My Journey as a Tango DJ
I’ve been DJing Tango since 1996, starting with just a handful of CDs from the only two music stores in Vancouver at the time—HMS and Virgin. Back then, each CD might contain only a few tracks suitable for social dancing, so curating a full night of music was a creative challenge. When I began organizing dance events, I would carefully shuffle these tracks, always hunting for the magic that would keep the floor alive.
In 1998, I traveled to Buenos Aires, where I discovered a treasure trove of Golden Age Tango recordings from the 1940s and ‘50s—the true heart of social tango music. I spent hours selecting tracks, recording them onto tapes, which was quite revolutionary at the time. Then came CD burning—an exciting but frustratingly error-prone phase—until digital mp3s on computer media players finally changed everything.
After my trip to Buenos Aires, I introduced the concept of tandas and cortinas to Vancouver in 1999, bringing structure and intention to the musical flow. I also shared what I’d learned in one of Vancouver’s first Tango DJ workshops, held in my home in the early 2000s.
When I started, DJs were somewhat rare across the world. As digital playlists on computers became widely available, DJing became more accessible—but playing great music for dancers remains an art. It’s not just about having the songs; it’s about understanding rhythm, melody, and the energy of the room. I aim to guide dancers through waves of emotion and movement, raising and lowering the energy as the night unfolds.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of DJing at festivals and milongas across North America and Europe, including Portland Tangofest, New York, Seattle Magic Tango, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Istanbul, Berlin, and London.
Though the music may now be just a click away, creating a night of unforgettable dancing still requires a DJ who listens—with their heart.
I’ve been DJing Tango since 1996, starting with just a handful of CDs from the only two music stores in Vancouver at the time—HMS and Virgin. Back then, each CD might contain only a few tracks suitable for social dancing, so curating a full night of music was a creative challenge. When I began organizing dance events, I would carefully shuffle these tracks, always hunting for the magic that would keep the floor alive.
In 1998, I traveled to Buenos Aires, where I discovered a treasure trove of Golden Age Tango recordings from the 1940s and ‘50s—the true heart of social tango music. I spent hours selecting tracks, recording them onto tapes, which was quite revolutionary at the time. Then came CD burning—an exciting but frustratingly error-prone phase—until digital mp3s on computer media players finally changed everything.
After my trip to Buenos Aires, I introduced the concept of tandas and cortinas to Vancouver in 1999, bringing structure and intention to the musical flow. I also shared what I’d learned in one of Vancouver’s first Tango DJ workshops, held in my home in the early 2000s.
When I started, DJs were somewhat rare across the world. As digital playlists on computers became widely available, DJing became more accessible—but playing great music for dancers remains an art. It’s not just about having the songs; it’s about understanding rhythm, melody, and the energy of the room. I aim to guide dancers through waves of emotion and movement, raising and lowering the energy as the night unfolds.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of DJing at festivals and milongas across North America and Europe, including Portland Tangofest, New York, Seattle Magic Tango, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Istanbul, Berlin, and London.
Though the music may now be just a click away, creating a night of unforgettable dancing still requires a DJ who listens—with their heart.