Shows
Humans of TangoLove takes practice, with Mitra Martin"...through, just, love and committing to your own journey within a culture and within a craft and within a practice, you can embody whatever you want to. And there's nobody to tell you that it's not authentic or real or enough."
Co-founder of Oxygen Tango School and Awaken Tango Mitra Martin talks about her Persian heritage and the value of research, innovation, acceptance, and attention in tango.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Zorzal”, arranged and recorded by Orquesta Típica Misteriosa Buenos Aires with music and lyrics by Dorita Zárate | Image Credit: Glenn Campbell
...2025-05-2835 minHumans of TangoFree-heeling, with Scott BoddyeIn summer of 2021, Scott Boddye said goodbye to all but two-suitcases worth of worldly possessions and became a digital nomad. Since then, he's traveled on 4 continents and counting, learned to dance in heels, and created a social media platform for tango dancers that he hopes to launch any day now.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Loca" composed by Manuel Jovés, arranged and recorded by Tango Bardo | Image Credit: Kappu Chino
Show Notes
Check out Scott's website to learn more about him, then visit the website for Mundo Tango.
Learn more about Daniela Borgialli, S...2025-03-1725 minHumans of TangoContext/o, con/with Matías Mauricio [English + Castellano]FIRST BILINGUAL EPISODE! / ¡PRIMER EPISODIO BILINGÜE!
After a youthful stint in a rock band, Matías Mauricio turned his artistic inclinations to tango. Today he teaches and writes essays, books, and lyrics, and generally lives and breathes tango in his hometown of Buenos Aires. / Luego de un paso juvenil por una banda de rock, Matías Mauricio volcó sus inclinaciones artísticas al tango. Hoy enseña y escribe ensayos, libros y letras y, en general, vive y respira el tango en su ciudad natal de Buenos Aires.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Capullo de Miel,"...2025-01-2951 minHumans of TangoOur mentors, ourselves, with Aja FennAja Fenn on the value of committing to our teachers, the significance of the yin-yang symbol to tango, how performance culture has evolved since she started, her philosophy on social dancing, and what's inspiring her 24 years into her tango journey.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Duo de Amor" written by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Tango Bardo | Image Credit: Maurice Kaplan
Show Notes
Learn more about Aja's current activities through Fabrica Tango's website or by perusing her YouTube channel, then watch Aja perform with Fabrica co-founder Masha Abapolnikova (in Philly, as mentioned in the episode).
...2024-10-3035 minHumans of TangoTango women, with Camila ArrivaSinger. Producer. DJ. Argentine woman on a mission. Camila Arriva is working in multiple ways to bring women's voices to modern tango. (And yes, she also dances.)
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Cantando" by Mercedes Simone; short clips of "Soñando," by Paquita Bernardo with lyrics by Eugenio Cárdenas, and “Ni una Menos” by Verónica Bellini, all performed by Camila Arriva Grupo as part of their MUJERES project | Image Credit: Facu Suárez
Show Notes
To learn more about Camila and MUJERES, visit her website at http://camilaarriva.com.
Listen to a 2018 BBC...2024-08-1025 minHumans of TangoThe ear, the heart, and the feet, with Michael Lavocah"Listen with your bodies, listen with your feet, listen with your heart. Listen with every cell of your body. Listen with your spirit." ~Tango Stories: Musical Secrets
Michael Lavocah danced tango for 20 years before writing his first book. He hasn't stopped since...
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Adiós, Pueblo,” written by Agustín Bardi and performed by Orquesta Típica Ricardo Tanturi, courtesy of Crackling Tunes; and "Tierrita," also written by Agustín Bardi with lyrics by Jesús Fernández Blanco and performed by Alfredo Gobbi y su Orquesta Típica with Héctor Maciel...2024-06-2237 minHumans of TangoFlowing together, with Avik BasuWhat does environmental psychology have to do with tango? Quite a lot, it turns out. Tango DJ, teacher, organizer, and social dancer Avik Basu lays it out for us.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Sin Palabras” by Mariano Mores, with lyrics by Enrique Santos Discépolo and performed by Aníbal Troilo y Su Orquesta Típica with Alberto Marino | Image Credit: Steven Thull
Show Notes
Learn more about Avik's work and play in tango and environmental psychology, then learn more about the Inner Experience of Tango survey. (Bonus: listen to Avik on Joe's Tango Podca...2024-05-0427 minHumans of TangoTango (r)evolution, with Sol Orozco"When I was twenty, this was NOT possible..."
A lot has changed in the 25+ years since Sol Orozco started dancing tango in Buenos Aires. Luckily, Sol is a big believer in change - in her own life and in the world around her.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Ilusión de Mi Vida” by Feliciano Brunelli, arranged and recorded by Asato-Pais Duo | Image Credit: Oscar Chang Photography
Show Notes
The music in Sol's episode is a contemporary interpretation by Asato Pais Duo of "Ilusión de Mi Vida." (Read Spanish? Here's some history...2024-02-0232 minHumans of TangoSmall movements toward tango for all, with Arno Plass“...so many people in this world, within their own cultural frames, are not able to do everything with their body they could do. And that's a pity.”
