Maria Tortuga

Maria Tortuga

Biography: Maria Tortuga was born on September 14, 1949 in Seattle, Washington. Her mother was a member of the first Mexican folk dance company in the United States. Maria grew up in a family with three other siblings. Following graduation from high school Tortuga moved to California to pursue her interest in conceptual art. Maria studied with feminist artist Judy Chicago at the nonprofit arts and education center the Woman's Building in Los Angeles. In addition, Tortuga also studied both Spanish and flamenco dancing with renowned performer Roberto Amaral in the late 1970's as well as served as the flamenco soloist in the Layalina Folkloric Ensemble. After graduating with an MFA, Maria went on to work for many years as the principal designer at local carpet mills. Tortuga decided to supplement her income and express herself sexually by doing hardcore loops and modeling for assorted men's magazines (she often posed for photos with a bondage motif). Maria began appearing in explicit hardcore movies in the late 1970's; among the notable adult cinema directors she worked for are Gerard Damiano, William Margold, Don Christian, David Worth, Ed De Priest, Alan Colberg, and Vinnie Rossi. After retiring from the adult film industry in 1987, Maria decided to follow her key passion for dancing full time by moving to Chicago, Illinois and changing her name to Maria Gitana. Tortuga studied with the Spanish Dance Society and traveled over to Europe to dance for a while at Amor de Dios with Maria Magdalena, who was the Ballet Mistress of the Ballet Nacional de Espana. Maria was awarded a grant to study classical Spanish dance with Spanish Dance Society founding member Dame Marina Keet in 1992. After achieving the status of Maestra de Baile with the Spanish Dance Society, Tortuga returned to Chicago and started the flamenco dance troupe Manteca Colora. Maria moved back to her home state of Washington to be closer to her aging parents in 1998 and started the performing dance troupe Flamenco Gitana in 2004. Moreover, Tortuga taught dance and pilates at several local schools and community centers. Starting in 2010 Maria was the recipient of several Youth Arts Awards from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture Affairs. Tortuga used the associated grant to establish cultural arts programs in flamenco dance at local youth centers. Maria also did the choreography for a number of local theater productions. Tortuga died from cancer at age 65 on November 3, 2014.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: September 14, 1949

Deathday: November 03, 2014

Popularity:

0.694

Known For

I Wanna Be Teased!
I Wanna Be Teased!

1984-01-01

Taxi Girls 2
Taxi Girls 2

1986-12-04

Susie's Bed
Susie's Bed

1978-01-01

Nude Aerobics
Nude Aerobics

1983-01-01

Love Goddesses
Love Goddesses

1982-02-12

Remember Connie
Remember Connie

1978-06-15

John Holmes: The Lost Tapes
John Holmes: The Lost Tapes

2003-05-13

Loving Lesbos
Loving Lesbos

1983-01-01

The Vanessa Obsession
The Vanessa Obsession

1987-01-01

The New Erotic Adventures of Casanova 2
The New Erotic Adventures of Casanova 2

1982-01-01

Seka Triple Feature 2
Seka Triple Feature 2

2008-02-28

Tawny Pearl Collection
Tawny Pearl Collection

2005-01-31

What Would Your Mother Say?
What Would Your Mother Say?

1982-01-01

Frat House
Frat House

1979-03-22

Never So Deep
Never So Deep

1981-09-17

Pleasure Dome
Pleasure Dome

1982-12-26

Intimate Lessons
Intimate Lessons

1982-01-01

Jezebel
Jezebel

1979-05-23

Ballgame
Ballgame

1980-02-01

For Services Rendered
For Services Rendered

1985-02-18

A Lacy Affair
A Lacy Affair

1983-03-27

Plato's: The Movie
Plato's: The Movie

1980-10-29

Love to Mother
Love to Mother

1984-01-01

Foreplay
Foreplay

1982-01-01

Skintight
Skintight

1981-06-01

Carnal Encounters of the Barest Kind
Carnal Encounters of the Barest Kind

1978-01-01

Pink Champagne
Pink Champagne

1979-04-13

The Sensuous Detective
The Sensuous Detective

1980-01-01

Scared Stiff
Scared Stiff

1984-01-01

Bad Girl
Bad Girl

1983-01-01

Weekend Fantasy
Weekend Fantasy

1980-01-01

Trouble Down Below
Trouble Down Below

1981-01-01

Inspirations
Inspirations

1982-10-14

The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue
The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue

1980-10-17

Undercovers
Undercovers

1982-01-01

Ginger Lynn & Company
Ginger Lynn & Company

1989-02-09

Voyeur's Delight
Voyeur's Delight

1986-01-31

Golden Age of Porn: Annette Haven
Golden Age of Porn: Annette Haven

2004-01-01

Heat of the Moment
Heat of the Moment

1984-01-01

Cherry Ettes For Hire
Cherry Ettes For Hire

1984-01-01

Night Flight
Night Flight

1980-01-01

Young and Restless
Young and Restless

1983-01-01

Sounds of Sex
Sounds of Sex

1985-01-01

Let Me Tell Ya 'Bout White Chicks
Let Me Tell Ya 'Bout White Chicks

1984-01-01

Hot Love
Hot Love

1980-01-01

Burning Desire
Burning Desire

1983-01-01

Why Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Why Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

1983-08-22

Bisexual Fantasies
Bisexual Fantasies

1986-01-01

Colleen Brennan Collection
Colleen Brennan Collection

2005-01-17