Pedro and Janis in Club Gricel (October 1998)
August 27, 1935 —
Pedro used to have a reserved table on Fridays in Club Gricel on La Rioja near San Juan. That is where I danced with him for the first time more than ten years ago. When Pedro retired in July 2000, he started his first class and practica at Salon G.O.N., Pavon 3916 in Boedo. I went and filmed him there. Since then he has organized a practice in several places including Salon Carpanel on Independencia.
I danced a tanda with Pedro in Centro Region Leonesa a few weeks ago. What a pleasure! I didn’t need to dance again that night. One tanda with Pedro satisfied me completely. It’s too bad that foreigners aren’t studying tango, vals and milonga con traspie with Pedro.
There is finally a video of Pedro on YouTube with 500+ views already, thanks to Tina Ferrari of Seattle. He and Alejandro Gee organized a milonga in Club Buenos Aires on Peru for the last three months, but they closed it a few weeks ago.
I have met Pedro’s wife and two daughters. He’s a gentleman and fine tango dancer who knows how to transmit his dancing. I encourage teachers to learn from him…before it’s too late. Pedro is interested in traveling to the United States, but first he needs a contract from someone who will sponsor him and petition for his work permit and visa.
- Practica in Salon Carpanel (Aug 30, 2004)
Pedro participated in Milongueando 2009 held in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, he didn’t dance with a partner with whom he could demonstrate his talent as a dancer.
Pedro appeared in the documentary El Ultimo Bandoneon which premiered in Buenos Aires movie theaters in October 2006. It is available on DVD at music stores. Pedro has interesting things to say about the milonga, women, and codigos. You will see him invite a woman to dance by moving his lips–vamos. She happily responds with a smile and a nod.
Tags: Club Gricel, Milongas, Milongueros
Tango Chamuyo 
August 29, 2008 at 10:18 am
Dancing with Pedro really is something to be savored. I hope he can finally go to the States soon!
August 29, 2008 at 4:21 pm
As soon as someone living in the USA offers to sponsor Pedro for a work permit and P-3 visa with a teaching contract, he will get there. He is wasting his money applying for a tourist visa and be rejected once again by the US Consulate.
I have talked to Pedro about this for years, but he seems to feel it’s worth trying to enter illegally on a tourist visa and teach without prior commitments in place.
I know what a gem he is. He should be teaching in Chicago for the milonguero festival in April, or at the Denver weekend in May, etc.
July 22, 2010 at 3:46 am
I totally agree. He is a brillant dancer and special human. I will meet him again next week in Buenos Aires.