Entering the Final Stretch
Two months. The shape is forming.
With just over two months to go, the Perth Tango Festival 2026 is now firmly in its final planning phase. This is the point where the Festival stops being an idea on paper and starts becoming a lived experience, on the floor, in the classroom, and across the week.
Our DJs are now fully announced, with short bios below. Together, they bring a wide musical range and deep floor awareness. They will be shaping the atmosphere from the first tanda to the last.
Registrations continue steadily, with a strong international presence already confirmed. Around one quarter of current participants are travelling from overseas, including dancers from Argentina, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, England, South Africa and beyond. It’s shaping up to be a genuinely international floor, with Perth dancers sharing space with visitors who have planned their Festival well in advance.
February focus: workshops
February is where attention turns decisively to workshops. With our international maestros in Perth for a full week, this is the moment to shape your learning experience. Whether that’s refining technique, diving deeper into musical interpretation, or working on connection and clarity.
Check workshop options out at perthtangofestival.com or go to www.perthtangoclub.com for direct bookings.
From the registrations already in, it’s clear that many interstate and international dancers are locking in Gold Pass upgrades, preferring to have their weekend workshops fully covered rather than juggling add-ons later.
Private lessons — first notice
Private lesson bookings will be published later this week.
Participants who ticked the “interested in private lessons” box during registration — along with Gold Pass holders — will be notified first, ahead of any wider release. This early window matters, as lesson slots are finite and tend to go quickly once published.
A quick snapshot (for the data-curious)
As of this week:
- 120 registered, with registrations trending steadily upward
- 28 international participants already confirmed
In short: the structure is in place, momentum is real, and the remaining decisions are about how you want to participate rather than whether it will happen.
Below, you’ll find our Festival DJs, whose musical choices will be carrying that feeling all week.
If you have not yet registered for the festival or workshops HERE to ensure you do not miss out.
Gala Weekend Djs
Anthony Miller (Sydney, Australia)
Saturday Gala · Perth Town Hall
7:30 pm – 1:00 am — “Passport to Tango”
One of Australia’s most respected tango DJs, Anthony Miller is known for crafting nights that build. His musical selections are elegant, grounded in Golden Age tango, and paced with a dancer’s intelligence: tandas that breathe, escalate, and release at exactly the right moment.
A regular at major festivals across Australia, Asia, and Argentina, Anthony’s DJing puts the floor first and rewards dancers who stay late. This is a Saturday night designed to unfold — not peak too early.
Tu Dong (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Friday Gala · Perth Town Hall
8:30 pm – 1:00 am — “On the Edge of the Indian Ocean”
Based in Vietnam, Tu Dong is a leading force behind the growth of tango in Southeast Asia. Her DJ style blends classic tango orchestras with thoughtful modern choices, creating warm, immersive floors that invite connection and musicality.
A sought-after DJ across the Asian and American tango circuit, Tu brings calm authority behind the booth. She sets the tone for the Festival with confidence and restraint — drawing dancers in rather than burning them out on opening night.
Alejandro (Perth, Australia)
Sunday Gala · Leederville Town Hall
7:30 pm – Midnight — “Milonga de la Tierra”
With deep roots in the Perth tango scene, Alejandro was a familiar presence at the Perth Tango Club in its earlier years before becoming a resident DJ at Juan Rando’s milongas. He has since returned regularly as a guest DJ for Gala events.
Alejandro reads the room with ease. His sets are anchored in traditional repertoire, shaped with care, and punctuated by the occasional late-night surprise — keeping the floor engaged while allowing the weekend to land gently.
Verena McGregor (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Saturday Afternoon · Vietnam Pavilion, Kings Park
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm — “Alfresco Tango”
Based in Christchurch, Verena McGregor is a traditional tango DJ with over 18 years of dancing experience and a long-standing presence behind the booth for Floorspace Tango.
Her musical style is firmly rooted in Golden Age orchestras, with phrasing that supports expressive social dancing. Verena curates warm, grounded tandas — ideal for an outdoor floor where music, movement, and conversation share space.
Fringe Festival Djs
Terry Warby (Melbourne & Perth, Australia)
Wed · Perth Tango Club — Welcome Milonga (8:30 pm – Midnight)
Sun · Perth Tango Club — Night Owl Milonga (Midnight – late)
A consistently popular DJ in both Melbourne and Perth, Terry Warby divides his time between the two cities, DJing regularly across major milongas and at the Perth Tango Club.
A committed traditionalist, Terry grounds his sets in classic orchestras and clear phrasing, selectively weaving in modern recordings of traditional repertoire. The result is familiar, dependable, and quietly excellent — especially valued at the edges of a long festival week.
Jorge Botello (Perth, Australia / Colombia)
Thursday · Perth Tango Club
8:30 pm – Midnight — “Crossroads Milonga”
Originally from Colombia and now based in Perth, Jorge Botello is a much-loved DJ at the Perth Tango Club. Frequent visits to Buenos Aires keep him closely connected to living milonga culture and current musical practice.
His DJing follows traditional Buenos Aires aesthetics, anchored in classic orchestras and accented by a distinctive Latin flavour in his cortinas. Energetic without being relentless, Jorge builds floors that feel alive and deeply danceable.
Rodney Daniells (Perth, Australia)
Wednesday · Perth Tango Club
8:30 pm – Midnight — Farewell Milonga
With 30 years on the dance floor, Rodney Daniells brings a long view to the booth. His sets unfold as a clear musical progression — from the rhythmic drive of early Golden Age tango, through the richness of the 1940s, and into the smoother textures of the 1950s.
DJing regularly at the Perth Tango Club, Rodney creates coherent, flowing tandas that reward attentive dancers. A farewell designed to feel complete, not abrupt.
If you have any questions about the festival, do not hesitate to contact us at festival@perthtangoclub.com.