e is remembered when he danced way back in the 50’s; but tango came to him through his father, before he was ten years old, like a spirit that never would forsake him. At that time he used to dance with his sisters and cousins at the milongas of La Paternal, until he left secondary school when he was in first grade and sealed his fate with a sentence: «I want to be a dancer».

Later love came, his inseparable wife María Topa, a unique way of dancing, and his family life which interrupted tango for twenty years. By the 80’s the couple resumed the dancing activity; danced at Volver, on Corrientes and Suipacha, and were offered a proposal for traveling to France which meant the beginning of their professional life.

Rodolfo was talented and charismatic. Once he had a dream in which his father reminded him of the times they had spent together and what he had taught him about canyengue style. But it was due to María’s request that they began to dance and spread it throughout Europe, Canada and the United States.

Little by little, both dancers turned into great maestros, stood out as dancers, recorded their lessons on video, and became models of the canyengue style.

Cieri had the skill, the wit and the capacity to surprise several generations. He danced and it seemed that his body smiled at him. He was deeply rooted in his neighborhood, and maybe because of that he went deep into the hearts of all who came to know him; because one’s neighborhood is never forgotten.

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