Paul Pellicoro (born 1956) is a professional

ballroom dance Ballroom dance is a set of European partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and te ...

r, instructor, and choreographer. He has owned and operated New York City's largest ballroom dance studio, Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport, since 1985, which is currently located next to the

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. The studio was previously located on the

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of Manhattan. Renowned for his work in film, Pellicoro has extensive film experience both as a performer and as a choreographer.

Biography

Pellicoro first came to national attention as the dance choreographer for the film " Scent of a Woman" (1992), for which he trained Academy Award winner

Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino ( ; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Known for his intense performances on stage and screen, Pacino is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. His career spans more than five decades, duri ...

for the notable (and arguably, most memorable) scene of the film, wherein Pacino dances the

Argentine Tango Argentine tango is a musical genre and accompanying social dance originating at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. It typically has a Time signature, or rhythmic time signature, and two or three parts repeating in pat ...

with actress

Gabrielle Anwar Gabrielle Anwar (born 4 February 1970) is a British-American actress. She is known for her television roles as Sam Black in the second series of '' Press Gang'', as Margaret Tudor in the first season of ''The Tudors'', as Lady Tremaine in the ...

. Pellicoro both manages DanceSport and instructs full-time. Starting as an original Latin-Hustle street dancer during the late 1970's. Paul went on to train with the top English coaches to be a ten-dance International style competitor. He not only teaches International Latin American and Ballroom, but also the full American Style genre of dances. He is one of the few living experts in both "Authentic Style" dancing (such as Argentine Tango, Hustle and Salsa/Mambo) as well as the highly disciplined competitive styles you see in TV's "Dancing With The Stars". Among his notable students were Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvino, Richard Gere, Wynona Ryder, Sigourney Weaver,

Anthony LaPaglia Anthony LaPaglia (, ; born 31 January 1959) is an Australian actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen he has received several accolades including three AACTA Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. For his starring role as Jac ...

, Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Brian Cox and Marilyn Cole.Scott, Janny, "Flirting with the tango", ''New York Times'' (June 11, 1999)
/ref> In 1995, he co-founded the Partner Dance Educational Fund, a not-for-profit organization with a stated mission to bring partner dancing to a wider public. Currently, the Fund sponsors free dance workshops in New York City public schools and private spaces. In 2002 Barricade Books published his book ″Paul Pellicoro on Tango: The Definitive Guide to Argentine Tango″.

Filmography (crew)

Publications

* ″Paul Pellicoro on Tango: The Definitive Guide to Argentine Tango″. Larchmont: Barricade 2002, .

References

External links

Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pellicoro 1957 births Living people American choreographers