Joe's Tango podcast

My guest today is Martin Enos, a highly accomplished dancer and instructor in the Washington, DC area. He is currently in medical school at Michigan State University.

More on Martin here:

To contact Martin, go to tangomercurio.com - they'll help you get in touch!

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

Robert is a dedicated organizer in the LA area, and hosts the popular Tango Mio milonga. We had a fun conversation about his personal tango journey, strategies on running a successful milonga, and his thoughts on community.

More on Robert here:

His Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Twinkie.Defense

His notes on Tango organizing: https://www.facebook.com/notes/robert-le/notes-in-regards-to-tango-organizing/10159277002735297/

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

So, do we choose tango or does tango choose us? My guests today certainly feel that tango discovered them. It happened in 2013, and very quickly, they fell in love this dance. Before they knew it, they were deep into studying, and have received guidance from many renown tangueros.

They have traveled internationally to hone their craft, and are presently based in Eastern Kansas where they teach and organize events.

Let's meet Kirill Miniaev & Sophia Miniaeva...

More on Kirill & Sophia here:

Website: https://tangomatiz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tangonuance/

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

My guest today has been teaching and performing tango for over 20 years. He has earned a number of international awards and prizes, and has received worldwide recognition for his dedication to developing tango workshops and events outside of Argentina. He has performed at a number of prestigious tango institutions, such as The Argentine Academy of Tango, Cambalache International Tango Festival, Caminito Tango Show, Club Sunderland, and many others. He has given classes, seminars, and performances in multiple countries such as Turkey, Holland, Germany, Italy, and Latvia. In 2013, he relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where he continues to teach and perform.

This episode will feature Daniel Arias, who will be joining us with his wife, Laura Mingo. Unfortunately, my Spanish is a little rusty today so I'm very grateful for Laura's assistance in translating. We'll also hear from Laura, who is a very well known tango organizer in the LA area, as well as a tango photographer.

More on Daniel here:

Website: https://danielariastango.com/

More on Laura here:

Laura's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/lauramingo297

La milonguita FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1408654296107512/

Mingotography FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MingotographyInc/

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

My guest today started dancing at age 3. During her childhood, she took up ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. Her passion for dance continued to evolve, and she would go on to spend several eventful years as a professional ballroom dancer. She won a good number of championships, and retired from competition in 2003 (the same year she earned her PhD). A few years later, she relocated to Seattle, Washington.

Although she had experience with Argentine Tango at various moments in her life, it took some time to develop a passion for that dance. When that happened, she found herself making multiple trips to Buenos Aires. While in BA, she not only immersed herself in studying the dance, but also came away with a number of eye-opening experiences.

Today, she is a professor in the Department of Dance at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she teaches studio and academic classes. As an educator, she specializes in cross-cultural topics involving dance, and has published numerous articles and books on tango, ballroom, salsa, rumba, and swing. And she has a lot of other exciting ideas in the pipeline...

Let's meet Juliet McMains...

More on Juliet here:

Website: www.julietmcmains.com

U of Washington page: https://dance.washington.edu/people/juliet-mcmains

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

Harmonica virtuoso Joe Powers was back in town, so I thought it'd be a good time to catch up with him and record a spontaneous episode. We discuss some tango topics that we didn't cover last time, such as the additional skill sets necessary to be a successful musician, work ethic, and how to not be a total prick once you become famous.

More on Joe Powers here:

Website: www.joepowers.com

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

My guest today is originally from Russia, but is now located in Washington, DC. With a professional background in interior design, she discovered Argentine Tango in 2010 while attending a Weekend Bootcamp program with Tango Mercurio. Soon after that experience, she started assisting with instruction. Eventually, she became a teacher, and today she serves as Tango Mercurio's Executive Director & Events Program Manager.

Let's meet Masha Abapolnikova...

More on Masha and Tango Mercurio here:

Website

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

I'm on the road again this week and will be traveling again next week; I will have more guests lined up for you in the very near future.

For this short entry, I'd like to share some thoughts about struggling...

Thanks for listening!

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

My guest today is one of the most experienced tango professionals in NYC. She has taught extensively at the NYU Undergraduate Drama Program at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, the Lee Strasberg Professional Theater Program in New York, the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and many others.

But long before moving to the big apple, today's guest trained as a modern dancer and received a degree in Performance/Choreography from the California Institute of the Arts. She's lent her expertise all over the US as a choreographer for musicals, operas, plays, and films. Of course, she eventually crossed paths with Argentine Tango, and developed a passion for that particular dance. At the Sandra Cameron Dance Center, one of New York's top ballroom dance studios, she joined the teaching staff and was the director of both the Argentine Tango and Salsa programs. She is the founder of the Jeni Breen Tango Academy, located in downtown Manhattan, where she continues to spread the love of tango.

Let's meet Jeni Breen...

More on Jeni here:

Website: https://jenibreentangoacademy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeniBreenTangoAcademy/

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP

My guests today are Marcos Questas and Ruta Maria. Based in the Los Angeles area, they have been dancing pretty much all their lives.

Marcos is a 3rd generation tango dancer from Buenos Aires, and has a distinguished career performing on stage at a number of famous venues, including El Viejo Almacen, Argentina Tango & Pampa, and many others. He also appeared on the show Grandes Valores del Tango, which is a nationally televised program in Argentina. Marcos also worked on the staff of Argentina's presidential Committee of Entertainment, and has performed for official presidential events and for visiting dignitaries. From 2000 - 2005 he has produced the Las Vegas Tango Festival, choreographed dance pieces for the Latin Grammys, and a number of other high-profile projects.

Ruta has a distinguished history as a ballet dancer. She has experience as a principal dancer for the Nevada Ballet Theater, Bolshoi's first International Exchange, the Jacksonville Ballet, Ballet West, and Cirque du Soleil's Mystere. Later on, she discovered Argentine Tango, and has performed and taught at the Tango Mundo Festival, the Boulder Tango Festival, the Las Vegas Tango Experience, as well as the Argentine Tango USA Championships.

They're also excited to organize the International Tango Summit, a massive project encompassing all types of tango competition genres, specialized workshops, and teacher training.

More on Marcos and Ruta here:

International Tango Summit: https://www.internationaltangosummit.com/

Website: https://www.marcosrutatango.com/

Help support Joe’s Tango podcast – You can make a secure donation here: http://bit.ly/2T4woBP