ABOUT US
MICHALIS PANTELIDES
Michalis, a violin maker in profession, is an active member of the Cypriot Tango community for more than 17 years. He has been teaching and organising Tango events since 2009 included MEET: Middle East - Euroepan Tango Championship & Festival and his passion for Tango make him travel all over the world. In 2014 the warm colour sound of bandoneon and the absence of a Tango Orchestra in Cyprus, intricate him to start learning bandoneon and in 2017 to form the first stable Tango Orchestra on the island. His Tango experience and the interaction with the other members of Cyprus Tango Meeting’s team made fissile his idea for an international level Tango festival in Cyprus.
TOTA MARAGKOU
Tota, a passionate Tango dancer and instructor, started rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 8 in Greece. During her studies in Civil Engineering in Cyprus, she came in touch with Tango and took her first classes with Michalis. She started teaching tango with Michalis at Shakallis Dance School in 2017 where she also joined the organising team for the Cyprus Tango Meeting. The rhythmic gymnastics education, helped her understand deeply the body structure and body mechanics in relation to Tango. All this helped her delve particularly in Tango technique, she is always looking for the precision in every step and the perfection in every move.
CHRISTOS SHAKALLIS
Christos is running the biggest dance school in Cyprus with more than 5 studio locations across Nicosia. He has been dancing since the age of 4 and with his sister Elena they have organized and executed many classes, events, and performances throughout the calendar year. They have won a number of awards, both nationally and abroad, and have also represented Cyprus on numerous international dance festivals. They have both attended dance congresses abroad for holidays but also as teachers and performers. Christos is very influential in the Cyprus Dance Scene not only because of the number of his students and his deep knowledge of the dance history of Cyprus, but also because of the cultural impact of the Shakallis Dance School the last 30 years. Christos leads the Cyprus Tango Meeting team and takes care a little bit of everything.
