Byron Bay Tango Festival returns

THE vibrant Byron Bay Tango Festival returns next month with a vivid program of dance, music, and performances at Byron Theatre from May 2 to 4.

For over 20 years, the annual festival of Argentine tango has delighted dance fans and brought Latin fire to the Bay.

The festival focuses on committed dance couples for a weekend of intense learning with internationally recognised instructors and also offers events for the public.

This year, the festival features daytime immersion classes, live music by the national exponents of tango music, performance art, and DJs.

Rocio Lequio and Bruno Tombari lead the immersion classes, which consist of two three-hour interactive seminars teaching techniques needed for authentic, effortless, and musical dance.

A series of six morning and afternoon informal milongas will be held with a roster of DJs.

A formal milonga will be held each evening with music by DJs and live music on Saturday by the Festival Orquesta Tipica.

The international mentors will also perform on Saturday night.

Tombari grew up in a Buenos Aires barrio in a family of singers and musicians.

“First, I became a student of tango, then a milonguero, and finally a dancer and teacher,” he said.

“I consider it to be of vital importance to practice and evolve each of those four facets of my dance.

“As tango is such a complex and fascinating language, one always discovers something new.”

Lequio began her professional career with a seven-year stint at DNI Tango and has trained with world-leading tango teachers and performers.

Together with Tombari, the pair features at international festivals in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

The festival’s musical highlight is the separately ticketed public concert of Astor Piazzolla’s music by The Mendoza Tango Quartet, one of Australia’s leading exponents of traditional and contemporary Argentine tango music.

Featuring Solange Lipcin from Buenos Aires and guest bandoneon/violin players, they create an aural journey through the elegant dance halls and underground tango clubs of BA and the ground-breaking tango nuevo of Astor Piazzolla.

The public can also experience tango dancing at a beginner’s class on Sunday.

For information, visit byroncentre.com.au/theatre-events/byron-bay-tango-festival-2025