Argentine Tango dance master Juan Carlos Copes dies of Covid-19 at 89

[sandensea]

Argentine Tango dancer Juan Carlos Copes, who was the first to create choreographed Tango stage shows and contributed to the worldwide revival of Tango as a dance form, died today of Covid-19 symptoms; he was 89.

Born in 1931 in Buenos Aires, Copes began frequenting Tango salons known as milongas in his teens. There, he shaped his style and met fellow dancer María Nieves Rego - with whom he won a contest at Luna Park, a vintage downtown Buenos Aires arena, ahead of 300 other couples in 1951.

He formed a dance company in 1955, and accompanied renowned 'New Tango' composer Ástor Piazzolla on his first tour of the United States in the late 1950s.

Copes later persuaded institutions such as the Julliard School, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and the Sorbonne to incorporate the Tango in their dance programs.

He likewise taught stars such as Liza Minelli, Robert Duvall and Mikhail Barishnikov, as well as teachers at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios. He retired in 2015.

Copes' ex-wife María Nieves Rego, 86, and their daughter Johana Copes, 41, both became acclaimed Tango dancers and teachers in their own right.

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pagina12.com.ar%2F317751-murio-juan-carlos-copes-por-coronavirus

Argentine Tango dance master Juan Carlos Copes performing with Lorena Yácono in Buenos Aires' Ideal Café, in Carlos Saura's Tango (1998).

[dlk]

1. Amazing footwork in the video!

[sandensea]

2. That it was.

Of course though, far from the almost-gymnastic performances people usually associate with Tango shows, Argentines themselves just dance it in a soulful, languid sashay.

It's a lot more enjoyable that way I'm sure.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Holy smoke! Have never seen anything like that. Fascinating. Hard to believe.

Had to wonder how many times a person could be expected to fall down flat before figuring that out!

Maybe it would be necessary to wear one of these as a beginner!


What a shame Juan Carlos Copes had to become the victim of that monstrous sickness, sandensea. Very, very sad.

May he rest in peace.

(I have read of the passion of his actor student, Robert DuVall for the Tango over many, many years. He traveled all over the world to participate in exhibitions.)

[sandensea]

4. Talent and dedication.

Though, of course, few in Argentina actually dance tango with anywhere near that kind of footwork.

Most just sashay romantically, like in the video above.

It's sad and sentimental - like Argentina itself.

Thanks as always for your keen observations, Judi. Enjoy Inaugural Week!