hen he was a kid they used to call him Pinocchio, because of his sharp nose. He was from La Boca and was fond of a life with no arrogance. His eyes used to smile at him when in the mornings he slurped his maté.

Tango found him when he was 14, soon after he had begun to wear long trousers. A friend for everybody, he used to practice at the Parque Lezama. «With Lalo, Poleto and Martín, we carried a victrola and began to practice steps with the Juan D’Arienzo orchestra».

Later he appeared at the Rancho Grande, in Quilmes, clubs and picnics, until he dared to appear in the Capital. At age 16, taller and untidily shaven, dodged his teenage image to gain experience at the Palermo Palace, El Kakuy and La Enramada, among other dance halls.

It was on one of those chances that Pedro Vujovich came to know Graciela Cano to become one in life and in tango.

Back in the 80’s you could see them at El Savoy. «There were so many people –the dancer said– that I removed the eight and invented steps to keep up with the rhythm».

Maybe due to that creative gift, after competing at the Glorias Argentinas, Pedro and Graciela won the III Campeonato Metropolitano (Third Metropolitan Championship) of Tango Salón 2005 and months later were consecrated as world runners-up in that category.

These well deserved awards spotlighted that he continued being the friendly humble gentleman he has always been.

The author is instructor, dancer and researcher of tango dance. He is author of the Nuevo glosario de tango danza, La pista del abrazo and Tango FAQs. www.tangosalon.com.ar / info@tangosalon.com.ar