Sakura Tango Festival 2025

Lucila Cionci and Rodrigo "Joe" Corbata have a comprehensive background in tango dance, with over 25 years of experience as teachers and choreographers.

In 2007, they founded "Fórmula Tango," a joint project that combines their individual years of experience in shows and festivals.

They are internationally recognized thanks to their participation in major tango shows and numerous important tango festivals around the world, including in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Ukraine, Cyprus, Turkey, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Canada, the United States, and Argentina.

In these places, "Joe" and Lucila have presented an original teaching philosophy, receiving excellent feedback from audiences and students of all levels.

They have performed in the most important dinner shows in Buenos Aires, such as: "Piazzolla Tango," "El Viejo Almacén," "Madero Tango," "La Ventana," "Señor Tango," and "Taconeando." They have also appeared in internationally renowned shows like "Tango Vivo" and "Nuit Blanche" with Unión Tanguera Company, "Corazón a Corazón" with Zaraza Tango Company, and "Otango" with the Otango Ultimate Show. Lucila & "Joe" also directed the show "Glosario Tanguero" at one of the most important tango festivals in Tarbes, France.

Among their individual achievements, Lucila performed in the 2008 Opera "Carmen" at the National Opera of London's Covent Garden Coliseum, directed by Oscar-winner Sally Potter.

Joe has been the director, choreographer, and performer for many years with his own company, "Tango Bizzarro," producing numerous tours and performances across Asia, South America, and South Africa with a large group of artists.

For years, they have served as judges at the World Tango Championship, organized by the Buenos Aires city government.

In their teaching, they focus on connection, musicality, and the organic movement of the body, ensuring comfort within the couple and helping dancers discover their personal style.

Their classes are designed for immediate application on the dance floor. Their love for tango, experience, and constant search for evolution in dance are the essence of their philosophy. Their dance style surprises with its great plasticity and expressiveness, showcasing innovative choreographic elements and a unique and personal approach to improvisation.

In their dancing, they blend organic movement, harmony, musical expression through the body, and connection to create a unique and personal dance while always respecting the essence of tango.

Rodrigo Palacios is an Argentinian Tango teacher and dancer, Kundalini Yoga practitioner and a curious seeker for cultural diversity.
He grew up in Buenos Aires surrounded by an incredible tango family, where tango was breathed through dance, music and singing. When he was 14 years old he started to frequent the legendary Salón Canning, where he saw the authentic dancing of the most renowned milongueros, and also of those who, at that time where leading the new wave of a broader tango.
He began a career exhibiting in the most outstanding Milongas in the city of Buenos Aires. In 2007 he was part of Forever Tango´s cast in the filming of the documentary of the successful company that took place at the Teatro Coliseo Podestá in La Plata.
At the same time, he began teaching classes for an extended period at the Salón Canning, place that hosted a stunning work by the photographer Guillermo Monteleone where Agustina Berenstein and Rodrigo Palacios are the muses. This work of art is an extract from one of the most innovative tango videos of recent times, called "T".
His first job abroad was in Tiempo Iberoamericanos as a teacher dancer and choreographer in the city of Fukuoka, Japan, and since then he has not stopped touring, participating in Tango festivals, special workshops and classes in schools in Europe, Australia and Asia.
Rodrigo has been dancing and spreading the Tango during the last 25 years.

Indira Hiayes : Born and raised in Argentina, Indira started dancing at the age of 4 and over the years she has adapted knowledge of different dances and styles that reinforced her artistry. She currently live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, participating in important international shows. Her professional Tango career began at the age of 18, dancing in the most prestigious dinner show in Buenos Aires: Señor Tango. A few months later she started traveling to teach in schools around the world and participating in most recognized international tango festivals.
She studied ballet, contemporary, argentinian tango, folklore argentino, hip hop, jazz, lyrical and hills.
As a Dancer Indira has the capacity to catch different styles of dance and choreography, capacity that made her succeed dancing in musicals, night clubs, theater.
Her Tango involve all this dances experiences making her body movement magic and ful of sharm for the eyes of the audience.

