Last night (January 15, 2021) Juan Carlos Copes died from COVID-19.
Copes was born in Buenos Aires in 1930. He was a Tango dancer, choreographer, and performer. Copes was the first to create choreographed tango stage shows.
He was the greatest figure of the tango dance. He took our dance from Buenos Aires to stages around the world.
In 1951 he appeared with María Nieves Rego in a dance contest at Luna Park, where he competed with 300 couples, achieving first place.
He signed his first professional contract on December 30, 1955, making his debut at the National Theater and at the Tabarís Theater with the show “Juan Carlos Copes y su ballet de tango”.
He also concocted shows like “Copes Tango Show”, “New Face 62”, “Tangos Para El Mundo”, “Tango Argentino”, “Gotán”, “Tango-Tango”, “María De Buenos Aires”, “A Rose For Mr. Tango”, “Entre Borges y Piazzolla” and “Sentimiento de Tango”, among others, which moved audiences from different latitudes.
Of all of them, “Tango Argentino” was, without a doubt, the most important since it was presented to a full house on Broadway for six months and traveled all over the world.
“Tango Argentino” was nominated for three Tony Awards – theatrical equivalent of the Oscar – in 1986, for best musical, best direction and best choreography. In this last shortlist, Copes competed with choreographers of the stature of Bob Fosse, Wilford Leach and Richard Waltby.
In 2000 he was named “Dancer of the Century”, recognizing his talent and career.
Source: telam.com.ar
Juan Carlos Copes and Maria Nieves promoting a show on a TV program (1987):
Adios y gracias Maestro.
Monica