Tango

Tango is a , and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the , the natural border between and . It was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries, in neighborhoods which had predominantly African descendants. celebrations, Spanish-Cuban , and Argentinean . The tango then spread to the rest of the world.[5] Many variations of this dance currently exist around the world.

On August 31, 2009, approved a joint proposal by Argentina and Uruguay to include the tango in the .

Tango is a dance that has influences from , and culture. ceremonies of former African slave peoples helped shape the modern day tango. The dance originated in lower-class districts of and . The music derived from the fusion of various forms of music from Europe.

Initially, it was just one of the many dances, but it soon[] became popular throughout society, as and street spread it from the suburbs to the working-class slums, which were packed with hundreds of thousands of European .[11]

When the tango began to spread internationally around 1900, cultural norms were generally conservative, and so tango dancing was widely regarded as extremely sexual and inappropriate for public display. This led to a phenomenon of . Additionally, the combination of African, Native American and European cultural influences in tango was new and unusual to most of the .[12]

Many neighbourhoods of have their particular tango histories: for example , and . At Boedo Avenue, , and other singers and composers used to meet at the with the .[]

In the early years of the 20th century, dancers and orchestras from Buenos Aires travelled to Europe, and the first European tango craze took place in , soon followed by , , and other capitals. Towards the end of 1913, it hit as well as . In the , around 1911, the word "" was often applied to dances in a 2
4 or 4
4 rhythm such as the . The term was fashionable and did not indicate that tango steps would be used in the dance, although they might be. Tango music was sometimes played but at a rather fast tempo. Instructors of the period would sometimes refer to this as a "North American tango", versus the so-called "Argentine Tango". The Tango was controversial because of its perceived sexual overtones and, by the end of 1913, the dance teachers who had introduced the dance to Paris were banished from the city.] along with some variations like Albert Newman's "Minuet" tango.

In Argentina, the onset in 1929 of the , and restrictions introduced after the overthrow of the government in 1930, caused tango to decline. Its fortunes were reversed as tango became widely fashionable and a matter of national pride under the government of . Taquito Militar by played a monumental part in the rise of the tango and a major effect on Argentinian culture as a whole. This song was premiered in 1952 during a governmental speech of President Juan D. Perón, which generated a strong political and cultural controversy between different views of the concepts of "cultured" music and "popular" music, as well as the links between both "cultures".

Tango declined again in the 1950s, as a result of economic and the banning of public gatherings by the military ; male-only tango practice—the custom at the time—was considered "public gathering". That, indirectly, boosted the popularity of because, unlike tango, it did not require such gatherings.[14]

In 2009, the tango was added to the .[15]

Etymology[]

There are several theories regarding the origin of the word tango, none of which has been proven. An African culture is often credited as the creator of this word; in particular, it is theorized that the word derives from the word , which refers to , the God of Thunder in traditional .. According to an alternative theory, tango is derived from the word for "", . word , which means "to play a musical instrument". Another Portuguese word, , a combination of the verb tanger ("to touch") with the noun mão ("hand") meaning "to play a musical instrument with one's hands", has been suggested as the etymon of tango. word ntangu which means "sun", "hour", "space-time".[20]

The tango consists of a variety of styles that developed in different regions and eras of Argentina as well as in other locations around the world. The dance developed in response to many cultural elements, such as the crowding of the venue and even the fashions in clothing. The styles are mostly danced in either open embrace, where have space between their bodies, or , where the lead and follow connect either chest-to-chest (Argentine tango) or in the upper thigh, hip area (American and International tango).

Different styles of tango are:

These are danced to several types of music:

• Tango


• Electronic tango-inspired music


• "Alternative tango", i.e. music that is an alternative to tango, or non-tango music employed for use in tango-inspired dance

The milonguero style is characterized by a very close embrace, small steps, and syncopated rhythmic footwork. It is based on the petitero or caquero style of the crowded downtown clubs of the 1950s.

In contrast, the tango that originated in the family clubs of the suburban neighborhoods (Villa Urquiza/Devoto/Avellaneda etc.) emphasizes long elegant steps, and complex figures. In this case the embrace may be allowed to open briefly, to permit execution of the complex footwork.