Daniel and Cristina have been dancing together as dance partners since 2007.
They bring different experiences and knowledge that enrich and strengthen the couple, their personality to dance and their teaching method.

Cristina Sosa started her career as ballet dancer, she was 9 years old, and make that for 8 years. During that time she had an intensive training with important ballet teachers. And she complemented with dance jazz.
In 2001 Cristina started to dance Stage Tango.
Since then she performanced in events, and in many tango shows in Buenos Aires.

Daniel Nacucchio started his career as pianist, he was 6 years old.
With very hard work he graduated at 16 years old and become in professional in this discipline, teaching and making concert in all Argentina. He played in the theater Colon.
In 1995 he started to dance tango, he was formed with renowned master on Tango Salon.
In 2000 he moved to Japan to teach an dance Argentine Tango.

Cristina y Daniel met and started to dance together in a dinner show.
Subsequently, in 2008, they went on to participate in the “Metropolitan Tango and Milonga Championship” and also in the “World Tango Championship”.
Their hard work paid off, they were crowned champions in all the categories…
They also competed and won “The International Japan Open”, making them the first tango couple to have won four most prestigious tango competitions within a single year.
Now they work all around the world dancing, teaching and judging.
They become in a famous tango couple, for their virtuosity, for the combination of the traditional tango salon and the energy of the stage and for their outstanding pedagogy.

Christian and Nao are internationally renowned professional Argentine tango dancers.
The Argentine Christian and Japanese Nao began dancing as a pair in 2008, and in 2009, they won the Salon category of the Asian Tango Championship.
In 2010, they achieved remarkable success at the Tango World Championship held annually in Argentina, placing 3rd in both the Salon and Stage categories.
From 2011, they performed as regular dancers at Rojo Tango, the tango house of the famous Hotel FAENA in Buenos Aires. Subsequently, they have conducted workshops and performances worldwide, including in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They have also served as judges for competitions held in countries such as the United States, South Korea, and Venezuela.
They won the Milongueros del Mundo category at the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Tango Championship twice, in 2012 and 2024. At the 2024 Tango World Championship, they placed 5th in the Pista category, showcasing their exceptional skill.

For over 10 years, they have been leading the Buenos Aires (Salón de Tango Argentino) studio in Omotesando, Tokyo, dedicating themselves to the training of the next generation of dancers.

Paula Tejeda (29) and Lucas Carrizo (33) hail from Catamarca in Argentina, and have been dancing since their teens. As a young couple in love they decided to leave their home to pursue their tango career in Buenos Aires. This was a decision which would change their lives forever.

Paula and Lucas have reached the highest levels of achievement in tango. They were crowned as the 2010 Metropolitan Tango Championship Champions in Tango category and placed as runners up in the Vals category.They were also part of the brilliant Miguel Angel Zotto tango production -- TangoX2, traveling around Italy (Milano, Roma, Napoli, Firenze, Parma, Bari, Padova, Cremona and Brescia) and Grecce (Athens).

They have performed and conducted seminars in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Chengdu), Hong Kong, Korea (Seoul, Busan and Ulsan), Japan (Tokyo), USA (Denver, Portland, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Tucson, Ashland, Durango, Colorado Springs and Vail), Canada (Toronto and Montreal) and Europe: Denmark, Portugal and Netherlands.

Nayhara Zeugtrager and Raphael Giry are experienced Argentine Tango dancers and teachers with over 20 years in the field. Currently based in Milan, Italy, they work with Miguel Angel Zotto at Tango X 2 and perform in “El Porteño Prohibido.” They spent over eight years in Buenos Aires, dancing in prestigious dinner shows and major theaters, including the Astral and Lola Membrives. Their international experience includes performances across Argentina, the USA, and Europe, representing Argentine tango in numerous milongas. They have also collaborated with renowned tango companies and owned “La Galería del Tango” in Athens for seven years, actively contributing to the Greek tango community.

