MAESTROS - BAILONGO 2026

MOIRA CASTELLANO & PABLO INZA

The formidable, iconic duo of Pablo Inza and Moira Castellano was among the most influential tango partnerships of the mid-2000s. Encompassing a magical blend of musical depth, innovative movement, and emotional presence, their collaboration is widely recognized as a key influence in shaping the style and culture of contemporary tango.

With over 25 years of tango experience, Moira Castellano stands out as a key figure in the global tango scene. A tango mastra in her own right, she has collaborated with acclaimed dancers Mariano Chicho Frumboli, Octavio Fernandez, Javier Rodríguez, and Gaston Torelli, and is excited to be returning to Bailongo (and to Montreal!) with Pablo Inza!

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 and returned in 2024 with Octavio Fernandez. We are delighted to welcome her back this year!

Known for his exceptional teaching skills and warm personality, Pablo Inza is one of the most popular and sought-after teachers on the circuit today, teaching extensively in Argentina, Europe, and North America. His classes are celebrated for their musicality, creativity, and deep understanding of tango technique and body mechanics, as well as his uncanny ability to dissect and explain movement and concepts to dancers of all levels.

Since 1992, Pablo has participated in major festivals across Europe, North America, and Argentina. He has also worked extensively in theater as a stage director, and was producer and artistic director of Cambalache, a festival combining tango, theater, and contemporary dance, and co-founder of Práctica X (2004–2012), one of Buenos Aires’ most popular prácticas.

A favorite teacher in the Montreal tango community, Pablo has taught here more than a dozen times over the past 20+ years and is returning for his third Bailongo!

For more information: www.pabloinza.com

SILVINA TSE & JULIO ALVAREZ

Montreal absolutely fell in love with Silvina and Julio when they came to Bailongo in 2024! We are thrilled they are back this year!

Their diverse cultural backgrounds reflect the global reach of tango today. Dream-like and wholly improvised, their performances give the impression of a single, harmonious body moving gracefully across the floor. Renowned for their clarity, kindness, and highly tailored approach, they generously convey the unique freedom of Argentine tango by placing fundamentals and musicality at the heart of their teaching.

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 Theatre 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 teach and perform in festivals across Europe, Asia, and America. We are delighted to welcome them again to Bailongo this May.

REBECCA SHULMAN & TOMÁS HOWLIN

We are thrilled to announce that Rebecca Shulman and Tomás Howlin will be teaming up to teach a few classes at the festival, including a “Milonguero Toolbox” series!  These two North American based (he in Montreal, she in NYC) tango gurus share a combined 60+ years of experience. They are personable & friendly, have vast knowledge of all tango styles, studied with the golden-age maestros, and have teamed up with many of our generation’s most iconic teachers and performers. So happy they will join us this year!

Rebecca Shulman is internationally regarded as one of North America’s most influential tango teachers and dancers. She is known for the clarity of her lead, the lightness of her follow, her articulate teaching, and her musical expressiveness.

With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Rebecca is sought after by students of all levels (including many teachers currently working in New York City and across North America) for her clear and invaluable instruction in technique, adornments, improvisation, and musicality. She was coordinator of the United States’ most extensive tango program at Dance Manhattan from 1994 until the pandemic, and now teaches independently at various studios in New York City.

In the 1990s, Rebecca, together with Daniel Trenner, helped ignite the growth of many tango communities across North America through their inspiring teaching. She continues to teach regularly at festivals throughout the United States and Canada.

Rebecca hosted Dance Manhattan’s popular Monday night milonga for more than 20 years and is co-founder of TangoMujer, an all-women tango performance group that performed to sold-out audiences in the United States and Germany.

We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca back to Montreal and are excited that she will be joining us at this year’s Bailongo.

Tomás Howlin is a professional Argentine Tango dancer, performer, and teacher with over 35 years of experience. Insightful and inspiring, he has developed a unique method and approach grounded in his Argentine cultural roots.

Tomás has long been a sought-after teacher at festivals throughout North America and Europe, returning to many centres year after year. Popular among students of all levels, he approaches his classes with gentle humour, guiding participants in the process of discovering the seemingly ungraspable essence of tango.

Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Tomás was privileged to study with and assist some of tango’s legendary maestros. Through this experience, he offers contemporary tango communities a portal to traditional tango enriched with a modern perspective. Before moving to Montreal more than 25 years ago, Tomás taught at numerous academies in Buenos Aires. Since 2000, he has been teaching regularly at Studio Tango Montreal and continues to give workshops at festivals and events internationally and organises twice yearly his ‘‘One to One seminars’’ in Buenos Aires.

Tomás has been part of past Bailongo events, both DJing and presenting lectures - we are thrilled that he will be teaching at this year’s festival!