Fri Mar 2: Ney Melo and Jenny Wesnousky

During March, Tango Lounge features guest artist Ney Melo with 4 excellent upper level classes on March 2, 9, 23 and 30. The classes are included with admission! Take all to bring your dancing to a new level.

8.30pm, included with admission:
Upper level with Ney Melo: TURNS IN CLOSE EMBRACE
Intermediates with Jennifer
Beginners with Paul


Midnight performance by Ney Melo and Jennifer Wesnousky



Ney Melo is one of today's most talented young Argentine Tango dancers and teachers, currently touring the world. He is known for his innovative teaching methods and passion for teaching. His tango instruction is sought out by beginning
and advanced dancers, as well as other teachers and choreographers from all over the world.
Ney has studied tango with masters of the Villa Urquiza and modern salon styles of tango. Ney is the creator of Tango Television on youtube which showcases the best tango dancers currently on the scene as well as rare footage of milongueros who shaped the dance.

Born and raised in California, Jennifer Wesnousky trained in gymnastics, ballet and jazz throughout her childhood, performing as a member of both the San Luis Jazz dancers and the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. After working and studying in Los Angeles, Spain and Argentina, her pursuit of careers in Latin music and Spanish translation brought her to New York, where, she chanced upon Argentine tango. Enamored, she studied extensively with top tango masters at home and in Buenos Aires, where she traveled annually. Her most influential instructors have included Diego Di Falco, Pablo Pugliese and Mariela Franganillo, with whom she choreographed a children’s tango project for the New York City Center. As a performer, Jennifer has danced at locations and events as diverse as Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing, Joan Lunden’s Camp Reveille, the New York Tango Festival, Latina Magazine’s Poet’s Den and in the independent film, “ParAmor.” She also appeared with the all-female tango ensemble, “Tango por Ellas,” at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden and in numerous stage productions such as the renowned Turkish musical, “Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyasi,” at the Beacon Theatre, Valeria Solomonoff’s “Tango por Ellos,” which won the Latin ACE Award 2010 for Best Choreography, and “Borges and Piazzolla Tango” at the Thalia Spanish Theater. As a teacher at Paul Pellicoro’s Dancesport, Jennifer is passionate about taking her students to the next level. She has also been a guest instructor and performer in several of the United States and in Israel. Most recently, Jennifer co-produced, directed and performed in the original show, “Mientras TANGO,” which played to a packed house at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Jamaica, Queens.

Feb 24: Jorge Nel (+shoes), Andres Bravo, Carolina Jaurena

This week, Lounge features Jorge Nel (in person, and his shoe boutique), Andres Bravo and our very own Carolina Jaurena.


8.30 Upper level class with Jorge Nel and Andres Bravo
Intermediate class with Jennifer Wesnousky
Beginners with Paul Pellicoro


All classes included free with admission


Midnight performance with some combination of Jorge Nel, Andres Bravo and Carolina Jaurena


JORGE NEL SHOE BOUTIQUE! Mr Tango Shoes :)
Excellent prices and large selection!


More about our artists

Jorge Nel Giraldo was born in 1956 and made his artistic debut when he was 8 years old. His endeavors span more than 30 years and reflect his love and dedication to dancing and teaching, particularly in his favorite art form, the tango.
From 1976 to 1985, Jorge was instructor-director of physical education at the high school level. In 1978, he founded the Dorada school of Folkloric Dance, where he was director/coordinator until 1985. After completing his formal education, he served as Professor of Theatre Arts in the National Air Force of Colombia.
In 1985, he won the first National Tango Championship in one of the most popular festivals in Colombia: "La Feria de Manizales."A year later, he came to the United States under contract for the company "Martin Fierro," where he directed a show for three years. In 1990 he founded "El Club Amigos del Tango,” which currently has 1,978 members. He started Florida's first "Tango Dance Academy" in 1992 and from 1992 to 1996 was the organizer of "El Festival Mayor Del Tango."
In 1998, in recognition of Jorge's twelve years of excellence in artistic work, Mayor Alex Penelas of Dade County honored him with an award, proclaiming May 15 as "Jorge Nel Giraldo's Day." That same year, he was nominated as an official Member Representative for The National Tango Academy of Argentina in the United States.
In 1999, Jorge appeared as a tango dancer a scene from the motion picture “Random Hearts.” Harrison Ford and Kirsten Scott Thomas starred in the film.
Jorge is considered the pioneer of Argentine Tango in South Florida. He was also instrumental in spreading tango to many parts of the United States, such as Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Cleveland, Tucson and many cities throughout Florida, where he led numerous tango dancing seminars. He continues to work in South Florida while traveling to other cities to teach tango.

ANDRES BRAVO Andres Bravo represented Colombia at the eighth World Tango Summit held in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina with the Colombia Tango Company
In 2002 became part of the the cast of recognized Argentine Show, Jumeirath Beach Hotel located in Dubai United Arab Emirates for the period of six months. National Tango Champion 2006.2009.
National runner-up in the stage tango Festival 2007,2010
National champion in stage tango Tango Festival 2008, 2009 He has a great recognition as an instructor and as a tango dancer.

