"Summary of an Interview with Florencia Taccetti & Julio Mendez" by George A. Nicol

San Francisco, California

Florencia began studying ballet at the age of eleven. She studied ballet for seven years at the National School of Ballet in Buenos Aries. Then she studied contemporary dance for three years in Buenos Aries. Afterwards she was invited to join the Contemporary Dance Group where she danced for two years. She then went to Europe for five years. She visited family and friends in Venice and was invited to teach Tango there. She stayed there for three and a half years and taught Tango. She helped start the Venice Tango scene. In Paris, where she stayed for one and a half years, she taught Tango and was invited by the French Government to study contemporary dance.

In 1992, after her European stay, she went back to Argentina where she performed and continued teaching Tango. In 1996 she was invited to come to the U.S. She started dancing with Julio about one year ago.

Julio started dancing Tango six years ago at the age of 23. Before that he worked as a race horse trainer, which is an activity very close to the Tango culture in Argentina. Julio does not like to ride horses because it is too dangerous especially for a dancer. Julio started dancing Tango because it was so much a part of his culture and family. He says that his father use to sing Carlos Gardel songs around the house all the time when Julio was growing up.

In the Summer in Buenos Aries, Julio and friends, run a popular Milonga call the "North Wind" in a beautiful open air park with a large dance floor and barbecue. Tango orchestras are invited for special occasions, otherwise, Julio is the DJ. On occasion, Julio sings there. He was once sang and played guitar in a rock group.

Last year Julio and Florencia met in a Milonga in Argentina where she was dancing and he was singing. Julio says he loves dancing with Florencia because she feels very secure as they dance. Florencia likes how they feel and look when they dance together. She says that they have a good dance connection.

Last year Julio traveled for four months in Europe teaching and performing Tango. This year is Julio's first visit to the U.S. During this performing and teaching tour, Florencia and Julio have been to Philadelphia, Montreal, and Santa Barbara, and San Francisco. Next Florencia and Julio go to Denver and Boulder, and then maybe to Los Angeles, New York, or back to Buenos Aires.