The streets you walk are stone in the old city. People are milling around – some on the move while others stand talking to others or observing others. The smell of street food is constantly challenging you.
Your ear detects music starting from within a nearby building. The rhythms remind you a fusion of African and Latin sounds; then a haunting bandoneon (concertina) and violin join the rhythm. The music draws you into the building like a magnet. The place is alive – some conversing, some focusing on the music, others dancing, and others watching the dancers in sync with the rhythms. Your soul is touched. You are hooked.
The history of many dances is a combination of myths, legends, unrecorded history, known events of time and place, a blending of cultures, and word origins. The cultures of Africa, Portugal, Spain, Britain, Italy, Poland, and Russia integrate with the lower-class locals of Buenos Aires. The result – Argentine Tango.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe initial spread of Argentine Tango is linked to the sons of wealthy Argentine families who travelled – but at home – Argentine Tango became an important part of their culture – even having a Golden Age (1930s – 1950s) – but then the military dictatorship suppressed the dance for nearly 30 years.
Argentine Tango and Ballroom Tango (American and International) are different dances – not different styles of the same dance. Their 4/4 timing and musical rhythms have some commonality, but not always.
Ballroom Tango is dynamic, dramatic, edgier, staccato, sharp, and strong – but Argentine Tango is sensual, intimate, personal, interpretive, and smooth. The dancer’s alignment to each other and their holds are different – as are the steps and their timing.
Key Elements of Argentine Tango
The Embrace
The embrace refers to the contact and position of the dancing partners, which can be open, closed, or someplace in between. In the closed embrace, partners connect chest-to-chest, heads touching, and bodies leaning forward (think of an inverted V). In the open embrace, the space between the partners vary. No matter the embrace choice, the bodies should not be arched away from each other as in ballroom. Also unlike ballroom, arms are more inward with the elbows down (not out).
Because Argentine Tango is improvisational, communication must be clear and through the connections between the partners. For the lead, communication is subtle, so every little movement counts. Followers must tune in to detect the subtleties, so some followers close their eyes to immerse themselves into the embrace, the music, and the dance experience.
The Walk
Argentine Tango is two people walking together in the embrace. A step involves moving to all the weight being on one foot (which creates a free foot with no weight). The next step may include another step or a weight transfer to the other foot.
There are many important aspects to the walk. For instance, pushing into the step is paramount over reaching for or falling into it – plus, maintaining a firm and balanced contact between the upper bodies in the embrace.
The are two types of walks: parallel (even) and crossed (uneven).
The video below involves two accomplished Argentine tango dancers – but note – they are just walking. Notice their embrace, weight shifts, posture, and how good they look doing the most-basic steps.
The Patterns/Figures/Steps
Argentine Tango is not choreographed or fixed with predetermined patterns. Although a lead-and-follow dance, the subtle nature allows the dancers to appear moving as one.
Besides the walk (caminar), other common steps/figures include the cross (cruce), leg hooks (ganchos), figure-eights (ochos), turns (giros), opposite-direction turns (contragiros), displacements (sacadas), foot-by-foots (llevadas de pie), cuts (cortes), breaks (quebradas), links (baleos), and others.
Let’s bring back Sebastian and Roxana for a dance involving more than just walks.
Not all Argentine Tangos are created equal because different styles exist that depend on factors as floor size, type of embrace, length of steps, speed of music, and culture. Styles as Salon, Milonguero, Milonga, Tango Nuevo, Canyengue, Vals, and others have their setting in both place and music.
Argentine Tango has found a place on the stage and screen. Tango Argentino was on Broadway in the 1980s. Forever Tango (in the mid-1990s) toured the US as a show before having a long-running stint on Broadway
The big screen has provided a long list of Argentine Tango scenes through the ages. Here’s a snippet. Argentine Tango serves as an important backdrop in The Adios Buenos Aires (1938), The Tango Bar (1988), Tango (1998), Assassination Tango (2002), and Tango Libre ( 2012). Dances scenes also provide impact as in Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921), Scent of a Woman (1992), Evita (1996), and Moulin Rouge (2001). Scenes from Shall We Dance (2004) and Take the Lead (2006) fuse elements of Argentine and ballroom into their tango.
For those who want to compare, here’s my past post on Ballroom Tango.
Personally, I know enough Argentine Tango to be dangerous because I rely on my ballroom instincts, musicality, and ability to improvise to be a solid beginner. On the other hand, ballroom also gets in the way of the posture elements necessary in Argentine Tango. I would love to learn more, but the city’s Argentine Tango studio is further away than we prefer.
To conclude this post, below are 4 Argentine tangos to enjoy. Each is well done, different, and full of sensuality. Which did you watch or enjoy the most?
Goodness me! I watched all of them Frank – it is such a beautifully sensual way of dancing…. I preferred your opening duo of them all with the older couple who danced with the live orchestra coming in a close second. I really like the way the first two let the music take them and how they listen to each other’s movements – they seemed less choreographed, more natural, than the others and are just beautiful to watch! I’m impressed that you know enough to be dangerous! 🙂 Great post!!
