Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the century. Most often thought of as a dance, it
is a genre which finds its expression in dance,
lyrics and composition.
The tango first emerged at the end of the 19th
century in the poorest districts of Buenos Aires,
where it was danced by the marginal classes,
primarily blacks and mulatos. It is a composite
of rhythms from the slums of Buenos Aires and
the gypsy camps of Spain. Tango blends the
fierce passion and high energy of the Spanish
fandango
with the pulsating rhythms and
wild contortions of the African-inspired
candombe
, and then tempers them with the
more languid melody and fluid movements of
the Cuban
habanera,
which arrived in Buenos
Aires in the mid-19th century. Other popular
dances of the period such as the
cuadrilla
,
milonga
,
vals
,
polca
and the
tango andaluz
eventually found their way into the tango as
well.
Did You Know?
The tango was originally danced by
pairs of men to the music of a small en-
semble comprised of a flute, violin and
guitar. Around 1910 the accordion-like
bandoneón replaced the flute, and would
eventually dominate the ensemble.
Believed to incite scandalous behavior, the
tango was condemned by the church and pro-
hibited by the local authorities. It was danced
in secret until the early 20th century when it
