“Our love for tango is in our blood. It’s the dance of our parents, grandparents, and even our great-grandparents,” Ezequiel López explained. “Whenever you go to Buenos Aires, you can feel the tango all around you. When you go to the cafés or simply while walking down the street, it’s in the air. Honestly, it’s impossible not to fall in love with such a breath-taking dance.”
Both López and Alegre grew up in artistic homes. Ezequiel’s father was a dancer, and within said context, dancing was standard, giving birth to an undying love that would become his lifestyle. Camila, on the other hand, started dancing in an academy, and it wasn’t until a tango instructor visited that her curiosity flourished. With years of practice and a successful career under their belt, they became the 2015 World Champions in the Buenos Aires Tango World Championship in stage tango.
Before obtaining such renowned title, Camila and Ezequiel had worked in different tango shows in Argentina, including the Café de Los Angelitos, La Ventana Tango Show, and Tango Porteño. They integrated the cast of Tangos Corazónicos led by Sabrina and Ruben Veliz, participated at the closure of the World Tango in the Luna Park stadium, and formed part of the company Obsesión Tango directed by Tamara Bisceglia which led them to travel to Mexico City, Mexico.
Ezequiel López also participated in the reality show “Qué Viva the Chosen” in Los Angeles, California, under the direction and production of Jamie King, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony. Being runner-up, López participated in the live show held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, USA.
“The evolution of tango is more than welcomed because it’s something that has happened and will always happen,” Camila affirmed. “Modern tango is not the same tango that was danced thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago. What is important -to me, at least- is that these changes should respect the meaning and history of the dance; truly understand it’s roots not to modify the essential values.”
“During the last ten years, the dance has acquired different steps and rhythms from other dances. The incorporation of new academies and companies has sped up the evolution process of tango, which it’s understandable”, López added. “There are still things that haven’t changed, like social tango or milongas. To this day, you dance with strangers, but everyone knows that there are norms that you need to respect. For us, we respect these social rules by knowing there are things that we can -and are allowed- to do on stage but never while you’re dancing the milonga.”
López and Alegre explained to Latino Life that professional dancers have to be aware of new tendencies to provide fresh material while remaining fiercely traditional. “Professional dancers must take the basic -both in steps and style- as the root of it all. It is only then when one can add the professionalism and show-like aspect to the dance. Only then can a show be performed at the highest level and receive an ideal response from our audience.”, López explained in an affirming tone.
“The response we receive from our audience changes from place to place,” Camila Alegre continued. “Due to our shows and collaborations, we have been able to travel all over the world. Our fans in Asia are incredible because they are a very polite crowd. Their applause is measured and contained, making you second guess yourself- ‘Did we do a good enough job?’- but then, at the end of the show, you have an unimaginable amount of fans waiting for you outside your dressing room. It’s a surreal feeling.”
“I think each place has its way of showing emotion, and London is no different,” Ezequiel interrupted. “Londoners are a special crowd, and we’re not just talking about the critics. Both the critics and the audience demand the very best from its performers, so we have no choice but to give them what they ask for. London will forever be a challenge that makes us strive for perfection.”
Due to their aim for excellence, the tango world champions will participate in Sadler’s Wells’ annual celebration of dance on 31st January and 1st February. The program includes circus from Machine de Cirque, popping and tutting from Géométrie Variable, two BBC Young Dancers Shree Savani, and Max Revell, cutting-edge contemporary from Company Wayne McGregor, among others.
