In a recent exclusive interview, Taiwanese dancer Mandy Zhou Ying-Lei and her partner Orlando Reyes celebrated their championship victory at the Southern California Tango International Championship and Dance Festival. Zhou expressed her immense pride in representing Taiwan and the Chinese community on such an international stage.

From a young age, Mandy has been immersed in dance, primarily focusing on Latin styles. Her impressive résumé includes a remarkable trajectory: she began dancing at 13, had the chance to perform with the famous singer Wang Leehom early in her career, served as a choreographer for the popular Chinese dance competition show “Dancing Miracle,” and spent three years as a featured dancer on tour with Luo Dayou, a well-known Taiwanese musician.

About ten years ago, Mandy chose to relocate from Taipei to New York City, seeking a fresh environment to absorb new dance resources and techniques. After teaching at “Dance With Me USA” for several years, the pandemic prompted her to partner with two like-minded dancers to establish their own dance studio, “My Tango Body.” They have been dedicated to promoting tango dance in both Manhattan and New Jersey.

In Mandy’s view, there’s no one unfit to try tango. “I believe everyone should give it a go,” she insists. Tango is a dance that emphasizes improvisation and concentration, requiring collaboration with a partner to create something beautiful. The dance is filled with passion and joyous social interaction. Over the years of running her studio, Mandy has taught students ranging from those in their nineties to young children as young as six. She has been thrilled to see many members of the Chinese community from around the world eager to explore this dance form. Among her students are those looking to improve their posture, dancers with backgrounds in other styles trying something new, and individuals seeking tango partners to develop their craft—each of whom she encourages wholeheartedly.

“Tango is incredibly captivating. If you’re looking for a new hobby, you really should try it,” she emphasizes.

While Mandy is now identified as a tango dancer, she admits that her connection to the dance was somewhat serendipitous. While working in China, the producer of “Dancing Miracle” asked her to teach a tango routine to star students, using a video of renowned Argentine tango dancers Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo from “Dancing with the Stars” as a reference. Having never danced tango before, Mandy accepted the challenge, successfully choreographing the routine and planting the seeds for her future in tango. To her surprise, at last year’s Southern California Tango International Championship, she encountered her tango mentors, sharing her journey into tango with them and marveling at the coincidence.

In New York, Mandy thrives alongside her tango partners Reyes and Juan Alessandrini. The three not only collaborate as artistic creators but also as business partners, gradually building their tango community in New York through competitions and performances, while also teaching others the allure of this dance. Looking ahead, Mandy hopes to bring their tango creations to various parts of the U.S. and the world, with a strong desire to return to Asia and continue spreading the charm of tango.