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Dancer

Olga Besio

Olga Besio was a tango dancer, teacher and choreographer who led a free tango workshop at the Centro Cultural General San Martín around 1984-85 [2] and co-created 'La vida es un tango' with Gustavo Naveira in 1993 [3]. In 2019 she received ProTango's UNESCO-sponsored 'Embajadores del Tango' award as a 'maestra de maestros' [8]. She died on 30 October 2024 [11].

2008: 12010: 12011: 12012: 22014: 42016: 12018: 12019: 22021: 22022: 22023: 22024: 5
2008’10’202024
performances filmed, by the year danced· our videos

2008: 1, 0; 2010: 1, 0; 2011: 1, 0; 2012: 2, 0; 2014: 4, 0; 2016: 1, 0; 2018: 1, 0; 2019: 2, 0; 2021: 2, 0; 2022: 2, 0; 2023: 2, 0; 2024: 5, 0

Olga Besio was a tango dancer whose recorded partners included Gustavo Naveira, Federico Naveira, Ariadna Naveira, Pepa Palazón and Gabriel Di Prinzio . Her documented activity ran from the mid-1980s, when she taught a large free tango workshop in Buenos Aires [2], to public interviews given in 2024 [10].

Her documented work included teaching [2], stage choreography [3], television and film appearances [4][5], and directing a ballet that performed during the Semana del Tango [6]. She was later honoured as a 'maestra de maestros' [8]. After her death in 2024, dancers performed in her memory [9][11].

Teaching

Around 1984-85, Besio ran a free tango workshop at the Centro Cultural General San Martín [2]. The workshop drew about 400 people, and it was split into two shifts [2].

In 2019 she received the 'Embajadores del Tango' award from ProTango, which was sponsored by UNESCO [8]. The award recognized her as a 'maestra de maestros' [8].

Choreography and stage work

In 1993 Besio co-created and choreographed 'La vida es un tango' with Gustavo Naveira [3]. The work was staged for the Senior Ballet at the Teatros Roma and Empire [3].

In November 2008 a ballet under her name performed on Avenida de Mayo during the Semana del Tango [6].

Television and film

A video dated 1994 by its uploader shows Besio dancing with Gustavo Naveira on a television tango show [4]. The dossier does not independently confirm the year beyond the uploader's date [4].

Besio appeared among the milonga dancers in Sally Potter's film The Tango Lesson, dated 1997 in the source [5]. According to the same source, IMDb credits her, with her surname spelled 'Besio', in the role of 'Olga' [5].

Interviews

On 16 September 2012 Besio gave a three-part public interview with Pepa Palazón in the series 'Tengo una pregunta para vos' [7].

On 10 August 2024 she was interviewed by Marina Combis at the Poker de Reinas festival [10].

Death and tributes

Besio died on 30 October 2024 [11]. She died days after travelling to Rome, where her family had announced health difficulties [11]. The biography that reports these details attributes them to Balletin Dance, and the dossier notes that the page has not been verified [11].

In 2024 Karina Colmeiro and Alessio Altieri danced 'El Choclo' in Florence in her memory [9].

Dance partners

A dance video listing records Besio as a partner of the following dancers :

  • Gustavo Naveira
  • Federico Naveira
  • Ariadna Naveira
  • Pepa Palazón
  • Gabriel Di Prinzio

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. 2.Olga Besio, entrevista (Lautaro Tango Cap, live stream) · youtube.com
  2. 3.Gustavo Naveira · es.wikipedia.org
  3. 4.TANGO TV Show in 1994 dancing Olga Besio & Gustavo Naveira, Rodrigo Rufino, etc · youtube.com
  4. 5.The tango chose me · elfirulete.wordpress.com
  5. 6.BALLET de OLGA BESIO en la Avenida de Mayo - Semana del Tango - Noviembre 2008 · youtube.com
  6. 7.OLGA BESIO... Tengo una pregunta para vos, video 01/03 · youtube.com
  7. 8.Maestra de maestros, Premio Embajadores del Tango de ProTango auspiciado por UNESCO a Olga Besio · youtube.com
  8. 9.Karina Colmeiro y Alessio Altieri - El Choclo (Homenaje a Olga Besio) · youtube.com
  9. 10.Entrevista a la maestra Olga Besio por Marina Combis, Festival Poker de Reinas 2024 · youtube.com
  10. 11.Olga Besio (biography) · todotango.com

How they dance

From TangoTube's videos · our data

Filmed

2008–2024

What they dance

  • Tango 56%
  • Vals 33%
  • Milonga 11%

Orchestras they dance to most

Cities filmed in

  • Buenos Aires5 videos
  • Hamburg2 videos
  • Baltimore2 videos
  • Medellín1 videos
  • Florence1 videos

Career

Titles, partnerships and events, newest first

  1. 2019Filmed at · El Milongón
  2. 2016Filmed at · Viva La Pepa
  3. 2009First filmed with · Gustavo Naveira

What we don't know yet4 of 5 known

Whether they lead or follow.

