San Diego Tango festival

Learning from

Alex Krebs- Alex has been dancing Argentine Tango since 1997 and teaching worldwide since 1998, including performances in Buenos Aires. He has run his all-Argentine tango studio, Tango Berretin, in Portland, Oregon since 2001 and has also studied the bandoneon since 2001 currently directing his sextet.

He is completely fanatic about the dance, and shares his passion with his students. He teaches for the social dance floor, emphasizing the improvisatory side of the dance through a strong communication between the lead and follow and on musicality. Alex tries to give his students the vocabulary necessary so that each person can find their own unique way of dancing -- dancing the tango of their own body.

Homer & Cristina Ladas Homer and Cristina both started their tango obsession in 1997. They finally met each other at the all-nighter in Berkeley, CA in 2001. After signing-up as dance partners at a Portland Tango Festival in October of that year they fell in love and were married 8 months later in May of 2002. Each brings with them over a dozen years of social dance experience emphasizing a fusion of tango ideologies, via the 'one tango' philosophy. As teachers they are committed to creating a positive class environment and try to reduce barriers that may inhibit students from really finding their own dance! Small epiphanies can & do occur in their students all the time... It has been said, on more than one occasion, that few dancing couples improvise with such skill, personality, and fluidity of movement. As each year passes Homer & Cristina continue to explore deeper facets of their relationship to each other and to tango.

Ney Melo and Jennifer Bratt

Ney Melo and Jennifer Bratt are dedicated to inspiring students to dance tango with feeling, musicality, cadencia, and connection - the way it is danced in Buenos Aires. The atmosphere in their classes is relaxed, personable and lively, and they place equal emphasis on the lady's role as the man's. Technique and the essence of tango, both fundamental to dancing well, are stressed in whatever step is being shown. Their instruction is highly respected and sought out by beginning and advanced dancers.

Ney and Jennifer have toured together since 2005. They have taught and performed in Italy, England, Poland, Singapore, Malaysia, Romania, Turkey, Slovenia, Australia, and New Zealand as well as extensively all over North America.

With Vanja Modzelewski