Hugo Fernandez History

Hugo Fernandez

A little of history

Zafira Gomel was the youngest sister of a 6 children. She was born in Cordoba , capital City of the so called "La Docta", the Argentine province of Cordoba. three yars after their arrival from Europe, the Gomels moved to Buenos Aires, the Argentine Federal Capital City. Zafira, my mother, was only 2. As millions of other Europeans, my grandparents Alejandro Gomel and Rebeca Eskenazi migrated to one of the four preferred destinations for the Europeans escaping the wows of the war: Argentina, by then the 4th economy of the world. The other 3 options were the USA, Canada and Australia...

The Gomels - 1926

Mum grew up in the barrio de Villa Crespo, by then a preferred location for Jewish settlers in Buenos Aires. By the time my mum was in her teens, the tango was at its peak ever. The popular Golden Age orchestras and were disputing the preferences of adults and youngsters. Week after week, full-house wherever they were playing. In those times, 'acceptable' tango venues for a young girl were the social or football clubs. Of course, always escorted by her mum. My mother learnt tango through his older brothers and sisters: Daniel, Isaac, Susana, Luisa and Catalina.

1955, Mum Zafira, at 18 1957 Dad Carlos, at 28

Carlos 'Asmito' Fernandez was born in Cordoba. At only 5, his father (Spanish immigrant Don Jacinto Fernandez) passed away. Being just a child he have to start working to help her family. It was the time of the war in Europe and another wave of hundred of thousands of European immigrants were arriving in Argentina. Being in touch with older people in a tough environment, he soon learnt the language of the streets, the language of the tango...

Mum & Dad, 1959 With Mum and Dad at 1

Dad become familiar with the toughness of the "malevos" and the survival of the fittest as a rule of life. Carlitos, very soon, learn that tough guys also can be good tango dancers. He was amused by the tango songs that, during the evenings, filled her childhood with a tango dream.
My parents met during a milonga at the Club Atletico Atlanta, in the central BA neighbourhood of La Paternal.

Hugo at kindergarten, Hugo, Spanish dancer at 12

It happenned on the verge of last part of the golden age, the renaissance of tango in the Argentine. Dad was already a well-known milonguero by then and a tireless fan who would never miss a live presentation of D'Arienzo's typical orchestra. After a few years of milongas, bailongos and politics, they married in 1962.

with Cynthia at 17 Outside C.U.B.A, with Raúl after rugby training at 20

Hugo was born & grown up in Buenos Aires City. Son of both parents tango dancers. Officially started dancing at the age of 12 introduced by his father Don Carlos Hugo became a regular nightime milonga patron at 16. Hugo is today an accomplished tango dancer who developed his own style through 20 years in the tango scene, 10 of them in Buenos Aires. Hugo is very proud of his teenage-time legend teachers Juan Averna, "Petaca" Lehrman and Jose "Pepito" Avellaneda.

Dance party at Alejandras' place at 21
1980, Atlét. San Miguel. Mario,Hugo,Dani,Eduardo

Hugo is well known in the milonga circles of BA by both the old and the new generations. Hugo developed his style mainly based on the "Tango de Salon", but he is committed to impose, through his teaching the "Milonguero" approach. Hugo was part of the young generation of tangueros who started rescuing the tango from the forgotten attic of memories, during the mid 80's in Buenos Aires. Hugo studied Civil Engineering and graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 1989.

My teacher in 1977, "Petaca" Lehrman Hugo, 1984

Hugo moved to Australia in 1992. Since then, he has conducted group classes, tutorials and workshops throughout the Country. In the year 2000, Hugo assisted by partner Norwegian Maria Fjellheim, organised the first International Tango Festival ever in Australia, the Wintertango Festival. Hugo & Maria continued the Wintertango series, which congregated for the very first time, personalities of the Tango dance, music and singing both from Argentina and Australia until 2002.

at the "Almagro", 1995 with Alejandra Martiñan, 1998

Hugo is also a recognised choreographer. His latest concert "Tango Nuevo" featured Hugo and other dancers of Alma de Tango, together with the great bandoneon player Daniel Binelli (life long Piazzolla's bandoneonist & friend) and The Queensland Orchestra in September 2003. Hugo spends at least 2 months a year in Buenos Aires.

with Maria Fiellheim, 2000-2003 TANGO NUEVO! Concert 2003

Hugo Fernández is the Principal and Senior Instructor of Alma de Tango School of Argentine Dances. The School has its headquarters at "The Tango Cathedral" in St Lucia, Brisbane, Hugo and co-instructor Karen Keung personally conduct most of the classes, workshops and courses that Alma de Tango offers throughout the year.