Teaching, a school or milongas they organise? Add them to this profile
Interviewed them? Send the recording as oral history

Data: recordings, facts and sources

Partnered with5

Federico Naveira — partnered with Olga Besio

Single source

Partnered with Ariadna Naveira

Single source

Partnered with Pepa Palazon

Single source

Gustavo Naveira — partnered with Olga Besio

Single source

Partnered with Gabriel Di Prinzio

Single source

Notes11

Around 1984-85 runs a free tango workshop at the Centro Cultural General San Martín that draws about 400 people, split into two shifts in…1984

Single source

Co-creates and choreographs 'La vida es un tango' with Gustavo Naveira for the Senior Ballet (Teatros Roma and Empire).1993

Single source

Dances with Gustavo Naveira on a television tango show (uploader's date).1994

Single source

Appears among the milonga dancers in Sally Potter's The Tango Lesson; IMDb credits her (correctly spelled 'Besio') in the role of 'Olga'.1997

Single source

Her ballet performs on Avenida de Mayo during the Semana del Tango.2008

Single source

Three-part public interview with Pepa Palazón in 'Tengo una pregunta para vos' (16 September 2012).Sep 16, 2012

Single source

Karina Colmeiro and Alessio Altieri dance 'El Choclo' in her memory in Florence.2024

Single source

Interviewed by Marina Combis at the Poker de Reinas festival (10 August).Aug 10, 2024

Single source

Dies on 30 October, days after traveling to Rome, where her family had announced health difficulties (per Balletin Dance, page unverified).Oct 30, 2024

Single source

Olga Besio is an experienced tango teacher with deep knowledge of tango salón

Single source

Her career has lasted almost thirty years

Single source

Won1

Won Receives ProTango's 'Embajadores del Tango' (UNESCO-sponsored) award as a 'maestra de maestros', and by her own account is named honorary member of a tango…2019

Single source

Judged1

Judged Mundial de Baile de Tango (Tango de Pista final 2023)2014, 2023

Single source

Era1

Era electronic-festival2010–2024

Single source

Partners

Danced together in TangoTube's videos · our data

Who danced with Olga Besio, year by year

Events

Where they were filmed, most first · our data

Timeline

  1. 1984Around 1984-85 runs a free tango workshop at the Centro Cultural General San Martín that draws about 400 people, split into two shifts in the 'salón naranja' below the main hall, as Argentina returns to democracy.

    source

  2. 1993Co-creates and choreographs 'La vida es un tango' with Gustavo Naveira for the Senior Ballet (Teatros Roma and Empire).

    source

  3. 1994Dances with Gustavo Naveira on a television tango show (uploader's date).

    source

  4. 1997Appears among the milonga dancers in Sally Potter's The Tango Lesson; IMDb credits her (correctly spelled 'Besio') in the role of 'Olga'.

    source

  5. 2008Her ballet performs on Avenida de Mayo during the Semana del Tango.

    source

  6. Sep 16, 2012Three-part public interview with Pepa Palazón in 'Tengo una pregunta para vos' (16 September 2012).

    source

  7. 2019Receives ProTango's 'Embajadores del Tango' (UNESCO-sponsored) award as a 'maestra de maestros', and by her own account is named honorary member of a tango academy that December (i.e. Academia Nacional del Tango, per Philadelphia Argentine Tango School).

    source

  8. Aug 10, 2024Interviewed by Marina Combis at the Poker de Reinas festival (10 August).

    source

  9. Oct 30, 2024Dies on 30 October, days after traveling to Rome, where her family had announced health difficulties (per Balletin Dance, page unverified).

    source

  10. 2024Karina Colmeiro and Alessio Altieri dance 'El Choclo' in her memory in Florence.

    source

Most watched videos

On TangoTube · our data

All their videos on TangoTube

Connected

From TangoTube's videos · our data

Listen

  1. OlgaCuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo · no clip yet1946
  2. Niebla del RiachueloOsvaldo Fresedo · Roberto Ray1937
  3. Tinta rojaAníbal Troilo · Roberto Goyeneche1971
  4. Parque PatriciosFrancisco Lomuto · Fernando Díaz1941
  5. Valsecito de antesJuan D'Arienzo1937
  6. Corrientes y EsmeraldaJuan D'Arienzo · Alberto Echagüe1945
  7. De pura cepaJuan D'Arienzo1935
  8. No llores madreJuan D'Arienzo · Roberto Lemos1951
  9. SaludosMiguel Caló1944
  10. Pedacito de cieloMiguel Caló · Alberto Podestá1942
  11. Sin lágrimasOsvaldo Pugliese · Roberto Chanel1946
  12. ChiquéOsvaldo Pugliese1953

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