Francisco Canaro
Copes was born in Mataderos, Buenos Aires on 31 May 1931 and grew up in Villa Pueyrredón. He began dancing at milongas in Buenos Aires at a young age. When he was 17 years old, he took the 14-year-old María Nieves as his dance partner; the two would soon become lovers. Nieves described Copes as a poor dancer initially, but said he improved quickly. They entered their first competitive dance in 1955 at Luna Park Stadium. An early professional performance was with the Francisco Canaro orchestra in 1955.