I TANGO –DANCERS -

Guillermina Quiroga

Guillermina Quiroga began her career as a ballet dancer.  In 1988 she entered the world of the milongas in Buenos Aires, becoming the partner of choice of the seasoned milongueros, particularly Puppy Castello.  A year later, she was awarded the coveted Hugo del Carril first-place trophy in the first edition of the prestigious Tango tournament sponsored by the municipality of Buenos Aires.  Thus began her professional career as a tango dancer, during which she enjoyed soloist and prima ballerina billing on the Julio Iglesias world tour 1997-1999 as well as with the orchestras of John Mauceri, Luis Bacalov, Mariano Mores, Beba Pugliese, Orlando Trípodi, Juan José Mossalini, and Color Tango; and the critically acclaimed shows Tango x 2, Tango Argentino, and Luis Bravo's Forever Tango and Malambo.

She choreographed Libertango for the 1997 ice skating world champions Gritsuk and Platov, who won the gold medal in Nagano, Japan, a year later.  She also choreographed Fantasía de Tango for Cassano Dancing in 1997, El Choclo for the Japanese Ballet Johnies, Oblivion for Tango Magic and various piecess for the Julio Iglesias world tour.

In another facet of her career, Guillermina has been featured in the movies Naked Tango, Oratorio a Gardel, Funes, Un gran amor, Después de la tormenta, Tango, Marie galante and Assassination Tango in Buenos Aires.  She recently made her Hollywood debut as an actress and choreographer in Valentina's Tango.

Combining her talent as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and actress, she has produced her own show, Tango, Historias Breves (formerly Los Tangos de la Cabala) in which the mystique and mystery of the Tango, the enigma of human relations and the magic
of the movies interweave and intertwine on stage.

Claudio Villagra

Claudio Villagra belongs to a new generation of professional dancers in Argentina.  He studied dance at the School of Art of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, with teachers ranging from his grandfather Hector Contrera to Aurelio Juan, J.C.Copes, Virulazo, Antonio Todaro, Pepito Avellaneda, Gloria y Eduardo,  Dinzel, and N. Guichanduc. 
After beginning his career with major tango shows in Buenos Aires, he has appeared on major stages of the world, including Broadway theaters, the Olympia in Paris, Luna Park, Astral and Cervantes in Buenso Aires, and the Auditorio Nacional and the Teatro Bellas Artes in Mexico.  He has worked with renowned orchestras like that of Osvaldo Pugliese, Mariano Mores, Sexteto Sur, El Arranque, Sexteto Mayor, and others.  His most distinguished partners have been Siliva Toscano, Mora Godoy, Leticia Falliacara, Karina Piazza, Natalia Hills, and today he partners the very distinguished Guillermina Quiroga, forming one of the most prestigious tango dancing partnerships, performing in a wide variety of styles such as tango salon, fantasia and traditional tango as well as more modern and innovative ones.
Claudio was a member of the National Ballet of Argentina and a representative of diverse dance institutions promoting tango throughout world.  He has represented the government of Argentina in diverse events both nationally and internationally. 
He  has been the featured dancer in such shows as Tango Seduccion, and Tanguera and directed and choreographed his own show, Latin Tango.  Claudio is currently performing in the show Forever Tango.

Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau

Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau started dancing tango with the famous Francisco Canaro Orchestra, and have conquered audiences from all over the world.  From 1985 to 1992, they performed to critical acclaim in Central America, Europe, Japan, and the United States in the show Tango Argentino, and in 1990 in Forever Tango.  Legendary masters, choreographers and dancers, Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau shine year after year in
various shows and festivals, and for many years they have been one of the most popular tango dancing couples in the world.

They made their debut in 1960 with a tango show at the Cine Teatro Opera. That same year, they began appearing in Canaro’s show, with which they went on their first tour of Japan.  They performed with the critically acclaimed musical Tango Argentino from 1985 to 1992. They were choreographers and headliners of the original cast of Forever Tango in San Francisco from 1994 to 1995.  With the Japan tours of their shows Tango, Tango and Corazon de Tango, they paved the way for many shows that followed.

