We’re thrilled to welcome the charismatic tango couple Michael ‘El Gato’ Nadtochi and Elvira Lambo back to Ljubljana. They are currently one of the most sought-after tango dance couples in the world. Since the beginning of their partnership in 2021, they have travelled to various countries such as Spain, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Serbia, Germany, Turkey, Romania, Moldova, as well as in India, New Zealand, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates among others and shared their knowledge. They are a great opportunity to take tango lessons with some of the biggest tango dancers.
MAESTROS
Michael Nadtochi has been a professional dancer for more than three decades. He began dancing at the age of 10 in the competitive dancesport discipline. By the age of 18 he won the title of Russian National Youth Champion for his outstanding performance. In 1998 Michael moved to the United States to pursue his dance career.
For the past two decades, Michael focused entirely on performing and teaching the art of Argentine Tango. In the USA, he founded the Argentine Tango Academy and started to implement his online educational project The Tango Method.
Michael has taught and performed at major tango events and festivals in more than 30 countries of the world. The list of his mentors among others includes Carlos Gavito, Osvaldo Zotto, Julio Balmaceda, who played a key role in his journey to the master level of tango.
As an artist Michael believes that the most important aspect of becoming a great dancer is the process of self-discovery. Classes and workshops are only tools that give the necessary technique and help dancers to express their unique personality through the language of dance.
Elvira’s Lambo whole life is closely intertwined with dance and music. She is a professional dancer, a teacher and a choreographer with more than 30 years of dancing and 20 years of teaching experiences. Her repertoire includes a vast variety of styles, such as classical ballet, folk dance, modern and jazz dance and classical Indian dance. Her interest in Tango goes back to 2009.
Elvira brilliantly performed and taught classes in a number of European cities, and in 2019 became the champion of Russia in the Milonguero category.
Maestros who influenced Elvira’s personal tango style are Alejandra Mantignan, Julio Balmaceda, Vanessa Vishalba, Facundo Pinheiro among others.
Constantly drawing inspiration from music, tango heritage videos, live performances, interactions with fellow dancers, teaching and practicing, performing and socialising at milongas, Elvira is continuously forging her own unique path of expression.
THE THREE FACES OF TANGO
Emotional and intimate tango, graceful and elegant vals, playful and exuberance milonga – all this inextricably links three different sides of the same story. One embrace, two skilled dancers and three musical traditions: these are the ingredients of the artistic feast we call tango.
COME, LISTEN & DANCE ...
Imagine Ljubljana as a little Buenos Aires for just one night — would you be there to feel the magic?
Experience tango like never before. For the first time, SEXTETO CRISTAL, an exceptional, internationally renowned tango band from Hamburg, is coming to the city, reviving the golden age of Argentine tango with their music. Their sound is not just a nostalgic tribute to the past, but a real treat for all those who appreciate the quality and the energy of live music.
We invite you to the magnificent Union Hall, where the Sexteto Cristal band will take you straight to the heart of Buenos Aires. This is an opportunity for all who would like to either just listen to the sound of the magical bandoneon in the company of others, or dance the tango to live music, feeling it with every breath and every step.
Join us at the Corazón de Ljubljana festival’s gala evening on Saturday at the Grand Hotel Union ballroom.
8:30 PM – Milonga La Milonguita opens with DJ Alenka Dermol
9:45 PM – Live concert by Sexteto Cristal, bringing the heart of Buenos Aires to Ljubljana
10:00 PM – Tango performances by maestros Elvira Lambo and Michael “El Gato” Nadtochi
11:30 PM till 2:00 AM – Milonga continues with DJ Alenka Dermol
Registration for dancers is available in the registration section (scroll down), seats around the dance floor, without tables, are reserved for music lovers only, buy tickets here: https://www.mojekarte.si/si/koncert-tango-zasedbe-sexteto-cristal/vstopnice-1203120.htm
TANGO DJs
The secret to a successful milonga is the music. The skill, knowledge and intuition of the DJ are what can turn any milonga into an unforgettable evening.
Embrace the music and let your unforgettable journey on the dance floor begin.
Filippo Giacomelli, who hails from Verona is one of those DJs you have to line up for early on. His talent, authenticity and creativity sell out international tango events. So we are looking forward to experiencing him at the first milonga on Friday night.
His nickname is “The king”, and all of us who have ever followed his tandas around the dance floor agree with it. We expect a whirlwind of energetic tango full of melancholy, joy, passion and playfulness.
Filippo transmits the magic of tango to dancers in a unique way, ensuring great energy on the dance floor with his refined sensitivity, and inevitably we expect the chairs next to the dance floor to remain empty this time too. Welcome king!
Alenka Dermol is the house tango DJ of the Moj korak dance studio. She has a big tango soul and indulges herself at least once a year in the tango capital, Buenos Aires. From there come to us heaps of original music, many impressions from milongas danced, new inspirations and also the pride of Alenka being the only Slovenian tango DJ who has signed the name “muzicalizador” at one of the Buenos Aires milongas. In Ljubljana you can meet her on the first Saturday of every month, at the regular La Milonguita. We won’t miss the chance to feel the rhythm of a real Argentinian milonga at our event. You are invited to listen to Alenka’s wonderful selection of music at the Saturday milonga.
