MAESTROS - BAILONGO 2024

MOIRA CASTELLANO & OCTAVIO FERNANDEZ

With over 25 years of tango experience, Moira Castellano stands out as a key figure in the global tango scene. She has collaborated with acclaimed dancers Mariano Chicho Frumboli, Javier Rodríguez, Pablo Inza, and Gaston Torelli, and is excited to be teaching with Octavio Fernandez at Bailongo 2024.

Moira began her studies in Classical and Spanish dances at the age 5, and graduated from the Escuela Municipal de Danzas de Rosario. At age 21, she took her first tango class with Orlando Paiva, and later moved to Buenos Aires, studying with renowned teachers such as Eduardo Arquimbao, Roberto Herrera, Vanina Bilous, Gabriel Angio, Natalia Games, Gustavo Naveira, and Fabian Salas.

In the early 2000s, Moira performed with the Quatre Arts company and the electrotango band Gotan Project. Joining the Union Tanguera company, directed by Esteban Moreno and Claudia Codega, Moira participated in shows like “Proyecto Tango” and “Tango Vivo” at the Dance Biennial in Lyon.

Moira co-created and co-directed the Misterio Tango Festival in Buenos Aires, showcasing over 50 artists annually. With Gaston Torelli, she was a featured artist at the first two editions of Bailongo. We are delighted to welcome her back this year!

Octavio Fernandez’s refined and fresh dance style, influenced by contemporary masters, the essence of old milongueros, and countless hours in Buenos Aires milongas, showcases his mastery on the dance floor.

Octavio developed a passion for tango during his teenage years, immersed in a family environment that seamlessly blended tango, folklore, and rock and roll. He excelled as an athlete and initially pursued a career in physical education. In 2007, Octavio clinched the 3rd place in the Mundial de Tango world championship (Tango de pista), marking the beginning of his professional dancing career.

He became a key member of the renowned show "Sensaciones de Tango" at Café Tortoni, before joining the prestigious company Tango x2 for the Latinoamericando International Festival in Milan, Italy. He has since been invited as a teacher and dancer to numerous festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Octavio has also earned recognition as one of the leading DJs in the tango scene, co-organizing El Yeite Tango Club and the El Yeite Tango Festival. His cinematic endeavors include participating in the Argentine film "Fermin, Glorias de Tango" and the music video "La Faccia Della Luna" by the Italian rock group Tre Allegri Ragazzi Morti. Off the dance floor, Octavio actively contributes to charitable events, supporting causes such as the 2009 Catamarca avalanche victims and the 2013 floods in La Plata. We are thrilled that Octavio will be joining us for our 9th edition of Bailongo!

ADRIAN VEREDICE & ALEJANDRA HOBERT

Adrian Veredice & Alejandra Hobert, distinguished dancers, choreographers, and Argentine Tango masters, first formed a professional partnership in 1998 and swiftly rose to become one of the most acclaimed tango couples of our era. Their remarkable stage presence and expressivity have earned enthusiastic praise in theaters and stages worldwide.  

Adrian & Alejandra have been featured prominently in major tango events and international festivals over the past 15 years, in cities across Europe and the US. Since 2002, they have served as the main master couple at CITA (International Argentine Tango Congress) and the World Dance Championships organized by the World Dance Council.

In addition to their teaching schedule, Adrian & Alejandra have also contributed as choreographers and the main couple for successful tango shows like "Otango", "Cincotango", and "Tanguisimo" from 2003 to 2010, captivating audiences in Europe and America.

They have shared the stage with orchestras such as Sexteto Mayor, Color Tango, El Arranque, Los Reyes Del Tango, and Sexteto Canyengue. Since 2012, they have been teachers and members of the jury at the Tango World Championship in Buenos Aires, at ATUSA, and the International Tango Summit in Los Angeles. They are also judges for Premios Tango and coaches for the reality show “TangoChamps”.

They currently live in Weston, Florida, with their two daughters, and teach and organize many successful tango events at Miami’s premier tango venue, Tanda Social Club, and as co-founders of Tanda (tanda.us), a world-class tango experience.

Renowned for their professionalism, exceptional technique, and teaching methodology, Adrian & Alejandra are superb representatives of the new generation of tango dancers. Having visited Montreal in 2009, 2010, and 2011 for the Neo Tango Festival, we are thrilled to welcome them for their first time at Bailongo!

SILVINA TSE & JULIO ALVAREZ

Silvina & Julio’s diverse cultural background highlights the global reach of tango. Their wholly improvised performances give the impression of a single, harmonious body gracefully navigating the dance floor. As teachers, they are highly esteemed for their clarity, kindness, and tailored approach.

Italian-born Silvina Tse is much admired for her refined tango style that is distinguished by long, soft, and elegant lines, garnering her much international acclaim. After receiving an honours degree in civil engineering and long experience teaching swimming, Silvina shifted careers to pursue her passion for Argentine tango. In addition, she holds a teaching diploma in gyrotonic and draws inspiration from renowned figures of the tango world and of modern and classical ballet. Silvina was a full-time instructor at various prominent tango schools in Italy before establishing her own tango school in Bologna. During the pandemic, she developed an ambitious tango education project online in collaboration with Michael Nadtochi, offering technique videos and fostering a sense of community from Argentina to Australia (theartoftango.club).

With the inherent rhythm of his Afro-Cuban heritage, Julio Alvarez’s style is infused with his ability to translate every musical note into precise and deliberate movement. Born in Havana, Cuba, Julio has a musical education and is an expert in biomechanics and athletics training. He studied dance at the National Theater of Havana and expanded his expertise in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, emerging as a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor of Afro-Cuban popular dances as well as Argentine tango. He has won several international tango championships in Italy, Germany, and Russia. Now based in Milan, he won the Italian Tango Salon Championship in 2016 and other titles at international competitions in Europe and Russia.

Silvina & Julio have taught and performed in festivals across Europe, Asia, and America. We’re thrilled to welcome them for the first time to Bailongo!