But Eduardo is also one of the great milongueros of his generation – the men who grew up dancing in the milongas in the early-mid 1950s.  He is one of the teachers mainly responsible for the worldwide popularity of "club" style tango (or milonguero style, confiteria style, close embrace, apilado).  Eduardo has taught this style, which is once again the predominant style in today's crowded milongas of Buenos Aires, all over the world.  Eduardo and Gloria are the only living masters of the orillero style, and their performances are thrilling.

During their long career, they have shared the stage with legends such as Roberto Goyeneche, Alba Solís, the Orquesta de Osvaldo Piro, Mariano Mores, Virginia Luque, Los Cinco Latinos, María Marta Serra Lima, Charles Aznavur and Richard Claiderman. Futhermore, they were featured in shows such as Tango Argentino, Mariano Mores’ show, Tanguísimo, and others such as Tango Tango and Súper Tango.

Together, Eduardo and Gloria Arquimbau have appeared on Argentinian and international television, in the 1985 motion picture El exilio de Gardel, and have worked internationally as teachers – opening their own school and producing influential teaching videos as early as 1985 and 1987 – and as choreographers and directors.  They have participated in many of the major tango festivals of the world.  

Cesar Coelho

Cesar Coelho hails from a traditional family of dancers.  His studies include classical ballet and modern jazz, perfecting himself in Argentine tango.  He was first introduced to tango by his father, Osvaldo Coelho, and later personalized his individual style and studied with other renowned masters.  At only 25 years of age, his career is rapidly expanding.

Cesar performed with Juan Carlos Copes in the productions Entre Borges y Piazzola and Tango Magia y seduction in Buenos Aires and Las Vegas.  He was also featured in the Oscar-nominated film Tango directed by Carlos Saura.

As one of the most renowned contemporary tango dancers, he then joined the Broadway show Forever Tango for its first performance in Japan in 1999 and has been performing with this company for many years.  Cesar has also formed part of the company of Tango Pasion", which has also performed on Broadway.  He has traveled throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, performing in many prestigious theaters around the world, among others at Lincoln Center in New York City, the Theatre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the legendary Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

Cesar has also traveled the world teaching his style and technique.  Recently, he has been performing at La Esquina de Carlos Gardel, one of the most prestigious tango houses in Buenos Aires.

Soledad Rivero

Soledad Rivero studied ballet, singing and acting.  She improved her ballet and contemporary dance in several master classes and workshops and then studied tango intensively with Miguel Angel Zotto.  In 1994 she was part of the ballet company performing Zorbas, directed by Vasiliev.  She has also performed in Don Quixote and Kuharay with the Julio Bocca Dance Company.  In 1996 she performed in Madrid and Zaragoza in a show by the singer Imperio Argentina. She took part in Folklore by Mariano Mores and she was the featured dancer in Julio Iglesias’ show Tango.  Soledad joined Tango X Dos in 1999, performing in Buenos Aires and on numerous international tours.
As a first dancer, she has twice partnered Miguel Angel Zotto in Zx2 at the Sydney Opera House (in 2000 and 2001) and she participated in the Miami Film Festival in 2003 with the same company.  In June 2003, she was part of the cast of Maria de Buenos Aires by Piazzolla and Ferrer, performed at the opera houses of Ravenna and Bologna.  In 2003, she performed in Una Noche de Tango in Barcelona and gave tango master classes together with Miguel Angel Zotto in Switzerland, Italy and France.  Her other credits include the shows Perfume de Tango, Una Noche de tango, Tango Sinfonico, Tango Una leyenda at different theaters in Buenos Aires and the world.  

