Welcome Production Partners!
About
Tango Illusion is a dance play, portraying the onstage and offstage lives of a troupe of Tango/Salsa dancers who nightly perform their show Fuego in New York City. Dance rehearsals, evenings at home, and social dancing for fun are all part of the dancer’s offstage life. In addition to the three main performing couples and a star singer, there are musicians who provide some dialogue and texture to the play.
Tango Illusion’s dramatic tension centers around Tango dancer/choreographer Elena who faces obstacles to keep the show going including her own addiction to Tango. Her charismatic dance partner/lover Claudio drinks, gambles and can be volatile. The new producer, Victoria, wants new innovative numbers – yesterday! Claudio’s problems jeopardize both Elena’s and the company’s safety. Will Elena make the right decisions, both personally and artistically to keep Fuego alive and thriving?
Tango Illusion offers immersive and interactive elements for the audience. From the moment audience members enter the building, they experience Tango visually, audibly and viscerally. To highlight their immersive experience, attendees have the opportunity to take a Tango class before the show, at intermission or after the show. Interaction is at its best, when in Act II, the audience is invited to create a dance piece for the dancers. They choose the music, the costumes, and the final pose to develop a unique piece that the dancers then perform spontaneously. The conclusion of Tango Illusion gives audience members another opportunity to immerse themselves in this alluring dance.
Absolutely NO partner or Tango experience necessary. This show will thrill the newcomers to Tango and keep the deeply committed Tangueros satisfied.
Meet the troupe
The Characters
The characters portray an array of deeply intertwined narratives weaving in and out of struggles arising from their addictions, passions and obligations.
– Development Team
Elena
Talia Castro-Pozo
An American born daughter of two Tango dancers from Argentina, she is the creative director of the troupe. A leader and talented choreographer, Elena has been sidetracked by her addiction to Tango and is rebuilding her life. She is trying to take her company’s show Fuego to the next level and has to overcome obstacles both personal and professional.
Claudio
Jeremy Adam Rey
A Tango dancer from Argentina. He is a charismatic performer with an edge, who can sometimes be unpredictable. Although, basically a good guy, who loves Elena, he struggles with some issues that affect their relationship and the company.
Benjamin
Tybaldt Ulrich
The dancer/magician who serves as the story’s MC. He has a dual personality, bringing comedy to the show and enjoying the mystery of magic. He has his hands full with his new wife.
Arlette
Sevin Ceviker
A dancer and magician’s assistant. She seizes life and is now realizing a lifetime dream of being on the stage. She is spunky, fun, mischievous, and totally distracting. She has a gymnastic background.
Osvaldo
Anton Domansky
A Latin/Tango Dancer from Cuba and the rehearsal director of the group. He is calm, a little controlling and generous. He balances two important relationships within the company; his dance partnership with Rosa and his life partnership with violinist Raphael.
Rosa
Mariana Parma
A Latin/Tango dancer from Puerto Rico. She is a true friend to Elena and helps her through this difficult time. She is a valuable member of the troupe being well versed in Salsa and Tango, even tempered and up for any new choreography.
Pancho
Pablo Aslan
A mature musician from Argentina, who plays the guitar, and is the leader of the band. He is charming and talented, with an Old World sensibility. He is devoted to his wife Carla and loves to dance Tango with her.
Victoria
Julia Chen Myers
Producer who is pushing Elena to take chances with the show. Brash, fun, flirty.
Carla
Renowned Argentine performer, who is the star of the “show within a show ” Fuego.
Although Carla dances in the show, she headlines as the singer. She is married to Pancho and is the company mentor. Carla is not to be trifled with.
Raphael
Italian violinist who also dances a bit and is Osvaldo’s life partner.
Fernando
Argentine bandoneon player
Jacqueline
French pianist and flautist
Ensemble of 4 – play a variety of roles: thugs, assistants, dancers in Fuego and milonga.
[Some character images are digital image generations, to embody the likenesses of the characters, pending official casting.]
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The Music
Tango Illusion includes both existing Tango music as well as original Tangos. It is unique for a Tango show to have so much original music. The show includes Milongas, Vals, and Tangos, which are all a part of the ‘Tango family’ but they are different dances. They are danced to different beats and have different dynamics.
Please note that Milonga – In addition to being a dance that is the folksy forerunner of the Tango, it is also the name given to a dance party in which Tangos, Tango Vals and Milongas are danced.
- “Corazon Libre” (Free Heart) – Music by Pablo Aslan, Lyrics by Diane Lachtrupp Martinez, Sung by Sol Liebeskind.
Theme song that describes the protagonist Elena’s struggle with her addiction to Tango.
The audience experiences the song being written during the show by the lead musician Pancho and being tweaked by the other musicians.
- “Encuentros Intimos” (Intimate Encounters) – Music by Pablo Aslan
Song played during the Milonga, when the troupe goes out dancing. The song highlights the power of Elena and Claudio’s Tango chemistry.