A couple united by their love for tango in 2018.
Based in CALI COLOMBIA. They came together to build a committed work team, which offers quality on stage as performers, instructors and choreographers, achieving recognition in the different stages of Colombia, Argentina, Greece, England and Scotland.
They were champions of Salon Tango in Colombia in 2022 and are currently invited to the Ithaca Tango Festival in New York, Boston Tango Festival and Philippines Tango Festival. These are some of their achievements since they became a couple.

Julián : Dancer, teacher and choreographer with more than 19 years of experience. He has participated in important international competitions such as the World Tango Championship in BA, obtaining fifth place in the Stage Tango category in 2017 and champion of Stage Tango in Quito, Ecuador 2016. Julián has been champion 15 consecutive times in Stage Tango, Tango de Pista and Milonga in Colombia from 2008 to 2022.

Natalia : Dancer, teacher and choreographer with more than 8 years of experience. She has worked hand in hand with important tango companies in Colombia.
She has participated in important competitions such as the World Tango Championship in BA and has been champion on several occasions in the ballroom tango category in Colombia.

Ezequiel Hudyma: Toured worldwide with the tango musicals TANGUERA and Forever Tango.
Performed in numerous renowned dinner shows such as Piazzolla Tango.
Since 2012, has been invited by Efecto Tango to collaborate with Chizuko Kuwamoto, Ryota Komatsu, and Color Tango, as well as perform demonstrations in Paris, South Korea, Shanghai, and the Asian Championship.
Choreographed and appeared in the commercial “Famichiki Senpai Tango Edition.”

Chizuko Kuwamoto: Champion of the 2010 World Tango Championship.
Appeared on TV shows such as Tetsuko’s Room and Tatsuya Ishii’s Show Time.
Performed in musicals including Elisabeth, Peter Pan, and Balada para un loco.
Choreographed the CM EDWIN E Standard Tango Edition.
Served as a judge for the Asian Tango Championship and the Hong Kong Tango Championship.
Since 2009, has been leading the Argentine Tango studio Efecto Tango in Takadanobaba.

■ Tango Studio "Efecto Tango"

Wonjun Seol and Hyemi Seo are the founders of 'Un Poco de Tango' in Seoul, where they foster the next generation of tango dancers in Korea. Both of them began dancing Argentine tango individually in 2015 and became a tango couple in 2018.
Among their many achievements, they became triple champions at 2022 Korea Tango Championship, 2022 Asia Tango Championship(Indonesia), and 2024 Southern California Tango Championship. They also became finalists of Mundial de Tango in Argentina.
As one of Korea's youngest tango couples, they are dedicated to promoting Argentine tango to a broader audience. They actively teach and perform both locally and internationally, sharing the art of tango through workshops, performances, and community events. Through their work, they aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for Argentine tango while nurturing a vibrant and supportive tango community in Korea.

Daniel Liu : Artistic director of Tanguísimo Tango Space in Taiwan. With background in folk dances since 1989, starts dancing tango in 1997, becoming the pioneer of Argentine tango in Taiwan. In 2003 co-founds the Taipei Tango Festival, and in 2008 Tanguísimo Tango Space in Taipei, the first tango studio in Taiwan. As dancer has performed with renowned musicians like Ryota Komatsu, Aida Momoko, Roberto Zayas, Mark Wu, Chen-Chung Lee, Rui-Ran Wu, and Alvin Cheng among others, and with organizations like the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Civic Symphonic Band, the Ars Nova Chamber & Sinfonietta Orchestra, etc. As choreographer has worked with artists like A-Mei, Jody Chiang, Chi-ling Lin, Tanya Chua, Sandrine Pinna, and Jian-wei Huang among others. Having lived in Latin America as a child, speaks Spanish like a native speaker, which allows him to dive deep into the wonderful culture of tango history and lyrics, and become an amateur tango singer. His latest passion is the bandoneon!

