Diane Lachtrupp Martinez
Creator, Writer, Choreographer, Producer
Diane Lachtrupp Martinez is an award winning Tango, Salsa and Swing dancer who has also been recognized for her work as a choreographer. Currently a resident of Saratoga Springs, NY, Diane spent 20 years in NYC dancing, teaching dance and choreographing for stage, film, video and television, including training Meryl Streep in Argentine Tango. As a guest artist in South America, Europe and throughout the US, Diane has performed and taught with her partner/husband Johnny Martinez.
Diane’s 1999 NYC original show, titled “Tango Fusion” received a rave review from the New York Times critic Jennifer Dunning, in which she said, “Ms. Lachtrupp has an unknowing and witty way of fusing disparate dance styles.” “Tango Fusion ” offered a unique and refreshing take on Tango, exploring many facets of the passionate dance. As a result, “Tango Fusion” was invited to perform at Tango festivals at Town Hall in NYC and The Fifth Annual Tango Congresso in Buenos Aires. Diane was also invited to participate in the unique traveling show “From the Horse’s Mouth” in both NYC at St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery and at Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY.
Since her arrival in Saratoga, she has been kept busy creating, producing, and choreographing her original productions as well as performing/choreographing for theatrical productions at Proctors, the Charles Wood, Opera Saratoga, The Egg, Cohoes Music Hall, Troy Music Hall, Fort Salem Theater and Home Made Theater.
In 2014 she was voted the winner of the international competition – “So You Think You Can Choreograph.” Throughout 2015-2016 and 2021, she played Isadora Duncan for Nacre Dance Company in the dance play “Revolutionary.”
Diane is the creator and co-choreographer of Tango show “Una Noche de Tango,” “Encuentros Intimos,” and “Nocturna.” In 2022 she created, directed and co-hosted the television show “Tango Fusion’s Ballroom Dance Show” for Proctor’s Collaborative Studios.
Pablo Aslan
Composer, Musical Director
Argentine-born musician and producer Pablo Aslan is recognized internationally as one of the leading figures in contemporary tango. He performs as leader of his own ensembles and with a variety of artists.
His most recent recording is Divina on his own Avantango Records label, released in May 2023 and recorded in Buenos Aires. His discography includes Piazzolla in Brooklyn (2011), and Tango Grill (2009). The latter earned him nominations for a Latin Grammy and a Grammy awards. The album Contrabajo (2018) features him as a bass soloist accompanied by a string quartet in an eclectic and personal mix of Latin American music.
Aslan has worked with many world-class artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Shakira, Lalo Schifrin, Denyce Graves, Arturo O’Farrill, Paquito D’Rivera, Osvaldo Golijov, Frank London, Pablo Ziegler, David Krakauer, the New World Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Aslan received the 2007 Latin Grammy for his work as producer and mixing engineer in Raul Jaurena’s album Te Amo Tango. In 2016, he founded Avantango Records, a label dedicated to tango music that has received two Latin Grammy awards.
He is an active researcher and educator, and has produced educational programs for Lincoln Center Institute, Carnegie Hall, and Arts Connection and lectured about tango in universities throughout the US.
Recent performances include guest artist with Texas Tech Tango Orchestra, performances in Argentina with his trio and “Piazzollazo” at the Ori- gen Festival in NYC. Pablo will be performing in “The Gardens of Anuncia” at Lincoln Center this fall.
Junior Cervila
Choreographer
Junior Cervila was considered by New York newspapers “the Gene Kelly of Latin Dance”. Originally born in Brazil and based in Buenos Aires he has an extensive professional history that includes performances from Broadway to Buenos Aires.
In NYC, he has performed on Broadway at the Gershwin theater with “Tango Argentino”, and also performed at Lincoln Center and Town Hall in New York. In 2017, Junior choreographed and performed in “Evita” at Asolo Rep. and in 2018 he played the Gigolo in “Grand Hotel” at City Center.
From 2014 to 2016, he was the choreographer of “Piazzolla Tango” and “Tango Porteño,” in Buenos Aires. Other Buenos Aires appearances include performances at Luna Park, Gran Rex, Teatro Opera, Teatro Colon and the Nueve de Julio in a historic concert of “Tango Argentino” to 15000 people.
He has toured throughout Europe with the show “Tanguera” and with Julio Iglesias. Since 2001, Junior has run and toured with his own company “Latin Dance Company” in which he fused Salsa, Tango, Samba and Flamenco.
His film credits include work with the BBC and the film “Tango” by Carlos Saura, nominated for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Film.
In addition to his work as a performer and choreographer, he has been a judge for the USA Tango Championships and the Tango World Championships.
Johnny Martinez
Script Editor, Choreographer, Fight Choreographer
Johnny Martinez, a native of Brooklyn New York, has been living in Saratoga Springs since 2005. He started his career in ballet and modern dance, then began working in musical theater, performing in national and European tours of West Side Story and Damn Yankees.
More recently Johnny has worked with a wide variety of regional theater and dance companies as performer, director or choreographer. Johnny is on the faculty of SPAC’s School of the Arts at the National Museum of Dance teaching creative movement, jazz, tap and ballet and has taught ballroom at Skidmore College.
With his wife Diane Lachtrupp, he co-directs Tango Fusion Dance Company, teaching ballroom/Latin and partner dance to adults and children. Through his collaboration with Diane, Johnny has taught and performed in Argentina (the 5th Annual Tango Congress); San Sebastian, Spain; Rome, Italy, The Dance Flurry; Moonlight in Vermont, Brandon Vermont; Stepping Out Dance Studios, NYC; and Tango Fusion’s Ballroom Dance Show with Proctor’s Collaborative Studio, which he co-hosted and co-created.
In addition to his choreographer credits for “She Loves Me,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” “Addams Family the Musical,” “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” and the “Drowsy Chaperone,” Johnny was a choreographer for the Tango shows – “Una Noche de Tango,” “Nocturna” and “Encuentros Intimos.” His fight choreography credits include “Carmen” for Opera Saratoga, “Guys and Dolls” and “West Side Story.”