- “Illusions” – Music by Pablo Aslan
Elena and Claudio’s dynamic Tango solo performed in the Tango troupe’s show Fuego.
- “Beto” – Music by Pablo Aslan
Fast paced Milonga that is danced by Benjamin, Arletter, Osvaldo and Rosa in Fuego. The piece is upbeat and playful.
- “El Enchanter” – Music by Pablo Aslan
A melodic meandering contemporary Tango danced by Osvaldo and Rosa in Fuego.
SOME BACKGROUND
Tango Illusion Timeline
1985
Love affair starts with Argentine Tango, the dance, after seeing Tango Argentino, the show on Broadway. Argentine Tango is the total package – authentically based, technically precise and theatrically compelling. Spend the next 10 years studying Tango, opening a studio, teaching and synthesizing Tango with different dance forms (jazz – ballet – latin) and a variety of musical genres.
1995 to 2010
Produce, write and choreograph seven (7) full length Tango Shows, including my Master’s Thesis and the show Tango Fusion, that received a significant review from the NYTimes. “Ms. Lachtrupp has an unusually knowing and witty way of fusing disparate dance styles. And two group numbers, ”Modernes” and ”El Gato Triste,” are the dance equivalent of sleek French bedroom farce, with the performers handing one another along through tightly knit choreography.”
2010 to 2014
Subsequently, portions of the show are showcased at Town Hall, Jennifer Muller’s showcase and the World Tango Congresso in Argentina. We brought to Argentina our unique take on Tango and the local Argentines responded enthusiastically. Did I mention that I also raised two boys and increased my studio to 80 classes a week and over 400 students?
2015 to 2020
I begin to create the Tango Illusion script. My contemporary Tango piece, “Encounters” wins an international choreography contest. Public reading of Tango Illusion in Saratoga Springs, New York. I embark on an exploration of the “addiction to Tango,” and as a result, it becomes a pervasive theme in the storyline and character’s arc.
2021 to Present
I join Theater Makers Studio, which proves to be a game changer for networking, organization and motivation. No longer a solo flight piloted only by me, the team now includes Latin Grammy Award winning composer Pablo Aslan, Broadway performer and choreographer Junior Cervila, an advisor, dramaturg, magician, script assistant, entertainment lawyer and webmaster. Public readings and original Tango recordings ensue.
Currently producing an equity workshop for a September 18th and 19th presentation at the Player’s Club in NYC.
GOALS, VISIONS AND WHERE WE STAND
At this point, Tango Illusion is looking for a developing producer(s) to take us to the next level of production. Although I have produced and created shows in and out of NYC, Tango Illusion is a larger project with more ambitious goals and would benefit from experienced producers.
Additionally, I believe that Tango Illusion could work well in both a traditional stage setting or in a club theater setting. Tango shows have done very well on tour, and I think that Tango Illusion would also be a candidate for a tour.
Currently, we are in production for an equity workshop in NYC at The Player’s Club, September 18th at 4 pm and September 19th at 11am. We are preparing a 45-minute show featuring the highlights of Tango Illusion as well as an interactive number with the audience.
Script
1. The Tango Illusion script is complete and has gone through a number of rewrites. I have worked with a dramaturg and recently finished another rewrite.
2. We have had two public readings to hear the script and garner public feedback.
Music
1. Composer Pablo Aslan has written several songs for the show – Five are available to hear on this website. All songs have been recorded and arranged. More songs to come.
2. Most Tango shows do not have new music but rely on existing Tangos. In addition to our original music, we will be using some established Tangos and Salsas, but have not sought out the rights yet.
Choreography
1. Onboard choreographers are Junior Cervila, Guadalupe Garcia, Diane Lachtrupp Martinez and Johnny Martinez. All highly versed in Tango, Salsa and Theater Dance.
The dance video included is not necessarily the show’s choreography but an example of the quality of work and dance by the choreographers to our original music.
Magic
1. Magician Benjamin Levy has served as a consultant and helped design scenes that contain magic ranging from adding extra arms to a dancer’s back to creating the illusion of many dancers on stage in the closing number. An added bonus, Benjamin is also an accomplished ballroom dancer.
Marketing
1. There is a Tango Illusion website created by Tom Martinez. www.tangoillusion.com
2. We also have Facebook and Instagram.Facebook:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tangoillusionshow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangoillusion/
Email: [email protected]
3. Plans for the website include a fundraising feature generated by an interactive experience for the viewer to “Design their own Dance.”
4. A dance video will be produced with the theme song “Corazon Libre.”
Finance
1. Tango Illusion is a registered LLC.
2. The workshop is funded by two investors.
Determination and Commitment : Unlimited!!
Interested in Producing or investing. Need more info?
CONTACT
Diane Lachtrupp Martinez
[email protected]
518-932-6446
BeTa Production Team
Rebecca Carulli & Tammy Haarman
[email protected]
214-417-0054 or 518-879-1024
Tango Illusion Email: [email protected]