Tango History Essay

Tango appeared in the late 19th century: “Tango belongs to a music genre, which is associated with dance and music. Argentina is considered to be the origin of tango. One can come across various types of tango. It is not that all tango is the same” (DifferenceBetween, 2011).
The roots of tango have very close connection to the immigrants from poor neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. These neighborhoods were inhabited by the immigrants from different countries. Tango actually united a wide variety of styles and it would be important to mention that African rhythms, Tanguy, Havana habanera, the Argentine milonga, Native American ritual dance, flamenco, mazurka, a German waltz were the musical and dancing styles, which impacted this outstanding and purely original “immigrant dancing style”. Every of this styles and dancing vision found its reflection the dance , which united nostalgia for the motherland, mixing up with unrequited love, loneliness, passion and expectations from the new beginnings in the “New World”. From the very beginning, tango was danced by men only. It was some kind of competition and could be even referred to as duel, which has its roots in the centuries developed rivalry for winning women’s attention. Later, the tango transformed and absorbing different visions, styles and manners, was danced in a pair – male and female. But even now it still keeps its original spiritual meaning of the competition, becoming some kind of confrontation and the game: a man leads and a woman is driven by her partner, reflecting the centuries built relations between men and women, with their passionate essential beauty. This research would dig deeply into the history and development of this outstanding style in America and explain in details its formation as a unique method to realize and reflect the self.
Tango was born on the outskirts of the city, in bars, cafes, brothels, hence it moved into the cities’ most fashionable and sophisticated ballrooms. The next step was “patios” (courtyards) “conventilos” (communal communities oft) and, finally, the dance moved inside the homes of middle and upper class in Argentina. Tango, still, was a pariah, the illegitimate son of pimps and women of ill reputation, dressed like a beggar “compadrito”. Meanwhile the dancing style crossed the ocean, transformed a lot, absorbed different dancing traditions and gave birth to the unique styles such as American Ballroom tango (often referred to as American tango)

American tango is a unique style, which was highly inspired by the Argentina Tango, which was the first prominent attempt to change the vision on the dancing tradition. From the very beginning of its history Tango was a forbidden style (due to its sensuality and significant sexuality, which could hardly be accepted by Argentina society). Then Tango arrived to Europe and won significant popularity, being transformed with the locals. The Argentine introduced their dancing traditions in fashionable houses of Europe. During the first decades of the 20th century Argentina developed quickly and this rapid development, the richest people of the land used to travel to Europe, at least once a year. They had big estates in Paris or London. The parties and receptions they organized were regularly visited by the local European nobility, celebrities and the rich people. The French had introduced into the community the phrase “He is as rich as the Argentine”, referring to the extremely wealthy representatives of the nation. The sons of these men and women often stayed in Europe to study. And they kept their cultural heritage, introducing Paris community an outstanding dancing phenomenon that was born in their motherland, – Argentine tango. Tango immediately captured attention and found a number of admirers among the Europeans being enthusiastically perceived by the locals. After European recognition Tango moved across the ocean again and won its popularity in the United States, introducing definitely new approach to dancing and forming the dancing phenomenon known as American tango: “Here we can just look at the difference between American and the Argentine tango. When compared to the American tango, the Argentine tango is more of a spot dance. The Argentine Tango uses a soft music when compared to the American tango. In dance form, the American tango uses more of the body. On the other hand, the leg and foot are more used in Argentine tango” (DifferenceBetween, 2011).
It should be noted that Argentine Tango and American tango are two different styles of Tango, which have the same root, but developed independently and had different impacting factors. As both Argentine and American tangos developed indifferent facilities, that is why the primary
American tango is often referred as the most simplified version of tango dancing, but it would be really hard to agree with this. As learning to dance tango (as American, as well as Argentine) is not a simple practice and requires a good and professional teacher. The primary difference between these styles of dancing is the position and partners interrelation. Argentine tango is less formal, more sensual and expressive and American tango (which is often referred to as American Ballroom tango) is more formal and does not observe such intimacy as the Argentine style: “In the Argentine tango, the dancers are very much close to each other. Even though there is a little upper body action in Argentine tango, the hips and legs are almost locked together, which gives a very intimate closeness. On the other hand, American tango uses ballroom style. When the American tango is formal, the Argentine Tango is more informal” (DifferenceBetween, 2011).
