2026 Denver does tango TEACHERS
Michele Delgado & Ervey Castillo
Michele has been dancing tango since 2003 and moved to Buenos Aires in 2005. For two and half years she focused on learning tango from the best dancers but also on teaching and creating beautiful dancers. Her students have won and placed in US competitions and her social dancers are among the favorite partners. Michele credits her Argentine instructors with her success. Michele is a former president of Tango Colorado. A Colorado native, she has lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Paris, France where dance was her passion in both. Find her online at More Than Tango!
Vanessa Stephan
Vanessa fell in love with partner dancing in 2004 and passionately pursued Ballroom, Lindy Hop, and Blues, Tango, WCS, and Fusion, always balancing skills to both lead and follow. After teaching Ballroom in a university setting, Vanessa relocated to Boulder in 2014 to serve as a Teaching Assistant and Instructor for Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne at their Boulder Tango Studio, where she acquired a deep understanding of tango structure, and technique, while also broadening her teaching style. Vanesa now teaches weekly lessons in Denver and Boulder and offers private lessons.
John Miller & Jesica Cutler
Jesica is a master of anatomy, John is a whiz at structure, and together their classes present a clear and integrated understanding of Tango, both in movement and in composition. They have been teaching together for over a decade, and work extensively to foster community, particularly at colleges and universities. They have taught at numerous festivals across North America and they host Tango on the Rocks, one of the most popular festivals in the United States. Find them online at TangoDenver!
Paula Kirkland
Paula Kirkland has dedicated her life to the study of dance, movement and the art of teaching. She holds a BFA in Dance from Wright State University and is a former professional ballroom dancer. She has had the honor of studying with Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne since she began tango in 2011. Paula has performed and taught with Aldo Romero at the 2019 Boulder Tango Festival, the 2021 Stowe Tango Music Festival and the 2021 Tango on the Rocks. Paula is also a Pilates Teacher and a Gyrotonic Trainer and loves to use these methods to train tango dancers.
Lorita Travaglia
Lorita Travaglia has an extensive background in dance having had a professional performing career with ballet companies around the world that spanned 22 years. She currently works as Ballet Master at Colorado Ballet since 2006. Lorita has been dancing Argentine Tango since 2005. She is the Creative Director of Parasol Arts, an Argentine tango performance company which also hosts monthly milongas, and offers Tango for Parkinson's classes. Since 2012, Lorita has directed, choreographed and performed in Parasol Art's annual productions. She enjoys exploring the artistic and creative aspects of Argentine Tango and aims to bring inspiration to people from all walks of life in her teaching and productions..
Find Lorita online at Parasol Arts!
Fiona Foster and Nick Jones
Fiona & Nick delve to the core of tango, how do we communicate? From first day to performing, they spend their days helping dancers find their voices. Fiona knows that “to be fond of dancing is a certain step towards falling in love.” She was the president of the CU Tango Club, where she met Nick in 2005. She half-hails from a land of petticoats and pettifogging, England, where she DJed, taught, and organized for visiting teachers. When not dancing, you can find her playing tango violin and Baroque recorder, studying Anthropology, and hosting a radio show on KGNU. Nick Jones is just a “hoofer with a spare set of tails.” These he keeps in the Library for emergencies along with ’78 RPM records and bizarre musical instruments. He started dancing tango in 1996 and playing bandoneon in 2002. He put together a tango quartet, Tangozo, in 2020.
Grisha Nisnevich
Grisha Nisnevich is a dynamic and influential figure in the world of Tango and guitar. Renowned as a Tango instructor, musician, lecturer, and DJ, he brings passion and expertise to every aspect of his work. With an active touring schedule, he captivates audiences worldwide with mesmerizing Tango performances and engaging educational experiences. A master of both classical and tango guitar, Grisha is celebrated for his signature Concert-Lecture and Interactive Mixer on the "Structure of Tango Music," offering deep insights into the rhythms and nuances of the genre. Through his group and private classes, he inspires dancers and musicians alike, blending technical mastery with a profound understanding of Tango’s rich traditions. Connect with Grisha online here!
Mez Charney
Mez’s love of tango was instilled by her grandmother Alba, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and spent her 1930s childhood dancing with her tanguero father in their living room. As part of her unending quest to learn about the art of tango, Mez has studied with Colorado’s many talented teachers and has traveled throughout the USA and internationally, attending numerous festivals, marathons, and workshops. Mez is the organizer of Colorado Leading Ladies*, a group that creates space for people traditionally designated as followers in tango to practice and learn the art of leading. Mez is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that allow people to explore all the possible facets of tango through dual role dancing, role switching, and tango improvisation. For the last two decades, Mez’s other movement passion has been the study and teaching of Ving Tsun, a traditional martial art. She had previously run the Women’s Training Program at Denver Kung Fu and is currently the director of Queering Ving Tsun.
Julianne Kim
Julianne is a tango dancer, teacher, performer, and passionate rambler. Based in the United States, she has trained in a variety of movement arts, including ballet, contemporary dance, competitive sports, and music education. Her diverse background has shaped her distinct voice as a tango instructor: clear, joyful, and deeply rooted in body kinetics. She discovered Argentine Tango in 2021 and, after a few classes plus an impromptu practice session in a racquetball court, found herself completely captivated by its conversational movement and creative depth. Her teaching balances clarity, connection, and adaptability so dancers can thrive on any floor, anywhere, with anyone. She starts her foundations with the understanding that tango is a conversation: the better you listen, the more fun you have.