DJ Dolores and we have been hunting for the tango scene for several years to create a joint evening. We are now looking forward to this long-awaited cooperation.
DJ Dolores is a huge music fun, for the last ten years and more, and is in love especially with tango, in its various forms and performances. She also loves dancing, as the incredible energy of tango music transforms into inimitable movements. We can expect energetic music that will take you from oldies-goldies to more modern performances and surprise you with a tandas outside the classical framework. A rainbow-colored selection of tango music will be a great choice for the closing evening. Welcome to Sunday evening with DJ Dolores.
PROGRAM
THURSDAY, 4. 9. 2025
TIME
IMPORTANT INFO
60 MIN
PRIVAT LESSONS ARE VALID FOR A COUPLE. THE EXACT TIME WILL BE DETERMINED AFTER REGISTRATION.
Elvira in Michael
FRIDAY, 5. 9. 2025
TIME
WORKSHOP
17:15
–
18:30
WOMEN’S TECHNIQUE
TECHNIQUE
Elvira (Moj korak)
17:15
–
18:30
MEN’S TECHNIQUE
TECHNIQUE
Michael (Studio Dansa)
18:45
–
20:00
BARRIDA – WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, TIMING AND POSSIBLE SEQUENCES.
TANGO
Elvira in Michael (Moj korak)
20:30
–
01:30
MILONGA
DJ Filippo Giacomelli (Moj korak)
SATURDAY, 6. 9. 2025
TIME
WORKSHOP
13:45
–
15:00
SOLTADAS – PLAYING WITH THE EMBRACE CHANGES.
TANGO
Elvira in Michael (Grand Hotel Union)
15:15
–
16:30
THE BEAUTY OF VALS – SPECIFICS, CHARACTERISATION AND APPROPRIATE COMBINATIONS.
VALS
Elvira in Michael (Grand Hotel Union)
16:45
–
18:00
ENGANCHE CHAINS – HOW TO CONNECT SEVERAL »GRABS« INTO A HARMONIOUS COMBINATION.
TANGO
Elvira in Michael (Grand Hotel Union)
20:30
–
02:00
MILONGA
SEXTETO CRISTAL – Performance Elvira & Michael – DJ Alenka Dermol (Grand Hotel Union)
SUNDAY, 7. 9. 2025
TIME
WORKSHOP
14:15
–
15:30
BOLEO – A FUSION OF TRADITIONAL AND NEW TANGO
TANGO
Elvira in Michael (Moj korak)
15:45
–
17:00
COMBINE GIRO WITH COLGADA – CONTINUITY OF ROTATION AND CHANGE OF COUPLE’S AXIS OF ROTATION.
TANGO
Elvira in Michael (Moj korak)
17:15
–
18:30
MILONGA – LAMBO & GATO STYLE. WE SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL DISCOVERIES.
MILONGA
Elvira in Michael (Moj korak)
19:00
–
23:30
MILONGA
DJ Dolores (Moj korak)
PRICES
PRIVAT LESSON
(both maestros / couple)
REGULAR PRICE: 175 EUR
AT THE DOOR: 180 EUR
WORKSHOP
REGULAR PRICE: 30 EUR
AT THE DOOR: 35 EUR
MILONGA
(Friday/Sunday)
REGULAR PRICE: 22 EUR
AT THE DOOR: 24 EUR
MILONGA
(Saturday – performance)
REGULAR PRICE: 33 EUR
AT THE DOOR: 35 EUR
MILONGA PASS
(Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
REGULAR PRICE : 69 EUR
AT THE DOOR : 75 EUR
Regular price list for payments received from August 11 to September 3, 2025.
At the door price list for payments received from September 4 to September 7, 2025.
All prices are per person, only the price per “privat lesson” is per couple.
REGISTRATION
A few things before you register:
- Registration requests are only accepted through the registration form on the website.
- Registration is possible as single leader, single follower or in couples. Registering with a partner helps us to speed things up though.
- If you are registering as a couple, we ask you for the name of your partner during the process. In addition, your partner must register alone, on a separate registration form.
- Once you have filled in and submitted the registration form, you will receive a reply confirming that your registration was received by the organizers. This message is not confirmation that you have been accepted yet to the event. Please check your inbox as well as spam folder in order not to miss our reply.
- Once we are able to accept your registration you will receive full payment information by e-mail.
- You will receive the final confirmation of your participation in the event by e-mail after the organizers receive your payment. If you registered as a couple, the final confirmation will be issued after we receive payment from both of you.
- Confirmed registrations are personal, not refundable and not transferable.
- Your personal data is used for internal purposes only, is never sold or shared with anyone and will be kept by the organizer after the event has ended
By registering to this event you accept all the ‘house rules’ of the event venue. Fotos and video material of the event and its participants may be produced and published. Any dance style is welcomed as long as it is performed in a respectful and safe manner towards other dance couples. Everybody is welcome, however we will keep an eye on leader-follower balance.
We are looking forward to welcoming you in Ljubljana!
LOCATION
Our charming studio Moj korak with parquet floor and large mirror is available for workshops, private lessons and milongas.
Grand Hotel Union is the beautiful and historic first class hotel in Ljubljana. A large and beautiful concert hall is waiting for us.
