Ward Stevens |
Robert Hauk |
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Bill Alsup |
Megan Pingree |
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Jerry Wallach |
Joe Leonardo |
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Jay Rabe |
J. Abling |
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Alex Krebs |
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Ward Stevens is attention to the audience as a whole and seeks to reach a balance which allows the entire community all to have the most from the dance.
Ward learned the art of the Tango DJ through attention to the music and the audiences, through classes and through watching, studying and conversing with the Tango DJs of Buenos Aires.
While he has learned by studying the performances of Felix Picherna and Mário Orlando, he is especially grateful to Puente al Tango's DJ, Miguel Coppini for formal classes and to El Beso's DJ Osvaldo Natucci for important discussions.
To reach Ward, call (503) 806-2502, or e-mail him at wcstevens@comcast.net. |
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Robert Hauk milonga can depend heavily on the DJ. Robert's inspiration as a DJ comes from the DJs in Buenos Aires who play the music at the milongas frequented by the older dancers. These people are very picky about the music they want to dance to.
There are thousands of tangos that were recorded in the golden age of tango music and after. The DJ has to carefully choose from this material and find the very best music. Each orchestra has it's own classic, best recordings. The songs played in a set must be carefully chosen to fit together and flow well from one to the next. The sets must flow well from one to the next. The DJ has to chose these with a dancer's sense of the music. For me the biggest reward as a DJ is a room full of people, all on the dance floor. The energy of the room is high and people are happy. I am happiest with my work when there are many people on the floor until the very last set of the milonga. The energy of the music has carried them to the end of the night and they leave tired and happy.
Robert teaches and DJ's at the PPAA on Monday evenings.
To reach Robert, call (503) 231-7826, or e-mail him at robhauk@teleport.com. |
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Bill Alsup Some of Bill's thoughts about DJ'ing can be found at www.tangobiker.com/djing.htm.
Bill also maintains The Portland Area Argentine Tango Page.
He can be reached at (503) 977-5106 or at mailto:billalsup@yahoo.com |
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 Megan's
goal is to create an event during which folks will findit difficult (and unnecessary) to stay off the dance floor, and to provide a mix that leaves dancers satisfied, but not necessarily exhausted. The venue, the day of the week, the weather, and even the big news of the day all play into the energies that affect the scene. Megan plays a variety of music -- mostly Golden Era, some pre- and post- "golden" but nevertheless tango and highly danceable, and liberal doses of valses and milongas interspersed amongst the tango sets. Megan learned to DJ From dancing to DJ's (on bad and good nights) in Buenos Aires, Portland, and other major tango towns around the USA, Canada and Europe, from reading about DJing on tango websites and discussion lists, in her living room from Dan Boccia's semi--private, spontaneous intensive course in DJing, from practical experience at milongas and practicas in Portland and Eugene and by DJing for festivals in Seattle, Ashland and Chicago. Megan hosts Corazon de Tango on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Fridays of the month. To reach her, call (503) 222-4691 or email at meganpingree@comcast.net . |
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Jerry Wallach Jerry believes in success through simplicity.
Jerry DJs the Milonga @ Northstar Ballroom each Thursday night.
Jerry can be contacted at J_Wallach@yahoo.com or at (503) 784-3786
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Joe Leonardo He is ghostly lit by the screen’s sick glow. From
his soul and fingertips slips out electricity meant for movement. Of
all things past, it is an idea. Electricity creates the flicker of small muscles, an
act of physical contrition. Electricity courses through the veins of
Modern Day’s keeper, touching upon a digital dissection of what is
fleeting. Then Pulse, and the air is compressed. An ear is caressed and combated, kissed and cut.
Electricity touches upon all things past and touches again in muscles
meant for movement. The dancers dance. I (that I that you are) dance –in
sadness, in love, in laughter, in sex. Crossing himself, Joe plays his part in this play of passion. All of it is a grotesque fiction, so human, so worthwhile. Joe Leonardo (Tango DJ) can be reached at http://www.hardroadtango.com or joe@hardroadtango.com . |
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Jay Rabe He provides both traditional and alternative music.
Jay hosts the Last Tango in Portland at his home the last Saturday of each month. Contact him at jayrabe@hotmail.com, or cell: 503-752-3664. Also see his website at http://www.TangoMoments.com |
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J. Abling In 2003, J plunged whole heartedly into the world of tango, observing and learning anything he could. J. DJs the Milonga Firulete the second Saturday of each month.
J. can be reached through his web site www.concentrictango.com , through email at jabling@concentrictango.com. or by calling either (206) 605-7202 or (503) 484 5017 |
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Alex
Krebs In the beginning there was only darkness and chaos. DJ's played one full CD after another - Recklessly, relentlessly...
On the first day God created "El Compas." El Compas reigned the earth and heavens, With Canaro, D'Arienzo, and Donato at his side,
"...Drawing in dancers from far and wide and asking them,
Begging them to follow the Way."
On the second day God created The Flow. The Flow soothed the beast-like savageness of El Compas, with Beron, Demare, Campos, and Angel Vargas, Together with El Compas the heavens and earth were shared.
On the third day God created El Duende. El Duende put the fire in the eyes of the musicians and dancers, and together with Pugliese and Piazzolla at his side, this divine union struck passion into the hearts of all beings which crossed their path.
On the fourth day God created Tandas. Tandas created an order in the heavens and on earth By which El Compas, The Flow, and El Duende could share in their ruling of the universe.
On the fifth day God made, in his image, the DJ by which his knowledge could be spread through the milongas.
But one angel was exiled from the heavens and now roams the milongas, offering the forbidden fruit, which by with a single bite returns the order that God created Back into the depths of a fiery, arrhythmic, chaotic hell in which dancers must suffer under the hand of a tempted DJ. Beware, for the forces of good and evil are among us. On every floor, in every part of the world the fallen angel lurks and tempts, but it is up to each one of us mortals to take The Path, That God has generously offered us. Alex hosts the Milonga Berretín on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
Alex offers his card: Tango Berretin 6305 SE Foster Rd. Portland, OR 97206 (503)771-7470 www.tangoberretin.com |
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Ward is convinced that the
key to success as a DJ 
To
Robert the DJ has a big responsibility. The success or failure of a
Bill has been
DJ'ing and co-hosting at the 
As
can be seen from his photo on the left,
Joe explains the
Biomechanics of the Tango DJ:
Jay Rabe started dancing tango in 1998 and has been DJ'ing since 2002.
Argentine tango unexpectedly came into J's life in 2000.
Alex
explains the DJ's task in mytho poetic form: