Labor Day Weekend Staff
Daniela Arcuri
with TangoTurns
Daniela Arcuri has extensive experience teaching, choreographing and performing for more than 35 years. Her debut in the US was on Broadway, with the show Tango Pasion, 1993. Since then, she has taught and performed in over 200 cities around the world, as well as helped and supported the opening of new tango schools in both Europe and in the US. She has choreographed and worked with well known artists such as Madonna, Julio Iglesias, Sexteto Tango Orchestra, The Symphonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl and many more.
Daniela graduated with honors from the Escuela Nacional de Danzas in Buenos Aires. She was a member of the National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team in Argentina.
She was trained in tango by some of the most famous milongueros and performers from the Buenos Aires’s scene. She has participated in numerous Tango Festivals in Europe, US and around the world. Besides creating her own show productions in the 90’s which were presented in the US, Europe, South America and Japan. Daniela's tango technique is inspired, organic and eclectic. She teaches the movements with unique expression and musicality, allowing students to develop their own style, the connection with the partner and unique artistic expression. Also, helps with body awareness for alignment, posture, coordination and the tension-relaxation-breathing of the different muscle groups improving the dynamics of the movements recognizing the different orchestras and time of the Argentine Tango music.
She prepares students to participate in tango competitions such as Socal, Summit, ATUSA and Campeonato Mundial in Argentina. She was part of the jury at the ATUSA Championships 2014, 2017 and 2023 in San Jose, CA. Helping grow the tango communities, inspiring and being an ambassador of Tango in the world is her mission in life. She resides in Agoura Hills, CA with her two sons Maximo & Luciano.
At TangoTurns we are gratified that Maestra Arcuri accepted the invitation to participate in our 2024 Labor Day Weekend Tango. To enrich their tango experience, we invite our students to take her classes to get exposed to an approach that nicely compliments our own.
Felipe Zarzar &
Anna Radzikowska
with TangoTurns
Felipe Zarzar (Pipe), danced tango in his native Chile since the age of 12. Felipe’s first teacher and Tango partner was his mother, a famous Chilean tango teacher Caprice Reyes Bush and later Argentinian maestros Luis Adema (El Pampa) and Gustavo Chidichimo.
In 2005 he took 6th place in World Championships in Buenos Aires, and twice won the national championship of Chile, both with his mother as his partner. For 20 years, he has successfully performed and taught tango and DJed in France, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, Denmark, Brazil and Holland. Pipe hosted one of the longest running milongas in Santiago de Chile for 9 years. His experience and in-depth knowledge of both the music and the technique have made him a well respected and sought after Tango artist. Felipe believes that Tango happens in a close embrace and will always protect traditional tango principles. He is a true Tango purist. Felipe also holds degrees in Economics and International Business.
At Tango Turns we are delighted to have Felipe Zarzar among our staff this Labor Day Weekend, and we are grateful for Maestra Daniela Arcuri for introducing us and Felipe to each other.
Anna Radzikowska is a native of Gdynia, Poland, where from an early age she received a rigorous classical ballet training, under the careful eye of Russian teachers specializing in Vaganova method.
She is recipient of the dance scholarship at the Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where she studied modern dance technique under the artists from Martha Graham Dance Theater.
Later, she explored the art of acting and singing on the famous stage of Musical Theater in Gdynia Poland. Scouted by the Polish avant-garde Teatr Ekspresji choreographer Wojciech Misiuro, Anna signed 5-year contract to work as a principal dancer. With the theatre, she had a pleasure to dance on many renown stages of Poland and Europe: such as Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow and Théâtre Municipal de Lausanne in France. While invited to tour Europe with Wroclaw Opera, Anna danced as a soloist in the “Der Zigeunerbaron” operetta by Johann Straus II.
Moving to California two decades ago, Anna discovered Argentine tango and began an intensive study with notable tango maestros in Buenos Aires. Since than Anna was a top 3 finalist in stage, salon, and milonga categories at the US Tango Championships. Fusing the unique elements of her dance and tango, she discovered the amazing power of embrace and connection with the partner. Currently “milonguero” style is her passion. Anna helps individuals to understand body mechanics and finding one’s unique style.
Besides dancing, Anna holds MA in Political Science and Diplomacy.
Anna’s view on dance: “It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.”
Sara Whipple
with TangoTurns
Sara Whipple began her tango journey in 2007 as a follower and quickly became enthralled by the dance. A few years later, she took on the challenge of learning to lead and has been passionately dancing both roles across North and South America ever since.
Sara is an avid learner, always seeking to deepen her connection to tango. She attends workshops and festivals in the U.S., and regularly travels to Buenos Aires to further her knowledge and skills. As a teacher and DJ in the greater Santa Barbara area, Sara creates a captivating musical environment that blends traditional, rare, old, and new tango tracks, ensuring a highly danceable experience for all.
In addition to tango, Sara is an accomplished dancer in salsa, swing, and other styles. Her diverse dance background enriches her tango teaching and DJing, bringing a unique and dynamic perspective to every event.
At TangoTurns we are gratified that Sara accepted the invitation to DJ at our Labor Day Weekend program, and glad to see Sara finding her unique voice in tango, and to share her insights with newer dancers. We believe Sara's dedication to learning with TangoTurns (2007-2015) that included the structure of the dance and extensive private coaching early in her tango journey makes her uniquely qualified in Santa Barbara and better qualified than most anywhere to teach tango. We recommend our students to experience her teaching to further enrich their perspective.
Yolanda Rossi
with Tango Turns
After designing shoes for many years for several Argentine manufacturers, Yolanda has been very proud since the 2000s, successfully offering her Yolanda Rossi’s line for women and men. Specializing in more cushioned, roomier, bunion-friendly tango dance shoes.
Dance "Shoes By Yolanda" has also been representing the limited edition of the ultimate collections of world-renowned tango dance shoes from Italy, Alagalomi, Sur, Bandelera, & Madame Pivot, and from Argentina, Neo Tango, Tango Imagen, DNI, and a line of “practica” sneakers and leather shoes for women or men.
Tango Turns has been proudly presenting Yolanda Rossi since 2004 as dancer, teacher, choreographer, and purveyor of fine tango merchandise to dancers in Southern California.
Fardad & Lucia Serry
TangoTurns Principle Artists
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