FELIP & AYANO came together in the tango scene of the SF Bay Area, and embody the global nature of tango, traveling full-time throughout North America, Europe, South America, and Asia to teach, DJ, and lecture about the dance, music & poetry of tango. They also spend time annually in Buenos Aires studying and enjoying the dance and its history & culture. 

Felipe's background includes a degree in education and more than 25 years of experience in tango and is widely renown for his clear teaching strategy, enthusiastic personality, and ability to make real improvements in your dancing. 

Ayano has been dancing tango since 2005. A milonguera herself, she believes anybody can dance tango. Her mission as a teacher is to help  each person find your own unique way to dance tango by cultivating self awareness to find ease and freedom of movement. 

She is also dedicated to her other passion projects Women's Gathering and Tango Poetry Project to further enrich each dancers' experience. Watch/Listen to her interviews to get to know her more.

Together, their demonstrations are clear and precise, offering students an excellent model of movement and showing a deep knowledge and respect for the genre. Both Felipe and Ayano lead and follow interchangeably which is invaluable for teaching. Their series at Stanford University and their classes at The Beat in Berkeley are always in high demand, which is a tribute to their teaching excellence and wide appeal. 

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FELIPE MARTINEZ has taught at major festivals in US and Canada, danced on cruises in South America & the Mediterranean; and toured & taught in many major cities throughout the U.S., Asia and Europe. He regularly spends time in Buenos Aires to feed his passion and knowledge of tango.

Originally from Madrid, Felipe holds a degree in Education and has been dancing tango since 1997. He has been based in the Bay Area since 2000, where he is a regular teacher, host and DJ at several venues — including The Beat, El Valenciano, Genesis, Alberto's and the Stanford Tango Club.

Celebrated for his elegant approach to tango and incisive teaching, Felipe is one of the most widely traveled and in demand dancers of his generation. Thorough and precise in the classroom, Felipe is also one of the organizers of the San Francisco Tango Marathon, an open international event held every year in November.

 

 

As an active DJ for almost 20 years, FELIPE has played music at most important festivals in the US like those in Portland, San Francisco, Baltimore, Denver, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Fort Bragg, Austin, Houston as well as in many other communities like Providence, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal. He is a resident DJ in the Bay Area at The Beat, Genesis, Alberto's and El Valenciano and has also played music in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Germany, Istanbul) and Buenos Aires, where he was invited to play music at El Beso and Villa Malcolm Club in several occasions. He has also DJed in Asia in many occasions at the Seoul Tango Festival (2012-2019), the Bali Tango Festival, the Taipei Tango Festival, the Singapore Tango Festival and the Hong Kong Tango Marathon, as well as in Tainan, Taichung and Tokyo. Felipe's musical selection is based on the classics that ensure a great atmosphere for dancing.

 

Contact: tangonnection@gmail.com

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Based in San Francisco, AYANO travels and dance in the milongas around the world including her annual pilgrimage to Buenos Aires.
She regularly DJs at the local milongas in San Francisco such as El Valenciano, Genesis, The Beat, as well as at Milonga de Nora, Alberto's and Milonga Rubia. She  has been invited to DJ in Tokyo, Taipei, Maui Embrace Tango Festival, Pasional The Third Coast Tango Marathon, Holiday Tango in DC, Ronda De Ases in Portland, Marathon Z, San Diego Tango Marathon, La Mujeres Tango Marathon and Ann Arbor Tango Marathon.

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Contact: ayanoyoneda@gmail.com