Tango

Tango is not only a dance; it is also music, lyrics and a connection between two people who interpret this music in sentimental and emotional expression. Tango was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but holds its roots in mixture of cultures. The folk dances of Spain (mainly Flamenco), Africa (Tangano) and (Habanera) merged in 1900’s to create the Milonga, and later Tango. First popular with the Argentinean lower class it could be found in small rooms of brothels, hence the unique, compact style, where ladies were looking for good payment for their dancing skills, keeping their right hand close to man’s pocket.

In 1910 Tango was brought to the Parisian Argentine community, and from there spread around the world. In the early 1920s the dance was standardised at a conference in London and in the 1930’s the proud torso of ballroom dancers and staccato rhythm were added. In that form it moved to salons and cabarets.

After 1950 it went out of fashion only to arrive again to modern ballrooms in the 1980’s with hopes to restore the Golden Age of Tango. The name also has few sources. From African, ‘tango’ means ‘closed place’ or ‘reserved grounds’ which indicated places that African slaves were gathering for dancing. It could also be derived from mimicking drums beats known as ‘tan-go’. Others believe it has Spanish connection with word ‘tanguere’ – ‘to touch’.