Women in Tango - Virtual Class w/Makela 6/21/2020

Let's talk about some women that made history in the Tango of the beginning of the 20th century

Carmencita Calderón - DANCER (1902-2005)

She went with her two younger sisters to a dance to be their chaperon since their mother had died too soon. She met someone who invited her to his tango academy to meet Cachafaz. That historical dance couple started. They can be seen in the movie "Tango". Carmencita and Jorge Dispari performed at Salon Canning (not sure about the venue) when she turned 100 years old. She died at 102.

 Ada Falcón - SINGER (1905-2002)

The younger sister of three (Amanda and Adhelma). She performed and recorded with Osvaldo Fresedo and Francisco Canaro. After many years of a torrid affair with Canaro, she left him to join a convent in the Cordoba province. Beautiful tangos have the voice of Ada Falcon, such as “Yo no sé que me han hecho tus ojos”. Check the Spotify playlist at makelatango for more examples.

Paquita Bernardo - BANDONEONIST (1900-1925)

The first profesional bandoneonist female player and the leader of her own orchestra in which Osvaldo Pugliese (very young at that time) played piano.

She was extremely popular, and her performances were so well attended that they would block the street of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. That scared her male counterparts, so they did not let her record.

She died very young, just a few months before turning 25.

Nelly Omar - SINGER (1911-2013)

La cantora nacional, o La Gardel, had a long artistic trajectory, that culminated in her 100th birthday signing at the Luna Park (a huge stadium in Buenos Aires). Her political believes got her banned for 17 years during the dictatorship of the year 1955. Check some of her songs at my Spotify playlist Women of Tango (Virtual Class 6/21/2020)

Pepita Avellaneda - SINGER (1874-1951)

A pioneer singer “cupletista” and “tonadillera” (Spanish songs) as well as tangos, she had to dress as a man to sing. She had the opportunity to perform at the Palais de Glace.

Tita Merello SINGER (1904-2002) 

A strong woman who came from poor origins and who struggle to get the success she earned. She was a committed actress and a strong singer. She recorded famous tangos and milongas such as “Se dice de mi”, “Arrabalera” that it basically tells the story of her life. An icon of the Argentine tango, “La morocha argentina” was a symbol of powerful women in tango.

Libertad Lamarque - SINGER (1908-2000) and Actress very famous with a softer and more romantic voice than the one of Tita Merello