Maestros & Performers
Clarisa Aragón & Jonathan Saavedra
Clarisa and Jonathan belong to the new generation of maestros. They are deeply dedicated to the art of tango: “We both seek the same objective: to live tango, make it our lifestyle, to feel it, and to share everything that vibrates within us when we dance.” In their tango, they focus their energy and efforts on expressing the sincerest emotions through dance both while teaching and performing.
Clarissa’s and Jonathan’s paths crossed in 2012. They like to emphasize that their humble beginnings in their native Cordoba (Argentina) were marked by strong support from the local community and their families, who continued to support them throughout their professional artistic careers. They started competing in local championships in 2013. The fire, fierceness, and precision of their tango got them the title of 2015 Tango de Pista World Champions. Today they are traveling around the world, leaving their mark at the most famous tango festivals and dance academies. They already dance and create magic together on the dance floor for ten years and they hope to continue creating it together in many more years.
Clarisa’s Dance Training and Background
Clarissa began her dance training at the age of nine with classical ballet and later continued with jazz dance. Her dance background also includes Argentine Folklore, salsa, and contemporary dance. In 2009 she discovered tango and dedicated herself to it, learning from some of the best maestros like Milena Plebs, Virginia Pandolfi, The Dinzels, Maria Ines Bogado, Sebastian Jimenez, Daniel Naccuchio and Cristina Sosa, and many more.
Jonathan’s Dance Training and Background
Jonathan started his dance journey with Argentinian Folklore at the age of five. He was a member of various dance groups and thus got introduced to other dance disciplines. Before tango, Jonathan participated in many performances and dance festivals. In 2010 he had his first taste of tango, taking classes with Valeria and Julio Saavedra. He continued working with Facundo de la Cruz and Paola Sanz, Gaspar Godoy, Adriana Laplaca, Diego Escobar and Angelina Staudinger, Dante Sanchez, and Ines Muzzopapa, among others.
Los Veliz – Ruben & Sabrina Veliz
Since 2006, Sabrina and Ruben have participated in several tango festivals around the world as teachers and performers.
In 2014, Ruben wrote his book “Secretos del abrazo,” detailing the techniques they developed teaching tango. The book is available in Spanish, English, Russian and Italian.
In 2015 and 2018, Ruben was tango stage´s adjudicator in the final round of the Argentinian Tango World Championship.
As choreographers, they created “Recuperado” in 2015, “A nuestro hijo” in 2014, “Al Sur del Sur” for River North Chicago Dance Company in 2011, “Dramatic Tango” in 2010, on tour in Japan, “Tangos Corazonicos” during 2009 in Buenos Aires, and also they created and directed “Tango on stage” on tour in USA, and their last show “Descarnados” in 2018 .
In 2009, they were judges in Japan, Spain, and Chile of the Tango World Championship.
During 2008, they toured China with their show Radio Latina, covering six cities including Shanghai, the same year they toured Japan with the Momoco Aida orchestra and debuted their show “Abrazame” at the Menton Tango Festival in France and toured Holland with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta presenting their choreography “Last Round.”
In July of 2006, during the Soccer World Cup, they were featured in a TV special in Holland.
On April 30, 2005, they made an appearance during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Queen Beatrix of Holland reign.
Between 2001 to 2005 they performed in different places in Buenos Aires like Esquina Carlos Gardel, El Querandi and Rojo Tango. They take part in companies like Tango x 2 and Tango Emocion.
March 1998 through February 2001, they were cast in the Nueva Compañia Tangueros, and premiered in the show “Milonga Boulevard” in New York, USA, playing the lead couple. Their work received excellent reviews from critic Jack Anderson of the “New York Times.”
Vanesa Villalba & Facundo Piñero
FACUNDO PIÑERO – worked in Casas de Tango as Madero Tango, Taconeando, Complejo Tango, Barracas Tango, Tango Red and Chiquin. He began to travel the world at the age of 17 in companies such as: Latin Dance, Tango Odyssey, Tango Emotion, Mora Godoy, Tanguera and Forever Tango.
VANESA VILLALBA – worked in Casas de Tango as: La Ventana, Piazzolla Tango, Homero Manzi and Boca Tango. She was champion of tango Baradero 2002 and later worked on the jury panel. She traveled the world for 4 years with the company Forever Tango as a dancer and also assistant choreographer.
Vanesa Villalba and Facundo Piñero – have participated in the festival of Buenos Aires tango with their work DESENCUENTRO. They were jurors in World Tango for different regions. They also participate in numerous festivals as teachers and choreographers in different countries such as Italy, Greece, Korea, USA, Japan, Turkey, and Russia.