Natalia Hills and Francisco Forqueras

Natalia Hills was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was 12 years old when she had her first professional presentation in Tango-Tango in Buenos Aires.  She studied with Miguel Balmaceda, Antonio Todaro and Pepito Avellaneda.  The young dancer’s career includes roles as dancer and choreographer in different national and international productions such as Re-volver and El Fantasma del Rio de la Plata.
In March 1995, she made her debut with Luis Bravo's Forever Tango in San Francisco. Directly after that, she performed as an original member of the very successful London production in 1995 and two years later on Broadway. That same year she was especially invited to perform at an event in which the British Embassy in Argentina honored Princess Diana. During this period of association with Forever Tango (1995-2001) she performed in the major cities of America, Asia and Europe, and for the first and only time in Argentina at the prestigious Theatre Colon of Buenos Aires.
In 1998, she appeared in the PBS series Evening at the Pops with the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Francisco Forquera was born in Mendoza, Argentina.  He studied, under the direction of Hector Zaraspe, diverse techniques of dance, art and movement in New York, Spain and Buenos Aires.
He first performed at Lincoln Center in Tango y Tango.  During the past seven years of his residence in New York, Francisco participated in several Off- Broadway shows. Appearances include Buenos Aires Celebration Month at the World Financial Center, Kuarahy with Julio Bocca and the Ballet Argentino, Paramount of the Arts in Peekskill, New York and Tango Fantástico at the Bellayre Music Festival at the Rockefeller Center during the 1998 concerts series, and in the film Random Hearts with Harrison Ford.
In 2001, he was offered a principal role in the new musical Camila at the Walnut Street Theatre of Philadelphia.
Francisco and Natalia made their debut together with Forever Tango in August 2001 at Walt Disney World in Florida.  Their presentations with Forever Tango 2003 have been seen worldwide, including appearances on NBC.
In 2002 and 2003 they appeared in the production of Las Vegas Tango at the Riviera Resort Hotel, at La Deuxiéme Biennale de la Danse, in Lyon, France, and were featured by special invitation at the International Tango Festival of Toulouse.  In 2003 they were featured at the Hollywood Bowl as principal dancers in The Passion of Tango, a series of concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya and directed and choreographed by Hector Zaraspe.
In 2004 Francisco and Natalia made their Broadway debut with Forever Tango, and in September they performed and taught at the Las Vegas Tango weekend festival at the Riviera Hotel for the third consecutive year, then returned to Broadway with the long-running Forever Tango.  In 2005 they appeared at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and in early 2006 at New York's Skirball Center in Tango, Brief Stories as special guest artists.

Junior Cervila

Junior Cervila is best known in Argentina as a performer and choreographer, where he has appeared on stage at the prestigious Colon and El Nacional theaters and the Luna Park Stadium.  US fans of dance will recognize him from his featured role in the film Tango by Carlos Saura, were he was also Juan Carlos Copes' choreography assistant, and from his appearance in the 2000 revival of Tango Argentino on Broadway.  He also toured Europe and the States with Julio Iglesias in 1999 and appeared as a special guest in the BBC documentary Traveling With My Tutu as the partner of Deborah Bull (first dancer of the Royal Ballet of London).

He has toured with numerous shows performing in Japan, USA, England, Portugal, Germany, Norway, Holland, Greece, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Spain, Russia, Chile, Honduras, El Salvador and many other countries.

Since 1988, Antonio Cervila Junior has worked continuously with many important orchestras, including Jorge Dragone's Orchestra, Baffa Berlingieri, José Colangelo, Omar Valente, Walter Ríos, Color Tango, Osvaldo Requena, Norberto Ramos, Julián Plaza, Color Tango, Avantango, El Arranque and Ariel Ramírez.

His most recent performances include appearances with Avantango at Lincoln Center and Town Hall in New York and Tanguera in Argentina and Mexico.  

Beverly Durand 

Trained in ballet, tap, modern and jazz, Beverly Durand now specializes in Argentine Tango and West Coast Swing.  Her credits include the Broadway productions of Forever Tango and Swing! as well as Tango Vivo and Swango, dancing with Junior Cervila.

Her Latin dance skills have taken her around the world, including a tour of Japan with Latin Dance Carnival.  Beverly was a featured dancer in Forever Tango, both on Broadway and on its world tour, and in the original cast of Swing! on Broadway.  She has been featured in numerous stage and television productions internationally, including The 2000 Tony Awards, Latin Dance Carnival (Buenos Aires/Japan) with Junior Cervila, Tango Magic (PBS), National Memorial Day Concert (PBS), The Today Show, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Swango, Tango Vivo!, and a variety of television and video appearances in the US and The Netherlands.  After Swing!, Beverly was invited to the Netherlands as a specialist to assist the choreographer of Saturday Night Fever and to perform the Latin feature.

