Spoleto Tango Festival 2025
Spoleto Tango is a tradition that began in 2005. This event is highlighted by the much anticipated Tango at the Beach on Folly Beach, SC.
Hosted by: Dragon Productions, LLC
Located at: Ballroom Dance Charleston, 2408 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414
Meet Our DJ s and Instructors
Yesica Esquivel & Ariel Leguizamon
Professional Tango and Argentine Folklore Dancers
As professional dancers with 19 years of shared experience in dance, Yesica and Ariel have traveled the world as part of renowned tango and Argentine folklore companies.
*Experience in Shows and Festivals*
- Participation in the best Dinner Shows in Buenos Aires, such as Café de Los Angelitos and Rojo Tango Hotel Faena.
- Champions of Pelando Variación 2016.
- Participation in international festivals of renown, including:
- Portland Tango Festival 2017 (USA): An annual festival celebrating tango music and dance.
- Baden-Baden Tango Festival 2019 and 2022 (Germany): A festival gathering the best tango dancers and musicians from around the world.
- CITA 2022 (Argentina): A festival celebrating tango culture in Argentina.
- ATUSA Official Argentine World Championship in the USA 2025: A championship gathering the best tango dancers from Argentina and around the world.
*Teaching and International Tours*
In recent years, we have traveled the world, sharing our passion for dance through classes and workshops in different countries, with a special emphasis on the United States. Some of the countries we have visited include Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, England, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, China, Japan, Thailand, and England
Shelley Brooks and Clint Rauscher
Shelley Brooks has been dancing Tango since late 2004, and enjoys all styles of the embrace. She is a strong supporter of the Argentine Tango community in Atlanta, GA. She brings with her years of classical ballet training, as well as jazz, modern,tap, African, hip-hop, and Salsa, and studies in choreography, kinesiology, music, dance history, and has taught various dance/exercise programs over the years. With the understanding that technique and body mechanics are of utmost importance, you must never forget the dance, the energy, and how you move through space to the music.
Shelley has studied with masters from the States and Buenos Aires, most notably: Guillermina Quiroga, Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne, Fabian Salas and Carolina del Rivero, Miguel Zotto , Osvaldo Zotto and Lorena Ermocida, Nancy Louzan and Damian Essel, Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo, Silvina Valz and Oliver Kolker, Adrian and Amanda Costa, Roberto Reyes, Mariana Montes,Sebastian Arce, and Chicho and Juana.It has been a privilege and a joy to share.
Clint Rauscher has been dancing Argentine Tango since 2003. He is a founding member of Tango Evolution and loves sharing his knowledge of Argentine tango dance and music.
He teaches simple, elegant, musical and playful ideas to be used on the social dance floor from Atlanta to Buenos Aires.
He has studied with master teachers both in the US and Buenos Aires including Sebastian Arce y Mariana Montes, Gustavo Naveira y Giselle Anne, Mariano “Chicho” Frumboli y Juana Sepulveda, Alejandra Mantiñan y Aoniken Quiroga, Norberto “El Pulpo” Esbrez, Facundo Posadas, Oscar Casas y Ana Miguel, Osvaldo Zotto y Lorena Ermocida, Osvaldo y Coca Cartery, Cristina Cortes and Gabriel Glagovsky.
DJ Clint Rauscher
Clint Rauscher has been dancing Argentine Tango since 2003. He is a founding member of Tango Evolution and loves sharing his knowledge of Argentine tango dance and music.
He teaches simple, elegant, musical and playful ideas to be used on the social dance floor from Atlanta to Buenos Aires.
He has studied with master teachers both in the US and Buenos Aires including Sebastian Arce y Mariana Montes, Gustavo Naveira y Giselle Anne, Mariano “Chicho” Frumboli y Juana Sepulveda, Alejandra Mantiñan y Aoniken Quiroga, Norberto “El Pulpo” Esbrez, Facundo Posadas, Oscar Casas y Ana Miguel, Osvaldo Zotto y Lorena Ermocida, Osvaldo y Coca Cartery, Cristina Cortes and Gabriel Glagovsky.
