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.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0354864
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Filmography (Movies)
Tawny Pearl Collection
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:31/01/2005
Colleen Brennan Collection
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:17/01/2005
Golden Age of Porn: Annette Haven
Character:
Release Date:01/01/2004
John Holmes: The Lost Tapes
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:13/05/2003
Ginger Lynn & Company
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:09/02/1989
The Vanessa Obsession
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1987
Taxi Girls 2
Character:The Maid
Release Date:04/12/1986
Voyeur's Delight
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:31/01/1986
Bisexual Fantasies
Character:Vanessa
Release Date:01/01/1986
For Services Rendered
Character:Nocturna Vigil
Release Date:18/02/1985
Sounds of Sex
Character:Brunette
Release Date:01/01/1985
I Wanna Be Teased!
Character:Tina
Release Date:01/01/1984
Love to Mother
Character:Michelle
Release Date:01/01/1984
Deep Ghost
Character:The Maid
Release Date:01/01/1984
Heat of the Moment
Character:Jeep Thief
Release Date:01/01/1984
Cherry Ettes For Hire
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1984
Let Me Tell Ya 'Bout White Chicks
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1984
Why Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Character:
Release Date:22/08/1983
A Lacy Affair
Character:
Release Date:27/03/1983
Nude Aerobics
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1983
Loving Lesbos
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1983
Bad Girl
Character:Maria
Release Date:01/01/1983
Young and Restless
Character:Jenny
Release Date:01/01/1983
Burning Desire
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1983
Pleasure Dome
Character:Maria
Release Date:26/12/1982
Inspirations
Character:Piglette's Maid
Release Date:14/10/1982
Love Goddesses
Character:
Release Date:12/02/1982
The New Erotic Adventures of Casanova 2
Character:Girl in the News
Release Date:01/01/1982
What Would Your Mother Say?
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1982
Intimate Lessons
Character:Monica Mock
Release Date:01/01/1982
Foreplay
Character:Social Worker
Release Date:01/01/1982
Undercovers
Character:Third Girl on Couch (uncredited)
Release Date:01/01/1982
Never So Deep
Character:Brandy Wine
Release Date:17/09/1981
Skintight
Character:Maria
Release Date:01/06/1981
Trouble Down Below
Character:Carol (uncredited)
Release Date:01/01/1981
Plato's: The Movie
Character:Vicky
Release Date:29/10/1980
The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue
Character:Pregnancy Pass Girl / Orgy Girl
Release Date:17/10/1980
Ballgame
Character:The Beavers
Release Date:01/02/1980
The Sensuous Detective
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1980
Weekend Fantasy
Character:Pussy
Release Date:01/01/1980
Night Flight
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1980
Hot Love
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1980
Jezebel
Character:Gypsy
Release Date:23/05/1979
Pink Champagne
Character:Tap Dancer
Release Date:13/04/1979
Frat House
Character:Wilcox' Daughter
Release Date:22/03/1979
Remember Connie
Character:
Release Date:15/06/1978
Susie's Bed
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1978
Carnal Encounters of the Barest Kind
Character:Brunette Frog
Release Date:01/01/1978
Images