Samantha Kuo : Began to dance Argentine tango in 2013. Currently, she is an instructor at Tanguísimo Tango Space in Taipei. Her performance experiences include concerts with Ryota Komatsu in Taipei and Taichung, 2016 Fukuoka Sakura Tango Festival in Japan, Taipei Tango Festival, Taipei International Book Exhibition, and the opening events of the Universiade in Taipei Flower Expo Park. In the recent two years, Samantha has partnered with Daniel Liu to collaborate with excellent musicians and orchestras such as Yung-lung Wu, ARS NOVA CSO and Chen-Chung Lee and Liberal Arts Ensemble etc., performing in "Enchanted. Eternal Tango", "Milonga Immersion", "The Sorrow Forgotten by Angels”, and other shows.

Shinji lived in Argentina, the home of tango, for more than five years to learn from various Maestros. Also, Natsune started learning Argentinian Tango in her teens. They started working together in 2014. They are both musicians as well as dancers. Shinji is a Tango guitarist and Natsune is a Jazz singer. Their CDs are on sale, and their particular style of music has earned a good reputation. They have performed and run workshops inside and outside Japan. They are getting noticed and have recently been awarded prizes in the competitions listed below.

In 2015, they were runners up in the “Salon Championship of Tango Marathon” in Tokyo.
In 2016, they came 4th in the Stage section of the “Tango World Championship” in Korea.
In 2016, they came 3rd in the Milonga section, and 4th in the Vals section of the “Metropolitan Championship” in Korea.

They are founders and current directors of the "El Abrazo de Tango" studio in Hiroshima.
Directors of RN Production Video.
Winners of Tango Dance World Championship in Asia in 2015.
They performed as special guests at the "Gran Rex" theater in Paris.
They performed for a short time at Café Tortoni, a long-established tangueria in Buenos Aires.
In addition to working on shows and many events in Japan, they have performed in numerous shows in foreign countries, such as milongas and theaters in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Spain, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Busan, Jakarta and Bali, etc.

[ Championship Judge History ]
■ 2019: World Tango Asia Championships, West Japan Tournament
■ 2018: Pelando variation in shanghai
■ 2023: K-Tango Championship in Korea
■ 2023: Darienzo Cup in Tokyo

They started tango in 2005 and established "Cafe de Tango", the oldest tango studio in Busan.
Currently, they are performing and giving lessons in Busan. And they also organize the Busan Tango Festival (BTF) every year.
They established Busan's first tango dance company "juntos". They are working to spread the beauty of tango to as many people as possible by teaching choreography and giving lessons.

[ Awards and major careers ]
■ 2012 World Tango Championship Salon 2nd place
■ 2013 Asian Tango Championship 10th place in Salon
■ 2014 Seoul Metropolitan Tango Championship Formation Ranked 3rd place
■ 2023 "El cxuce Korea" performance

Ernesto Borgonovo: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he began to dance tango in 1997. Among his most important teachers are Gabriel Angio and Natalia Games, Mingo and Esther Pugliese, Raúl Bravo, Néstor Ray, José Vázquez Lampazo, El Gallego Manolo, Vanina Bilous, Fernando Galera , Vilma Vega, Natalia Hills, Gabriel Misse, Petaca, Jorge Dispari and María del Carmen, Damian Esell and Nancy Louzan among others. Since 1999 he has been dedicated to the teaching of tango. In 2001 he settled in Japan where he has his own academy "El Porteño", and he is the organizer of one of the oldest milongas of that country (La Típica de Kitano) where he is also a DJ. In 2002 he starred in the tango documentary "Nosotros" along with other great dancers like Petaca and Hernán Álvarez Prieto. Since the fundation of the Tango Ensemble Coqueta has been performing as a principal dancer for 10 years, in his numerous concerts and shows.. He is also invited to teach in China and other Asian countries for 15 years. Lately he is tempted to teach and give demonstrations in various cities of Europe. He is also the organizer of major tango events and festivals in Japan.

Hanami Borgonovo: With over 15 years of experience as a professional belly dancer, she has been immersed in music since childhood, studying Oriental dance and Middle Eastern folk dance. She was a member of a dance company in Athens, Greece, and achieved remarkable success, including second-place finishes in competitions in the Middle East, Russia, and Japan.
After marrying her husband Ernesto, a tango dancer, she began a new chapter as a tango dancer. She studied tango in Argentina under Gabriel Angio y Natalia Games, Natalia Hills, and Gachi Fernandez. In Buenos Aires, she has performed in traditional milongas such as Parakultural at Marabú, tango shows, music videos, and festivals.

