Guillermo Merlo and Mariela Franganillo

Guillermo Merlo 
 
Guillermo Merlo is a true legend in the world of Argentine tango. He has a realization of over 30 years of outstanding experience in Argentine Tango. 
 
A dancer, performer, choreographer, instructor and Coach. Guillermo Merlo was the recipient of the 1997 and 1998 TONY AWARD for Best Choreography for the show ‘Forever Tango” on Broadway. Guillermo and his partner won 1ST place in the World Argentine Tango Championship in 1999, and had the honor of being the first non-Asians ever invited to perform at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo.
 
Guillermo served as a judge at The Tango Mundial, The World Competition for Argentine Tango in Montreal, Canada and ATUSA Argentine Tango USA Official Championship and Festival in San Francisco California.

 
 
Mariela Franganillo
 
Mariela Franganillo is an internationally known performer, choreographer, and instructor. Mariela’s creativity, her dance versatility and her embellishments are among the characteristics that distinguish her unique tango style. Her performances have been seen worldwide on-stage Broadway’s Forever Tango and she performed at New York’s Town Hall, at Carnegie Hall, and at Lincoln Center in productions including Tribute to Paquito De Rivera with Pablo Ziegler, Eternal Tango, XTango, Avantango, and on tour with Julio Iglesias. Together with Robert Royston, Mariela conceives and choreographed Swango, and later was joined by Tony Award Winner Rupert Holmes, in the book.

Her tango dance company was included in the Fall for Dance Festival at City Center.  She conceived, and choreographed Tango Connection, Tango Noir and Recuerdo Tango.
Mariela produces the first NYTango Festival, honoring Latin Heritage month, at Columbia University.