ARGENTINE TANGO

Dante started Argentine Tango in his home town, Jujuy, a province in the north of Argentina. There he studied ballet with his teacher Fulvia Chagra de Gruber and Andrei Kozlov (ex principle dancer of the Kiev Opera). Dante has been dancing Tango for over 18 years. He performed in many famous Milongas in Buenos Aires, before moving to the UK in 2008 where he started his own Tango School with his first partner Miriam Orcutt. The couple were invited to teach and perform in various countries of Europe, South America; North America, Asia and Africa. Dante and Miriam also participated in International Festivals such as Mallorca Tango Festival, Porto International Tango Festival, Ulverston Music Festival and the International Book Fair in Guadalajara as a cultural ambassador representing the UK with Aurora Orchestra. Dante is the organiser of the very successful Oxford Tango Festival, which is now in its seventh year and attracts dancers from across Europe. He is the director of two important Tango Schools in the UK: The Northern Tango Academy and the Oxford Tango Academy with professional resident maestros from Buenos Aires. Dante has been teaching tango for over fifteen years and has become recognised for his unique and in-depth teaching methods.

Lilie is a teacher at Northern Tango Academy and partner to Dante. They manage the school together - they are the ones on the other side of emails and messages! Lilie studied Tango in Buenos Aires with teachers Andrès 'Tanguito' Cejas, Pablo Giorgini and Veronica Vasquez.

Exequiel is a professional Argentine Tango Dance from Argentina. He has experience in both Tango Salon and Tango Stage. Exequiel has been part of very important shows around the world such us: "Maria de Buenos Aires" by Astor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer, numerous Tango Shows in Buenos Aires such us "Sabor a Tango", "Piazzolla Tango", "Cafe Tortoni" and "Corazon de Tango" among others. He has participated in various competitions where he reached the finals of Tango Stage in 2010, 2013 and 2014 and in Tango Salon in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018. Exequiel has taught in the UK for the Northern Tango Academy in 2017 and 2018.

Julián began his studies of Tango in 2005, in Patagonia, Argentina. In 2009, he moved to Buenos Aires to train professionally with great Argentine Tango teachers including Carlos Perez and Rosa Forte, Carlos Rivarola, Geraldine Rojas, Ezequiel Paludi and Alejandra Gutty. In 2012 he made his first tour to South Korea, Asia, and since then has toured in many countries in Europe and Asia. In 2019 he founded the Practica “Puro Curda” in Buenos Aires. He was director and choreographer of the Ventarrón group, a Patagonian Tango company. He participated in the Cruxe Tango Ballet directed by Vanesa Villalba and Facundo Piñero.

Andrea came second place in Tango World Championship in 2022 in the category of Tango Escenario and was voted “The People’s Champion” by the public. Her dance is characterised by quality and technical precision. She worked in the most prestigious tango dinner shows in Buenos Aires and joined important Tango Companies. All her involvement on stage evolved with her teaching experience. She has performed in many countries round the world and given workshops and private lessons with the goal of helping tangueros perfect their dance. Through her technique classes, she helps women develop their own authentic style. Andrea graduated from the Argentinian National University of Arts (UNA) with a Degree in Choreographic Composition. She also graduated from the Academy of Argentine Tango Styles (ACETA), of the Argentine Ministry of Culture, training under distinguished masters of tango and milongueros.

Diego Ledesma and Giusy Santoro are professional tango dancers with an extensive CV of shows and classes in Europe, Asia and South America. Their style and teaching experience combined with their warm personality make them very popular worldwide. It is an honour to have them as resident teachers at NTA!

Franco and Julia are of Italian descent but spent most of their lives in the UK. They started dancing in 2010 with teachers Jose Fernández and Martina Waldman. They have since been dedicated students of Northern Tango Academy with teachers Dante Culcuy, Silvana Prieto and Matias Batista, Yanina Quinones and Neri Piliu, among others. They have created a network of new friends, teachers and students with the same passion for tango who have welcomed them in Oxford and Nottingham and places in the UK.

Jane and Peter live close to York and have been dancing Argentine tango for fifteen years. Prior to that they were salsa dancers and, when the mood takes them, still dance modern jive. For many years they took over the running of the TangoYork group which operated from the Guppy Community Centre in York, and it was during that period that they developed an enthusiasm for teaching beginners. They themselves were initially taught by Johann Legrand in Leeds and subsequently improves classes with professional Argentine teachers associated to the Northern Tango Academy. This dancers were Pablo and Veronica, Luchino and Celeste, Dante Culcuy and Lillie Festa, Giusy and Diego, Julian Vilardo and Andrea Kuna and finally Barbara Ferreyra, who become World Champion in 2022. Jane and Peter specialise in working with absolute beginners and work to a method of instruction approved by the Northern Tango Academy.