El Cachafaz (Ovidio José Bianquet)

Ovidio José Bianquet was born on 14 February 1885 at the corner of Boedo and Independencia avenues in the Boedo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.^[14][15] From childhood he displayed exceptional physical facility and soon attracted attention as a dancer. Two principal accounts exist of the nickname “El Cachafaz” (rascal, shameless, insolent). One traces it to a father’s angry exclamation after the young Bianquet took liberties with a woman; another, associated with José Gobello, links an earlier childhood nickname “Benito” to a police misunderstanding of his mother’s protest that he was “buenito.”^[14][15] He was also occasionally referred to as Benito Bianquet.^[14]

In 1911 he competed in a tango contest against leading contemporaries including Elías Alippi, Juan Carlos Herrera, Ambrosio Radrizzani and Enrique Muiño and took first prize.^[15][16] The same year he traveled to the United States; upon returning in 1913 he opened a dance academy.^[14][16] Between 1910 and 1929 his partners in both life and dance included Emma Bóveda, Elsa O’Connor (later a noted dramatic actress) and Isabel San Miguel.^[14][16] In 1916 he appeared in Resaca, the first of approximately fourteen films; the most historically significant is the 1933 sound film Tango, in which he dances with the teenage Carmencita Calderón.^[14][15][16]

In 1919 he was in Paris, giving lessons to members of high society and performing at the cabaret El Garrón alongside Manuel Pizarro and his brothers; he eventually returned to Argentina, reportedly finding the local lifestyle more congenial.^[14][16] Throughout his career he worked extensively with Francisco Canaro’s revue companies. He maintained a regular table at a café on Corrientes and Talcahuano where he met friends including Carlos Gardel.^[14] His preferred stage attire for tango with cortes was a black jacket and striped “fantasía” trousers; for salon tango he wore a tuxedo.^[14]

From 1933 until his death his exclusive dance partner was Carmencita Calderón, whom he met through José Giambuzzi “El Tarila” at Club Sin Rumbo. Calderón later described his “special gift—elegance and a unique timing,” his ability to execute shared figures without bending, and the delicacy with which he removed any suggestion of indecency from certain cortes.^[14] She also noted that although he never carried a weapon, “a blow of his was enough to put them to sleep.”^[14] Contemporary accounts portray him as both a refined technician and a man of the orillas who settled disputes with his fists.^[16]

On 7 February 1942, while performing at the restaurant El Rancho Grande in Mar del Plata, Bianquet finished a tango, stepped off the floor and collapsed; he died shortly afterward at the age of fifty-six.^[14][15][16] In his honor the date was later established as Día del Bailarín de Tango in Argentina.^[15][16] A 1913 tango by Manuel Aróztegui bears the title “El Cachafaz”; the dedication has been variously interpreted, and Todo Tango notes that the piece was also linked to the actor Florencio Parravicini, yet the name remains indelibly associated with the dancer.^[17] Another composition, “Bailarín compadrito,” sung by Gardel, is said to have drawn on episodes of his life.^[17]

El Cachafaz is remembered as the figure who professionalized tango dancing, moving it from informal contests and academias into theatres, films and international cabarets while retaining the dramatic timing and upright carriage that later stage dancers would refine. His filmed appearance in Tango (1933) remains one of the earliest surviving visual records of a major tango dancer performing to orchestral accompaniment.^[14][15][16]

Birth, nickname and early contests

Born 14 February 1885 in Boedo, Bianquet acquired the lasting nickname El Cachafaz through youthful behavior that earned the label “cachafaz.”^[14][15] In 1911 he won a major contest against the leading dancers of the day.^[15][16]

International travels and film

He traveled to the United States in 1911 and to Paris in 1919, opening an academy on his return and appearing in roughly fourteen films, most notably the 1933 sound film Tango with Carmencita Calderón.^[14][15][16]

Partners and style

Long-term partners included Emma Bóveda, Elsa O’Connor and Isabel San Miguel; from 1933 until his death the partner was Carmencita Calderón, who praised his elegance, timing and non-bending execution of figures.^[14] He worked frequently with Canaro’s companies and kept a regular café table where he met Gardel.^[14]

Death and commemoration

He died on 7 February 1942 in Mar del Plata immediately after a performance at El Rancho Grande; the date is observed as Tango Dancer’s Day.^[14][15][16]