Performer Bios
ARGENTINE TANGO DANCERS
Video link: Cuartetango Dancers featured on NBC's "Superstars of Dance"
MIRIAM LARICI
Dancer
LEONARDO BARRIONUEVO
Dancer
CAROLINA JAURENA Dancer
Influenced by her parents, Carolina was bound at an early age to follow a desire to perform. Under the guidance of some of the most recognized names in dance, she has specialized in Argentine Tango along with her formal training in Ballet, Latin Ballroom, Salsa and Flamenco. Carolina’s credits include “Tango & Tango” at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, “Tango Fantastico” at the Bellearyre Music Festival, and “Tangos and Dances of South America” at the Purchase Performing Arts Center. She was invited to perform and teach at the Colorado Dance Festival, The D.C. Tango Festival and The Boston Tango Festival. She was a featured dancer, singer and actress in the Two River Theatre Company production of “Blood Wedding” and performed in the Buenos Aires month celebration at the World Financial Center. A highlight of her professional career is marked by her role as a primary dancer in the feature film “Random Hearts” directed by Sidney Pollack. Carolina was also invited to be part of the Hispanic Month Celebration at Pfizer central research center and The 10th Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival in Orlando, Florida. She has performed with the Orchestra and Chambers Music Festival at Penn State University, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Teatro Si and the Thalia Spanish Theatre. Carolina also performed on Boadway at Town Hall’s not Just Jazz series “Tangos for la Milonga” with Romulo Larrea’s Ensemble and traveled to Europe to perform with the Sudwestfalen Philarmonic at the Symphonic Tango night in Hilchenbach-Lutzel, Germany. Other performances include "Tango Summit" with the Panamerican Symphony Orchestra, “Dreams” a Tango Extravaganza, and "100 Años de Tango, de Villoldo a Piazzolla" along with Fabian Peralta in Montevideo's prestigious Solis Theatre. Carolina has appeared on several television programs including Fox 5 “Good Day New York” with Penny Crone, "Today in NY" on NBC, and was first prize winner on the popular program “Sábado Gigante” on Univision. Most recently, she was invited to teach at Nashville Tango and performed with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra in Tennessee. She was also invited to perform and teach several workshops at “Tango Norte,” the Stockholm Tango Festival 2007.
MARIA VICTORIA DI PACE Dancer / Singer / Actress
Born in Buenos Aires, Victoria has lived in Milan, Madrid and London and studied drama from the age of 11. She graduated from the Paolo Grassi Drama School in Milan where she was tutored in the alternative techniques of Grotowski, Lecoq, Laban and Vasiliev and was taught by Peter Brook, L'Odin Theatre Company and Anton Milenin. In 2005, having based herself in London, she began working as a movement director. Her credits include Hortencia and the Museum of Dreams by Nilo Cruz at the Finsborough Theatre and Mariana Pineda by Federico Garcia Lorca at the Arcola Theatre. That same year Maria Victoria created “theatreunO,” a theatre company which combines the physical techniques of Grotowski and the dramatic learnings of Vasiliev. In 2006 she directed the play nO-bOdy nOse, at The Space Theatre, which attracted the interest of the London press. In 2008 she co-directed "sOmthing Sweet" with Ishwar Maharaj at the Abbiategrasso Theatre Festival in Milan. Maria Victoria also choreographed "Birth" an experimental ten minutes piece of dance, contortion and physical theatre at the Roundhouse in 2007. Her acting credits include la Sciantosa in Questa sera si recita a soggetto by Pirandello at Piccolo Teatro; Aniuska in The small hour's Tango by Manuel Puig, Italian tour; Carmen in Carmen de los Corrales by Bizet, Teatro dal Verme; Father Laurence in Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare; Cesonia in Caligula by Albert Camus; Miss Julie in Miss Julie by Strindberg, Teatro Paolo Grassi; Eva in The Human Tragedy by Madach in the Italian Mittelfest Festival, in Cividale; Marta in The Women at the Tomb by Ghelderode, CRT Theatre;The Voice in Lachaim by Dafna Rubinstein, BAC Theatre, and Belladonna in Rigoletto, Royal Opera House. On film, Maria Victoria played the role of Maria alongside Billy Zane in Three, directed by Stewart Raffill, and Dr. Garcia in The Darkness directed by Andy Cull and "Linda" the protagonist in All about Linda by Monica and Barbara Sgambellone.
