Today on the International Women’s Day, I want to honor one great Woman.
I was fortunate to be a good friend of Elvira Santamaría, better known as Virulazo’s (Jorge Martín Orcaizaguirre) partner. They were part of the cast of “Tango Argentino”.
Elvira told me about how well they had done at that time. But all happiness was narrated in the past tense. I remember one day, being at her house, she opened the door that led to the dining room, there was a very long table there and photographs that attested that success were hung on the walls. Elvira told me: “When Virulazo lived and we were doing well, this table was always full of “friends”.
When I met her, she was a widow and suffered from kidney failure. She needed a kidney and while she waited for it she was dependent on her dialysis.
I went to the “Racing Club” on Nogoyá Street for my tango class. Elvira welcomed me. She was very elegant. She didn’t talk much, but she was a great observer. Over time we became friends, I used to pick her up at the clinic when she finished her dialysis and together we would go to her house in my Renault 4.
One day she got an offer to teach tango to the children of a school. She wanted me to play the role of the leader and accompany her as a partner. We work together and have fun.
Her condition worsened and she was no longer able to continue teaching. She asked me to replace her at the Academia Nacional del Tango. Tremendous responsibility, which I took very seriously, to the point that I did not speak English and foreign students went there. That determined that I began my language studies.
On one occasion, Elvira received an invitation from the Presidency of the Nation to attend a tribute to the master Horacio Salgan at “La Casa Rosada”. She wanted me to be her representation to deliver a letter referring to her delicate situation to the President of the Nation. Shyness and nerves washed over me, but I did.
Elvira never received an answer, no help, and at age 70 her expressive black eyes were closed forever.
Dearest Elvira, you always trusted me and your friendship was one of the most valuable things that tango has given me. THANK YOU!
The music I have selected for you to practice is La Cumparsita, the tango that Elvira and “Virulazo” danced in the tango show in the video I share, performed by three of the great orchestras. You will find the tanda at the bottom.
Un abrazo,
Monica
La Cumparsita by Elvira & “Virulazo”
La tanda
- ♫ La Cumparsita. Carlos Di Sarli 1942
- ♫ La Cumparsita. Anibal Troilo 1943
- ♫ La Cumparsita. Juan D’Arienzo 1951