Another important thing that differ American tango a lot from its Argentine analogue not only in position and the movements’ inspiration but also the body set between American tango and Argentine is very different, as Argentine supposes first moves done by the body’s center and then these primary moves are supported by feet. American tango is pretty different in this aspect, as the whole body complex is starting motion immediately without setting the first moves: “Dancers in Argentine tango move their body’s center first and then the feet to support it. But in American tango, the body is set in motion all at once” (DifferenceBetween, 2011).

These primary differences in position and moves made by the both partners also suppose the certain closeness to each other and that also signifies the difference between more sensual and non-formal Argentine style and more modest, thus significantly changes American tango. Argentine style the partners are very close to each by the upper body holding hands tight, their lower parts are also in close interactions. Thus American ballroom tango observes more open position using highly open breaks, pivots and turns, which are not typical for Argentine tango. The dancers’ interactions are often referred to as less emotional and more formal, that is the distinctive feature of American tango, which differs in its modesty from the sensual Latin American dancing escapades: “One can also come across many differences in the open position and the closure positions between the American and the Argentine tango. Unlike the Argentine tango, the American tango uses open breaks, turns and pivots in the open position. In this position, the American tango dancers have contact on their hip parts and the upper parts are arched away. But in Argentine Tango, the legs of the dancers are intertwined and hooked together. The dancers are also very close in their upper body parts” (DifferenceBetween, 2011). The investigators of the American tango formation consider that this primary difference of American ballroom tango style from the others was dictated by the modesty of American colonial society, whose representatives were very much alike the Argentina nobility and could hardly accept highly sexual and intimate interactions between men and women, which could be found in Argentine tango. This modesty and social behavior in the beginning of the 20th century determined the vision and changes, which underwent American ballroom tango style, so highly accepted by Americans. It would be important to note that this made this tango dancing approach different from the other styles, as its unique vision, which some people refer as lacking sensuality, the same time reflects the pure modesty and beauty of the dancing.
“Argentine tango is an interpretive dance, an intimate moment between a man and a woman” (Hubpages, Inc., 2009). Thus that is not true when we speak about American tango, which reflects different ideals of the pretty different society. That is why the motion and interaction between the partners was so significantly transformed according to morale, experience and vision of American society in the beginning of the 20th century. “In the closure position, the dancers in American tango have only close contact in the upper thighs and the pelvis region and not the upper part. On the other hand, the dancers in Argentine tango are in close contact to each other in the upper part and not in the legs. While the steps in American tango always stays to the floor, the Argentine tango steps allows the dancers to lift the legs into the air or hook the legs with the partners legs” (DifferenceBetween, 2011). This lack of the intimate contacts (especially in low body and legs), during the tango performance could be called the distinctive feature that differs American tango not only from original Argtentine dancing, which is described as highly intimate, but as well from its international (often referred to as the European) tango, which is considered to be highly structured and demonstrates the outstanding level of technical variations and perfectly defined patterns: “European tango is highly structured with clearly defined patterns and technique.” (Hubpages, Inc., 2009).