She has co-choreographed and assisted some of the more recent US productions of Swing!, as well as been featured in them.  She is a proud recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Choreography along with her co-choreographers.
Beverly has been dancing and performing Argentine tango for over ten years and is so happy to be a part of I Tango.  Special thanks to Junior and all those who support the arts.

Rosa Collantes and Angel Garcia-Clemente

Rosa Collantes is an internationally renowed performer,choreogrpher and dance instructor.  She was worked and studied with some of the most distinguished names in the Tango and Salsa world.
She was part of the musical Camila at the Walnut Street Theatre.  She created and co-produced the play Tango Du Jour in NY with great success.
Known for her unique and sensual style, Rosa has performed live at Manhattan's illustrious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden.  She has made several TV appearances, including Good Morning America, Regis and Kathie Lee, and Sabado Gigante.
She currently teaches Argentine tango and salsa at the UNSRC Ballroom Club of the United Nations and at Dance Manhattan Studios.
Angel Garcia-Clemente  has been teaching and performing tango throughout the United States, Europe and South America for the past 10 years.  He trained with Carlos Gavito, Nito and Elba, Pedro and Laura Escudero and Gustavo Naveira.  Angel danced with Guillermina Quiroga in CITA 2004 at the Teatro Astral in Buenos Aires and was a featured performer at Las Vegas Tango 2002.  He appeared in the music video with Vanessa Williams and Chayanne for the promotion of the movie Dance with Me.  He was associate choreographer for the musical Camila at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia and has performed at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, The Town Hall, Studio 54 and, most recently, with Chita Rivera in Latin Rhythms: at B B King's on Broadway for the "Broadway Cares" AIDS benefit.
Angel recently returned from a US national tour with recording artist Julio Iglesias. He teaches independently In NYC.  He is the producer, director and choreographer of Del Tingo Al Tango, the first full production of his company Tango Y Mas at different theatres in New York City.  He is currently working on his new production Dance Fury! and will be a featured dancer next year in the Disney Movie Enchanted.

In 1992, Angel Garcia-Clemente, Met Rosa Collantes in New York City and the two created a new world all their own-performing,choreographing and teaching together.  Audiences throughout the U.S. South America and Europe have cheered the intensity and authenticity that is the hallmark of Angel and Rosa´s work.  Their choreography credits include a tribute to Tito Puente at the Madison Square Garden and the Walnut Street Theatre production of the musical Camila.  They have danced live at Manhattan´s most illustrious venues.  They have appeared in Hey Cousin Vinnie whith Joe Pesci and Tu Corazon, the chart topping Vanessa Williams⁄Chayanne single from the motion picture Dance With Me.
The pair is renowned for its unique style in Argentine tango, milonga and vals, their encyclopedic knowledge of the Latin American folkloric repertoire, plus a lively take on contemporary social dances including salsa and merengue.
Angel and Rosa have recently returned from teaching and performing at the first Salsa Congress in Norway and England, as well as from a tour with Julio Iglesias.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of "Mad Hot Ballroom" (and now "Take the Lead"!) ABrT has been inundated with requests to have our children perform at a variety of special events. Consequently, auditions were held in January among our scholarship students to form the American Ballroom Theater Youth Performance Company.

Veteran teaching artists, Sidney Grant and Alee Reed were named artistic directors of the company, choreographing and coordinating appearances at such venues as the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, Massachusetts, the 92nd Street Y, PBS´s "Celebration of Teaching and Learning," NBC´s Today Show (with Antonio Banderas!), Take the Lead´s premiere party at Roseland and, most recently, the Ritz Carlton.

Highlighting this year´s appearances was the Kennedy Center 35th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, DC, performing alonside such diverse legendary performers as Angela Lansbury, Judy Collins, and Savion Glover.

Accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra with Marvin Hamlisch conducting, our students danced a waltz/merengue/tango/swing medley, receiving a standing ovation! It was truly an unforgettable night for all involved.