Why Nomad Tango?
Nomad Tango emerged in the aftermath of the pandemic with the urgent mission of supporting dancers, musicians, and teachers of Tango Argentino. Back in 2021, the intimate nature of close-contact dancing was impossible, music gatherings were scarce, and theaters were shuttered. Tango faced a challenging time.
Recognizing the significance of this art form, declared World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009, we committed to reviving tango. Over time, tango has not only recovered but is thriving, and Nomad Tango has transitioned to a new phase. Our current approach involves a two-pronged strategy:
1. Development of the Art Form: This includes exploring new show formats, music styles, and evolving dance forms to propel the art into the future.
2. Community Support and Expansion: We aim to enhance the enjoyment of tango in local communities through practicas, classes, and shows featuring live music and professional tango dancing.
Nomad Tango, true to its name, doesn't operate in a specific venue; we are Nomadic. We collaborate with local businesses to explore different areas and subcultures in our cities, creating a dynamic and ever-changing tango experience.
Who are we?
Alejandra Folguera, Executive Director
Alejandra was born in Argentina and currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA. She is a promoter and organizer of the dance, music, and art of Argentine Tango. She is the founder of Nomad Tango, a nonprofit to bring the tango experience to Santa Barbara. She designs, promotes, and organizes events, including local favorite Monday Practica, the Once in a New Moon Milonga, Independence Day Milonga, and La LoCA Milonga, and has brought top international tango artists to Southern California, including Fernanda Ghi, Pablo Aslan, Winnie Cheung, Hugo Satorre, Camila and Luis Lima, Tanghetto and El Cachivache.
Alejandra has maintained a music and movement practice throughout her life. From an early age, she studied music at the Collegium Musicum, and at the Municipal Conservatory in Buenos Aires (piano). She co-founded and performed in a medieval and baroque ensemble, Clusters, directed by Maestro Héctor Rodriguez. For more than 20 years she has maintained a Tai Chi practice and has organized the Santa Barbara Wu Hao group to participate in demos around Santa Barbara and compete in the Lighting Tai Chi in 2016 and 2018, where the group placed first in several categories. Ale placed 3rd and 5th in her category at the Tai Chi World Championship 2023 in Taiwan.
Prior to this, Alejandra was a mathematician, teaching and conducting research, before switching to the area of finance. She holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Until Dec 31, 2022, she was a portfolio manager at Miltonian Capital, a local boutique investment firm she co-founded specializing in high-yield and distressed debt.
Alejandra believes in the power of getting groups of people together to foster ties and make the community stronger. This conviction has led her to start the local Chartered Financial Analyst chapter in Santa Barbara in 2009, her own Financial Advisory firm in 2011, and in her being actively engaged in several non-profits in Santa Barbara, including Santa Barbara Wu Hao TaiJi, Santa Barbara Association for the Advancement of Tango, the local CFA association, and Animal Welfare groups, among others.
Liliana Hensel, Development Director
Liliana is a passionate advocate for the arts and cultural exchange. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Liliana's roots are deeply intertwined with her homeland's vibrant music and culture. She earned her BA degree in fine arts from UCSB, considering Santa Barbara her home. Furthering her education, Liliana obtained an MA degree in Educational Psychology, dedicating herself for many years to working and directing local nonprofits that champion equity for families and children.
Liliana has also committed to artistic expression, engaging in art, theater, and movement/dance practices. Her journey began with ballet during her early years and evolved as she explored various dance forms at UCSB and Da Capo Dance Studio. Liliana contributed as a steward and translator for the Manizales International Theater Festival, a UCLA special project. This cultural festival, spanning over 50 years, holds significance as the oldest on the American continent, with street theater as its origin and highlighting performances by theater companies worldwide. Liliana's involvement extended to her role as an actor and development co-director of GIT-Grupo Internacional de Teatro, where she showcased street theater and music recitals across South America.
In 2006, she began studying Argentinian tango. She brought renowned Tango artists like Nito & Elba, Fernanda Ghi, Guillermo Merlo, Miriam Laraci & Leonardo Barrionuevo, among others, to Santa Barbara, facilitating workshops and Tango retreats that enriched the local community aficionados.
In 2010, she moved to Europe to research her thesis, culminating in a book based on socio-constructivism. She also founded www.Pedagogyspace.com, an education consultancy service. While in Europe, she continued her Tango studies at Nijmegen Tango El Corte with Eric Jorissen, Cheek2cheek Tango Amesfort, Mariano Laplume, Rotterdam (co-founder of Sexteto Milonguero), and the Berlin Connection, among others.
In 2024, as she joins Alejandra and Nomad Tango, Liliana is driven by the vision of expanding the impact of Tango Argentino and its cultural heritage within the broader local community of music and dance enthusiasts. She firmly believes that Tango culture has the power to nurture connections, well-being, and community building.