CAROLINA JAURENA: Influenced by her parents, a Bandoneon Master and her mother a Tango singer, from an early age Carolina pursued a desire to perform. Her training includes ballet, salsa, and flamenco to where she now specializes in Argentine Tango. She has worked with some of the most recognized names in the tango world, Jorge Torres, Fabian Peralta, Cesar Coelho and Hugo Patyn. Having been fortunate enough to work with some of the best, it comes as no surprise that Carolina’s career is filled with a long list of dance credits that includes, Tango & Tango at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Tango Fantastico at the Bellearyre Music Festival, on Broadway at Town Hall in the show “Tangos for la Milonga” with Romulo Larrea and in 2005 she traveled to Europe to perform with the Sudwestfalen Philarmonic at the Symphonic Tango night in Hilchenbach-Lutzel, Germany.
In addition, she was also a featured dancer, singer and actress in the Two River Theatre Company production of Blood Wedding and performed in the Buenos Aires month celebration at the World Financial Center. She was also invited to perform at The 10th Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival in Florida, "Tango Summit" with the Panamerican Symphony Orchestra, and "100 años de tango, de Villoldo a Piazzolla" at the prestigious Solis Theatre in Montevideo, Uruguay. She performs regularly with Teatro Si in New Jersey and in New York with Leonardo Suarez Paz's "Cuartetango" and Thalia Spanish Theatre in Queens.
Carolina is also a much sought after performer in television and film, having appeared on such shows as Fox 5 “Good Day New York” with Penny Crone, "Today in NY" on NBC. In 2006 she was a first prize winner on the popular program Sábado Gigante on Univision. However, the height of her professional career was marked by her role as a primary dancer in the feature film Random Hearts directed by Sidney Pollack and starring Harrison Ford. Carolina talents are not just limited to teaching, but she is a much respected and sought after instructor as well.
Over the years, she has been invited to perform and teach at several Dance Festivals including; The Colorado Dance Festival, The D.C. Tango Festival, The Boston Tango Festival, and the "Tango Norte” 2007 Stockholm Tango Festival. Most recently, Carolina was invited to teach at Nashville Tango and performed with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra in Tennessee, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and performed with “Tango Five” at the Einhalden Festival in Germany. Most recently, Carolina performed with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Evolution Tango Show in Dallas, Texas.

Feb 17: Judy & Jon, DJ Ilene

This week Lounge features Judy and Jon! 
DJ & guest host Ilene Marder


8.30pm classes are included with admission:


upper level with Judy & Jon
intermediates with Jennifer
beginners with Paul


performance around midnight


DJ Ilene




More about our guest artists:

Master Milongueros Judy and Jon is the only northamerican couple to ever be adopted by the porteños as 'Authentic Milongueros'. During the years they have lived in Buenos Aires they have acquired a profound understanding of the history, culture, and music of the Tango. They teach Salon Tango as danced in the milongas of Buenos Aires. Their style demonstrates the best of traditional Tango de Salon.


Jon is known for his elegance and creativity and his connection and sentimiento within the embrace. Judy is admired for her adornments and beautiful foot placement. Together they transmit their own 'Tango Verdad System' with clarity, charm, and intelligence.


Judy & Jon have been profiled and featured in major Buenos Aires tango magazines including La Milonga, B.A. Tango, and Diostango. In 2009 they became the first northamerican couple to be honored with the award 'Pa Que Bailen Los Muchachos' . 


They are the authors of an illustrated Step by Step Exercise Manual for Tango Body Mechanics, and they have produced a DVD 'Judy & Jon y Sus Amigos Que Bailen'. Shows produced by Judy and Jon include 'A Night in Buenos Aires', 'Whispers of Buenos Aires', and 'The Ghost Hunters Tango'.


Judy & Jon perform regularly in Buenos Aires on stage and at famous Buenos Aires milongas including Sunderland, Porteño y Bailarin, La Nacional, Salon Canning, Gricel and Glorias Argentinas. They are on the teaching staff of the renowned Confitería La Ideal and Cultura Tango Academía.

Ilene Marder

In addition to being the founder and director of Woodstock Tango, Ilene has established a reputation as a popular, traditional Tango DJ, who DJ's regularly at milongas in NYC and at festivals (recently Boston & Chicago). She is one of the very few non-Argentines to DJ in Buenos Aires at Salon Canning (three times) and the only one to have DJ’d Porteño y Bailerin. She is a "traditional" DJ, using cortinas, tandas and the most beautiful classic tango ever recorded. (She is also adept at offering some lovely danceable surprises from the modern and alternative tango worlds...). She conducts MEET THE MUSIC sessions to better acquaint dancers with the key orquesta's of the Golden Age, and is available to DJ private parties and events, and more....

Feb 10: Maria Elena Ybarra and Robin Thomas. DJ Tine

This week Maria Elena Ybarra will teach the guest class. Don't miss one of the most articulate and thoughtful teachers in NYC!
Maria Elena will perform with Robin Thomas at midnight.

