Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
partner. However, the tango is not just a dance,
it is a means of expression which may be in the
form of an instrumental composition, a song or
as it is most commonly thought of, a dance.
Oftentimes, it is a combination of the three.
Developed over decades, the tango was brought
to the limelight by famed singer Carlos Gardel,
who ignited the salons of Paris and Europe in
the early part of this century. By the late 1930s
the tango was immortalized by Hollywood in a
number of films.
Tangos are nearly always narratives set to
music - invariably melancholy, bittersweet
songs of love and passion. These tales are trans-
lated by the long gliding steps and closely
entwined bodies of the dancers. The tango is a
ritual dance. At times the man assumes the
part of
guapo
(dandy), who seduces innocent
maidens. At other times the primly dressed
young ladies do a “church social” version of the
dance, which is quite tame in comparison.
An evening spent at any of the
tanguerías
or
folkloric clubs in Buenos Aires guarantees a
glittering show, with the performers taking the
audience through a century of tango styles.
Well-regarded musicians often accompany the
dancers. The accordion-like
bandoneón
is the
most typical of the instruments in a tango
ensemble. At the finale, most clubs encourage
the audience to join the dancers onstage for a
simple
tango. However, there is really no such
thing. The tango is a difficult dance to learn
