Meet the stars
Producers and Directors
Carlos Barrionuevo
Mayte Valdes
Carlos Barrionuevo and Mayte Valdes are internationally recognized Argentine tango artists, directors, and creators of Tango Elite – The Show and Tango Elite Productions, a Los Angeles–based company dedicated to presenting tango with cinematic elegance and theatrical power.
Partners since 2007, they began their careers in the most prestigious tango houses of Buenos Aires before relocating to the United States, where they performed in renowned productions including Forever Tango, Jacob’s Pillow, the Vail International Dance Festival, the Israel Dance Festival, and Evolution Tango on its Broadway premiere.
Celebrated for their dramatic presence and refined aesthetic, Carlos and Mayte have become one of the most sought-after tango couples in the industry, known for blending the emotional intensity of Argentine tango with the glamour and sophistication of classic Old Hollywood.
Their work spans stage, film, and television, Directors and producers of the Cabaret show “Red Velvet Reverie”, Directors and performers the show “We called Tango” in US and Canada by Fever. Mayte is in pre-production directing the play “Hollywood Gothic” written by Fox Montgomery
With appearances in major productions for Audi, Hennessy, Motorola and more. Collaborations with prominent cultural figures including, Ricky Martin, Eva Longoria, Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Dita Von Teese, Her Majesty Farah Diba Pahlavi, Craig Robinson, and Hillary Clinton to name a few. Through Tango Elite Productions, they continue to create world-class tango experiences that merge artistry, storytelling, and spectacle.
Jorge Torres & Maria Blanco
Dance Captain
Jorge Torres is an internationally recognized Argentine tango dancer, choreographer, and director. He began dancing at the age of three and trained in ballet, Argentine folk dance, flamenco, and tango under renowned master Norberto Guichenduc. Torres performed for many years with the celebrated Broadway production Forever Tango, where he served as Dance Captain and Principal Dancer. He has toured extensively worldwide, performing, choreographing, and teaching at major theaters and tango festivals. Torres has also served as a juror for international tango championships and is the Artistic Director of the American Tango Institute.
Maria Blanco is a professional Argentine tango dancer and instructor. She has traveled throughout Asia, Europe, and North America teaching at dance congresses and serving as a juror for competitions. She has performed at distinguished venues and events such as the International Women’s Forum, the Latin Grammys, and the Neiman Foundation at Harvard University.
Her background in acting has also led her to model for photographers from Nat Geo, Travel + Leisure, and Vogue, as well as appear in television commercials for brands such as Coca-Cola and Panasonic.
She is also an art curator and critic certified by the National University of the Arts, and she is currently studying Psychology at the Universidad de Belgrano.
Her Tangonetics method is the result of her extensive experience as a dancer and art curator, combined with her academic research.
Sharna Burgess & Artem Chigvintsev
Sharna Burgess and Artem Chigvintsev are internationally celebrated dancers and choreographers best known for their starring roles on the global television phenomenon Dancing with the Stars*. Prior to their television success, both artists built their reputations performing in the acclaimed international dance production* Burn the Floor*, where they shared the stage with some of the world’s most respected ballroom and Latin performers. Their careers have taken them across major stages in the United States, Europe, and Australia, earning recognition for their technical excellence, artistry, and dynamic stage presence. Beyond competition and television, both Sharna and Artem have contributed to the evolution of modern ballroom dance through choreography, live touring productions, and mentorship of the next generation of dancers. Their shared experience in high-level theatrical dance productions reflects the same commitment to excellence, musicality, and storytelling that defines today’s premier dance spectacles.*
Gabriel Misse & Maru Riforcaut
Internationally acclaimed Argentine dancers, choreographers, and master teachers who bring to the stage the living essence of authentic Argentine Tango.
Gabriel Missé began dancing at the age of four under the guidance of legendary folkloric artists Santiago Ayala “El Chúcaro” and Norma Viola. As a child, he trained personally with the great masters of tango’s golden age, including Carlos Rivarola, Miguel Ángel Zotto, Antonio Todaro, and other iconic milongueros. Throughout his distinguished career, he has performed in internationally renowned productions such as Tango x2 and Forever Tango, and has appeared in films including Assassination Tango. In 2015, he choreographed, directed, and presented his own show, Tango History, at New York City Center. For over a decade, he served as a juror for the Tango World Cup and the Metropolitan Tango Championships in Buenos Aires. His artistry has been praised by critics worldwide, and he was described by former New York Times chief dance critic Alastair Macaulay as “the Baryshnikov of Tango.”
Maru Rifourcat began her dance training at the age of four, building a strong foundation in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz. She studied at prestigious institutions in Argentina and continued her artistic formation in Italy and New York City at renowned training centers. Her professional career includes theatrical productions, television appearances, international tours, and serving as Dance Captain and dancer in cruise productions throughout Europe.
Since 2018, Gabriel and Maru have toured worldwide as performers and educators. Together, they embody a tango that honors tradition while speaking powerfully to the present — a dance rooted in the soul of Buenos Aires and shared with audiences and students across the globe.
Adrian Veredice & Alejandra Hobert
Emblematic figures of Argentine Tango, widely recognized as dancers, choreographers, and judges.
Since 1998, they have been featured in many of the most important and acclaimed international tango festivals in recent years, appearing in cities such as Berlin, Rome, London, Paris, Lisbon, Athens, Istanbul, São Paulo, Dubai, Chicago, Sitges, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Catania, San Juan de Puerto Rico, Brussels, Miami, Montreal, Boulder, New York, Philadelphia, among many others.
From 2003 to 2010, they were the lead dancers, choreographers, and principal couple of the shows Otango and Cincotango, achieving great success in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Slovenia.
They are artists and choreographers with the New World Symphony for the Piazzolla’s Tango concert at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
They are currently guest artists in the Broadway show Forever Tango and perform with We Call It Tango and Tango Dream.
They also create, produce, and direct their own shows, including GOTAN! – Tango Cabaret, and their most recent production, Tango: Regreso al Amor.
As professors, teachers, dancers, organizers, and producers, they are a driving force in the development and growth of the tango community in Miami and throughout the state of Florida.
Tango Bardo Orchestra
Tango Bardo is one of the most celebrated contemporary Argentine tango orchestras, renowned for its powerful sound and unmistakable style that resonates on dance floors and concert stages around the world. Founded in Buenos Aires in 2014, the ensemble quickly gained international recognition, becoming a favorite among professional tango dancers, festival organizers, and DJs across the global tango community.
The orchestra features Juan Miguens (double bass), Lucas Furno (violin), Santiago Polimeni (bandoneon), Lorena Donvito (piano), and vocalist Roberto Minondi. Together they bring a vibrant interpretation of traditional tango, blending the raw energy of the golden age with a modern artistic voice that keeps the music deeply connected to the dance floor.
Tango Bardo has performed at prestigious theaters and festivals worldwide, touring across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania, and collaborating with leading tango dance companies including Mora Godoy, Tango Legends, and Tango Desire. With an extensive discography and a devoted international following, Tango Bardo continues to shape the sound of contemporary tango while honoring its rich tradition.