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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.

Tawny Pearl Collection
as (archive footage)

Colleen Brennan Collection
as (archive footage)

Golden Age of Porn: Annette Haven

John Holmes: The Lost Tapes
as (archive footage)

Ginger Lynn & Company
as (archive footage)

The Vanessa Obsession

Taxi Girls 2
as The Maid

The Sounds Of Sex

Voyeur's Delight
as (archive footage)

Bisexual Fantasies
as Vanessa

For Services Rendered
as Nocturna Vigil

Sounds of Sex
as Brunette

I Wanna Be Teased!
as Tina

Love to Mother
as Michelle

Deep Ghost
as The Maid

Heat of the Moment
as Jeep Thief
Cherry Ettes For Hire

Let Me Tell Ya 'Bout White Chicks

Why Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

A Lacy Affair

Nude Aerobics

Loving Lesbos

Bad Girl
as Maria

Young and Restless
as Jenny

Burning Desire

Pleasure Dome
as Maria

Inspirations
as Piglette's Maid

Love Goddesses

The New Erotic Adventures of Casanova 2
as Girl in the News
What Would Your Mother Say?

Intimate Lessons
as Monica Mock

Foreplay
as Social Worker

Undercovers
as Third Girl on Couch (uncredited)

Never So Deep
as Brandy Wine

Skintight
as Maria

Trouble Down Below
as Carol (uncredited)

Plato's: The Movie
as Vicky

The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue
as Pregnancy Pass Girl / Orgy Girl

Ballgame
as The Beavers

The Sensuous Detective

Weekend Fantasy
as Pussy

Night Flight
Hot Love

Jezebel
as Gypsy

Pink Champagne
as Tap Dancer

Frat House
as Wilcox' Daughter
Remember Connie

Susie's Bed

Carnal Encounters of the Barest Kind
as Brunette Frog