What is Argentine Tango?
Argentine Tango is both a genre of music and dance invented at the turn of the century in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the product of a cultural melting pot during a time of great historic change, involving immigrants from South America, Italy, Germany, Africa, and Eastern Europe. The Tango has a rich tradition that spans over a century. Since the mid-eighties is has been enjoying a huge revival around the world.
Argentine Tango is a social dance which should not be confused with Ballroom Tango. In Argentine Tango, there is no basic step; the couple relies on an intense awareness of each other’s movements and energy which allows them to move in unison to the music. The ability to improvise a dance with another person and move together with such strong connection is a fascinating and addictive experience for many people. Learning Tango is forever challenging and it inspires a life-long passion for those who pursue it as a hobby or a profession.
One of the joys of dancing Tango is the wonderful worldwide community of dancers. Since it is a social dance, it is not necessary to have a regular partner. You can travel around the world and have wonderful dances with people who you have never met before. Many cities have thriving Tango communities and opportunities to go dancing almost every night. Tango clubs are proliferating at universities as the younger generation catches on to the universal appeal of this dance. At a typical Tango dance or “Milonga”, you will see people of all ages, from all over the world dancing together.