Classes at 8.30pm included with admission:
Upper level with Maria Elena Ybarra
Intermediate with Jennifer Wesnousky
Beginners with Paul Pellicoro


More about our stars...



MARIA ELENA YBARRA
Maria was born in the province of Chaco, Argentina. With more than a decade of experience dancing and teaching tango, she has become recognized as one of the top female tango dancers in the NYC area, and has taught locally, as well as in Buenos Aires. She is noted for her attention to detail and her exquisite technique.


ROBIN THOMAS
A well-known and respected dancer and DJ, Robin's enthusiasm for tango can be seen most clearly in his wholehearted dedication to teaching. He believes that it is very important for students to dance simply and musically from the very  beginning. Building that strong base of connection and musicality early, Robin believes, will allow even very new beginners to feel comfortable and confident on a crowded dance floor and will also lead to a more comprehensive and fluid understanding of more complicated techniques later on. Robins teaching style reflects this philosophy, and his students appreciate the humorous and down-to-earth way he presents the material. On the rare occasion that he is neither teaching nor DJing, Robin can always be seen on the dance floor, either working to expand his  own understanding of tango, or own understanding of tango, or simply enjoying the connection he works so hard to share with others. He is originally from Belfast, Ireland and now lives in New York City.    

Fri Feb 3 Performance by Carlos Paredes and Carolina Jaurena

This week, Carlos Paredes and Carolina Jaurena are back at Lounge by popular demand! 
They are performing together in the show Tango 5 Senses at the Thalia in Sunnyside Queens.

Classes tonight are Jennifer's intermediate class and Paul's beginners class, both at 8.30pm and included with admission.


More about our stars


CARLOS PAREDES was born in Cali, Colombia. He began to study Break dance and Salsa since 6 years of age, and years later he began to dance Argentine tango. He studied at the Piazzolla academy with Professor Marta Mejía and at the Deka academy with Ancizar Velazques, aside from studying with great masters in the city of Buenos Aires. Among the last mentioned are well known teachers such as Miguel Angel Zotto and Aurora Lúbiz, also couples such as Luís Grondona and Mirta Sol, Fernando Galera and Vilma Vega, Claudio González and Melina Brufman, Martin Ojeda and Johanna Copesto. Carlos Paredes is known in Colombia for dancing a style called “Canyengue”, a style that goes back to the roots of tango. It is considered very particular and enjoyable. In August of 2006 he participated in the Tango World Championship in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, obtaining the first position in the Stage Category. During the same year Angelino Garzón, who is currently the vice-president of Colombia of the Valle del Cauca awarded him with the Vallecaucano Merit Medal in the square of the governance.
Carlos is in New York to perform in the show "Tango 5 senses", partnering Carolina Jaurena. As a teacher and performer, Carlos never fails to whip up crowd ambiance and participation thanks to his warm and exuberant personality.

Tango 5 Senses
CAROLINA JAURENA: Influenced by her parents, a Bandoneon Master and her mother a Tango singer, from an early age Carolina pursued a desire to perform. Her training includes ballet, salsa, and flamenco to where she now specializes in Argentine Tango. She has worked with some of the most recognized names in the tango world, Jorge Torres, Fabian Peralta, Cesar Coelho and Hugo Patyn. Having been fortunate enough to work with some of the best, it comes as no surprise that Carolina’s career is filled with a long list of dance credits that includes, Tango & Tango at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Tango Fantastico at the Bellearyre Music Festival, on Broadway at Town Hall in the show “Tangos for la Milonga” with Romulo Larrea and in 2005 she traveled to Europe to perform with the Sudwestfalen Philarmonic at the Symphonic Tango night in Hilchenbach-Lutzel, Germany.
In addition, she was also a featured dancer, singer and actress in the Two River Theatre Company production of Blood Wedding and performed in the Buenos Aires month celebration at the World Financial Center. She was also invited to perform at The 10th Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival in Florida, "Tango Summit" with the Panamerican Symphony Orchestra, and "100 años de tango, de Villoldo a Piazzolla" at the prestigious Solis Theatre in Montevideo, Uruguay. She performs regularly with Teatro Si in New Jersey and in New York with Leonardo Suarez Paz's "Cuartetango" and Thalia Spanish Theatre in Queens.
Carolina is also a much sought after performer in television and film, having appeared on such shows as Fox 5 “Good Day New York” with Penny Crone, "Today in NY" on NBC. In 2006 she was a first prize winner on the popular program Sábado Gigante on Univision. However, the height of her professional career was marked by her role as a primary dancer in the feature film Random Hearts directed by Sidney Pollack and starring Harrison Ford. Carolina talents are not just limited to teaching, but she is a much respected and sought after instructor as well.
Over the years, she has been invited to perform and teach at several Dance Festivals including; The Colorado Dance Festival, The D.C. Tango Festival, The Boston Tango Festival, and the "Tango Norte” 2007 Stockholm Tango Festival. Most recently, Carolina was invited to teach at Nashville Tango and performed with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra in Tennessee, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and performed with “Tango Five” at the Einhalden Festival in Germany. Most recently, Carolina performed with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Evolution Tango Show in Dallas, Texas.