Calgary's most recognized tango dancer, Leo Sato, spent much of his youth training as
a competitive bodybuilder under the tutelage of Ken Suemitsu (1972 IFBB Mr. Universe
Gold medalist). It was through this partnership that Leo went on till winning a
championship. It was also through this partnership that Leo was first introduced to
dance. Suemitsu had been a ballroom dance instructor before embarking on his
successful bodybuilding career. Suemitsu taught Leo that bodybuilding was not only
about body size and shape, but also about balance, composition, coordination and
choreography. These insights became the foundation for Leo’s passion as an artist and
choreographer. Whether bodybuilding or dancing, Leo believes the spirit of creativity
resides within the artist, no matter what the medium is.
After retiring from bodybuilding, Leo first refocused his passion and commitment to
ballroom dance. It was a few years later when Leo first encountered Tango in San
Francisco under the instruction of Pampa Cortes (as seen Julio Iglesias's CD, Tango).
Having studied dance for many years in the US, Leo decided to conduct a tour from
Mexico City to Colombia on to Buenos Aires. He spent a total of 16 months, dancing
and studying various Latin American dances across seven countries. Although Tango
had not been Leo's first love, his contact with the hundreds of enthusiastic locals he met
on his travels helped to quickly change all that.
Despite his extensive experience with the World of Dance, his true love now lies with
Tango. And after having spent so many years growing and cultivating his love for the
dance, Leo is determined to introduce this beautiful art form to all those he meets in
North America. In Buenos Aires, where Tango was born, he studied with various greats
such as Ángel Coria & Ángela Toñanez (Choreographer & Dancer of the film, Tango,
Copes Tango Copes) with whom Leo still maintains a close and enduring friendship,
despite the distance that keeps them apart. Other notable instructors include A.S.C.
Junior, (Tango) Olga Besio and Fabian Salas (Dancers of the films, Tango and The
Tango Lesson), Julio Balmaceda & Corina de la Rosa, Ernesto Balmaceda & Stella
Baez, Eduardo Arquimba, and more. All of whom have helped bring el corazón del
tango (the heart of tango) to North America
Having only been in Calgary for several years, Leo has already made his mark within the
local dance community. He has been an innovative and enthusiastic Tango instructor to
hundreds of students at numerous studios. He and his partner have performed
throughout the city. He has also used his enthusiasm to encourage and start innovative
sold-out events in Calgary, such as the Tango Gala, Dinner and Tango Evenings, and
Tango, Salsa, and Merengue Nights. He was the director of Rhythm of Peace - A
Tango show, and Tango Temptation - The Show. He is also the Director and
Choreographer of Calgary's tango performance team, Los Porteños and the founder of
Calgary's genuine tango orchestra, Orquesta Libertango. He was also selected by
Luciana Pedraza (the lead dancer/actress of two time Oscar winner, Robert Duval's film,
Assassination Tango. Also, Robert Duvall's wife) to work with during her stay.
Leo has recently finished the show with world class Ukrainian Dance Professionals,
Shumka, at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, as a guest choreographer and the
headliner of Girl in the Red Dress. He has choreographed the tango scene for British
new film, Burn Up, in which Neve Campbell was the lead actress.
a competitive bodybuilder under the tutelage of Ken Suemitsu (1972 IFBB Mr. Universe
Gold medalist). It was through this partnership that Leo went on till winning a
championship. It was also through this partnership that Leo was first introduced to
dance. Suemitsu had been a ballroom dance instructor before embarking on his
successful bodybuilding career. Suemitsu taught Leo that bodybuilding was not only
about body size and shape, but also about balance, composition, coordination and
choreography. These insights became the foundation for Leo’s passion as an artist and
choreographer. Whether bodybuilding or dancing, Leo believes the spirit of creativity
resides within the artist, no matter what the medium is.
After retiring from bodybuilding, Leo first refocused his passion and commitment to
ballroom dance. It was a few years later when Leo first encountered Tango in San
Francisco under the instruction of Pampa Cortes (as seen Julio Iglesias's CD, Tango).
Having studied dance for many years in the US, Leo decided to conduct a tour from
Mexico City to Colombia on to Buenos Aires. He spent a total of 16 months, dancing
and studying various Latin American dances across seven countries. Although Tango
had not been Leo's first love, his contact with the hundreds of enthusiastic locals he met
on his travels helped to quickly change all that.
Despite his extensive experience with the World of Dance, his true love now lies with
Tango. And after having spent so many years growing and cultivating his love for the
dance, Leo is determined to introduce this beautiful art form to all those he meets in
North America. In Buenos Aires, where Tango was born, he studied with various greats
such as Ángel Coria & Ángela Toñanez (Choreographer & Dancer of the film, Tango,
Copes Tango Copes) with whom Leo still maintains a close and enduring friendship,
despite the distance that keeps them apart. Other notable instructors include A.S.C.
Junior, (Tango) Olga Besio and Fabian Salas (Dancers of the films, Tango and The
Tango Lesson), Julio Balmaceda & Corina de la Rosa, Ernesto Balmaceda & Stella
Baez, Eduardo Arquimba, and more. All of whom have helped bring el corazón del
tango (the heart of tango) to North America
Having only been in Calgary for several years, Leo has already made his mark within the
local dance community. He has been an innovative and enthusiastic Tango instructor to
hundreds of students at numerous studios. He and his partner have performed
throughout the city. He has also used his enthusiasm to encourage and start innovative
sold-out events in Calgary, such as the Tango Gala, Dinner and Tango Evenings, and
Tango, Salsa, and Merengue Nights. He was the director of Rhythm of Peace - A
Tango show, and Tango Temptation - The Show. He is also the Director and
Choreographer of Calgary's tango performance team, Los Porteños and the founder of
Calgary's genuine tango orchestra, Orquesta Libertango. He was also selected by
Luciana Pedraza (the lead dancer/actress of two time Oscar winner, Robert Duval's film,
Assassination Tango. Also, Robert Duvall's wife) to work with during her stay.
Leo has recently finished the show with world class Ukrainian Dance Professionals,
Shumka, at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, as a guest choreographer and the
headliner of Girl in the Red Dress. He has choreographed the tango scene for British
new film, Burn Up, in which Neve Campbell was the lead actress.
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Leo Sato
