Artists
Toronto Tango Festival – June 6-9, 2024
Italy
Gianpiero was only 12 when his father (engineer, martial art teacher and tango lover) involved him in a free project for youngster to approach tango.
He fell in love with tango during his first trip to Buenos Aires when he was only 15 and since then he’s been studying with all the major Maestros.
Becomes a teacher the following year and starts performing in Italy and abroad at 18, realizing that he wanted to dedicate his life to tango.
Since then, he had the chance to travel around and perform with lots of great dancers, such as Mila Vigdorova, Corina Herrera, Cesira Miceli and Nadia Hronidu. Last but not the least, with Maria Filali, with whom he created a flourishing dialogue and a refined lasting project, which has been internationally acclaimed.
Tango and his pedagogy are strictly connected to his studies of music, engineering and bio-mechanic as “a simple and efficient technique, based on natural laws and aware listening, as the key to free the real and intimate spirit of tango”. During more than a decade, he has been developing a thorough didactic and intriguing training method. Moreover, in order to deepen his research, he also enrolled to a Bachelor degree in Motor and Sports Activities and Psychomotor Education Science, and soon he’s going to graduate with a dissertation on Functional Training Method for Tango.
Lorena has been studying dance and ballet since she was five years old, at 17 she met Tango thanks to Gianpiero Galdi. She got immediately passionate about the didactic and the care that are dedicated to the delicate psyche of the amateurs of this complex art. Under Gianpiero’s guide, she undertook her professional path. Meanwhile, she also is attending a Bachelor Degree in Motor and Sports Activities and Psychomotor Education Science at University of Salerno, in order to deepen her knowledge about motor control and learning, body awareness and pedagogy. In 2015 she begins studying, teaching, showing and traveling in partnership with Giovanni Cocomero, with whom she’s collaborating in many projects led by Gianpiero as: Gtango School, the cradle of Tango in Salerno; High School Tangotherapy Project, in high dropout rate schools, teaching teenagers values of social relationships through Tango; Tango at University of Salerno, for getting youngsters acquainted into Tango; Tangere company, the group within they train, research, work, teach and perform. In fact, Tangere Company created its latest show “Cammino Ascolto Tango”.
In 2018, Gianpiero and Lorena begin their partnership, working everyday on the flow of tango connection, based on their deep mutual understanding, as people, friends and dancers. They are moved by the research on the analysis of an always more precise and effective didactic method, later just called the Method, and his procedures, with the aim of providing the expressive Art of Tango of a sharp, accurate but also meaningful, deep and truthful tool of communication.
Europe
The magic of Argentine Tango brought Jessica and Somer together in 2012 in Tallinn, Estonia where they are currently based and teaching regularly. They have been invited to perform around the world and provide classes and intensive learning opportunities for dancers at all levels.
The dance they have created reflects their true selves. They have a foundation of years of dance training. Through their strong connection with each other and the connection with the magic of the music, they delight in the excitement of dancing with spontaneity based on pure improvisation.
Their elegance and effortless movements are easy to take for granted.
Clarity and precision of their instruction have won Jessica and Somer profound respect as teachers.
Jessica and Somer’s simple method in teaching keeps the students engaged and makes them advance easily. Their passion for dance and teaching is felt by those they touch.
Pittsburgh, PA
Koichiro DJs regularly at milongas in Pittsburgh, and has DJed in other cities in the United States and Canada. In addition, the past few years, Koichiro was invited to DJ in Buenos Aires at Milonga Tango Club, Club Fulgor, Villa Crespo and Tango en Huracan, Club Atletico Milonguero, Parque Patricios.
Montreal, QC
Jean-Sebastien turned to Tango after many years of Salsa, Ballroom and Latin dances, and quickly grew into a strongly committed and very musical social dancer. The beauty and complexity of Tango music motivated him to learn more about it and to understand what was involved in DJing. Jean-Sebastien now teaches and DJs in Montreal on a regular basis. He has been Redlight milonga‘s resident DJ through 2014-15 and had many opportunities to DJ abroad (Boston, Toronto and Paris are a few examples). He is skilled in setting up strictly traditional tango evenings, as well as mixed-music events. He is known to bring only high quality music, selected mostly out of the Golden Age repertoire, arranged with careful balance through the evening and a particular concern for the dancers’ creative and emotional experiences.
Ithaca, NY
Valentin has dozens of years of tango experience. While progressing through his tango life he has had the chance to observe and learn from DJs around the globe, participated in various DJ discussion groups and constantly discovers new tango tunes. Valentin DJed at different venues in US, Canada and Europe. He creates an unique atmosphere on the dance floor by carefully selecting golden hits and uncovers charming tango tracks suitable for every style.
Toronto, ON
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 in Toronto & Montreal and has acted as house DJ for various local milongas. She has also DJ’ed at high-profile tango events, including the Toronto Tango Festival, Toronto Tango Marathon & Toronto Tango Experience.
Toronto, ON
Andy Tuan Nguyen is a co-founder and DJ of the Milonga Luna in Toronto. Before moving to Toronto he was a favorite DJ among the tango community in Vietnam. He was a regular DJ of Ta Tango Milonga, the most popular milonga in Vietnam. He was also invited to DJ in all editions of Saigon Tango Festival, Saigon Milonguero Meeting, Saigon Tango Week and all the other major tango events in other cities Ha Noi and Da nang. Dancers and maestros from Argentina gave him a lots of compliments in his DJ.