The Hidden History of the Tango, Samba and Tap Dancing

Summary

This lecture explores the denial of polyculturalism in the development of Tango, Samba, and tap dancing, emphasizing how these art forms originated from diverse cultural exchanges. Tango from Argentina, Samba from Brazil, and tap dancing from the U.S. were initially influenced by African, Indigenous, and European traditions. Over time, these dances were 'whitened' to appeal to middle and upper-class audiences, erasing their multicultural roots. The lecture highlights how political, social, and economic factors contributed to this transformation, underscoring the broader impact of colonialism and racial hierarchies on cultural practices.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Polyculturalism highlights that no culture exists in isolation, but rather as a product of continuous cultural exchanges.
• 💃 Tango, Samba, and Tap Dancing all originated from a blend of African, Indigenous, and European influences in their respective countries.
• ⚓ Port cities, like Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, were cultural hubs where marginalized communities contributed to the development of dances like Tango and Samba.
• 🎶 Tango originated in Argentina from a mix of African, Indigenous, and European (Italian and Spanish) musical influences, but was later sanitized and 'whitened' to appeal to middle and upper classes.
• 🕺 Samba, originally an Afro-Brazilian art form, also underwent a process of whitening to align with European tastes, becoming more acceptable to higher social classes and international audiences.
• 👞 Tap dancing in the United States evolved from a fusion of African rhythmic dance styles and Irish step dancing, particularly in urban, working-class neighborhoods.
• 🎭 Tap dancing was stripped of its African-American origins as it gained popularity, especially in Vaudeville, with white performers often dominating the scene and utilizing blackface.
• 🌀 The transformation of these dance forms, including the process of whitening, was driven by economic, social, and political motives to make them more marketable and acceptable to mainstream audiences.
• 🎩 The whitening of these dances helped them gain international recognition but erased their rich multicultural roots, reflecting broader racial and colonial hierarchies of the time.
• ⚖️ These dance forms reveal the beauty and dynamism of polycultural exchanges, but their history also underscores the impact of racial hierarchies and the denial of their true, diverse origins.

Q & A

What is polyculturalism?

Polyculturalism is the concept that cultures are inherently interconnected and continuously influenced by one another. It emphasizes the idea that no culture exists in isolation but is instead a product of various cultural exchanges and interactions over time.

How did Tango develop, and what were its cultural influences?

Tango developed in the late 19th century in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, drawing from African, indigenous, and European influences, particularly from Italian and Spanish cultures. It evolved in marginalized communities of port cities, where immigrants, freed slaves, and local groups contributed to its formation.

What role did 'whitening' play in the transformation of Tango?

As Tango gained popularity, it underwent a process of 'whitening' to become more acceptable to middle and upper classes and international audiences. This process involved sanitizing the dance and altering its music to align with European tastes, downplaying its raw, sensual, and multicultural origins.

How did Samba originate and what cultural influences contributed to its development?

Samba originated from African rhythms and dances brought to Brazil by enslaved Africans and was combined with Portuguese and indigenous influences. It developed in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro, particularly in impoverished neighborhoods where people of African, indigenous, European, and mixed descent shared their musical and dance traditions.

How was Samba 'whitened' to fit into mainstream Brazilian culture?

Samba's African elements were downplayed, and European musical structures were emphasized to integrate it into mainstream Brazilian culture. The Brazilian government and cultural institutions promoted a more 'acceptable' version of Samba, making it suitable for middle and upper-class audiences and international consumption.

What were the origins of tap dancing in the United States?

Tap dancing emerged in the United States as a blend of African rhythmic dance styles, Irish step dancing, and English clog dancing. It developed in urban areas where African Americans and Irish immigrants lived in close proximity, particularly in working-class neighborhoods like Five Points in New York City.

How did the process of 'whitening' affect the presentation of tap dancing?

As tap dancing gained popularity, white performers and producers began to dominate the scene, and the dance was stripped of its original cultural context. It was formalized and made less improvisational to appeal to a broader, predominantly white audience, often erasing its African American and multicultural roots.

Why was the 'whitening' of Tango, Samba, and tap dancing significant in a sociopolitical context?

The 'whitening' of these art forms was driven by social, political, and economic motives to make them more acceptable to mainstream, predominantly white audiences. This process allowed for broader appeal, commercial success, and cultural acceptance, aligning with dominant cultural norms and aesthetic preferences.

What impact did colonialism and racial hierarchies have on the cultural transformation of Tango, Samba, and tap dancing?

During the late 19th century, the world was influenced by colonialism and racial hierarchies, which promoted ideas of cultural purity and racial superiority. These ideologies impacted how Tango, Samba, and tap dancing were transformed, as their multicultural origins were often erased to fit into these hierarchical norms.

What does the speaker suggest is lost through the process of 'whitening' these dance forms?

The speaker suggests that the process of 'whitening' these dance forms led to the erasure of their rich, dynamic, and multicultural origins. This erasure resulted in a denial of their diverse roots, masking the beauty and creativity that arise when different cultures come together harmoniously.