Austrian dancer and academic Arno Plass shares what he's learned while talking and dancing his way around Europe and South America for a PhD project on the transformative power of queer tango.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Flor de Montserrat,” composed by Juan Santini with lyrics by Vicente Planells del Campo and arranged and recorded by Sexteto Cristal with Guillermo Rozenthuler | Image Credit: Martín Pérez
Show Notes
...2023-12-1233 minHumans of TangoParty every day, with Yolanda HumeYolanda Romero Hume gives new meaning to the aphorism YOLO (a.k.a. carpe diem). Find out how she makes the most of every day - in her local DC tango community and around the world.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “El Adiós” composed by Maruja Pacheco Huergo with lyrics by Virgilio San Clemente and arranged and recorded by Sexteto Cristal with Guillermo Rozenthuler | Image Credit: Unknown
Show Notes
Watch a mini-tour of the tango studio in Yolanda's house, featuring paintings by another epic DC-area tanguera - Viviana Levinson.
Watch videos of Jake Spatz...2023-10-0835 minHumans of TangoPragmatic dreaming, with London HongSouth Korean honorary New Yorker London Hong thought he was too old to become a professional dancer. Then he fell in love with tango.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Yunta de Oro” composed by Osvaldo Ruggiero and performed and recorded by Tango Bardo | Image Credit: Irina Novak
Show Notes
Watch the Forever Tango performance featuring Carlos Gavito and Marcela Durán that first inspired London’s tango obsession.
Listen to some of London's bandoneon maestros - Rodolfo Zanetti, Javier Sanchez, and Hector Del Curto - and to the NYC-based band London helped found, "Los Peores...2023-08-0827 minHumans of TangoInstinct Tango, with Aníbal Dominguez"The tango dancing is going to happen, and you don't need to push that hard."
Aníbal Dominguez was on the verge of quitting tango when he discovered contact improv. Since then, dancing has only gotten better...
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “En un Bondi Color Humo” performed by Daniel Melingo with lyrics by Luis Alposta | Image Credit: Alejandro Persichetti
Show Notes
Listen to the radio station Aníbal grew up with, Radio Clarín.
Learn more about Montevideo’s carnaval.
Learn more about Colectivo Periférico in this video that includes Aníbal and...2023-05-1730 minHumans of TangoGiving and growing, with Ayano YonedaWhen Ayano Yoneda moved from her native Japan to San Francisco for a job in finance, she never imagined that a chance encounter with a Halloween "Cinderella's ball" would change her life forever...
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “2023-03-2629 minHumans of TangoLove and eye-rolling, with Anthea Okereke“...I feel like if tango was more diverse, it would just be richer and more interesting.”
Anthea Okereke’s tango journey has had plenty of highs and lows - but her passion keeps her making a heart with her hands, even when she has to roll her eyes through it.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Viento Norte” written by Juan Carlos Suncho and performed by Sexteto Cristal | Image Credit: John Connatty
Show Notes
Watch Anthea and 5 other brilliant tangueras talk about "Racism, Inclusivity, and Tango" on YouTube or Facebook.
Hear more about stor...2023-02-0529 minHumans of TangoThe art of the tango DJ, with Nel MastrodomenicoNel Mastrodomenico fell in love with tango music in the tango bars of his native Colombia - but it took an international move in pursuit of the Australian dream to get him dancing and DJing. Today, Nel lives his own Argentinian dream in Buenos Aires.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Toda mi Vida” written by José María Contursi y Aníbal Troilo and performed by Aníbal Troilo y su Orquesta Típica with Francisco Fiorentino | Image Credit: Dos Orillas Practica de Tango Buenos Aires
Show Notes
This episode includes clips of Carlos Gardel sing...2022-12-1525 minHumans of TangoEmbracing to change the world, with Alex Pacheco CastilloQueer tango teacher and change maker Alex Pacheco Castillo talks about why inclusion is not the same as belonging and what she's doing to foster community in her hometown of Mexico City.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Bailemos” written by Cholo Mamona and Reinaldo Yiso and performed by Susanita Peña | Image Credit: Tango Queer Uruguay
Show Notes
Download the free eBook Alex and I contributed to, Queer Tango Futures: Dancing for Change in a Post-Covid World.
Watch Facebook Live interviews with Gonzalo Souto, Alex's first teacher, and Alex herself (in Spanish).
