Vladimir Estrin & Emily Ortiz
Emily Ortiz-Gorcie started developing her passion for the tango at 5 years old, recalling Carlos Gardel's breath-taking voice over her Argentinian father's record player on Sunday afternoons. Once she grew up and learned the art of the Argentine Tango, she realized her true passion for the dance. Emily has performed tango exhibitions in several cities around the world in places such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Greece, Hungary, and Spain. In 2008, Emily performed to the music of Astor Piazzolla on the world famous stage of the Hollywood Bowl alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
In Buenos Aires, Emily has studied with many great maestros including Carlitos Perez, Gabriel Misse, Javier Rodriguez, Geraldin Rojas, and Milena Plebs to name a few. In 2009 and 2010, Emily had the honor and pleasure of working with and assisting Maestro Pablo Veron, star of the award-winning film 'The Tango Lesson'. Emily has also assisted renowned maestros such as Raul Bravo, Ricardo Barrios, Jorge Firpo, Eduardo Capussi, Hugo Patyn, and Graciela Gonzalez "La Leona Del Tango" for festivals and workshops in Buenos Aires and the United States.
Emily has also worked behind the scenes as Executive Producer and Dance Company Manager with Natalia Hills' production company, Tangueros del Sur, and their production, "Romper el Piso", which was featured in New York's City Center as well as the Vail International Dance Festival and received outstanding reviews in the New York Times.
In May 2010, Emily co-founded Tango Smith and produced the Santa Monica International Tango Holiday, aka "The SMITH", an annual international tango dance and music festival in Los Angeles which attracted hundreds of dancers from all over the country, and featured professional dance couples from Argentina and U.S. based tango musicians. In 2011 Emily will be directing a new tango festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico which will debut in October 2011.
An acclaimed Argentine Tango Instructor, performer, organizer, and producer, Vladimir Estrin, has been an integral part of the LA's tango community since 2001. His detailed approach to tango education, in-depth understanding of both leader's and follower's roles and techniques, kinesiology and musicality, have earned him great respect among the students and the peers.
Originally from Russia, and growing up in a very musical family, Vladimir has been exposed to the sounds of Tango from the earliest age. After taking his first Argentine Tango lesson, he knew that he had found his passion.
In 2001, Vladimir founded www.TangoAfficionado.com – International Online Tango Resource, that has become one of the most visited Tango-related websites in the United States.
Currently Vladimir is a full-time Tango instructor, and runs the Argentine Tango program at the 3rd Street Dance studio in Los Angeles, California. He continues to advance tango education, as well as promote local and international instructors and performers in Los Angeles, Southern California and United States.