The Cabeceo

Skip to content

Dancer

Carmencita Calderón

Carmencita Calderón was a tango dancer, born on 10 February 1905, who began dancing as a girl under the instruction of her brother Eduardo [1][3]. She was best known in the dossier sources as the partner of El Cachafaz, with whom she danced professionally and in films during the 1930s and early 1940s [1]. She received public honours in Buenos Aires in her later years, celebrated her hundredth birthday in 2005 and died later that year [1][2].

Carmencita Calderón was a tango dancer whose recorded career spanned from the early 1930s into the first years of the twenty-first century [1]. She was born on 10 February 1905 [3].

She started dancing at about the age of 13, around 1918, and was taught at home by her brother Eduardo [1]. Around 1932 she went to Club Sin Rumbo in Villa Urquiza, where she met Tarila and then El Cachafaz [1]. With El Cachafaz she made her professional debut in 1933, performing with Pedro Maffia's orchestra in San Fernando, and the pair danced in the films ¡Tango! and Carnaval de antaño [1].

The partnership ended when El Cachafaz died on 7 February 1942, after a performance the two had given in Mar del Plata [1]. In 2001 and 2002 she was honoured by Buenos Aires institutions, and in 2005 her hundredth birthday was marked with a milonga and a tribute at which she danced [1][2]. She died of pneumonia on 31 October 2005 in Villa Lugano [1].

Early life and training

Calderón was born on 10 February 1905 [3]. She began dancing at about 13, around 1918, and received her early instruction at home from her brother Eduardo [1].

Around 1932 she attended Club Sin Rumbo in Villa Urquiza [1]. There she first met Tarila and afterwards El Cachafaz, who became her dance partner [1].

Partnership with El Cachafaz

In 1933 Calderón made her professional debut with El Cachafaz, appearing with Pedro Maffia's orchestra in San Fernando [1]. The same year the couple danced in the film ¡Tango! [1].

In 1940 she appeared with El Cachafaz in the film Carnaval de antaño [1].

The partnership came to an end in 1942. El Cachafaz died on 7 February of that year, after the pair had performed in Mar del Plata [1].

Film appearances

The sources record two films in which Calderón danced with El Cachafaz [1]:

  • ¡Tango! (1933) [1]
  • Carnaval de antaño (1940) [1]

Honours and later years

In 2001 the Buenos Aires Legislature honoured Calderón for spreading tango and milonga [1]. In 2002 she was honoured at the Teatro Colón and at the Festival Buenos Aires Tango, where she danced with Juan Carlos Copes [1].

In 2005 she turned 100 [2]. The occasion was celebrated with a milonga in Flores and with a tribute at the Museo Histórico Saavedra, at which she danced [2].

Calderón died of pneumonia on 31 October 2005 in Villa Lugano [1].

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. 1.Carmencita Calderón · en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2.Carmen Calderón cumplió 100 años y aún quiere bailar · lanacion.com.ar
  3. 3.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app

How they dance

From TangoTube's videos · our data

Filmed

2026

What we don't know yet3 of 5 known

Dance partners, 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

Notes11

Starts dancing at about 13, taught at home by her brother Eduardo.1918Single source

Meets Tarila and then El Cachafaz after going to Club Sin Rumbo in Villa Urquiza.1932Single source

Professional debut with El Cachafaz and Pedro Maffia's orchestra in San Fernando; they dance in the film ¡Tango!1933Single source

Appears with El Cachafaz in the film Carnaval de antaño.1940Single source

El Cachafaz dies on 7 February after their performance in Mar del Plata.Feb 7, 1942Single source

Turns 100; celebrated with a milonga in Flores and a tribute at the Museo Histórico Saavedra, where she dances.2005Single source

Dies of pneumonia on 31 October in Villa Lugano.Oct 31, 2005Single source

El Cachafaz — described as Carmencita Calderón1933–1942Single source

Carmencita Calderón — described as Carmencita Calderón (Bailarina)1933Single source

Her name was Carmen Micaela Riso de Cancellieri; on stage she took her Spanish maternal grandmother's surname and was known as Carmencita CalderónSingle source

The mythical partner of El CachafazSingle source

Won2

Won Honoured by the Buenos Aires Legislature for spreading tango and milonga.2001Single source

Won Honoured at the Teatro Colón and the Festival Buenos Aires Tango, dancing with Juan Carlos Copes.2002Single source

Partnered with8

El Cachafaz — partnered with Carmencita Calderón1933–1942Supported · 2

Carmencita Calderón — partnered with Carmencita Calderón1933, 1940, 2002Supported · 2

Not Carmencita Calderón — partnered with Carmencita Calderón1933Supported · 2

El Cachafaz — partnered with Carmencita Calderón1933Single source

José Giambuzzi — partnered with Carmencita CalderónSingle source

El Pibe Palermo — partnered with Carmencita Calderón1942Single source

Juancito Averna — partnered with Carmencita Calderón1964Single source

Carlitos Almada — partnered with Carmencita CalderónSingle source

Born2

Born on February 10, 1905Single source

Carmencita Calderón — born on Carmencita Calderón (February 10, 1905)Single source

In other catalogues1

Carmencita Calderón — external id Carmencita Calderón (todotango:creador/1724)Single source

Died1

Carmencita Calderón — died on Carmencita Calderón (October 31, 2005)Single source

Birthplace1

Carmencita Calderón — born in Carmencita Calderón (Buenos Aires Argentina)Single source

Danced at1

Carmencita Calderón — danced at Carmencita Calderón1932, 1942, 2002Supported · 2

Timeline

  1. Feb 10, 1905Born on 10 February in Buenos Aires.

    source

  2. 1918Starts dancing at about 13, taught at home by her brother Eduardo.

    source

  3. 1932Meets Tarila and then El Cachafaz after going to Club Sin Rumbo in Villa Urquiza.

    source

  4. 1933Professional debut with El Cachafaz and Pedro Maffia's orchestra in San Fernando; they dance in the film ¡Tango!

    source

  5. 1940Appears with El Cachafaz in the film Carnaval de antaño.

    source

  6. Feb 7, 1942El Cachafaz dies on 7 February after their performance in Mar del Plata.

    source

  7. 2001Honoured by the Buenos Aires Legislature for spreading tango and milonga.

    source

  8. 2002Honoured at the Teatro Colón and the Festival Buenos Aires Tango, dancing with Juan Carlos Copes.

    source

  9. Oct 31, 2005Dies of pneumonia on 31 October in Villa Lugano.

    source

  10. 2005Turns 100; celebrated with a milonga in Flores and a tribute at the Museo Histórico Saavedra, where she dances.

    source

Most watched videos

On TangoTube · our data

All their videos on TangoTube

From TangoTube's videos · our data

Videos uploaded in

Listen

No recordings to play yet.

Ask Tangopedia

Answers only from cited facts, each with its source.