The tango requires the knowledge of balance principles from the both partners and it does not matter, which style you plan to study either Argentine, or International or American ballroom Tango, you will require the basic knowledge on the balance of your body, as to learn how to dance tango well won’t be an easy part. Argentine tango became popular due to the technical freedom of choice, which is concentrated on improvisation steps and movements and focus over the female partner. Improvisation is not the distinctive feature of American tango as it requires more concentration on the basic techniques, which are to be learned before starting to practice with the dancing itself. The vision on American tango techniques does not suppose any improvisation from the both partners, but it requires the knowledge of the techniques, which assist to creation of the full fledged American ballroom tango dancing: “The quality of American Tango depends on the quality of the dancers, thus American Tango can also be danced at a very high level of excellence. American Tango permits releasing the Lady from the closed hold, making for some interesting side by side and shadow variations” (Hubpages, Inc., 2009). This passage purely explains how important is technical pattern for American tango and open position makes it distinctive feature, creating variations, which would be suitable for particular couple. Even being developed from the more passionate and full of experiments Argentine tango, American ballroom tango developed purely unique technique, which requires understanding not only the partner, but also has developed technique. The following tips would reveal the major importance for studying American ballroom tango and they have been developed during the years of practice and inventories – finally transforming into the set of general guidance:
Patience is the primary quality, which is required from those who want to lean tango. It would be necessary to keep in mind the fact that American ballroom tango is not such type of dancing, which could be taught in one evening or one lesson. It requires not only technical performance but understanding of its roots and formation
You should take into consideration that American ballroom tango is not the same as the Argentine tango or International tango. It is a unique style, with it sertain technical vision and peculiarities
The ballroom tango is not the dancing that is perfomed by the single individual thus it would be important for you to find the right partner, with whom you will find the understanding of so called “body language”. Even yet, if we take into consideration that American ballroom tango does not require from the partners impressive experiments, but understanding between the partners is still very important feature, which could not be omitted: “Most of the problems that partners have in relationships can be seen in their tango dancing. For example, the man has to lead, as he is the one who can see where they are going when they’re moving forwards. The woman is going backwards; she can’t see, so she needs to trust her man. No man can push a woman into making steps she doesn’t want to make, or to move in a certain direction. He has to persuade her, to make her happy. If she can trust, she will follow. If you’re a couple who can’t trust each other, it’s going to get complicated” (Martin Soletano, 2009). This paragraph perfectly reveals the importance of mutual understanding and trust between the partners
The American tango was rapidly developed and actually its national recognition in the US was observed in 1921. The start of silent movies Rudolph Valentino demonstrated his outstanding vision on tango in the movie The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It could be referred to as highly stylized and corresponded to the demands of American society type of tango, which actually introduced a new developmental stage of dancing development and creating a new branch of popular at that period Argentine tango. American ballroom tango is often referred to as the simplified version of Argentine tango due to the fact it lacks impressive movements and experiments held by the both partners. Some investigators refer to this style as the following: “Often we see American Tango as a casual social dance simply for enjoyment and that is obviously acceptable as well” (Hubpages, Inc., 2009). It could hardly be referred as the pure truth. The Hollywood style of movement, their mixed casual steps were just the ones, who break through the American vision on tango and being engaged with the other socially popular dances started definitely new and absolutely original path, creating the American Ballroom Dancing style. The methodologies introduced by outstanding instructor of American ballroom tango, Arthur Murray, contributed a lot to unification of American ballroom tango pattern in one unique style and develop the patterns we use now for the dancing American Ballroom tango. His input is valued high, as he put this unique style in one line with the International tango and Argentine tango, creating theoretical basis of movements, interaction between the partners, musical vision. Murray’s methodologies highly impacted the development of the world tango traditions and not only the American tango. Thanks to him we could differ American ballroom tango from the other tango styles, making it unique and specific among the others

The history of tango all over the world left in memories the difficult periods, when the dancing was referred to as an evil and considered to be the most shameful, sinful element within the Latin American dancing tradition, which was traditionally kept in secret. Politics, as well as right and left parties, kept on cursing this dancing tradition and style. It should be noted that American ballroom tango has transformed a lot due to the same reasons. The society as well as upper classes did not want to accept its sexuality and sensual beauty, as at that time such a freedom was considered to be a shame. The fuss was made around because of the fact they did not want to make the newly formed nation to be associated with the “bitchy” dance, which was considered to the shame, but never treated like charm of Argentina. Then, how it could happen that tango reached Europe and United States? The forbidden fruit is always the tastiest, thus transformed and changed, tango absorbed different traditions and became more socially accepted.
Establishing definitely new dancing traditions all over the world tango came back to his motherland – Buenos Aires, but it was already fashionable dancing, transformed a lot, and introducing several new styles. Argentina society met it as if it was a dear “child”. What a change!
Gradually the humanity began to dance the tango all over the world. In the early 20 century, the tango and the s exceptional Latin music appeared in Europe and the US. First of all it found the recognition in Paris, New York and other fashionable cities. Then everyone became addicted to tango.