The complex figures of this style became the basis for a theatrical performance style of tango seen in the touring stage shows. For stage purposes, the embrace is often open, and the complex footwork is augmented with gymnastic lifts, kicks, and drops.

A newer style sometimes called or "new tango", has been popularized in recent years by a younger generation of dancers. The embrace is often quite open and very elastic, permitting the leader to lead a large variety of very complex figures. This style is often associated with those who enjoy dancing to jazz- and techno-tinged "alternative tango" music, in addition to traditional tango compositions.

Tango de salon (salon tango)[]

Tango canyengue[]

Tango canyengue is a rhythmic style of tango that originated in the early 1900s and is still popular today. It is one of the original roots styles of tango and contains all fundamental elements of traditional Tango from the region (Uruguay and Argentina). In tango canyengue the dancers share one axis, dance in a closed embrace, and with the legs relaxed and slightly bent. Tango canyengue uses body dissociation for the leading, walking with firm ground contact, and a permanent combination of on- and off-beat rhythm. Its main characteristics are its musicality and playfulness. Its rhythm is described as "incisive, exciting, provocative".

The complex figures of this style became the basis for a theatrical performance style of Tango seen in the touring stage shows. For stage purposes, the embrace is often very open, and the complex footwork is augmented with gymnastic lifts, kicks, and drops.

Tango nuevo[]

A newer style sometimes called or "new tango" was popularized after 1980 by a younger generation of musicians and dancers. , composer and virtuoso of the (so-called "tango accordion") played a major role in the innovation of traditional tango music. The embrace is often quite open and very elastic, permitting the leader to initiate a great variety of very complex figures. This style is often associated with those who enjoy dancing to jazz- and techno-tinged, electronic and alternative music inspired in old tangos, in addition to traditional Tango compositions.

Tango nuevo is largely fueled by a fusion between and ( []), though the style can be adapted to traditional tango and even non-tango songs. released its first tango fusion album in 2000, quickly following with in 2001. , a music band consisting of seven musicians from Argentina and Uruguay, released their first album in 2002. 's album appeared in 2003 and was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004. These and other electronic tango fusion songs bring an element of revitalization to the tango dance, serving to attract a younger group of dancers.

New tango songs[]

In the second half of the 1990s, a movement of new tango songs was born in Buenos Aires. It was mainly influenced by the old orchestra style rather than by Piazzolla's renewal and experiments with electronic music. The novelty lies in the new songs, with today's lyrics and language, which find inspiration in a wide variety of contemporary styles.

In the 2000s, the movement grew with prominent figures such as the Orquesta Típica Fernandez Fierro, whose creator, Julian Peralta, would later start Astillero and the Orquesta Típica Julián Peralta. Other bands also have become part of the movement such as the Orquesta Rascacielos, Altertango, Ciudad Baigón, as well as singer and songwriters Alfredo "Tape" Rubín, Juan Serén, and .[21]

Ballroom tango[]

Ballroom tango illustration, 1914

Ballroom tango, divided in recent decades into the "International" and "American" styles, has descended from the tango styles that developed when the tango first went abroad to Europe and North America. The dance was simplified, adapted to the preferences of conventional ballroom dancers, and incorporated into the repertoire used in dance competitions. English tango was first codified in October 1922, when it was proposed that it should only be danced to modern tunes, ideally at 30 (i.e. 120 – assuming a 4
4 measure).

Subsequently, the English tango evolved mainly as a highly , while the American tango evolved as an unjudged with an emphasis on skills. This has led to some principal distinctions in basic technique and style. Nevertheless, there are quite a few competitions held in the American style, and of course mutual borrowing of technique and dance patterns happens all the time.

Ballroom tangos use different music and styling from the tangos from the River Plata region (Uruguay and Argentina), with more staccato movements and the characteristic head snaps. The head snaps are totally foreign to Argentine and Uruguayan tango, and were introduced in 1934 under the influence of a similar movement in the legs and feet of the tango from the River Plate, and the theatrical movements of the . This style became very popular in Germany and was soon introduced to England. The movements were very popular with spectators, but not with competition judges.[23]

Finnish tango[]

Tango arrived in Finland in 1913. The tango spread from the dominant urban dance form to become hugely popular across Finland in the 1950s after and . The melancholy tone of the music reflects the themes of Finnish folk poetry; Finnish tango is almost always in a .

