Biography

María Nieves was born on September 6, 1934 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was an actress, known for Assassination Tango (2002), Solamente ella (1975) and Carlos Gardel, historia de un ídolo (1964). She was married to Juan Carlos Copes. She died on April 19, 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 2015 documentary film Un tango más by German Kral depicts the sometimes difficult relationship between Nieves and Juan Carlos Copes, dance partners for over 40 years. Nieves attributes her improvement as an artist to the hatred between the two dancers.

María Nieves Rego was an Argentine tango dancer and choreographer who starred with her long time dance partner Juan Carlos Copes in the 1983 musical Tango Argentino.

Maria Nieves and Juan Carlos Copes brought the tango and the milonga to audiences throughout the world.

She was introduced to the tango by her elder sister known as La Nata. When she was 14 years old, the 17-year-old Juan Carlos Copes took her as his dance partner; the two would soon become lovers.

Nieves offered a simple explanation for her success despite never having had a dancing lesson: "The first time I danced the tango, it entered my skin through my feet, passed from my skin to my blood and through my blood to my heart. It requires no acrobatics, you simply have to devote yourself to your heartbeat.".