The Frostbite International Tango Festival kicked off in the warm, intimate and informal surroundings of a theatrical room beyond the grand entrance of the Presidenti Hotel in central Helsinki. It was a tentative, relaxed evening, a preliminary to the fun and games of the days to follow. A chance to warm up, meet old friends and make new ones, find partners and generally get into the swing of things.

The milonga, pleasantly orchestrated by the well known Tango DJ, Antti Suniala, a local who returned to Helsinki from Berlin for the opening night, was interrupted only by the delightful performance from the festival hosts, Kaisa Saarinen and Hernan Ohaco and a humorous introduction to the visiting maestros, Pablo Rodriguez and Corina Herrera, Horacio Godoy and Magdalena Gutierrez, Javier Rodriguez and Noella Barsi, Lukas Balokas and Georgia Proiskou.

Today, masterclasses, and tonight, the much anticipated Milonga Masquerade!