I’m Julio Mendez. I come from Buenos Aires and have been a Tanguero since forever.

I danced tango as a child at family parties with my mother and grew up in an environment filled with Tango and racehorses thanks to my father.

Back then, in the mid 90s, there were very few young people who danced tango in Buenos Aires. Tango at that time was seen as a thing of the past. Only old people danced tango. Many people, family friends included, told me that I was crazy. They did not understand how one could have so much passion for something so out of fashion.

I had the privilege of knowing and learning with those old dancers who created this unique dance; Mingo and Ester Pugliese, Toto Faraldo, Raul Bravo, Pepito Avellaneda, Juan Carlos Copes, Gloria and Eduardo Arquinbao, Tete and Maria!

Every week I saw Roberto Rufino sing in a Stud where he ate a barbecue Asado with my father’s friends. He had a tango school and organised one of the most popular Milongas in the history of tango in Buenos Aires called La Calesita.

Giving tango workshops I traveled to USA, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway, England, Scotland, Portugal…

I have had the honor to dance with wonderful tango partners like Florencia Tacheti, Elina Roldan, Kicca Tommasi and with one of the the best, Guillermina Quiroga.

Since 2002 I am based in Zurich and am the founder, with my wife Anneke Gisi, of the school, Club el Social. I’m the creator of the Milongas el Tambito (today Zeughaushof) , Falcone, Casa Italia, Viaduct, Puntazo Tango Festival in Lucerne and the International Tango Meeting in Alghero Sardegna.