THE TEAM
Queer Tango IN London is brought to you by Queer Tango London and our colleagues from across the globe.
ARNO PLASS
Vienna, Austria
Arno is a cultural researcher and practitioner interested in bodies that move. Arno teaches tango in regular classes, workshops and cultural projects with a community approach
Along with Manu Sanz, Arno will lead our 2 pre milonga practicás and group workshop
ASTRID WEISKE
Berlin, Germany
For nearly 30 years Astrid has been dancing Tango Argentino and is well known and respected in the tango communities worldwide as an excellent leading woman and fabulous teacher. She founded the Queer Tango Berlin Festival and has developed strong sensitivity in leading, great creativity in improvisation and playful musicality which stand out as key elements in her dance
Astrid will be teaching 2 classes and is available for private lessons
MANU SANZ
Madrid, Spain
Manu co-organises the Chamuyo tango meeting since 2019 as well as El Conversatorio, the theoretical space that invites us all to share and grow as a community
Along with Arno Plass, Manu will lead our 2 pre milonga practicás and group workshop
Al SHNITMAN
Israel
Born in Ukraine and now living in Israel, Al is a talented queer tango dancer and teacher
Al will be teaching our Making a Start classes
GASTON OLGUIN
Buenos Aires, Argentina
With 23 years of career, between folklore, ballet and tango, Gaston has developed experience in the understanding of body movement, studying for 10 years with the renowned Alfredo Gurquel
Gaston will be teaching 2 classes and is available for private lessons
KATIA ABBONDANZIERI
Switzerland
Katia is a physiotherapist and a passionate tango dancer. She has been dancing both roles since 2010 and teaches tango through the lens of body biomechanics. For the last 8 years she has organised the Geneva Queer Tango Marathon, held each year on the last weekend in February.
Katia will be teaching 2 classes and is available for private lessons
AMANDA HAMILTON
London, UK
Amanda has been a Tango DJ for 10 years and your regularly find her at Pavadita, Tango 178 and Leigh Tango. She plays play traditional music from the Golden Era 1930s to 1950s
Amanda will be our DJ for Milonga 4
PEGGY LABRONNE
Paris, France
Peggy is a member of the organizing team of the Paris Queer Tango Festival LA VIE EN ROSE. As a TDJ, Peggy loves to play the traditional tangos of the Golden Era with some drops of more contemporary versions.
Peggy will be our DJ for Milonga 2
ANNA JORGENSEN
Sheffield, UK
Anna started dancing tango 15 years ago and plays mainly traditional music, with the occasional tanda from new orchestras. She strives to provide varied and irresistibly danceable tandas with a high degree of internal cohesion
Anna will be our DJ for Milonga 5
MARGARET TROTTER
Queer Tango London
A key part of QTL Team and a fan of international festivals. Margaret has been front and centre making QTinL 2026 come to life.
CLAUDIO TEDESCO
Queer Tango London
Born in Buenos Aires, Claudio studied tango, both roles, with Lora Hudson. He prefers to follow, but loves to lead and follow milonga. Claudio is Queer Tango Londons resident "golden age" DJ
Claudio will be our DJ for Milonga 3
TOM COTTLE
Queer Tango London
Tom has been a part of Queer Tango London since 2012. As a DJ he surprises and delights an audience with an eclectic mixture of alternative tangos, old favourites and some unexpected but very danceable tracks
Tom will be our DJ for Milonga 1
RAY BATCHELOR
Queer Tango London
Ray is a queer tango activist, author, teacher and dancer, having been dancing queer since 2004. He has worked on many projects, including the “Able to Tango?” campaign with Aiden Bizony which aims to encourage more wheelchair users onto tango dance-floors
You will find Ray at our Ask the Authors event
SAMANTHA MARCUS
Queer Tango London
Sam has been part of QTL for 7 years and is part of its teaching team. She loves dancing as it’s a way to move without care, and to stop thinking
GORDON PULLINGER
Queer Tango London
A key member of Queer Tango London, Gordon is known to povide a friendly and welcoming face for all out dancers (new and old) at our regular milongas
GAWAINE PRESTON
Queer Tango London
Gawaine has been dancing queer tango for over ten years, and still finds it as thrilling as the day he started. He is a regular teacher at Queer Tango London
RAY SULLIVAN
Miami, USA
Ray is Artistic Director of CONEXION, Miami’s International Queer Tango Festival and author of Changing the World One Tango at a Time. He is a lifelong believer in the power of art to transform society.
You will find Ray at our Ask the Authors event
BIRTHE HAVMØLLER
Aarhus, Denmark
Birthe is a Danishpublisher, visual artist, queer feminist activist, art blogger and queer tango dancer. She initiated The Queer Tango (Book) Project in 2013 and co-edits free anthologies about queer tango with Ray Batchelor
You will find Birthe at our Ask the Authors event
EDGARDO FERNANDO SESMA
Buenos Aires, Argentina
A dancer since 2001, Edgardo has been teaching and creating spaces for classes since 2009. He combines his experience of Queer Tango with his activism in sexual diversity and human rights to help raise awareness on various issues.
You will find Edgardo at our Queer Tango Conversation event
