Juan Carlos Copes

Copes was born in Buenos Aires. When he was 17 years old, he took the 14-year-old Maria Nieves as his dance partner; the two would soon become lovers.[2] She described him as a poor dancer initially, but he improved quickly.[2] His first professional performances were with Francisco Canaro's orchestra in 1955, and in 1958 he debuted in Europe and the United States with Maria Nieves as his partner.

He married Maria Nieves in Las Vegas, but the marriage did not last. They continued to dance together, and Maria Nieves described the hatred between them as improving their art.[2]

During the 1960s, Copes was instrumental in creating the modern tango show concept in Buenos Aires. Copes and Nieves starred in a 1962 production at the Alvin Theatre on Broadway as well as appearing on numerous episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show from 1962 to 1964.[3]

Copes choreographed and starred in the musical Tango Argentino in Paris in 1983, which contributed to worldwide revival of tango; his notable stage credits also include his work as chief choreographer of Ástor Piazzolla's María de Buenos Aires (1968), in the Spanish National Dance Company's Dance Icons series (1993), and a leading role in Manuel González Gil's Entre Borges y Piazzolla (Between Borges and Piazzolla, 1997).[4]

Copes' film credits include Raúl de la Torre's musical, Funes, un gran amor (1993), and in a role as chief choreographer in Tango, la película (Tango, the Movie), a 1998 film by Carlos Saura.[4]

He had a daughter, Johana, with his second wife, and he began to dance with her on stage in 1994.[3]

Copes has received numerous artistic awards. His pupils include Robert Duvall and Liza Minnelli.[4]

His often problematic relationship with Maria Nieves, his dance partner for over 40 years, was depicted in the 2015 documentary film Un tango más by German Kral.