TANGO Y VALSES

Choreography Ana Maria Stekelman
Company TangoKinesis
Excerpt Valses (1999)

Perhaps the most famous Latin American choreographer. Ana Maria Stekelman has choreographed the tango for all the greatest companies in the world and in particular for Julio Bocca. The tango, a dance in its own right, can exist, can be danced outside of the music of the same name. The tango, that offers its sensuality to the freedom of movement of contemporary dance. This is not an evening of showcases but of three pieces, a brilliant, spirited composition to the music of Piazzola, Strauss and Vivaldi.

This programme is a clever mix of already-existing works and others that have been specially created for the 10th Biennial. Divided into three parts, it presents a variety of styles for which the company is renowned:
- “Suite de Tango” (2001), which among others incorporates “Tango Kinesis” and “Tango y fuga Angeles desnudos”
- “Valses” (1999) which is the central part of the “Tango, Vals, Tango” performance, created for the 53rd Festival d'Avignon
- “4 piazzollas” (1997) comprising 4 little-known tangos from the amazing bandoneonist, which is the catalyst of this piece.

Source : Biennale de la Danse - programme

Credits

Direction artistique, chorégraphie Ana Maria Stekelman
Assistants chorégraphie Nora Robles, Pedro Calveyra
Manager Susana Argañarás
Danseurs Nora Robles, Gisela Natoli, Mercedes Appugliese, Vanesa Odetti, Pedro Calveyra, Marcelo Carte, Martín Rodríguez, Federico Farfaro
Montage musique Edgardo Rudnitzky
Lumières Omar Possemato
Costumes Jorge Ferrari
Spectacle filmé par Charles Picq, aux Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon en 2002

Updating : August 2012

Ana Maria Stekelman studied modern dance in Buenos Aires with Paulina Ossona and Renate Schottelius and in New York at Martha Graham Dance School. In 1968, she danced for the Oscar Araiz Company and in 1972 with the Opera College (Dance and Music Research).

She was the first choreographer to be appointed director of the San Martin Theatre Dance Studio (created by Kive Staiff in 1977), founder member of the San Martin Theatre Contemporary Ballet and artistic director from 1977 to 1981 and from 1988 to 1990. She was invited to the American Dance Festival in 1976, 1978 and 1990.

Since creating her own company “Tangokinesis” (1992), she has intensified her research into the fusion between tango and modern dance. Tangokinesis has performed throughout the world and on the most important stages including: Festivals: Jerusalem, Madrid Autumn Festival, Biennale de la danse in Lyon, ColoréDansez Festival, American Dance Festival, World Financial Center in New York and twice at the Kennedy Center.

“Palace” was the only Argentinean choreography to be invited to perform at the closing of the Festival d'Avignon in the Court of Honour of the Palais des Papes (1999). With Julio Bocca and the Argentinean Ballet she created “Consagración del Tango”, which performed its world premiere at the Opera Garnier in Paris.

Approached by Carlos Saura, Ana Maria Stekelman created the choreography for the scenes in the film “Tango” for which she won the American Choreography Award in Los Angeles. In 2002, her company Tangokinesis danced for a documentary produced by the television channel ARTE.

At the beginning of 2006, Ana Maria Stekelman was invited to Rome by the director, Alfredo Arias as choreographic director for the opera “Dracula in Love”. In March 2006, her company Tangokinesis toured the United States and Canada.

Source : Alfredo Arias 's website (Groupe TSE)