SIMONA ZAINO (Managing Director & Principal Instructor)
''I am passionate about people. I love teaching and inspire people to be the best they can be. I believe organizing a social event is the fine art of creating the positive settings for a community to thrive'' Simona Zaino began her Tango training in 2003 with Argentinian teachers Carlos and Maria Rivarola. Since then, her exploration of the dance has continued through regular professional training and collaboration with various dance artists and teachers, including Ruben & Sabrina Veliz, Fabian Salas & Carolina Del Rivero and Pablo Veron with whom she partnered in 2005 during his visit in Ireland. Recently, she has also taught and performed with renown maestros such as Sergei Tumas and Emiliano Alcaraz. Simona also trains in classical ballet and is an experienced yoga and pilates teacher, which gives her a deep understanding of both individual movement and dynamics involved in partner dancing. Simona is currently based in Ireland, where she has performed in the most prestigious venues such as the Olympia Theatre, the National Concert Hall and the Cork Opera House (2013, 'Maria de Buenos Aires', directed by Conor Hanratty). She also performed as a dancer and actor in the short film 'Tango in D minor' (director: Maurizio Usai). Simona is the co-founder and director of the International Tango Festival in Ireland. In 2017 she produced a successful cabaret show (Libertango Social Club) , bringing together Jazz and Tango. In 2019 she acted, danced and sang in Neruda's Tango, a new theatre production directed by internationally acclaimed director Gerardo Placido.
As a Tango instructor, Simona encourages dancers to move in a fluid, natural way and spontaneously express themselves through the music. She has taught in Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany, New Zealand and the U.S.A
Simona also facilitates workshops on Leadership for company managers and MBA students (most recently at Smurfit Business School, UCD, Dublin)
Hernan Catvin lives in Waterford, where he currently teaches group and private classes. Born in Buenos Aires, Hernanstudied at the National Drama School, where he was first introduced to Tango. He subsequently trained with Carlos Rivarola and other legendary maestros such as Tete Rusconi, El Flaco Dani and more recently Chicho Frumboli and Ruben Veliz. He started teaching and performing in Ireland in 2002 and has since had a pivotal role in the development of the Tango community in the country, encouraging people to discover the authentic form of the dance. Hernan had also produced a number of Tango theatre and dance shows in Ireland. As a dancer, he likes experimenting with new dance dynamics and keeping up with the evolution of Tango dancing. His approach to teaching is personal and precise. focusing on both technique and musical expression.