ARMANDO ORZUZA Dancer / Group Choreographer
Armando Orzuza was born in “La Boca,” a suburb of Buenos Aires, known as the birth place of the Tango. His first professional contact with the Tango was at the age of fourteen as a sound technician for a "tangueria" (Tango dance hall) in Buenos Aires. This enriching experience surrounded him with the foremost dancers, singers and orchestras of the Tango world. Ten years later, he began to study the Tango himself. Armando learned to dance from the original “milongueros” and began his professional career in 1990. Armando has made numerous guest appearances: as a dancer, he performed in the Broadway show of “Tango Passion” in New York and Miami, as well as in the promotion of the album “Tango” by Julio Iglesias, as a dance consultant and choreographer he worked in Alan Parker’s movie “Evita,” and he appeared in the Madonna’s “Re-invention” touring show in 2004. He has performed and taught Tango dance at Tango Festivals, public and private events, cultural organizations, embassies, consulates, schools, universities, and theaters throughout Europe, Japan, South America and the United States. Armando also appeared as a principal dancer in the movie “Assassination Tango” directed by Robert Duvall. He currently teaches and performs with Nuria Martinez.
“Armando Orzuza moves with ambling urgency and SILKY SMOOTHNESS.”
- Review of “Tango Passion,” Broadway, New York - Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times
“The male dancers ware particular good... above all, Armando Orzuza deserves special mention.”
- Review of “Tango Passion,” Broadway, New York - The New York Post
NURIA MARTINEZ MENDEZ Dancer
Nuria was born in Spain and trained in ballet at Madrid’s National School of Ballet and Piano. She received a Certificate in Dance Studies at London’s Laban Centre with a course of study including ballet, contemporary and jazz dance, Laban movement observation, pedagogy, Pilates, and improvisation. She completed the Diploma in Cunningham Technique at the Merce Cunningham Studio in New York City, with a Spanish Ministry of Culture fellowship. She has taught master classes in Modern dance and performed a wide range of world dance approaches in NYC and Europe including those of choreographers working in various modern dance techniques, Afro Cuban dance, Tango, and musical theatre.
In 2004, Ms. Martínez became an apprentice for Jennifer Muller/The Works, an extra cast member of the Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House, and a highlighted cast member of the Washington Opera Ballet. She has also appeared in documentaries, theater, film and television in Spain and the United States. In 2005, Nuria Martinez began to study Tango professionally with Armando Orzuza, achieving an important place in the professional tango world. To the precious and valuable experience of learning, sharing and dancing with Armando, she also brings into her work the vast previous knowledge and performing experience, as well as the inspiration gathered from concepts by Graciela Gonzalez and Rodolfo Dinzel after her trip and stay in Buenos Aires in the year 2007.
Nuria has designed and implemented K-12 dance curriculum in NYC area public schools and colleges, taught Master Classes to professional dancers at prestigious dance schools in Spain and at the London Contemporary School, and has served as an invited juror at the Carmen Senra annual choreographic showcase in Madrid. She served as a mentor for the mentoring pilot program as well as a peer panelist through the Center for the Arts Education’s Parents As Arts Partners Program. She has been a mentor for new teaching artists through Mark DeGarmo & Dancers in New York City.
Ms. Martínez graduated at Empire State College with a BA in Dance and Education. She currently performs and teaches Tango with Armando Orzuza throughout the US, Europe, and Buenos Aires.
“Another good performance was turned in by Nuria Martinez Mendez, as Tsvetaeva’s lesbian poet lover Sophia Parnoc, who danced a mystical tango based on Tsvetaeva’s poem, “I’m glad your sickness is not of my will.”
