DJ STYLE

Being an experienced tango dancer and a long time tango music collector I love a wide range of tango music from different periods. As a DJ, however, I try to respect the customs, the taste and the musical preferences of the tango community for which I am DJ-ing, making no compromise with danceability, always trying to create a certain mood and to take care of the energy flow. I strive to maintain a healthy balance between predictability and surprise, spicing up popular and well-known pieces with occasional rare gems. My experience draws upon many years of organizing tango events and numerous trips to Buenos Aires updating my collection and studying the customs and traditions of the most famous milongas. Apart from DJ-ing at my own milongas in Sofia (Bulgaria) I am a regular DJ at milongas in Basel (Switzerland), where I currently reside, and have been a guest DJ at milongas and festivals across Europe in countries like Turkey, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and others.

In my experience of selecting music for different type of dancers in different countries I have worked out four main types of DJ-ing formats:

1. TRADITIONAL - this is the format I use most often, with music predominantly from the Golden Age of tango, faithful to the tradition of the classic Buenos Aires milongas. The music is rhytmical and danceable, organized in tandas and is divided by cortinas. I cover a wide range of orchestras, catering for all traditional preferences. Normally each tanda would feature the same orchestra from the same period and I try to avoid mixing instrumental and sung tangos or different singers in the same tanda. Also I try not to put a tanda of the same orchestra in the same genre more than once in the evening. Depending on the dancers mix, I may play an occasional tanda or two of nuevo, contemporary or electronic tango towards the end of the night.

2. ALTERNATIVE - a format including predominantly specific non-tango music appreciated by tangueros and lovers of contemporary forms of tango dancing, electronic and contemporary tango, tango nuevo, tangos performed by musicians from other genres.

3. ELECTRONIC - an all-night set with electronic tango and electronic music incorporating elements that carry the same spirit as the tango. This format features all the big names of contemporary electronic tango adding some brand new groups, rare pieces and remixes.

4. MIXED - a mixed bag with around 40%-50% traditional tango, the rest including tango nuevo, contemporary, electronic and alternative tango, all carefully combined to preserve a certain mood and energy pattern.