The tango is danced in very close full thigh, pelvis and upper body contact in a wide and strong frame, and features smooth horizontal movements that are very strong and determined. Dancers are very low, allowing long steps without any up and down movement, although rises and falls are optional in some styles. Forward steps land heel first except when descending from a rise, and in backward steps dancers push from the heel. In basic steps, the passing leg moves quickly to rest for a moment close to the grounded leg. Dips and rotations are typical. There is no open position, and typically feet stay close to the floor, except in dips the follower might slightly raise the left leg. Unlike in some Latin American tango styles, in Finnish tango there is no kicking of any kind, and there are no aerials.

The annual Finnish tango festival draws over 100,000 tangophiles to the central Finnish town of ; the town also hosts the Tango Museum..

, , and Tango use very different techniques. In Argentine and Uruguayan tango, the body's center moves first, then the feet reach to support it. In ballroom tango, the body is initially set in motion across the floor through the flexing of the lower joints (hip, knee, ankle) while the feet are delayed, then the feet move quickly to catch the body, resulting in snatching or striking action that reflects the staccato nature of this style's preferred music.

In tango, the steps are typically more gliding, but can vary widely in timing, speed, and character, and follow no single specific rhythm. Because the dance is led and followed at the level of individual steps, these variations can occur from one step to the next. This allows the dancers to vary the dance from moment to moment to match the music (which often has both and/or elements) and their mood.

The Tango's frame, called an abrazo or "embrace", is not rigid, but flexibly adjusts to different steps, and may vary from being quite close, to offset in a "V" frame, to open. The flexibility is as important as is all movement in dance. The American Ballroom Tango's frame is flexible too, but experienced dancers frequently dance in closed position: higher in the elbows, tone in the arms and constant connection through the body. When dancing socially with beginners, however, it may be better to use a more open position because the close position is too intimate for them. In American Tango open position may result in open breaks, pivots, and turns which are quite foreign in Argentine tango and International (English) tango.

There is a as in other types of , but it differs significantly between types of tango. In Tango from the River Plata region, the "close embrace" involves continuous contact at the full upper body, but not the legs. In American Ballroom tango, the "close embrace" involves close contact in the pelvis or upper thighs, but not the upper body. Followers are instructed to thrust their hips forward, but pull their upper body away and shyly look over their left shoulder when they are led into a "corte".

In tango from the River Plate region, the open position, the legs may be intertwined and hooked together, in the style of Pulpo (the Octopus). In Pulpo's style, these hooks are not sharp, but smooth ganchos.

In Tango from the River Plata, Uruguay and Argentina, the ball or toe of the foot may be placed first. Alternatively, the dancer may take the floor with the entire foot in a cat-like manner. In the International style of Tango, "" (stepping first onto the heel, then the whole foot) are used for forward steps.

Ballroom tango steps stay close to the floor, while the River Plata Tango (Uruguayan and Argentine) includes moves such as the (allowing momentum to carry one's leg into the air) and (hooking one's leg around one's partner's leg or body) in which the feet travel off the ground. Both Uruguayan and Argentine tango features other vocabulary foreign to ballroom, such as the (in which the leader puts his foot against the follower's foot), the (in which the leader appears to drag or be dragged by the follower's foot), and several kinds of (in which the leader displaces the follower's leg by stepping into her space).

Music and dance elements of tango are popular in activities related to , , , etc., because of its dramatic feeling and its cultural associations with romance.

For the in Argentina, designed a ball and named it Tango, likely a tribute to the host country of the event. in Spain as Tango Málaga, in France and West Germany.

Tango appears in different aspects of society: Regular and special festivals. A very famous festival is the Tango Buenos Aires Festival y Mundial in also known as . On a regional level there are also many festivals inside and outside of . One local festival outside Argentina is in Australia.

