YOUR 2026 DJS in Nelson
Deb Waltenberg - Christchurch
Deb became a DJ from her love of tango music and dance. She was the resident DJ at Sunday tango in Christchurch for 15 years as well as guest DJ at local and national events.
Deb's passion for tango music grew from her many trips to Buenos Aires, dancing and listening to the beauty of tango in the traditional milongas.
Over the years she has built an extensive collection of tango music and although her preference is for the Golden Age music, there are some other very special pieces that she shares from time to time.
Deb likes to see the tango music work its magic on the dancers and is always mindful that a DJ has to watch the energy of the dancers and adapt the playlist.
She likes to take the dancers on a musical journey and looks forward to seeing you on the floor at Summer Tango in Nelson!
Brendon Varcoe - Nelson
Tango and the country of Argentina holds a special place in my heart. I am excited to be able to share my love and passion for tango through my DJ’ing. Music is such a big part of my life. As well as playing and studying bandoneon in Buenos Aires, currently I am also studying a Masters degree in Orchestration so my love of the orchestra has given me a deep appreciation for both traditional tango orchestras as well as the many incredible modern tango orchestras. I have tremendous respect for the musicians of today who continue on the tradition of playing live in the milonga as well as those who have gone before. All music evokes emotion and tango music especially, from the dramatic to the playful, the romantic to the melancholic, the best music brings out the emotion in the dance and always when I prepare a playlist I am thinking with this in the forefront of my mind. So expect a playlist full of life, emotion, a little drama and hopefully some fun, because at the end of the day we all come together in this great dance to enjoy ourselves and the people around us.
Junko Kobayashi - Nelson
Like many tangueras, she loves to travel and seek out dance opportunities wherever she goes. When travel became difficult due to the recent pandemic, she found solace in classic tango music and discovered the pleasure of searching for hidden gems, this led her to start DJ, building on her passion for the tango music. To her, every tanda is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime encounter that cannot be replicated. Have you ever experienced a dreamy tanda where the music, your partner, and you are in perfect harmony? She aims to help you experience more of those magical moments and fun-filled experience through her Djing.
Bruno Tagliapietra
Based in Wellington, Bruno originally hails from the windy, sea-borne city of Trieste in north-east Italy, and has a background as a semi-professional live musician spanning Latin, jazz, pop, and rock. This early experience shaped his deep connection to rhythm, melody, and musical expression.
His first encounter with tango came through listening recommendations from fellow musicians, sparking a curiosity that would later resurface and grow into a deep passion.
Years later, after more than two decades of practicing other forms of partner dancing, he approached Argentine tango as a dance and quickly became captivated by its rich musical tradition.
This led him to immerse himself in the study of tango orchestras across the decades, developing a special love for the Golden Age and its timeless elegance on the dance floor.
As a DJ, Bruno's focus is always on the music itself. He believes tango music should speak first and be experienced through the dance, and he trusts well-chosen tandas to create their own atmosphere on the floor.
David Bagshaw - Nelson
David has lived and studied in Buenos Aires for extended periods since 2001. He attended many milongas in BA and studied the styles of both old and new orchestras, absorbing the very essence of tango and its music. As a DJ, his passion for tango music shows in his carefully crafted milonga playlists.
