The Best of the Best

The Toronto Tango Festival

Our tradition of inviting only the best instructors and DJs continues at the 4th Annual Toronto Tango Festival.

The Instructors & DJs

ALEX KREBS,

PORTLAND, OR

Alex teaches Argentine tango for the social dance floor, emphasizing the improvisatory side of the dance through a strong communication between the lead and follow and on musicality. Alex tries to give his students the vocabulary necessary so that each person can find their own unique way of dancing -- dancing the tango of their own body. Alex has taught and performed throughout North America and Europe

REBECCA SHULMAN,

NEW YORK, USA

Rebecca is internationally regarded as one of the most influential teachers and dancers of current times. In the 1990s, she and Daniel Trenner ignited the growth of many tango communities across the country as a result of their inspiring teaching, including at the historic Stanford Tango Weeks. Their dance, grounded in the traditional roots of Buenos Aires tango, was flavored with dynamic creativity for non-traditional possibilities.
In NYC, Rebecca is the coordinator and co-founder of this country's most extensive tango program at Dance Manhattan. She is also a co-founder of Tango Mujer, the famed all-women tango performance group. Rebecca's "Follower's Technique" video is renowned, as well as her other instructional videos.

EVAN GRIFFITHS,

EUGENE, OR

Evan has been dancing Tango over seven years. Some of his teachers are: Elizabeth Wartluft, Greg Estes (both in Eugene), Daniel Trenner, Christopher Nassopoulos and from Buenos Aires: Luciana Valle, Mariano “Chico” Frumboli, Fabian Salas, Guillermo and Fernanda, Susana Miller, Florencia Taccetti, Hugo and Miriam, Carlos and Maria Rivrola, Rodolfo “El Chino” Aguerrodi, Norberto “El Pupo” Esbres and Luiza Paes. He has assisted Susana Miller in classes, and assisted and performed with Luciana Valle, Alex Krebs, and Florencia Teccetti. Over the years he has traveled many places in the States for Tango, and also to Berlin, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires.
He has taught in the Northwest: Eugene, Ashland, Portland, Seattle, and also in Denver, Colorado. He has also taught in Berlin, Germany. He studied classical piano for 12 years growing up, and studied music in college. He has been playing Tango Piano for the last 3 and a half years and it’s become another major part of his life.

SOMER SURGIT,

TURKEY/ CHICAGO

Somer is a uniquely experienced dancer who embodies musicality, elegance, and creativity in his dance. Recognized as a singular interpreter New Generation Tango, he emphasizes individuality, deep connection, and genuine expression, which inform his richly textured, artistic improvisation of Argentine tango. Somer stresses core technique and fundamentals in a fluid and naturally elegant style. With warmth, interpersonal skills, and sensitivity he enables his students to advance quickly and consistently.

AGAPE PAPPAS,

GREECE/ CHICAGO ,

Agape Pappas studied flamenco dance while living in Madrid but soon became immersed in the beautiful music and lyrics of tango, propelling her on a journey into Argentine Tango. Agape’s 10-year background in acrobatics and tap dancing segued seamlessly into a dancing and teaching Argentine Tango. While living for extended periods in Buenos Aires, she studied intensively with master teachers.

ROBIN THOMAS & KYLA MARES,

New York , NY,

A well-known and respected dancer and DJ, Robin's enthusiasm for Argentine tango can be seen most clearly in his wholehearted dedication to teaching. He believes that it is very important for students to dance simply and musically from the very beginning. Building that strong base of connection and musicality early, Robin believes, will allow even very new beginners to feel comfortable and confident on a crowded dance floor and will also lead to a more comprehensive and fluid understanding of more complicated techniques later on. Robin's teaching style reflects this philosophy, and his students appreciate the humorous but still down-to-earth way he presents the material.

AVIK BASU,

ANN ARBOR, MI

Avik is driven by the belief that a little dance and music can make the world a better place. And so, he dances tango, DJs, plays bandoneon, organizes workshops, learns spanish, and will even drink mate despite the fact he otherwise avoids caffeine. Perhaps most of all, he enjoys sharing the beauty of tango with others. His instruction over the past 5 years has helped to develop the Ann Arbor tango community into one of the largest in North America.

BULENT KARABAGLI,

Montreal, Quebec,

Bulent Karabagli is a new generation tango dancer and teacher whose style strongly reflects the traditional roots of tango. He makes his home in Montreal and for 10 years has participated in its rich and reputable tango scene. As a teacher he stresses the importance of investigating the structural foundation of tango, making good contact and communicating clearly, moving smoothly between open and close embrace and developing musical timing.