Typically the tango is performed between a man and a woman, however the two have very different aspirations within the tango. Woman often looked to the tango to help them gain confidence and to help them find a potential relationship. Women, however, were primarily focused on the dance itself and became wealthy.

also plays a big part in the mechanics of tango due to the tango needing a leader. But in more recent times this is being challenged due to woman not wanting to be dependent on the male for the dance.

It has been suggested that tango makes people feel more relaxed, sexier, and less depressed, and increases testosterone levels.[31]

Dance targets six main areas considered to be important for high quality of life and successful aging:

1. physical exercise


2. social satisfaction


3. spirituality and mindfulness


4. cognition


5. meaningfulness


6. emotional and educational health

While all types of dance confers some types of benefits, Argentine tango dancing, in particular, has documented evidence that these areas are improved in both healthy and disabled populations.[32]

is an exercise method that combines the core stability of with the concentration, coordination and fluid movement of tango, designed in 2004 by Tamara Di Tella. Utilizing a partner-method and incorporating the aerobic or cardio element of music, it started as a rehabilitation technique for patients with severe dysfunctions of the .

Argentine tango is the main subject in these films:

• (1933)


• (2017) directed by with the song composed by Oscar winner and lyrics written by 5 national award winner .


• (1938)


• (1985), starring Philippe Léotard, directed by Fernando Solanas




• (1997), starring and , directed by Sally Potter


• (1998), starring and , directed by


• (2002), starring , and , directed by Robert Duvall


• (2005), about typical orchestra Fernandez Fierro, directed by


• 12 Tangos – Adios Buenos Aires (2005), directed by


• (2012), directed by


• (2012), directed by

A number of films show tango in several scenes, such as:

• (Die 3-Groschen-Oper) (1931), directed by G. W. Pabst, has number called Tango Ballade.


• (1936), directed by Pare Lorentz.


• (1921), starring and , directed by .


• (1953), segment "Paradise for three hours" (Paradiso per tre ore), directed by , starring nonprofessional actors, featuring a long sequence in a ballroom, where a passionate tango of is played.


• (1970), starring and , directed by .


• (1972), starring and , directed by .


• (1977), starring (who also directed), and .


• (1978), and tango whilst is the unfortunate partner to 's rather eccentric version of the dance.


• (1981), a short animation film by Zbigniew Rybczynski. Received an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film, Academy Awards 1982.


• (1983), starring and , directed by .


• (1990), starring and , directed by .


• (1992), as blind Colonel dances .


• (1992), directed by .


• (1993), and dance a tango so passionate that it literally burns the floor and makes all the champagne bottles in the nightclub pop their corks.


• (1993), starring .


• (1994), starring , and , directed by .


• (1996), and dance a ballroom tango.


• (1997), directed by .


• (2001), featuring and "El Tango de Roxanne".


• (2001), directed by .


• Le Tango Des Rashevski (2002).


• (2002), starring , , and , directed by includes a song titled "The " and is accompanied with a dance.


• (2002), and dance a tango to the performed song "Alcoba Azul".


• (2004), starring , and , directed by .


• featured choreography inspired by the styles for the section of her 2004 . Segments of the 2005 documentary show this choreography in use.


• (2005) had and perform a semi-elaborate ballroom tango in the song "Tango:Maureen" to describe their emotional relations and issues over a promiscuous girl they both dated.


• (2005), documentary directed by Marilyn Agrelo.


• (2006): Jacks () and Paolo () perform a tango together.


• (2006), starring , directed by .


• (2008), starring and . Performed during the Black and White Ball in the scene where Mary drops her Zune.


• (2008), in which and dance a tango.


• (2010), in which , and some of the supporting characters at a ballroom, dance a tango to 's .


• Pixilation II (2011), short animation film by .

Finnish tango is featured to a greater or lesser extent in the following films:

• (1993), starring and , directed by .


• (2000), starring and , directed by .


• (1990), starring , directed by .


• (2002), starring and , directed by .


• (1986), starring and , directed by .


• (2002), starring and , directed by .


• (2001), starring and Aira Samulin, directed by .


• (1954), starring , directed by .

• A episode features a Tango Festival being held at the Furry Arms Hotel.

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