TANGO - WHERE YOU BOTH GET TO LEAD!

A very brief History of Tango

Argentine tango is a freestyle, passionate
and sensual dance that has crossed nations.

Originating in Argentina between the middle of the 19th C and the beginning of the 20th C - it has it roots in African beats, the Spanish Habanera, the milonga and migrant dances. Whilst new moves and modern music change the face of Tango - the essence remains the same. Films have heightened the general public awareness of the beauty and the mystique around Argentine Tango. Whilst it has the fiesty leg movements, extroverted flourishes to enhance and entice the other partner and close embrace as its signature - its new face is becoming apparent in Argentina as more young people embrace what was once their grandparents addiction. The Tango is a true exhibition of upright torsos and intricate leg swirling movements at times violent and dangerous, at times sweet and melancholic merging like a jigsaw puzzle. The Tango is a union of two bodies functioning as if they were one.

How it started

There are many accounts of how exactly the dance formed itself into the Argentine Tango we see today. The complexity of tracing its roots is as complex as the entomology of Tango itself. A favoured account, however, is that it was a lascivious dance initially performed in the brothels of Buenos Aires. The men would practice their leading and make up the moves together prior to frequenting the brothels, where they would dance with the "ladies of the night".Another account is that the "gauchos" (cowboys) who hearded their droves of cattle through the pampas would stop off in villages and, for light relief, dance a milonga (almost definitely the precursor to the Tango) with the local girls.

Same sex dancing

There are just as many accounts of same sex dancing where the "modern woman" in Paris around 1910 broke down the barriers of a seemingly conformist dance, the machismo Tango dance by dancing together. There are many accounts of men dancing with men to create the moves.

Tango travels to Europe and Russia

With the turn of the century and the accessibility of travel, Europeans and other nationalities were introduced to this unusually sensuous dance. With their return to their countries of origin the dance spread to Europe and developed into different styles.

The bandoneon

The bandoneon is the quintessential tango instrument - a squeezebox type accordion (without the piano) it's sultry, soothing and melancholic sounds are the signature instrument of the tango. This instrument stays alive even in the modern versions of tango music. It is an incredibly difficult instrument to play but somehow became inseparable from tango music.

Modern Tango

With the advent of modern musicians taking an interest in Tango music, the variety of music available now has increased. There is now jazz infused, house infused, techno infused Tango all of which are crying out to be danced to. Gaytango honours creative processes to fuse the new moves with the tradition moves, the new tango with traditional tango music.The tango has been described as "dazzling, intoxicating, enchanting and seductive".

Some films showing tango

o Assassination Tango, 2004
o Tango, 1998 -women dancing together, men dancing together
o True Lies, 1994
o The Tango Lesson, 1992 - men dancing together
o Scent of a women, 1992 o Indochione, 1992
o The Cotton Club, 1984 - two women dancing together
o The Conformist, 1970 - two women dancing together o Sunset Boulevard, 1950
o Down Argentine Way, 1940
o Flying Down to Rio, 1933
o El Tango de la Muerte, 1917 - first film devoted to Tango

Gay Tango

Tango is a dance of equality with the lead changing in a seamless manner. Breathtaking, romantic and erotic, fast paced in its excitement and sensuous in its lulls. It rushes towards same sex eroticism and embraces it. It allows for the expression of the original and very authentic way same sex couples express their intimacy. Therefore you can have strong masculine movements all the way to soft sensual moves.

In Buenos Aires, the queer Tango scene is very much alive and twirling, getting back to its origins of two men dancing together. Press yourself up against the chest of a handsome Tanguero at one of the gay Milongas which all offer classes before the dancing starts.

What's different about gaytango

It is a dance of equality with the lead changing in a seamless manner. Breathtaking, romantic and erotic, fast paced in its excitement and sensuous in its lulls.It rushes towards same sex eroticism and embraces it. It allows for the expression of the original and very authentic away in way same sex couples express their intimacy.Therefore you can have strong masculine movements all the way to soft sensual moves.

Where it can be danced

LA MARSHALL
classes on Wednesdays at 10pm.
Website: http://www.lamarshall.com.ar/
Maipu st 444 – Downtown - Phone: (+5411) 4912-9043

Tango entre Muchachos
classes on Sundays at 5pm at Lugar Gay:
Website: http://www.lugargay.org/
Defensa st 1120 - San Telmo - Phone: (+5411) 4300 4747

Also, here is a website where the main places are listed: http://www.gay-ba.com/es/listItems.php?id=TANGO