*~The Tango~*

By: Stephanie Bond

Where did the Tango begin?Where did the Tango begin?• The Tango originated in Argentina. The Tango originated in Argentina.

• Though musical historians argue Though musical historians argue as to its exact origins, it is as to its exact origins, it is accepted that the tango borrowed accepted that the tango borrowed from many nations.from many nations.

• The relentless rhythms that the The relentless rhythms that the African slaves– the candombe –African slaves– the candombe –beat on their drums (known as beat on their drums (known as tan-go)tan-go)

• The popular music of the pampas The popular music of the pampas (flatlands),which combined Indian (flatlands),which combined Indian rhythms with the music of early rhythms with the music of early Spanish Colonists; and other Spanish Colonists; and other influences, including Latin. influences, including Latin.

Who and When?Who and When?

Immigrants from Europe, Immigrants from Europe, Africa, and ports of unknown Africa, and ports of unknown streamed into the outskirts of streamed into the outskirts of Buenos Aires during and Buenos Aires during and 1880’s, many gravitated toward 1880’s, many gravitated toward the port city’s houses of ill the port city’s houses of ill repute.repute.

They looked desperately for a They looked desperately for a distraction to ease their sense of distraction to ease their sense of roolessness and roolessness and disfranchisement as “strangers disfranchisement as “strangers in a strange land.”in a strange land.”

What and Why?What and Why?

Some say the word “tango” Some say the word “tango” comes from the Latin word comes from the Latin word tangere which means “to tangere which means “to touch”.touch”.

As the lonely immigrants and As the lonely immigrants and outcasts sought to escape from outcasts sought to escape from their feelings, they instead their feelings, they instead developed a music and dance developed a music and dance that epitomized them. It that epitomized them. It speaks of fatality, of destinies speaks of fatality, of destinies engulfed in pain. It is the engulfed in pain. It is the dance of sorrow. dance of sorrow.

Originally…Originally… Originally the tango dance Originally the tango dance

developed as an “acting out” developed as an “acting out” of the relationship between of the relationship between the prostitute and her man.the prostitute and her man.

These tango songs and These tango songs and dances had no lyrics, were dances had no lyrics, were often highly improvised, and often highly improvised, and were generally regarded as were generally regarded as obscene. obscene.

It also often meant a duel, a It also often meant a duel, a man to man combat between man to man combat between challengers for the favors of a challengers for the favors of a woman, which usually ended woman, which usually ended in the symbolic death of an in the symbolic death of an opponent. opponent.

Tango in Paris?Tango in Paris?

During the first two During the first two decades of the new decades of the new century, the tango took century, the tango took Paris by storm. The Paris by storm. The blessings of the blessings of the Parisians, in turn, made Parisians, in turn, made it a staple of it a staple of Argentinean high Argentinean high society. society.

Tango was reigning Tango was reigning supreme in the cabarets supreme in the cabarets and theaters frequented and theaters frequented by the rich.by the rich.

19181918

In 1918 lyric writing for the In 1918 lyric writing for the Tango became the latest trend, Tango became the latest trend, bringing forth the birth star who bringing forth the birth star who is still celebrated five decades is still celebrated five decades after his death, singer Carlos after his death, singer Carlos Gardel. The memory of this Gardel. The memory of this handsome, charismatic handsome, charismatic performer reached hero worship performer reached hero worship status in Argentina.status in Argentina.

1930’s

A sudden military coup in Argentina ended the Tango, because the citizens didn’t have the right to vote, so the people were in a depression.

But Tango revived in the late 1930’s when the Argentinean masses regained a good measure of their political freedom.

The Celebrating…

• The people celebrated their social rise with the Tango, which became a symbol and part of their daily lives.

• Tango musicians emerged who took the form in new directions including people as ; Fresedo, de Caro, Pugliese, and Anibal Troilo.

• Today the tango is enjoying a renaissance of popularity, keeping the fire of this daring art from burning brightly.

Salon /Tango

Salon dances involving a man and a woman embracing were the precendent for Tango, which was refined until it became what has long been known as Tango. Somebody said: Tango is something else than a soft wave turned into music, it is the deepest dance in the world.

The most well-known Tango musicians and singers. Hernana

Salinas>>>>> Pedro Chemes Quartet Carlos Gardel Anibal Troilo Juan D’ Arienzo Astor Piazzolla Osvaldo Pugliese Carlos Di Sarli Hugo Dias

Ballroom Tango and what they Ballroom Tango and what they dressed in. dressed in.

Ballroom Tango Ballroom Tango originated in the lower originated in the lower class of Buenos Aires, class of Buenos Aires, especially in the especially in the “Bario de las Ranas”.“Bario de las Ranas”.

Clothing was dictated Clothing was dictated by full skirts for the by full skirts for the women and gauchos women and gauchos with high boots and with high boots and spurs for the men.spurs for the men.

What they dressed and why What they dressed and why the tango is danced like it the tango is danced like it is.is.

They wore chaps that has hardened from the foam an They wore chaps that has hardened from the foam an sweat of the horses body. Hence to gauchos walked sweat of the horses body. Hence to gauchos walked with knees flexed. They would go to the crowded night with knees flexed. They would go to the crowded night clubs and ask the local girls to dance. Since the clubs and ask the local girls to dance. Since the gaucho hadn’t been washed, the lady would dance in gaucho hadn’t been washed, the lady would dance in the crook of the man’s right arm, holding her head the crook of the man’s right arm, holding her head back. Her right hand was held low on his left hip, close back. Her right hand was held low on his left hip, close to his pocket, looking for a payment for dancing with to his pocket, looking for a payment for dancing with him. The man danced in a curving fashion because the him. The man danced in a curving fashion because the floor was small with round tables, so he danced around floor was small with round tables, so he danced around and between them. and between them.

Styles

Styles vary in Tango: Argentine, French, Gaucho and International. Still the Tango has become one of our American ‘Standards’ regardless of its origin. It is said that the Americanized version is a combination of the best parts of each.

Principals of the Tango

First, the dance must fit the music.

Second, it must contain the basic characteristic that sets apart from other dances.

Third, it must be comfortable and pleasing to do.

Phrasing in the TangoPhrasing in the Tango

• Phrasing is an important past of the Phrasing is an important past of the Tango. Most Tango music phrased to Tango. Most Tango music phrased to 16 or 32 beats of music. Tango music 16 or 32 beats of music. Tango music is like a story. It contains paragraphs is like a story. It contains paragraphs ( Major phrases) ; sentences ( Minor ( Major phrases) ; sentences ( Minor phrases); and the period at the end phrases); and the period at the end of the sentence, which is called the of the sentence, which is called the Tango close.Tango close.

Tango DancersTango Dancers A Tango dancer must develop a strong connection A Tango dancer must develop a strong connection

with the music, the dance and the audience. The with the music, the dance and the audience. The audience can only feel this connection if the audience can only feel this connection if the performer feels and projects this feeling. performer feels and projects this feeling.

They must be able to feel the beat and be able to They must be able to feel the beat and be able to have expression in their dance and tell the “story”. have expression in their dance and tell the “story”.

Movies with the Tango

Movies that feature the Tango include; “The Scent of a Woman”, Madonna’s “Evita”, “True Lies”, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, The Mask of Zorro, with Antonio Banderas and Catherine-Zeta Jones, and The Legend of Zorro, also with Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Quotes of the Tango “The Tango is the

easiest dance. If you make a mistake and get tangled up, you just Tango on”- Al Pacino in “The Scent of A Woman”.

“The Tango is not in the feet, it is in the heart.”

“The Tango is not a dance but an obsession.”