by Deirdre Donovan, The Brooklyn Paper, December 15, 2007, New York
“Part way through a solo performed by Nuria Martinez, Galletto emerged upstage in partial lighting, shadowing her beautifully controlled movements with his own.” by Abigail Gehring, ExploreDance.com, March 6, 2005, New York
MUSICIAN BIOS
LEONARDO SUAREZ PAZDirector
Violin / Singer / Dancer
Leonardo is among the most sought-after violin soloists worldwide in the field of the Argentine Tango. Growing up with the internationally renowned tango maestros Astor Piazzolla and Fernando Suarez Paz, Leonardo was engaged professionally at the age of 16 with the leading tango orchestras, making the history of the Argentine tango music. As a violin soloist, Leonardo was part of Roberto Gallardo Orchestra, Mariano Mores Sextet and Orchestra, Horacio Salgan Orchestra, Osvaldo Berlingieri Sextet, Jose Colangelo Septet and Orchestra, Atilio Stampone Quintet and Orquestra, Duo Porteño, Nestor Marconi Orchestra, and Saul Cosentino Sextet. Leonardo toured worldwide for eleven years with the prestigious international tango companies as a violin soloist and a professional tango dancer, including the critically acclaimed Argentinean Tango show “TangoX2” in the United States, France, Italy, Spain, England, Greece, Japan & Mexico. He starred as a soloist in both Broadway shows “Forever Tango” and “Tango Argentino,” Leonardo performed and recorded with Placido Domingo, American jazz legend Stanley Jordan, Latin star Luis Miguel, on the motion pictures tracks of Bossa Nova, Flawless, Imposters, and on the 2002 Latin Grammy nominated CD “Tango Bar” (Chesky Records). Leonardo has been appointed by the Argentine government as the Tango Ambassador to the United States for the National Academy of Tango.
Extended Story of Leonardo
NICOLAS DANIELSON After his first public violin recital at age 8, Nicolas performed with the Boston Pops at age 11, and the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 15. After completing his studies at the Curtis Institute with Ivan Galamian, Nicolas played with the Chester Quartet as a first violin for five years. As a member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra since 1990, Nicolas has played on many recordings, including Stravinsky's "Concertino" on the Grammy winning CD "Shadow Dances." In 1992 he assumed the position of Associate Concertmaster and Soloist the New York City Ballet Orchestra, where he appeared as a Solo Violin on stage with Mikhail Baryshnikov. He is also engaged as the Violin Soloist of Broadway’s “Fiddler on the Roof.” Nicolas is an avid performer of Tango music. He has played for Broadway's "Tango Argentino," and has recorded with tango pianist Pablo Ziegler and singer Denyce Graves for RCA records.
RON LAWRENCEViola
Ron has performed as a chamber musician and soloist on four continents with recent concerts at the Koln Musik Triennale, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Moers Festival. A New York City violist, he can regularly be heard with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Sirius String Quartet and recently performed with Cecilia Bartoli's American tour and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. His recent classical recordings include work with Kathleen Battle, Renee Fleming, Robert Craft, Andre Previn, and Donald Runnicles. A champion of new music, Mr. Lawrence has collaborated and performed with composers from John Adams to John Zorn. He has recorded extensively with the Dave Soldier Electric String Quartet, the Sirius String Quartet, and Quartet Indigo, a jazz ensemble. Other recordings include projects with Regina Carter, Lee Konitz, Paquito D'Rivera, Eumir Deodato, Jeremy Pelt, Bob Belden, Elliot Sharp, James Blood Ulmer, Cassandra Wilson, Jonh Cale, and the rock band Dr. Nerve. One of Mr. Lawrence's most exciting projects was journey to Alaska to record John Luther Adams multi-media spectacular, "Earth and the Great Weather - A Sonic Geography of the Arctic." Despite a rigorous performance schedule during the six-week stint, he was able to break away each evening to cross-country ski under the Northern Lights.
DANIEL MILLERCello
Cuartetango’s cellist Daniel Miller is the principal cellist of the Greenwich Symphony and an active orchestral, recording and theater musician in New York. He is currently playing in the Broadway production of Wicked. Mr. Miller has appeared as soloist with the Little Orchestra Society, the Savannah Symphony, the New Jersey Philharmonic and the New Amsterdam Symphony. Danny was a member of the Orchestra del Teatro San Carlo in Naples and the Glimmerglass Opera. As a chamber musician, he performed at the Banff and Spoleto Music Festivals, as a member of the Laurentian String Quartet and Musica Amici, and is cellist for the Greenwich Chamber Players. Danny has played for Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli, Frank Sinatra, Smokey Robinson, and many more pop, rock, and jazz entertainers. He is heard on many Broadway cast albums and has composed and performed music for Nickelodeon, the Children's Television Network.
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