For Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive -
The nearest Skytrain station is about 6 blocks away at Commercial Drive and Broadway and both the Millennium Line and the Expo Line stop at this station. You can transfer to a bus using the same ticket to get nearer to the Croatian Centre. The #20 bus goes by and the nearest stop is Commercial at East 14th.
For Tango a Media Luz, 2155 Commercial Drive -
The nearest Skytrain station is about 2 blocks away at Commercial Drive and Broadway and both the Millennium Line and the Expo Line stop at this station. Buses that run near by are too numerous to mention. The Skytrain stops running around 1 am but there is a late night bus "N2"0 which runs along Commercial Drive.
For more information, please contact:
Clarry Smits
+1 (778) 999 4280
info@vantangofest.com
clarry@tangomedialuz.com
Milena Plebs formed part of the Contemporary Dance Group company at Teatro San Martín and Tango Argentino de Segovia and Orezzoli.
In 1990 she created the Tango X 2 Company with Miguel Zotto with their shows Tango x 2, Perfumes de Tango and Una Noche de Tango.
She also choreographed the Operetta Maria de Buenos Aires, the show at Piazzolla Tango Center and documentary video "Milena Dances Tango with Ezequiel Farfaro”.
Milena was awarded the Ruanova Maria Trinidad Guevara in 1991 and Gino Tanni Prize in 1994.
In 2009 she premiered her show "Tramatango" at the Teatro Presidente Alvear, with artistic advice from Alejandro Cervera.
In 2011 she choreographed a play together with David Palo. The play "The Voice of Your Shoes" inspired by a story by Alberto Ruy Sanchez, directed by Cervera. She dedicated part of her work to teaching and researching the origin, history and evolution of tango dancing.
She has been a columnist for El Tangauta since 2007. Milena also holds an Academic Honor from the National Academy of Tango.
Milena Plebs and Ezequiel Farfaro -
Malandraca Tango
Teacher, dancer and choreographer. She first studied dance at the Escuela Nacional Danzas. She was part of the Ballet Folklórico de Santiago Ayala "El Chucaro" y Norma Viola for many years. She studied tango with Antonio Todaro, Pepito Avellaneda, Los Dinzel and La Negra Margarita. She has taught tango since 1983.
She had studied theatre as well as other dances such as jazz and flamenco. She took part in important shows such as Tango Emoción, Romance de Barrio, Los Grandes del Tango Argentino, and Una Rosa Para el Señor Tango. She has toured very successfully around the USA, Japan, Canada, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. She was the artistic director of the World Tango Festival, organized in Buenos Aires. Currently, she teaches lessons on the follower's role and technique at the Escuela Argentina de Tango and at her own dance studio, where she also has her exclusive shop, producing and exhibiting tango dancing shoes.
Luciano Bastos -
is a well known teacher, dancer and choreographer with more than 12 years developing Argentine Tango in Brazil and worldwide, with strong theatrical and educational experience. Currently, he is partnered with Aurora Lubiz where they have appeared in the stage production ‘Café de los Maestros’, a composition of iconic musicians of Tango Argentino, which has been on stages in Brazil, Singapore, Seoul and Hong Kong, such as the famous Hong Kong Arts Festival 2010.
Together with Aurora Lubiz, he has been invited to give classes as part of ‘Tango Buenos Aires 2010 –Festival y Mundial’ organized by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires and the ‘VI Master para Maestro de Tango’ in la Escuela Argentina de Tango. Luciano has also been invited as guest teacher at countless Tango festivals, such as ‘Bailemos Tango’,‘Tango Queer’, ‘Vantangofest’ in May 2010 and 2011, and since 2009 the Crucero Tango y Milonga company Costa Cruceros, which runs along the southern coast of Brazil.
Luciano Bastos and Aurora Lubiz in Rio
Patricia and Matteo have taught together since 1998. They are well known in Europe for their abilities as teachers, choreographers and performers. Their musicality is outstanding.
They have performed in several important Tango Festivals in Europe and in the United States. Since 2001 they have danced in “Boulevard Tango” with the Orchestra Ensemble Hyperion as well as shows such as “Los Reyes del Tango” and “Color Tango”. In Buenos Aires they perform in all well known Milongas.
In 2008 they danced in the Tango Opera “Y Borges cuenta que” by Bacalov. In 2009 they were the main dance couple in the tango opera “Maria de Buenos Aires”. They produced and choreographed: “Capitolo IX Tango” and “Alma de Tango”. They have been leaders of the stable tango school TANGO CLUB FIRENZE since 1999. Since 2002 they have organized the International Firenze Tango Festival. They are celebrated for their elegance and innovation.