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Pauline,
Your comment has made my day. Glad you enjoyed this lengthy post. The first video is stunning. A great example of it’s not the number of steps/patterns, it’s oh well they are done. Nothing hard here, just done by two who know how to dance.
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Yes, they really stand out as having something extra going for them don’t they, I must come back and mark that video as one to watch again later. I’ve just started watching the latest DWTS too, always a little behind you but already noting those who really know how to move.
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This season’s DWTS cast has good some good dances right from the beginning! Enjoy … and you are welcome to return anytime to see these videos!
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They’re all very sensual–and intimate.
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Merril,
Sensual and intimate are two great adjectives for Argentine Tango … therefore applicable to the videos!
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🙂
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Marvelous, Frank. I just spent twenty minutes in complete awe. Thank you so much. (I’m now behind but I blame Obama.)
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John,
The fact that you took the time in this post makes me smile! Awe is a great descriptor … so I add another one … Captivating! Meanwhile, I hope you climbed the accomplish barrier that Obama created!
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I did. No thanks to you know who.
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I absolutely adore the Argentine Tango – such a sensual dance. Really enjoyed all the videos but my favourite is the Forever Tango piece as it is so passionate and the dancing is exquisite.
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Erk,
Welcome first-time commenter. Glad you enjoyed this post. Oh yes – the Forever Tango dance is awesome. Actually the first one I tagged for this post. An important question. Can you dance Argentine or do you simply like watching it?
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Only watching it, although I would love to learn as I really enjoy dancing. 🙂
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Sounds like you may be ready for lessons. Ballroom is a source of enjoyment for us … and we’ve met many nice people.
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I’ll have to see what’s available in my area! 🙂
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I can help … Are you in a metro area?
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Thank you for your offer of help. I live in the countryside in Wales and I think I’ll have to travel a bit find a dance class.
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🙂 … Cheers to Wales … Unfortunately a part of the region I haven’t visited … but hope to some day! Thanks for sharing!!! 😀
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AH HA!!!!! So you ask….where have I been???? Shopping…shopping…shopping!!! A girl just can’t Tango in just any ole’ smock….so I’ve been scouring all the shoppes for just the right dress. Finally! Ready. Set. Go…aFa. You got your pin stripped suit and patent leathers? I’m ready!!! Well…..maybe a lesson or two wouldn’t hurt????? oxoxRRR
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Ray,
Glad you made it for a bit of Argentine Tango. Now that you have the desired outfit, which of the videos did you like the best? Because of your reference to the pinstriped suit, I’m guessing Forever Tango.
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Envy galore: dancing, costumes, music….all of it, aFa, no real favourite….each had their own flavour and…spice!
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Loved watching them all! Santiago’s Dream drew me with the music but the last one was enchanting as the dancers seemed to flow as one in a sensual way. Bravo to all. I am sure you do a fine and dangerous tango!
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Jo,
Sorry for the late response as I missed this one. Glad you watched all of them because each offers something different that draws one in. As far as my Argentine Tango, it’s all instinctive based on my ballroom tango experience … but the two dances are different. Someday I will learn more! 🙂
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This was a fascinating overview, Frank. I have only had rudimentary Tango lessons at one time as part of a stint with Arthur Murray, but even at that basic beginner level it was so delightful. I have several “tango worthy” playlists I enjoy and never fail to be mesmerized if I catch a tango performed on television or the movies. Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan conductor of the Los Angeles Phil, has offered some really moving orchestral suites. I’m more knowledgeable about the music than the steps, although I’d love to expand! 🙂
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Debra,
Glad you enjoyed this short trip into Argentine Tango. I like this collection of videos a lot! … and I wish I knew more Argentine.
The tango you took was ballroom/American tango – which is definitely different than Argentine. The music is different, too. I recall trying to Argentine to ballroom music, and I couldn’t get the ballroom beat out of my head! (That doesn’t mean others couldn’t). The ballroom music I like tends to be more modern, more aggressive sounding. I wonder if the orchestral pieces can go with either style.
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A couple that are masters of tango are amazing to watch. Movies have made the dance legendary. Pretty difficult to pick a favorite.
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Mouse,
Glad you enjoyed this post. The dancers in these videos are a tad good 😉 … so yes, picking a favorite is difficult. There is something special about each of them.
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Fantastic post, Frank! No words except to say…. this is my fave dance, ever!
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Resa,
Glad you enjoyed this one … and there is a lot here to enjoy! 😉
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Looks like a lot of fun.
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Betsy,
Argentine is fun … but are the ballroom dances …. something to remember for when the kids get older.
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Roger that! 🙂
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Tango…. this is great post, How beautiful to find them in my silent morning, Thank you dear Frank, I love Tango, have a nice day, Love, nia
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Nia,
I glad you saw this post because I knew you would like it! 🙂 Keep smiling!
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