Alex credits Letici...2022-10-1826 minHumans of TangoMusic for dancing, with Craig EinhornClassical guitarist and recording artist Craig Einhorn on the joys and struggles of life and music-making and how a song first intended as "filler" for a CD became a modern tango classic.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “Milonguea del Ayer” composed by Abel Fleury and arranged and recorded by Craig Einhorn; “Spetsai Tango” composed by Georges Moustaki and arranged and recorded by Craig Einhorn; improvisations on classical guitar and djembe by Craig Einhorn | Image Credit: Unknown
Show Notes
Find Craig's music on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, or YouTube, or follow what he's up to on Faceb...2022-08-2929 minHumans of TangoKeeping the fire alive, with Felipe MartinezSpain-born, San-Francisco-based teacher, DJ, and organizer Felipe Martinez explains why he believes art is for everyone and how tradition can nurture the evolution of tango.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: “2022-06-1629 minHumans of TangoToward a culture of listening, with Heyni SoleraBandoneonist Heyni Solera shares how her immigration experience shaped her artistic journey and why she thinks the secret to better dancing is to sit down.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Flores Negras" by Francisco de Caro, arranged by Astor Piazzolla and performed by Heyni Solera | Image Credit: Nikos Zacharakis
Show Notes
Visit Heyni's website to listen to more of Heyni’s music and see what she’s up to.
Learn more about the DC Tango Orchestra.
Listen to Diego Schissi on Soundcloud, or watch videos of Diego Schissi Quinteto, Santiago Segret, and Eva Wo...2022-05-0130 minHumans of TangoReflecting the collective dream, with Jaime Montemayor"Effectively, in martial arts you learn that 101 is a lifetime.”
Hear from DC social dancer and beloved community photographer Jaime Montemayor about why he started taking pictures, how tango is similar to (and different from!) Judo, and what brought him back to tango after a long hiatus.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Patético" by Jorge Caldera, performed by Solo Tango Orquesta | Image Credit: Photo by Yulia Kriskovets, processing by Jaime Montemayor
Show Notes
View some of Jaime's photographs on Facebook, or check out his (in-focus, color-balanced;) Shutterstock librar...2022-03-1125 minHumans of TangoDisappearing so tango can talk, with Juan Cantone“The why is many, many things.”
Juan Cantone nerds out in the best of ways about experiencing the tango renaissance in his native Buenos Aires, the four aspects of tango, and the thing that will make him dance forever.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "A Luis Luchi" by Eduardo Rovira, performed by SONICO | Image Credit: Monteleone Tango
Show Notes
Here’s more background on the tango renaissance.
Listen to examples of Canaro from the '30s.
See examples of performances by Graciela González and Pedro “El Indio” Benavente.
As pro...2022-02-0733 minHumans of TangoYour own personal tango, with Eugenia ParkFor Eugenia Park, first came marriage, kids, and immigration from the Soviet Union to raise her family in the United States.
Then came a love affair with tango that has stood the test of time.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "La Puñalada" by Pintín Castellanos, performed by Juan D'Arienzo y su Orquesta Típica | Image Credit: Yulia Kriskovets
Show Notes
Eugenia started our conversation by sharing this article by Cacho Dante. Recommended reading for a firsthand perspective on the meaning of “milonguero.” And here’s even more histor...2021-12-2023 minHumans of TangoA friendly obsession, with Nick ThompsonThrough time, space, and changing circumstances, DC native Nick Thompson has made it work with tango - on his own terms. Hear how a hidden obsession, sparked one January evening at Portland State University, transformed into a friendly one over the years.
This episode was produced in partnership with Tango Mercurio.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Después del Carnaval" by J. A. Amuchastegui Keen, performed by Osvaldo Fresedo y Su Gran Orquesta Argentina with Ricardo Ruiz | Image from C’est la Vie milonga in Xi’an, China (photographer unknown)
...2021-10-3022 minHumans of TangoWhy we should all be dancing tango, with Simona Ciampi“If I had to pinpoint what exactly I do, I think it’s... I care. I think I care to connect.”
Italian tanguera Simona Ciampi lays out some truly enchanting reasons to dance tango and sheds light on a question I’ve had for upwards of 15 years.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "El Carillon de la Merced" by Enrique S. Discepolo, performed by Carlos Molina y Su Orquesta | Image Credit: Dos Orillas Practica de Tango Buenos Aires
Show Notes
Watch the short film I mentioned about Simona’s tango journey...2021-09-2428 minHumans of TangoImage, authenticity, and building bridges, with Phi Lee LamLike so many tango stories, it all started in Argentina. But our heroine, Phi Lee Lam, was there to learn about farming and had no interest in donning heels to dance with men in fedoras.
Still, one thing led to another and Phi Lee found herself captivated by the Argentine dance of passion. Back home in New York City, she signed up for a tango class and embarked on an epic journey of exploration, inquiry, and connection.
Producer/Host: Liz Sabatiuk | Music: "Chapado a la antigua" by Pablo Estigarribia | Image Credit: Monica Ramirez
...2021-08-0425 minHumans of TangoReflections of a queer tango trailblazer, with Augusto LaMarshallIn 2019, Queer Tango pioneer Augusto La Marshall came to DC as a guest artist through Tango Mercurio's Queer Tango Program. In addition to teaching classes and workshops, Augusto graciously agreed to sit down at an informal brunch hosted by the DC Queer Tango Collective to answer all of the DC community’s burning questions. There was much coffee, OJ, and laughter, with the conversation meandering from the origins of tango to social codes to the future of queer tango. Here, Queer Tango Program Manager Liz Sabatiuk shares highlights and reflections from that candid, thought-provoking event.
This episode wa...2021-08-0320 min