A brief history of Tango - Part 2 of 4 - Latin dance Community

Summary

By the early 20th century, tango had become a popular dance in Argentina and Uruguay, with many artists composing music and people eager to learn. Due to a surplus of men, men often practiced together, and tango was prevalent in brothels, where middle and upper-class individuals first encountered it. The dance's improvisational nature and close embrace style made it controversial yet appealing. Tango spread to Europe, possibly via Argentine sailors or wealthy families' sons, and by the 1930s, it had evolved into a global phenomenon with new styles and variations.

Takeaways

• 🎶 By the early 20th century, tango was well-established in Argentina and highly popular.
• 💃 Tango music became a dominant genre, with more artists composing and recording songs, and more people wanting to learn the dance.
• 👬 It was common for men to practice and social dance together, as there were more men than women in Argentina due to European immigration.
• 💼 Many male European immigrants came to Argentina for temporary employment, while some stayed and others returned to Europe.
• 🏙️ Tango music and dance thrived in bordellos, which offered tango as entertainment and were hubs for both the middle and upper classes to experience the dance.
• ⚡ The first well-defined tango style was called 'Arrabalero,' characterized by close body contact and fast, linear dance steps.
• ⛪ Tango's close proximity and intimate dance style made it controversial with the church in the late 1910s and early 1920s.
• 🕺 Tango allowed for freedom of expression and improvisation, unlike other couple dances of the time, making it more appealing.
• 🌍 There are two theories on how tango spread to Europe: Argentine sailors dancing in Marseilles or wealthy Argentine youth introducing it in Paris.
• 🌟 By the 1930s, tango had become a global phenomenon, evolving with new styles and ways of dancing.

Q & A

What was the status of tango in Argentina by the early 20th century?

By the early 20th century, tango was well-established and very popular in Argentina, with many artists composing and recording songs.

Why did men often practice and dance tango together during this period?

According to tango researcher Christine Denniston, men practiced and danced together because there were more men than women in Argentina, largely due to a high number of male European immigrants seeking temporary work.

Why did prostitution become a profitable business in early 20th century Argentina?

Prostitution became profitable due to the significant gender imbalance, with many men and fewer women in Argentina at the time.

What role did bordellos play in the spread of tango?

Bordellos featured tango music as entertainment for customers, which helped popularize the dance and music, exposing it to members of the middle and upper classes.

Where was tango first believed to have originated, according to some people?

Some believed that tango was created in bordellos, but historians have debunked this, identifying other origins.

What was the first well-defined style of tango dancing called?

The first well-defined style of tango dancing was called 'arrabalero,' named after the Spanish word 'arrabal,' meaning suburb.

How did the church react to the close proximity of tango dancers?

The church disapproved of the close proximity between tango dancers, making the dance unpopular with the church in the 1910s and 1920s.

What made tango distinct from other couple dances of the time?

Tango was distinct because it allowed dancers the freedom to improvise, unlike other couple dances like the waltz, which followed set patterns and movements.

How did tango spread to Europe, particularly France?

One theory is that Argentine sailors danced with French women in the port of Marseilles, while another theory suggests that wealthy Argentine youth studying in Europe introduced tango in Paris.

How did tango evolve once it arrived in Europe?

In Europe, tango took on new styles and ways of dancing, becoming a global phenomenon by the 1930s.