Daidai is the founder of ATer Tango studio, which is the first tango studio in China since 2007. After immersed in Chinese folk dance and Ballroom dance for about twenty years, Daidai has been hooked on Tango and then became a professional tango dancer. She has studied tango from many Maestros in Argentina. Besides teaching tango in many cities in China, she also has been invited to teach in other countries to promote tango. Daidai met Liyan in 2012 and then began their partnership. They organized many tango events in Beijing, including workshop of Argentina Maestros, regular classes, practicas and milongas, as well as some public welfare events, such as teaching the blind children to dance tango. They introduce thousands of people into the world of tango and help them to feel the magic of tango, and also bring people to attend many tango festivals abroad to promote the tango communications among various countries. They won the championship of category “Tango de pista libre” of China in 2017. They have been invited to Sakura Tango Festival for many times since 2015.

Florencia and Leonel are pioneers of the Seoul tango community, having started teaching there since 2005. They organized the annual Seoul Tango Festival for 11 years, which brought many maestros and foreign visitors to Korea. Florencia studied ballet in college. She was a professional performer in musicals for 8 years. In 2004, in the Mundial in Buenos Aires, she won second prize in the stage section. Leonel is originally from Hong Kong. He lived in the US and won first prize at the 2002 USA Tango Championship. Leonel & Florencia have been invited to teach and perform in many cities in Korea and abroad.

Takashi & Megumi: They began their career as a professional tango dancer in September 2006 after studieing with the teachers Taihei Kobayashi and Yuko Eguchi, two leading figures of Argentine tango in Japan.
In 2011, they were a finalist in the World Tango Championship, in the Salon Tango category.
In 2013, they started working as a freelancer.
In January 2018, they founded thier own studio "ElRecodo" in Ningyocho, Nihonbashi.
In 2019, they won the stage category of the 16th Asian Tango Championship.
Numerous performances in various stages and exhibitions.
They participated in the show "El Cxuce" in Argentina and performed demos in the traditional Milonga "Sin Rumbo y Gricel".
They´ve a good reputation for his fluid expression, dancing various types of tango.
In addition, they actively participates in stage performances as a member of the Sumidagawa Dancers.

Sumire & TAMAI: They are founders and directors of their own body dance studio “Studio RADA” in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.
In 2014, he started working as a tango dancer under the stage name Sumire & TAMAI.
Each has a career as a contemporary dance choreographer, director, and performer, and has a reputation as next-generation tango dancers who weave back and forth between modern and traditional with their expressive dancing.
They were invited to the tango festivals in Palermo, Italy and Julie Music Tango Marathon, one of the biggest events in Asia (2018), Ibiza Tango Love on the island of Ibiza, Spain (2019), Hanoi, Vietnam Tango marathon in February of this year.
In July, they will participate in the Moonlight Tango Festival in Brisbane, Australia, and in January 2024, in the Tango Adicto Marathon in the Philippines.
In addition, they perform as members of the group "Sumidagawa Dancers" at various concerts and shows.

Tzu-Han & Kyoko: Based in Tokyo while also giving workshops in other cities. As a dance style, adores the improvisational appeal of Tango. Performed at various events including Beijing Tango Festival 2019, Seoul Tango Festival 2019/2017/2016/2019, Winter Tango Napoli 2018, Seoul Tango Fiesta 2018, Sientome Tango Weekend 2018, Singapore International Tango Festival 2018/2017/2016, Taipei Tango Festival 2017/2011, Korea Romantic Tango Week 2017/2016, Saigon Tango Festival 2016, Shanghai Tango Marathon 2016, Mantova International Tango Festival 2014, White Tango Festival in Moscow 2013. Invited as visiting teachers to the Elba World Tango Festival 2017/2015 in Italy, and the Oriental Tango Festival 2017 in Japan. Also performs as part of the Sumidagawa Dancers in stage shows.