DJ Koichiro Suzuki
Koichiro Suzuki has a Master’s Degree in Music Performance at Duquesne University and has performed Euphonium internationally since 1996. Koichiro incorporates his complex music background and deep understanding of musicality into his DJing. Koichiro DJs regularly in Pittsburgh, PA and has DJed in many other cities in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Europe. Koichiro is the founder of the annual Pittsburgh Tango Fierro Marathon & Pittsburgh Tango Festival in Pittsburgh. In 2022, he was invited to DJ at Toronto Tango Marathon, Austin Spring Tango Festival, Itacha Tango Marathon, Spoleto Tango, Toronto Tango Festival, Windy City Tango Festival, Columbia Tango Marathon, South East Tango Festival.
DJ Ken Broom
Ken Broom is a multi-faceted DJ with more than 15 years experience playing music for dancers. Since 2004, he has been playing Latin dance music (salsa, chacha, bachata, and merengue), Argentine Tango music (traditional as well as nuevo/alternative tandas of tango, vals, and milonga), and Ballroom dance music (International (ballroom and latin) and American (smooth and rhythm)).
Ken has been a guest DJ at Spoleto’s Tango on the Beach (2006 to present), Columbia’s Mad Hot Tango Marathon (2010-2012), Columbia’s Argentine Tango Regional (2014-2015), Charlotte’s Candlelight Alternative Milonga (2016), Queen City Tango Marathon (2018 to present), Dancing with the Stars (9 seasons), Las Carolinas Tango Marathons, SouthEast Tango Festival, and Milonga La Pantera along with numerous private tango events and grand openings
As event organizers, Ken and his wife (Zenaida), have hosted Spoleto Tango Festival (Charleston, SC) 2006-present, Tango by the Lake (Columbia, SC), WinterHeat Salsa Weekend (Columbia, SC), and The Columbia Tango Marathon (Columbia, SC). In 2022, Ken and Zenaida launched Dragon Productions LLC, a company focused on providing event planning, audio, video, and theatrical lighting services.
As an Audio Engineer, Ken has been honored to mix live performances by Alejandro Ziegler Orchestra, Pittsburgh Tango Trio, Osvaldo Barrios, Athens Tango Project, De La Noche, Orquesta MaCuba, and Palmetto Latin 9.
Meet Our Vendors...
Ambiente
Ambiente - One of a kind clothes designed for dancers by dancer!
At the heart of Ambiente’s mission lies the concept of repurposing the discarded, damaged, and unwearable garments and fabric remnants as well as vintage finds to create a line of classic style clothing that is unique and environmentally friendly. “Reimagine, Recycle, Reuse” has become the motto of Ambiente, which means “environment” in Spanish.
Natalia uses her sewing and design skills combined with her love and knowledge of vintage fashion to create a line of versatile dance wear that is flattering to all shapes and sizes. As an experienced stylist she can find something in her collection that will accentuate the innate beauty of every one of her clients. In addition to her stock collection, she specializes in custom designs and alterations.
Winged Lion Jewelry by Sergey Zhiboedov
We truly love the process of creating our artworks. Our home is full of artistic pieces we've done - watercolor and oil paintings, wood carvings and mosaic mirrors, papier mâché puppets and painted windows. Art is something that makes us happy, it's our way of enjoying life at its fullest. We sincerely hope you'll share our pleasure by owning our artworks - hand-pulled prints and jewelry. Enjoy them for years to come!
Drawings by Natalia Moroz
Prepare to be captivated by the stunning creations of talented artists Sergey and Natalia, whose unique blend of jewelry and artistic drawings promises to elevate your personal style. Their exquisite pieces are not just accessories; they are expressions of creativity that reflect a deep passion for craftsmanship and design.
Get ready to pamper yourself with these amazing creations that not only enhance your look but also tell a story. Each item from Sergey and Natalia is a testament to their dedication to artistry and quality, making them perfect gifts for yourself or loved ones who appreciate the finer things in life.