DJs & Music Lineup
Orquesta Típica Tarareando
We are delighted to welcome Orquesta Típica Tarareando, a San Francisco Bay Area ensemble dedicated to authentic Argentine tango. Their repertoire spans Golden Age classics, original arrangements, and select contemporary works, performed with deep respect for tango tradition and the dance floor. United by a shared passion for tango, the musicians bring rich collective experience from collaborations with leading tango artists and performances at prominent Bay Area concerts and milongas. Their live music creates an atmosphere of warmth, rhythm, and connection—perfect for long embraces and unforgettable dancing.
Tim Raben,
Monterey, California
Tim discovered Argentine tango one dreary evening in New England while suffering from the pangs of boredom. The unique mix of music, movement, and human connection sparked a new love. Pretty soon nothing could keep him from the dance floor: learning, practicing, and exploring tango. After many years dancing, DJing, and teaching all over the Americas and Europe, Tim relocated to Monterey! Timothy describes the joy from tango as ethereal: sometimes it's just a moment that lingers, sometimes it forces you to take a break, and sometimes you just have to stay out on the dance floor.
William Baird | DJ Osito, Sacramento, California
Based in Sacramento, William has been dancing tango since 2018 and has shared the dance floor across the United States, Europe, the UK, and Argentina. He is drawn to tango for its connection, its chemistry, and the way music can pull dancers into a powerful collective flow state. As a DJ, he shapes tandas and sets with intention, guiding dancers through waves of intensity, elegance, and emotional depth. His goal is simple and demanding at the same time: to help every dancer lose themselves in the music and the embrace.
Grisha Nisnevich, Denver, Colorado
Grisha DJs in numerous international Tango events. His style of DJing is Traditional, Romantic, as well as according to the Tonalities and Contrast (like concert programs) in order to keep the attention of the audience. Grisha frequently adds to his DJed events with live guitar tandas for dancers.
Yelizaveta Nersesova, Los-Angeles, CA
She is a tango teacher, DJ, and content creator based in Los Angeles. She hosts The Tango Banter podcast (https://imsotango.com/tango-banter-podcast).
She has been DJing since 2015, and her musical strategy is built around contrast and thoughtful curation. She alternates between Guardia Vieja, Milonguero, and Salon-style orchestras so that dancers experience a full range of textures, moods, and phrasing.
Think of her approach as a well-balanced menu: she aims to serve something satisfying for every musical palate. Whether someone craves the deep nostalgia of Canaro, the driving pulse of D’Arienzo, or the lyrical elegance of Caló, she wants each tanda to spark a new appetite—and keep everyone dancing.
You can find her DJing across the US and dancing around the world.
Connect on Instagram: @imso_tango
Ashvin,
San Francisco, CA
Ashvin is a rhythmic style Golden Age specialist DJ who has the unique distinction of playing all over Buenos Aires in the world’s most famous milongas. He can lead as well as follow the crowd. In 2022 Ashvin was interviewed by a Buenos Aires news station (FM 92.7, 2x4) after his work in the Tango Mecca received widespread recognition.
With an ability to read the pulse of the social dance floor, Ashvin brings surprisingly evocative and emotionally rich tandas. In multiple DJ tours of Buenos Aires (6 tours and 45 events to date), Ashvin has played at household names such as Parakultural, Porteño y Bailarin, Gente Amiga, Cachirulo, La Rosa, Yira Yira, La Del Centro, Champagne, Balmaceda, El Motivo and others. Read Ashvin's blog on his Buenos Aires exploits at: https://ashviniyer.blogspot.com/2023/12/buenos-aires-tango-dj.html
Olga Bogatova,
San-Francisco, CA
Olga is a San Francisco-based DJ who has played music at tango events across the West Coast of the U.S. and in Canada. DJ'ing has opened new doors for her to connect with the dance community and celebrate the joy of tango.
With her DJ’ing she aims to evoke various moods and create depth and intensity in her sets. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, Olga combines vibrant, emotionally resonant tandas that flow in harmony and take dancers on a journey. She loves to keep everyone dancing until the lights go out!
Paul Akmajian, Albuquerque, NM
Paul has been dancing Argentine tango for more than 27 years and DJing for 20+ years. In addition to being a regular DJ in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Paul has DJ’d nationally and internationally at numerous festivals, marathons, and encuentros across the US and beyond. As a DJ, Paul strives to keep everyone energized and dancing long into the night by playing the highest-quality, most familiar, time-tested, and dancer-approved music from Tango’s Golden Age.