Ayano travels frequently for tango, dancing in milongas around the world, including a pilgrimage she makes yearly to Buenos Aires. She regularly DJs at the local milongas in the San Francisco Bay Area where she is based. She has been invited to DJ in Asia and in Europe, as well as at major events in the United States such as the Portland Tango Festival, Nora’s Tango Week, Holiday Tango in DC, San Diego Tango Marathon, etc,

In 2019, Ayano co-founded the Tango Poetry Project. She will DJ the Friday night milonga of the festival, and will coordinate projections of the lyrics of each tango, in both Spanish and English. She will also give a lecture during the festival, as well as teaching with her partner, Felipe Martinez.

Felipe has been a tango DJ for 20 years and has played music at the most important festivals and marathons in North America like Portland, San Francisco, Baltimore, Denver, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Fort Bragg, Austin, Boulder as well as in many other communities like Providence, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal. He is a resident DJ in many San Francisco Bay Area milongas, playing regularly at The Beat, Genesis, Alberto’s and El Valenciano. Find out more about him at www.felipetango.com.

Felipe will DJ the Saturday night milonga of the festival.

Gustavo Rember is Buenos Aires-based, but much-beloved in Philadelphia. He will be DJing the Sunday night milonga of the festival.

Ignacio Ondartz is an artist and representative of Argentine tango in various facets and a variety of formats. Born in Mar del Plata, province of Buenos Aires, Ignacio began studying tango in 2000 in his hometown with Julio Valdez, the most important referent for tango dance in the city. Mr. Valdez is renowned in Mar del Plata, and beyond, as a teacher, choreographer and organizer of the oldest milonga in the city.

Ignacio benefited, in his study of tango dance, from having a solid musical foundation and training. He had pursued classical guitar studies at the music conservatory of the city of Mar del Plata “Luis Gianneo,” in his adolescence, and later studied classical voice as well.

After a few years studying and performing tango in Mar del Plata, Ignacio moved to Buenos Aires in order to dedicate himself more completely to studying and working in tango. He gained experience and renown as a dancer, teacher and DJ. In 2020 and 2022, he was featured in films by the director, dancer and producer Amira Campora: “Tango19” and “Piernas de Tango.”

Today, Ignacio is known throughout the Buenos Aires tango scene as an insightful and generous teacher, as a favorite DJ who works with a number of different milongas (tango events), and as a specialist in initiating tourists to the intricacies of the Buenos Aires tango experience. Starting in 2024, he will live part of the year in Philadelphia, teaching and performing with Meredith Klein.

Ignacio will DJ the closing milonga of the festival on Monday night.