Press Release

Created in July, 2009 by Erskine Maytorena, a third generation tango musician and opera singer, QTANGO performs authentic Argentine tango arrangements as often as two to three times a week throughout the Southwest for tango dancers and listeners. Venues have included Leonardo’s in Los Angeles, CA, Cellspace and the Verdi Milonga in San Francisco, Scottish Rite Temple in Santa Fe, NM, Plaza Palomino and the Berger Performing Arts Center in Tucson, Arizona, Sacramento, San Diego, Taos, Las Cruces, El Paso, Sedona, and Las Vegas. Specializing in the traditional tango music of the "Golden Age" of the great Argentine tango orchestras, QTANGO's dynamic and powerful music keeps dancers on the floor and listeners enthralled. Every song is a novella; a story of love, betrayal, desperation and hope. QTANGO's musicians give the audience a unique and intimate experience, an acoustic resonance only an orchestra can provide, a journey into the romance, passion and elegance of tango. Whether touring as a quartet or performing gala events with over 14 musicians, every performance is sophisticated, engaging, nostalgic, and moving.

Erskine Maytorena, has produced, directed and performed in operas, zarzuelas, theater and concerts for over twenty years in Europe and the United States. He is the voice of Qtango, also playing bandoneon, clarinet, and trumpet in addition to leading the orchestra.

Svetlana Petkovic and William Gruner are QTANGO’s featured dancers. Svetlana Petkovic studied classical ballet in the former Yugoslavia and at the famous Vaganova School of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, going on to perform throughout Europe as a professional ballerina. A diverse dancer, she also partners Jorge Nel as they teach and perform tango throughout the United States. William Gruner has studied and performed Argentine Tango for over 12 years with some of the greatest names in tango, such as Ozvaldo Zotto, Pablo Varon, Pablo Pugliese and Miguel Zotto to name just a few. Both have taught dance professionally for well over 10 years each. They bring a rich sensuality to all QTANGO performances that must be experienced live to truly be appreciated.

"...a wonderful tango event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a soirée with a great, exquisite orchestra...they played tangos, valses, milongas, very genuine argentine tango versions; people danced happily to every single piece....you have done a great job with QTANGO." - Claudio Asprea, International Performer and Teacher of Argentine Tango

"Mad Hot Tango...tango has a live music element that's supercharging the local scene - the QTango Orchestra." - David Steinberg, Albuquerque Journal.

"The live orchestra brings a spontaneity and vibrancy to the music, which surpasses any recording." - Albuquerque Journal.

"...your way of singing sounds like Enrico Caruso when he sang tango in Bs As; beautiful, dramatic and lyrical, and your string arrangements are excellent." - Julian Graciano, Professor, National Academy of Tango, Buenos Aires, Argentina

CONTACT AND BOOKING INFO: Erskine Maytorena, 505-506-1728 or info@QTANGO.COM

Upcoming performance dates:

http://www.qtango.com/Calendar.html

Our website address: www.qtango.com

Youtube link: http://www.qtango.com/Sound.html

Photos available by request, courtesy of Morgan Petrkoski.

Please choose from images at this link.

We will provide requested images at proper resolution for your application:

http://petroski.smugmug.com/Dance/Tango/QTANGO110610/14572512_BRzaA#1083790623_Hnr6m

Additional Photos: http://www.qtango.com/Photos.html

Natalia Tikhovidova: Piano (Russia)

Olga Home: 1st Violin (Russia)