Casimiro Alcorta

An Afro-Argentine son of slaves, Alcorta was born in Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

His mother, Casimira, was a slave of the landowner and musician Amancio Jacinto Alcorta (1805-1862), one of the first classical composers of Argentina.

His musical career spanned the years from 1855 to 1913, i.e., from the first time when the tango began to form, until it took final shape and identity.

As a dancer, he formed a legendary duo with his partner La Paulina, of Italian origin, with whom he remained until his death in 1913.

Alcorta is also known to have composed the tango "La yapa", later renamed "Entrada prohibida" ("Forbidden entry") and credited to brothers Teisseire.