VIDEOS

The combination of two passions: Dancing and Teaching

After starting an important career as dancers in their native Venezuela, they decided to live in the cradle of Tango -Buenos Aires- six years ago. Currently they participate in shows, events and performances in the most important stages and milongas of Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and European countries like The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, France, and Greece among others.

For them, dancing is an endless pleasure… and one of their greatest satisfactions is to give to the public something they enjoy, full of emotion… with the passion of a tango, the romanticism of a waltz or the energy and vivacity of a milonga.

They have developed a teaching method, focused on the soft way to lead, and the sensibility to receive it inside of a warm close embrace; to assure the student´s learning, professional improvement, whilst being conscious about space and musicality; making a special emphasis that the Tango is one of the most powerful ways of communication that requires a good connection between the couple to find the true passion, harmony and pleasure of dancing as one.

VIDEOS

VIDEOS

Starting with modern and Latin styles, they become dancing and learning Tango since 1996. Their passion for Tango was transmitted by the most important Tango teachers of actuality, as Pablo Verón, Gustavo Naveira, Osvaldo Zotto, Guillermina Quiroga, Carlos Gavito, Geraldine Rojas, Javier Rodriguez, Julio Balmaceda, Corina de la Rosa, Lorena Ermocida, Carlitos Perez, Jorge Dispari, Maria del Carmen Romero, among many others. Founder members of “Argentine Tango International Academy” and pioneers in the organization of International Tango Festivals in Portugal. Post-Graduate in “Tango, Genealogia Política e Histórica” by Buenos Aires University - UBA. International Awarded, they are now the European Tango Salón Champions. They also were Vice-European Champions of Tango Salón in 2010 and represented Portugal in 6 World Championships Finals in Buenos Aires, in the last 9 years. 1º place at European Tango Championship 2011 – Turin, Itália 2º place at European Tango Championship 2010 - Turin, Itália They were invited to dance at the most prestigious Milongas of Buenos Aires like Salón Canning, Sunderland, Círculo Trovador, Vida Mia, Flor de Milonga. They have 17 years of experience in Argentine Tango, 12 years of experience teaching Argentine Tango and they are the owners of the Argentine Tango School in Oporto “Tango Lesson”. They were teaching and performing in many workshops and international festivals all over Europe, like Spain, France, Italy, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Russia, Romania, Greece and Turkey. They believe that the truth of their dance is in the authenticity and simplicity with which they improve their movements and walk their soul through a code ball: “El Tango”. Followers of Villa Urquiza style, their Tango is intense and elegant.

Characteristics of Tango Estilo Villa Urquiza

The term ‘Estilo Villa Urquiza’ has been used to identify a style of tango that was popular in the barrio of Villa Urquiza during the 1940s and 50s. Descriptions of Estilo Villa Urquiza vary to some degree, but generally include the following characteristics. There is an elegance, smoothness, and precision in walking, achieved in part by walking close to the ground; many dancers of this style achieve a smooth walk by landing toe first when walking forward. Walking comprises a significant portion of the dance. The posture is upright. The embrace is closed while walking, but may be opened for ochos and turns. The footwork during ochos and turns can be elaborate and may include such elements as sacadas, arrastres, boleos, dibujos, toe taps and touches, and the sandwich. Noticeably absent from Tango Estilo Villa Urquiza are ganchos, volcadas, and colgadas.

Both with a previous career in their own right, Joseba and Bakartxo have been tango partners since 1999.

Joseba and Bakartxo are teachers themselves and choreographers with a busy teaching schedule in Spain, France, Italy and Germany. They have also participated, as both teachers and dancers, in various tango events of international character: München, Perugia, International Tango Festival of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Paris, Lyon, Nijmegen, Sitges, Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza, San Sebastián, Llanes, Valladolid, Segovia, Bordeaux, Agen, Pau, Queyssac, Toulouse, International Festival of Tarbes, Benicassim Festival, Annual Tango Festival de la Cumbre de Rosario and Festival of Bretagna among others.

Their most outstanding work, as choreographers, is their creation, "De Recuerdos y Tango" ("Of Memories and Tango"), presented in 2002, in the “Principal” theatre. With a team of 20 dancers, musicians and actors, the work drew critical acclaim.

Throughout their professional career, they have created their own style that combines the input of their previous teachers and the results of their own personal exploration.

Joseba and Bakartxo stress the importance of achieving an energy balance, through the close embrace, which can help the couple to reach maximum harmony and union, which allows the movements to flow.

To spread their concept of tango and continue to educate tango dancers, they opened in 2000, the Tango School of Andoain.

VIDEOS

VIDEOS