| How can one not love a dance that looks good | | | | Argentineans claimed to dance the more sophisticated |
| whether danced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al | | | | Parisian Tango, not the tango of the “lower |
| Pacino, or Madonna? The Tango is the essence of | | | | classes.” Actually, in mid-20th century Argentina |
| romance and sensuality with its rhythmic musical beats | | | | there was a wide range of regional Tango styles. In |
| and intricate and emotionally charged moves. | | | | some regions the movements appeared random and |
| Tango, “Baille Con Carte” which translated | | | | jagged with sudden stops. In northern Buenos Aires |
| literally means “the dance with the stop,” | | | | the dance had long, straight lines punctuated by sudden |
| originated in Buenos Aires Argentina in the late 19th | | | | stops and complex moves. Some styles had double |
| century. Tango was the first couple’s dance that | | | | time steps to the music and still others did not follow |
| introduced improvisation and was only the third dance | | | | the music at all but the phrasing. |
| in history where the man and woman faced each | | | | In this golden age of Tango, men and women did not |
| other with the man holding the woman’s right | | | | learn the dance together. Boys learned to Tango at |
| hand and with his right arm around her. | | | | the age of 13 as practica partners for older men; they |
| Today there are many different styles of Tango, | | | | had to learn the woman’s part so that the men |
| including American (ballroom), Chinese, Finnish, and | | | | could hone their technique. Men and women attended |
| Argentine. It is a dance full of machismo and theatrics, | | | | milongas to dance. If the man did not do well he had to |
| as the man “pursues” the woman and the | | | | go back to practica! |
| woman “resists,” but not completely. The | | | | The women learned the Tango from other women, |
| patterns of Tango alternate between the hunter and | | | | uncles, and brothers. Typically, mothers danced the |
| the hunted and create a fascinating picture of passion | | | | men’s part and the daughters learned the |
| and seduction. | | | | female part. Women were such a rare commodity |
| The history of Tango is almost as theatrical as the | | | | that dancing well was not required. A woman would |
| dance itself. There are gaps in the written history and | | | | have no shortage of partners at a milonga and she did |
| much is unknown or debatable about its origins. A long | | | | not have to worry about be sent back to practice. |
| standing cliché asserts that Tango originated in | | | | In 1955, General Pèron was ousted as head of |
| the brothels of Argentina. According to this | | | | the government and the Tango went underground. |
| cliché, men had to wait in line at the brothels, so | | | | Repression, nighttime curfews, and censorship ruled |
| madams employed Tango musicians to keep the men | | | | the day. It was not until 1983, when the military junta |
| entertained while they waited. Alas, Tango historians | | | | was brought down, that Tango had a resurgence. |
| have refuted this version and instead say that the | | | | Freed from the repressive regime, the Argentines |
| dance originated in the lower class districts of | | | | wanted to move! Yoga and martial arts classes |
| Argentina but was first encountered by the wealthier | | | | quickly filled up, and Argentina reclaimed their national |
| classes in brothels. The brothels were one of the few | | | | dance – the Tango. However, there was one |
| places where the rich and poor rubbed elbows. | | | | small problem – there were no Tango teachers! |
| Argentina was one of the seven richest countries in | | | | All of the practicas were gone and there were no |
| the early 1900s, and wealthy families sent their sons | | | | beginner Tango classes. The rebirth of Tango in |
| abroad for university or simply to tour. And the Tango | | | | Argentina was led by those who knew a little about |
| went with them. While there is evidence to support | | | | Tango and taught those who hungered to learn. |
| that a couple danced the Tango on stage in Paris as | | | | Tango continues to be one of the most captivating |
| early as 1909, 1912 is the year that the Tango took | | | | dances to watch, and is certainly one of the most |
| Paris by storm. The dance then took on the rest of | | | | challenging to learn. The music, words, and the |
| the world. Women abandoned their corsets to dance | | | | emotional connection of the dance partners bring this |
| the Tango and Tango fashions were all the rage. Even | | | | sultry dance to life. It is a dance that makes you feel |
| hat fashions changed to accommodate the dance | | | | that you have dropped in on a very private moment |
| – feathers that once swung freely across the | | | | but you cannot turn from the beauty and passion. To |
| forehead were now upright so they wouldn’t get | | | | dance the Tango requires technical skill, passion, and |
| in one’s partner’s face. | | | | synergy between partners, and most importantly a |
| As the seductive dance became all the rage, it was | | | | love for the dance! |
| also re-imported to Argentina in altered form. Wealthy | | | | |