Hugo & Karen, April 2008 Hugo & Karen at The Tango Cathedral

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	Zafira Gomel was the youngest sister of a 6 children. She was born in Cordoba , capital City of the so called "La Docta", the Argentine province of Cordoba. three yars after their arrival from Europe, the Gomels moved to Buenos Aires, the Argentine Federal Capital City. Zafira, my mother, was only 2. As millions of other Europeans, my grandparents Alejandro Gomel and Rebeca Eskenazi migrated to one of the four preferred destinations for the Europeans escaping the wows of the war: Argentina, by then the 4th economy of the world. The other 3 options were the USA, Canada and Australia...
The Gomels - 1926
	Mum grew up in the barrio de Villa Crespo, by then a preferred location for Jewish settlers in Buenos Aires. By the time my mum was in her teens, the tango was at its peak ever. The popular Golden Age orchestras and were disputing the preferences of adults and youngsters. Week after week, full-house wherever they were playing. In those times, 'acceptable' tango venues for a young girl were the social or football clubs. Of course, always escorted by her mum. My mother learnt tango through his older brothers and sisters: Daniel, Isaac, Susana, Luisa and Catalina.
1955, Mum Zafira, at 18		1957 Dad Carlos, at 28
	Carlos 'Asmito' Fernandez was born in Cordoba. At only 5, his father (Spanish immigrant Don Jacinto Fernandez) passed away. Being just a child he have to start working to help her family. It was the time of the war in Europe and another wave of hundred of thousands of European immigrants were arriving in Argentina. Being in touch with older people in a tough environment, he soon learnt the language of the streets, the language of the tango...
Mum & Dad, 1959		With Mum and Dad at 1
	Dad become familiar with the toughness of the "malevos" and the survival of the fittest as a rule of life. Carlitos, very soon, learn that tough guys also can be good tango dancers. He was amused by the tango songs that, during the evenings, filled her childhood with a tango dream. My parents met during a milonga at the Club Atletico Atlanta, in the central BA neighbourhood of La Paternal.
Hugo at kindergarten,		Hugo, Spanish dancer at 12
	It happenned on the verge of last part of the golden age, the renaissance of tango in the Argentine. Dad was already a well-known milonguero by then and a tireless fan who would never miss a live presentation of D'Arienzo's typical orchestra. After a few years of milongas, bailongos and politics, they married in 1962.
with Cynthia at 17		Outside C.U.B.A, with Raúl after rugby training at 20
	Hugo was born & grown up in Buenos Aires City. Son of both parents tango dancers. Officially started dancing at the age of 12 introduced by his father Don Carlos Hugo became a regular nightime milonga patron at 16. Hugo is today an accomplished tango dancer who developed his own style through 20 years in the tango scene, 10 of them in Buenos Aires. Hugo is very proud of his teenage-time legend teachers Juan Averna, "Petaca" Lehrman and Jose "Pepito" Avellaneda.
Dance party at Alejandras' place at 21		1980, Atlét. San Miguel. Mario,Hugo,Dani,Eduardo
	Hugo is well known in the milonga circles of BA by both the old and the new generations. Hugo developed his style mainly based on the "Tango de Salon", but he is committed to impose, through his teaching the "Milonguero" approach. Hugo was part of the young generation of tangueros who started rescuing the tango from the forgotten attic of memories, during the mid 80's in Buenos Aires. Hugo studied Civil Engineering and graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 1989.
My teacher in 1977, "Petaca" Lehrman		Hugo, 1984
	Hugo moved to Australia in 1992. Since then, he has conducted group classes, tutorials and workshops throughout the Country. In the year 2000, Hugo assisted by partner Norwegian Maria Fjellheim, organised the first International Tango Festival ever in Australia, the Wintertango Festival. Hugo & Maria continued the Wintertango series, which congregated for the very first time, personalities of the Tango dance, music and singing both from Argentina and Australia until 2002.
at the "Almagro", 1995		with Alejandra Martiñan, 1998
	Hugo is also a recognised choreographer. His latest concert "Tango Nuevo" featured Hugo and other dancers of Alma de Tango, together with the great bandoneon player Daniel Binelli (life long Piazzolla's bandoneonist & friend) and The Queensland Orchestra in September 2003. Hugo spends at least 2 months a year in Buenos Aires.
with Maria Fiellheim, 2000-2003		TANGO NUEVO! Concert 2003
	Hugo Fernández is the Principal and Senior Instructor of Alma de Tango School of Argentine Dances. The School has its headquarters at "The Tango Cathedral" in St Lucia, Brisbane, Hugo and co-instructor Karen Keung personally conduct most of the classes, workshops and courses that Alma de Tango offers throughout the year.
Hugo & Karen, April 2008		Hugo & Karen at The Tango Cathedral
Home About Alma de Tango