Performing at the milongas of this year’s Hong Kong TangoFest we have the best of local and regional dancers.
RAYMOND CHU & LILY CHENG, HONG KONG 香港
Raymond & Lily, Asian Salon Tango Champions and World Salon Tango Finalists in 2011, are two of Hong Kong’s most exciting and elegant dancers and teachers. As well as contesting this year’s World Salon Tango Championships in Buenos Aires, they have performed at international tango festivals across
Asia, including Taipei, Seoul, Singapore and Sydney. In 2005, they launched Otrotango, introducing tango to a whole new generation of dancers. Raymond & Lily offer classes for all levels of dancers, present the Otra Noche milonga every Friday, and host the popular Practica
Otro every Saturday. Raymond & Lily top the bill at Friday’s Post Concert Milonga and teach one of the festival’s Beginners’ Classes.
KAMONG LEE & EDITH HO, HONG KONG 香港
Kamong & Edith are two of Hong Kong’s most popular, open-minded and innovative young dancers, with a long history of performing both live and for television. Since starting tango in 1999, they have studied under some of the world’s leading tango dancers in Buenos Aires, Hong Kong and other locations. Their backgrounds in ballet and modern dance underpin their classic tango style while inspiring them to extend the possibilities of their own dancing in new directions. They
are regular teachers at Central’s Culture Club and host two weekly milongas, Milonga Nuevo on Thursday nights and Corazón Tango on Saturday nights. Kamong & Edith perform at Sunday’s Farewell Milonga and teach one of the festival’s Beginners’ Classes.
AGNES TANG & DERRICK LEE, TAI WAN 台灣
Agnes and Derrick started their tango career after previously studying folk dance and flamenco. Alongside their day-time employment in private equity and electronic engineering respectively, they are professional dancers, teachers and choreographers who teach and perform regularly in Taiwan, Tokyo, Nagoya, Hong Kong and Shanghai, among other places. In the last two years, they have been invited to perform at international tango festivals in Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. For more information about Agnes and Derrick and their tango activities, visit their Facebook page, “Agnes y Derrick Tango”.
COLEMAN KOO & JESSICA NG, HONG KONG 香港
Jessica sees the milonga as her home and tango as one of her best friends. Since discovering tango in 2005, her love and intensity for the dance have shaped her into the intuitive milongeura she is today. Obsessed with tango’s traditions, music, lyrics and all aspects of its culture, she was one of co-founders of “Las Chinitas”, organisers of monthly milongas and hosts of Javier Rodriguez & Andrea Misse’s visit to Hong Kong in 2010. Her passion for music prompted her to
start DJing at local milongas, to much acclaim. Coleman, co-organiser of Hong Kong’s regular Saturday night milonga, Corazon Tango, has yet to visit Argentina. A 100%-home-brew dancer brought up by TangoTang, his first teacher was Simon Cartledge. “Tango is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he says. Jessica & Coleman perform at Sunday’s Farewell Milonga.
VIVI AN YEH AND DEMIAN FONTENLA, SHANGHAI 上海
Vivian Yeh, founder of TangoBang, has taught and organised tango workshops and performances since 2008, culminating this year in her launch of the inaugural Shanghai Tango Festival in October. In love with dance since she started ballet at the age of five, she has also explored salsa and folk among other dances. Demian began studying tango in 1998, learning salon, stage and tango nuevo from different masters. For the last five years, he has taught and performed
at schools and milongas in Buenos Aires, and run his own milonga, Loca!, in the city’s Palermo neighbourhood. Vivian and Demian met in Buenos Aires. With more than ten years of teaching experience between them, they are the leading tango teachers, organizers and performers in Shanghai. They perform at Friday night’s Post-Concert Milonga.
GENNYSAM ALCANTARA & LILY TAN, SINGAPORE 新加坡
Gen & Lily, founders of Tango Eclipse and icons of Singapore’s tango scene, are actively involved in dance performance, choreography, and the promotion of Argentine tango in Asia. The couple, who met through dance, spent several months this year in Buenos Aires. There they participated in the World Tango Championships representing Singapore. Gen, born in Manila, his hometown in the Philippines, came to Singapore in 2005. After working as choreographer and talent manager for Asia Culture Dance Group, he became an instructor with Tango Eclipse. Lily, from Singapore, has been dancing since 2001. Her philosophy of dance emphasises flawless footwork and body movements in both close and open embrace. Gen & Lily perform at Friday’s Post-Concert Milonga.
