A Brief History of T.....

Regina and I put our heads together and came up with a brief history of tango for inclusion in the book "Tango, with Love" which hopefully is on your shopping list. As is the author's right it was cut down considerably but I like what we wrote and so present it here.

We should consider every day lost, on which we have not danced at least once"

Friedrich Nietzsche

Argentina's industrial and agricultural expansion at the start of the 20th Century brought about an enormous influx of mostly male Europeans, particularly Italian, French and Spanish. The resultant mix with native and African cultures and the inherent desire to dance , produced the tango that we recognise today. Initially, overtly erotic dancing flourished in the brothels, but gradually tango developed outside the brothels and became more respectable.

Tango was a dance that started with the working classes and as such was subject to political pressures from right wing fascist governments in Argentina, and was forced underground for a period.  One of its most famous musicians, Osvaldo Pugliese , was sent to prison several times for supplying music that the people wanted. As tango became widespread and popular in Europe, particularly Paris, it subsequently became accepted by the middle class in Buenos Aires.

What sets Argentine tango apart from all other dances is the close embrace with partners heart to heart contact. Partners seek a connection beyond the physical. The lead-follow of this dance is not domination- submission but more suggestion -response. The dance is improvised. Set sequences are not danced. When two people connect and respond to the music, tango reaches its zenith.

There are different styles of tango, that have evolved with time along with different styles of music. Many traditionalists will dance only to the Golden Age (1935-55) music, with these classic tango dancers proud of the culture and rules (codigos). A different style of dancing, Nuevo Tango, accompanies the new music. This style, with its innovative approach, adopts an open embrace with many kicks, flicks , ganchos and boleos. However the improvised nature of tango is maintained, as opposed to Show Tango with its choreography and dramatic poses to please the onlookers.

The culture of Argentine tango is strong and the beginner needs to be determined in order to penetrate the mystique and be accepted.

UNESCO declared the tango that developed in Buenos Aires and Montevideo an ' intangible cultural heritage of the world'.

It is not simply a dance.