Tango

Past and Present

The origin of Tango is inseparably associated with the Argentine nation and its capital Buenos Aires. Its origin is controversial. The root of the term Tango is "tambor" (drum) interpreted as a celebration, accompanied by the drums of black South-Americans. In the beginning of the 19th century in Uruguay, Brazil and even Cuba, the term was used in the meaning of a dance for singles and couples.

As a dance as well as a tune, Tango was mainly influenced by the Cuban Habanera and by the Argentine Milonga. Modern Tango (Argentino) grew in the harbour quarters of Buenos Aires at the Westbanks of La Plata. The whole point was the dance-like interpretation of the sexual interaction of pimps and prostitutes; it was danced by brothel visitors. They were accompanied by violin, flute and guitar or piano. After 1870, also by Bandoneon, a chromatic accordion, imported from Germany.

The Spanish-Argentine melancholy had a formative influence on Tango and emphasized its contradiction: masculine and feminine, tender and tough, aggressive and sentimental. Together with the increasing integration of lower social classes, in the beginning of the 20th century, Tango became socially acceptable in Argentina.

In 1907, Tango was imported to Europe and fascinated at first in Paris. First shown in Spanish-Argentine bars it changed to an accepted ballroom dance. The first Tango competition was held in Nizza. From 1912 "Tango fever" spread through the whole of Europe: Tango parties, Tango teas, Tango competitions, Tango fashion. The first Tango dancing competition took place in Berlin.

However, for a long time Tango was fought as an "improper dance". During the British conferences in 1920/21 South-American Tango had been developed. At first this style was inconsistent with the easier Tango-Milonga, practiced in Paris and Berlin. Then, in 1922 a Tango conference took place in London; from this time on, Tango was adapted to the British style. At the Great Conference in 1929 Tango was standardized in its actual form, adopted by Germans from 1930. The sentimental Tango Argentino had been detached from British Tango with its jerky head movements, passionate progress, sudden delays and distinct figure closes.