio TANGO montreal team in 2004. Carol is a classically trained dancer who has worked with various different Canadian modern and contemporary dance companies. She worked at Graffiti tango before co-founding studio TANGO montreal. Both Julio and Carol have toured and performed extensively with the Montreal based tango orchestras, Ensemble Montreal Tango and Ensemble Romulo Larrea.
More information about Julio and Carol's classes in Montreal can be found here.
Burak Ozkosem
Montreal, QC, Canada
Burak Ozkosem is recognized for his expressive personality and his capacity to not only bring the great music but to bring the party. As a DJ, Burak makes time stand still, creating a vortex of buena onda that keeps everyone on their feet until they say, It's 3:30 AM? Already? Burak is the resident DJ at Montreal's most popular weekly milonga hosted at Tango Social Club each Saturday night. He has been DJing since 2003 and has guest DJ'ed at the Chicago Tango Week festival, the Tango Cafe in NYC, the Century Ballroom in Seattle, the Miami Tango Fantasy festival, the Luxe milonga in Portland, and Tango Matrix in Hamburg, Germany. There is an equally good chance people remember him as much for his hair as for his seriously awesome cortinas.
Travis Widrick
Buffalo, NY, United States
Travis was featured as guest DJ at some of the most popular milongas in Buenos Aires. As tango DJ his goal is to create a beautiful environment for dancing and to get you out of your seats and onto the dance floor. His passion for tango shows though in his Music and as DJ, he strives to build a wonderful energy with intense rhythmic melodies and romantic lyrical favorites. Currently, Travis is based in Buffalo, NY where he is a Tango teacher and DJ.
Mathieu Brossard
Montreal, QC, Canada
Mathieu Brossard has been living in Buenos Aires over 3 years where he is a regular dj at various milongas. El Beso, Milonga 10, Villa Malcolm are part of his regular circuit. He has also played in Europe, the US and Canada at various events. Mathieu is the co-owner of La Maleva, a well known tango hotel and dance studio in Buenos Aires.
Edmond Bardhi
Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Edmond was exposed to a large variety of music from visiting and local DJs in Ann Arbor. DJing regularly at different events there has allowed him to develop a rich style full of rhythmical presence and lyrical complexity. Throughout the night, Edmond manages the flow of energy to enhance the dancers' connection by being versatile and attentive. He keeps the crowd energized with playful cortinas and by strategically infusing subtle contrast in his music.
Berenice Gonsen
Toronto, ON, Canada
Since 2007, Berenice has been inspiring dancers at milongas in Toronto and beyond. A long-time fan of tango music, her vast knowledge, intuitive approach and careful selections combine to create unforgettable dance experiences that keep her in high demand. DJ Bere is also a highly accomplished tango dancer who understands her audience; she is able to read a floor and keep it moving. Considered one of the best DJs in Canada, she is in constant demand at both new and established milongas, and has acted as house DJ for various local milongas. She is currently the house DJ at Milonga La Central and is a regular guest DJ at Milonga Portena, Paradiso and the Tango Tea. She has also DJ'ed at various high profile tango events, including the Toronto Tango Festival, Toronto Tango Marathon & Toronto Tango Experience.
