This couple loves to dance, and their excitement shows. Their performances are captivating, their costumes sparkle, and their swift-footed leg movements are almost impossible to follow. They trace the history of the tango in their performances, from its beginnings in the barrios of Buenos Aires, to the modern, almost poetic expressions of tango dance today. Their troupe of 16 dancers from Bahia Blanca is top notch. The First Tango Ballet of Bahia Blanca’s mission is to perform the dance of tango as it should be performed- with sensuality, excitement, swift tango movements, and colorful costumes.
Bahia Blanca, Argentina is Jacksonville’s first Sister City. The two cities twinned in July of 1967 under a special program started by President Dwight Eisenhower to share culture, technology, and build alliances and trust. Since then, Jacksonville and Bahia Blanca have had student exchanges, political exchanges, educational exchanges, sports exchanges, business exchanges, and arts exchanges. Today, Jacksonville has 6 sister cities throughout the world. Visit Jacksonville Sister Cities Association
Sergio began the study of tango in 1980 under the direction of Angel Zaza, disciple of Mariano Mores. Sergio and Adriana began dancing together in 1991 and debuted that year in Nora Roca's dance concept, Bahitango 90, in the Municipal Theater of Bahia Blanca, Argentina. This began a long romance which culminated in their marriage and their dance troupe First Tango Ballet of Bahia Blanca. Since the 90’s they have performed every summer in the Auditorium Theater of Bahia Blanca, and have shared the stage with Goyeneche, Guillermo Galvé, Néstor Marconi, Hugo Marcel and the Bahiense singer Nora Roca.
Sergio and Adriana have taught tango in many cities in Argentina and have designed classes for kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools with the support of the Undersecretary’s Office of the Municipality of Bahia Blanca. They have designed a special tango course for blind people, and have included blind tango dancers in their tango performances. All together, they have taught tango to over 4,000 people.
In 1995 they represented Bahia Blanca, Argentina in the Sister Cities Week celebration in Jacksonville, Florida. Their tremendous success resulted in invitations to perform in Jacksonville’s World of Nations celebrations in subsequent years. This will be their 8th visit to the United States.
Their list of international tango performances is impressive. They performed in Chile in 1994, United States 1995 - 2003, Italy in 1996, Bolivia in 1997, Brazil in 1999. They have also performed on the C-Line cruise ships beginning in 1995.
The First Tango Ballet of Bahia Blanca will be performing this year in Jacksonville from April 17 through April 30, 2006.