Dance Hosts!!! Yes!! Of course!!

We want our lady dancers to have happy feet. Check out the backgrounds of our Hosts. Tango at Sea wants to see you on board to enjoy the fun!!

GUSTAVO MENDOZA 
Dance Host

Gustavo was born in Misiones Argentina and raised in the tango Mecca of Buenos Aires. From the age of 9-months, this self-made Porteño was introduced to the music and dance of tango by Abuela Serafina, a retired nanny, and her daughter Lidia. They planted the ever-lasting seed of this incredible dance.

A move to the USA as a teenager put Gustavo into the generation of Rock 'n Roll created by the American and British invasion of this new dance style which took him away from his musical and dance roots of Tango.

During his journey through America, Gustavo was trained as a massage therapist in many different modalities. He trained at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, CA, and the Desert Resort of Soma Therapy in Desert Hot Springs, CA. He worked as a professional massage therapist and trainer in major 5-star hotels in the Palm Springs, CA, area starting his career in 1995. He owned and managed the Holistic Health Center in Palm Springs, CA, for 10 years. His expertise in body training brought him to professional body work for the Hollywood elite, counting many actors, movie producers, models and high-caliber media personalities among his clientele.

After many years in self-imposed exile in the USA, Gustavo returned to his beloved Buenos Aires and was able to reacquaint once again with Tango, thus becoming one of his most important interests in his adult life. Gustavo immersed himself in the lost culture of the Milongueros and his main focus in life has been to become proficient in this dance, the Argentine Tango!!

Six years later, Argentine Tango is the single most important thing Gustavo does consistently five to six nights a week giving him outstanding dance experience and dancing in the most prominent Milonga venues of Buenos Aires. While claiming gratitude to embracing this universally owned dance, Gustavo has finally had the opportunity to fulfill an inner desire long seeded in his heart by the two women who rocked his cradle to sleep.

Tango at Sea is delighted to include Gustavo on our staff and his dancing talent was enjoyed by our ladies on the Italy and East Mediterranean cruise, along with his massage talent.  Gustavo will join us in 2012 for the Classical Empires of the Western Mediterranean cruise to Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; on to the Canary Islands; then Madeira, Funchal; Malaga, Spain ending the 11 night tour in the Port of Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy.

PETER VOS 
Dance Host

Peter Vos was born in Dordrecht, Holland.  As a child, Peter showed extraordinary talent and interest in dancing.  He has been dancing and performing since the age of five.  As an adolescent he was trained in standard ballroom and Latin dances and performed in various fine arts groups.  He received 3 years training in Salsa and Swingfox dance styles.  After dancing for many years ballroom and Latin-American dances, Peter discovered Argentine Tango.  Peter’s last dancing contest was in 2005 in the European Tournament for dancing students in Enschede, Holland.

As a dancer, Peter learned Argentine Tango from Buenos Aires masters of the Salón, Milonguero and Nuevo styles.  Peter is an Argentine Tango dancer, performer, Milonga organizer and DJ; dancing tango since 1999.  As a dance instructor I am a very, very motivated and I started my own dancing school in the Netherlands in 2005.;

I give lessons in standard ballroom dances such as: Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Tango, Paso Doble, Samba and English Slow Waltz.  Peter teaches classes in Argentine tango, Milonga, Vals and Nuevo Tango.  I teach Latin classes in Merenque, Bachata, Swingfox and different line dances as Zirtakie, Cumbia, Poco Poco, Zaire, single Waltz and many other local line dances.  I organize dancing parties and as the host, I present and take care off the music as a “DJ” during these parties.  You can find more information about the dance school on www.LuckyDancing.nl.  Peter is the host and DJ of the popular monthly Milonga Tango Negro and weekly Milonga Sentimental in Dordrecht presented by Lucky Dancing.

As a dance host I enjoy the art of social dancing and I am a gentleman at all times.  I won’t behave or act like a dance instructor at a social dance event.  I make sure the follower takes pleasure in the dance and I make sure the dance looks good.  I have excellent social skills, a positive attitude, a charming conversationalist and have a quiet personality and in good health.  I have always been a business owner and have traveled extensively.  Peter cannot make our 2012 cruise but may be able to join us for an upcoming Tango and Swing cruise in 2013.

OZ 
Dance Host

I love Argentine Tango so much that I dance nothing else but Argentine Tango, it is my specialty and passion. My love for Argentine Tango started when I was listening to Bahia Blanca by Carlos Di Sarli. The music drew me in. It touches and moves my soul and then my body.

To me Argentine Tango is a life long journey and I feel like I have just taken "My First Step' of a "Thousand Mile Journey."  So far it has been fun filled, exciting and rewarding.  It has taken me from my very first Tango Lesson where I was very clumsy, awkward and shy, up to performing on stage for audiences of up to several hundred people in clubs, schools and on a cruise ship.

My first Milonga was in Buenos Aires in 2007. It was an exciting, nerve-shattering, fun and challenging event for me. But, it really helped my Tango. I continue to improve every element of my Tango by taking lessons everywhere, and by practicing my lessons at home, studios and going to milongas. I dance to please my partner and to make it as safe, fun and exciting as I can for her. I "custom design" my choreography to suit my partner's style, abilities and expressions while maintaining a close awareness of the inspiring music and the floor movement.

I am currently assisting one of the best "maestros" from Argentina in the San Francisco Bay Area with his Argentine Tango workshops. I enjoy playing squash, tennis, paddle tennis and working out, and currently reside in Northern California where there is a large Argentine Tango community which continues to grow every day.

Oz joined us on our 2011 Mediterranean Sea cruise and his talent was enjoyed by all of the ladies on board. Tango at Sea is pleased to bring Oz on board once again in 2012.

JOHN GRASSO 
Dance Host

I was born in New York, and have lived most of my life in Southern New England. I reside in the beautiful state of Connecticut. Most of my life has been spent playing music and dancing, though I never formalized my dancing. Then in 1996, after having raised my children and finding myself free to fulfill my own desires, I began to study Argentine Tango.

In the years that followed, I began to walk my miles, master the basics, and developing my musicality. The Tango Bug had bit me soundly, and I have never been the same since. The first time I truly danced close embraced, I was so inspired, I wrote a poem about my experience. I've danced Tango in sneakers, in socks, on concrete, in the rain, in the morning, afternoon, and, of course, at night. I've run my own Milonga. Have taken a million classes. Viewed a million videos, and after all this collective experience, plus divine inspiration, I strive to make my Tango, Simple, yet, Elegant.