Alejandra Mantiñan

Hailed as “la mujer de los pies milagrosos”—the woman with the miraculous feet—c has shaped the modern language of tango for more than three decades. After early training with Buenos Aires master Antonio Todaro (with whom she later taught for five years) she went on to headline the blockbuster show Tango Pasión for 14 seasons, touring to more than 340 cities worldwide and sharing the stage with legendary orchestras such as Osvaldo Pugliese, Horacio Salgán, Mariano Mores, José Basso, and Sexteto Mayor.  

Alejandra is renowned for her explosive musicality, precise footwork, and ability to fuse powerful energy with grounded elegance. Her research-driven teaching method—often credited with redefining the technical standard for female dancers—pairs biomechanical insight with fierce expressive freedom, inspiring countless professionals across the globe. 

A restless innovator, she continues to develop advanced training programs, speak on tango’s evolving culture, and coach top performers while maintaining a busy schedule of festival appearances and residencies from Europe to Asia to the Americas. Whether onstage or in the studio, Alejandra’s mission is constant: “to reveal the courage, joy, and limitless creativity that live inside every embrace.”  

Born in Rosario, Argentina, Mariano Otero first trained at the city’s Escuela de Folklore before turning to tango at age 18 in search of a broader artistic language. His curiosity soon carried him to Europe, where he became a fixture at major events and spent almost a decade as a headline artist for the Lisbon Tango Festival  

Now based between Madrid and the road, Mariano is celebrated for a style that feels fresh and modern yet unmistakably traditional: close-embrace roots, daring musical phrasing, and a trademark creativity that keeps audiences guessing. He has shared the stage with many of today’s leading dancers and, since 2017, has toured worldwide with tango icon Alejandra Mantiñan, lighting up festivals from Riga to Istanbul  

As a teacher Mariano is as committed as he is imaginative. His classes balance solid biomechanics with playful exploration, inviting students to refine technique while expanding their artistic voice. Expect clear structure, generous feedback, and plenty of room to invent. Whether on the pista or in the studio, Mariano’s mission is simple: unlock your individuality without losing the soul of the tradition.

Look forward to electrifying performances—and transformative workshops—when Mariano joins us together with Alejandra at the 2026 NZ Tango Festival.

Manuela Rossi & Juan Malizia Gatti

World-renowned for their explosive stage presence and razor-sharp technique, Manuela Rossi and Juan Malizia Gatti have danced together since 2012

2014 World Champions – Tango Escenario (after three consecutive runner-up finishes) 
Principal artists in leading productions: Tango Pasión, Tango Fire, Tanguera, Café de los Angelitos

Juan began tango at 14 in San Nicolás, later enriching his craft with jazz, ballet and martial-arts discipline.
Manuela trained as a classical ballerina—graduating from Argentina’s National Ballet School and earning a UNESCO scholarship to École Supérieure de Danse de Cannes—before embracing tango full-time. That fusion of ballet line and tango soul defines their signature look.

Their style is grounded in a traditional embrace spiked with fearless lifts, elastic musical phrasing and virtuosic footwork—stage-ready fireworks that never lose the feeling.

As coaches, Manuela & Juan combine biomechanical clarity with creative daring, preparing competitors and social dancers alike to own the floor. They serve regularly on the Tango World Cup jury and headline festivals across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Get set for dazzling performances and workshops that challenge, inspire and leave you buzzing long after the last cortina. The 2026 NZ Tango Festival is thrilled to welcome Manuela Rossi & Juan Malizia Gatti to Aotearoa!

Both born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mauge Corna and Martín Cayesse share a deep passion for tango and the culture that surrounds it.

Mauge began dancing at the age of three and, for more than eighteen years, trained in ballet, contemporary dance, Argentine folklore, and Spanish dances. At sixteen, she discovered tango —a discipline that soon became the core of her artistic expression.

Martín, on the other hand, first approached dance through salsa and started studying tango at the age of fourteen. Over the years, he has performed with various companies and shows both in Argentina and abroad, building a solid career as a professional dancer.

Since 2018, Mauge and Martín have danced together as a tango couple, developing a unique style defined by connection, musicality, and elegance. They have performed in renowned tango houses and shows in Buenos Aires, as well as on international stages across different continents.

For the past years, they have also been devoted to teaching and performing in festivals and tango schools throughout Europe and Asia, where they participate as teachers, performers (both in salon and stage shows), and judges. Through their work, they share their experience and their vision of tango as a language of communication, sensitivity, and authentic human connection.