This Valentines Day, the Manuel Artime Theater will host TANGObsession, which is a dance multimedia fusion show that brings together, art, romance and Argentinian culture. Tickets for the bilingual show, ranging from $25-$45, are available now on www.tangobsession.com or via 954-961-5223. Whether you’re hopeless romantic wanting to live out a Valentine’s Day fantasy or just looking to experience a bit of authentic Latin culture, TANGObsession is the show for you. L’Etage Magazine sat down with the creator and lead actor, Humberto Fortuna, to learn more about this multidimensional musical.
Tell us a little about Tango dance in general. Where it is popular and what kind of music is it performed with?
Tango is a very distinctive partner dance. The musical style of tango began in the working class port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The word Tango was first used in the 1890s. The academics in Argentina looked down on it and it was slowly accepted as a respectable dance.
In 1917, folk singer Carlos Gardel recorded his first tango song, Mi Noche Triste, forever associating tango with the feeling of tragic love. Tango dance is one of the most passionate and sensual dances between a man and a woman. It was the first of its type where a man and a woman danced so close together. In fact, the tango dance became very popular at brothels since society, at that time, didn’t approve of a man and woman dancing that close to each other.
When did you first become interested in music?
Since I can remember, I have always liked all types of music and the arts in general. I remember being very young and singing at family reunions and school events. With the support of my parents, I began my musical education when I was twelve years old, auditioning for the Opera’s Children’s Choral Group at Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires under the conduction of Valdo Sciamarella. I continued performing and educating myself at Teatro National Cervantes Youth Professional Choir under the conduction of Nestor Sadoff and went on to become a church organist at Jesus Misericodioso Church. Later I created my own choral group, De Todos Tiempos, specializing in Barroco, Renaissance, Popular and Contemporary music from Argentina. At age twelve, I also began my Academical Musical Education at the National Conservatory of Music, Santa Ana and San Joaquin in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
How did you come up with the idea to create a musical inspired by Tango?
I love all types and styles of music. My classical training is very strong but I also grew up with popular and contemporary music as well. Tango is in my blood and I identify with this style of music for its passion and poetry in the lyrics. Tango lyrics can be so strong and creative that they make your imagination soar. And many ideas are born from this inspiration.
What was your thinking behind the plot of the musical? What made you decide to have a romantic theme?
When I was developing the show, in my mind, I discussed the idea with my Co-Producer, Laura Sapir. I told her I wanted to present a different type of tango show. We realized that tango dance was easy to market to an audience since it did not involve any language or verbal communication with the audience. But we wanted to show the tango from another point of view. We wanted to present to an audience a full understanding of WHY they are so attracted to the tango dance and WHY Tango dance is so passionate. So I decided to present the tango style in all of its forms, to include Music, Lyrics, and dancing.
The idea of having a romantic theme is part of many, many tango lyrics. In this case, a tango from Maestro Mariano Mores was my original inspiration and it is for that reason that the shows name is TANGObsession… “Because I Loved Her So…”
“Because I Loved Her So…” is a tango that narrates a story about a man who is waiting for the love of a woman and she never gives it to him. He almost goes mad waiting and waiting for that love that never comes to him…
Introduce us to the dancers. Why did you choose them for this musical?
“TANGObsession” required quality and experienced tango dancers. We searched for the perfect couple who could bring us the different styles of tango dancing for our show. We have the honor of presenting Noelia Guerrero and Martin Cardoso as part of the show. These dancers also become characters, participating in the story line. I chose them because of their technique and their understanding of the different styles of tango dancing. They are so pristine and precise, that I did not need to look any further. In “TANGObsession”, we show 5 different styles of tango dancing… from its original beginnings to the ballroom dancing style.
Tell us about the other forms of art used in the musical. How are they incorporated into the show?
With Laura Sapir, the Co-Producer, we knew we wanted to create a Fusion of the Arts. As a photographer and the Artistic Director of “TANGObsession”, she began searching thru different medias that utilized the tango music as a theme or a subject for their artwork. So we were able to incorporate Paintings, Movies, Films, Music, Dancing, and even Animations into the format for the show. We wanted to reach the audience thru sensory stimulation as well as thru music and dance, and help them understand and experience why tango is so passionate. The best way to accomplish this was to merge all these medias into one show. While we create the fusion of these arts, the audience can appreciate and understand the message and the story line via the lyrics of these tangos because we translated them in English and projected them onto a movie screen as part of the art fusion, while enjoying the singing and all the other art forms as well. It’s a very special fusion where your body, mind and soul are submerged into a form of music from all angles. This guarantees a very special experience for everyone.
What was it like the first time you performed in the musical in front of an audience? Were you nervous?
For me, it was very special! I had been out of the public eye, as a professional singer, for over 20 years for various reasons. It was also very special since I was not only the performer, but I was the director, writer and creator of the show… I can tell you that I was nervous not because I had to perform. I wanted, with Laura to see the audience reaction. Would they understand the message? Would they follow the story? Would they like the art fusion? Would they think it’s too much? It was more important for us to make sure that our objective of showing a music style like TANGO was understood and enjoyed by all. And YES, I was nervous! But I was in heaven at the same time. Being able to present an Avant Garde Musical with a live Tango orchestra, never seen before for an hour and a half of live music, singing, dancing and poetry without dialogue and pure music and art fusion really was heaven.
Was it difficult to develop a storyline using just lyrics and no other dialogue?
Was it difficult?… I must say the following… I believe that things happen for a reason in life. When I decided to present the show idea to Laura, as a potential project, the only thing that I had in mind was… HOW CAN I DO THIS DIFFERENTLY? So I asked myself, What do I want to do? What is it that I waited so long, over 20 years to prepare myself as an artist? And what was it that I wanted to do? My answer was that I wanted to do a show, a musical, a concert in Spanish. But at the same time, I wanted to share that passion and the arts with the non-Spanish speaking audience as well. Also, I wanted to educate and make people vibrate through my singing and my passion. And the answer was… TANGO music! From there, I started to remember my favorite tangos, and began listing them and at the end of the day I had over 28 tangos creating a very well balanced and perfect story. And “TANGObsession” was born. With the inclusion of 2 Poems from a Cuban Poet, Jose Emilio Fernandez, giving “TANGObsession” a very unique and sophisticated touch while bringing the audience to that special vibration that I originally intended. Now I felt that the Musical was perfect! As a Classical music lover, I always promised myself to always include a classical music piece in everything I do, so “TANGObsession” fulfills that promise with a special guest from Venezuela, Violinist Crismary Garcia. She has a couple of solos that delight the audience with her talent as part of the story…
What has been the public response to the musical?
“WOW!”… That was the response. The audience responded in an overwhelming way and we had 3 sold outs shows in 2 days at the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center last October. All my fears went away when I saw all types of audiences, from young to old, from Spanish to Non-Spanish speaking individuals being absorbed by the show, music, dancing, translations, poems… you name it. We could not believe the amount of people waiting for us after the show to say hello and congratulate us! These great experiences lead us to be interviewed by CNN the following day for half an hour.
What are your goals for “TANGObsession” in the future?
Tangobsession.com is produced by HumSa Productions, and its producer’s objective is to promote new and known local artists. Our next show will be on February 14th at the Manuel Artime Theater, located at 900 SW 1st Street, Miami, Florida at 6 pm. We were asked to bring it back to Miami to celebrate Valentine’s Day! And it is our honor to do so. Tickets can be purchased at www.tangobsession.com or at 954-961-5223
After this show, “TANGObsession” is invited to Argentina to perform there for the first time!