Matteo Panero and Patricia Hilliges @ Tango Nocturne NYC 2010
She applies her artistic knowledge and technique from other dances. She studied ballet at the world-famous Teatro Colon (the most renowned opera house in Latin America) and later modern dance at the famous "Taller de Danza Contemporanea del Teatro San Martin".
She discovered tango in 1995 and has since travelled around the world giving workshops and exhibitions. Since 2001, she has been a Master Teacher and Dancer in the Buenos Aires "Congreso Internacional de Tango Argentino" - the world's largest annual tango event.
She is one of the most renowned master teachers and performers in the world of Argentine Tango.
From his home town of Mar del Plata in Argentina, he has been part of a group of enthusiastic young dancers that has tirelessly explored the intricacies of this dance. He has studied with many renowned teachers who quickly noticed his impressive technical skills.
Donato has been invited to international tango festivals in the United States, Iceland, Australia, Mexico, and Europe (Greece, Switzerland, Finland, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium) and has performed in many theatres in Argentina.
He has been invited to perform with Cecilia Gonzalez, in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 International Argentine Tango Congress in Buenos Aires. Since 2009, he has also taken part as a Master Teacher.
Carolina Del Rivero and Donato Juarez
Dan Boccia is recognized internationally as one of the finest tango DJs in North America, since 2001. He enjoys DJing at a wide variety of events, from intimate house parties to the largest and most important events, festivals and congresses, and also loves to DJ for classes, subtly enhancing the learning experience for students.
He is known for pioneering and advancing the art of DJing improvisationally, selecting music on the fly during the event rather than relying on pre-recorded playlists. He has a deep and expanding knowledge of the music, the orchestras, singers, and individual musicians, and strives to keep dancers intently focused on the music so that he essentially becomes transparent while DJing, rather than drawing undue attention to himself.
Dan has spent over 10 years developing techniques to clean the music up, enhancing its sound, and is known for having one of the best-sounding collections of tango music anywhere. In addition, he is a practiced sound technician, with a keen ear for improving the acoustics at events to improve the all-important sound environment at dances.
Dan also enjoys presenting DJ seminars and leading music discussions with dancers so they can enrich their tango experiences.
Poema Milonga, Friday May 18th, 9:30 PM - 1:00 AM, Croatian Cultural Center - Auditorium II
Lucio was part of the very first group of tangueros in Vancouver. Since then, his passion for tango - the dance and the music - and his generous nature, have always been there helping to make Vancouver one of the most welcoming tango communities in North America.
He loves DJ'ing and has created many many enjoyable evenings on the dance floor with his vast knowledge of Argentine tango music. Lucio, together with Wendy Hatanaka, host the oldest still running milonga in Vancouver, La Tangueria Esposito http://www.latangueriaesposito.com/index.html.
Volver Milonga, Sunday May 20th, 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM, Venue: Media Luz at 2155 Commercial Drive
For Mike, Argentine tango is all about the music.
He began dancing in 2006, and after helping found the Portland State University Argentine Tango Club, he soon began DJing regularly at its events. In 2008, he spent three months in Buenos Aires delving deeply into the dance, music, studying with several instructors and attending many milongas. After returning to his hometown of Portland, Mike began DJing frequently around town as well as co-founding the Mississippi Milonga, Milonga al Norte and is the Dj in residence at the Ladybug Milonga.
He has since DJ'd in Seattle, Houston, New York, Eugene, and Ashland and has been invited to Dj the Grape Escape Tango Festival, Vancouver Vantango fest and the Providence Tango Marathon. In the ways of DJing and dancing, Mike is available for private and group instruction. He strives to give his students an understanding of underlying technique, which will allow them to explore and grow as dancers. His strongest influences include Daniel Tuero, Cecilia Piccinni, Ariadna Naveira, Dominic Bridge, Alex Krebs, and Felipe Martinez.
'Mi Serenata' Vantangofest Grand Ball, Saturday May 19th, 8:30 PM - 12:00 AM, Croatian Cultural Center - Auditorium II
'Otra Milonga' Alternative Milonga, Sunday May 20th, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Croatian Cultural Center - Auditorium II
Anton is a well known as an accomplished Tango DJ, Dancer and Organizer. Only three months after his first tango class, he went to Argentina to study with international tango stars Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa.
Since then Anton has been dancing almost nonstop, following the best tango teachers in festivals around the world.
You can find him DJing at popular local milongas and tango practicas.
'Trasnochando' Milonga, Saturday ALL-NIGHT Milonga, May 19th, Midnight - 5:00 AM, Venue: Media Luz at 2155 Commercial Drive
