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Tango is 150 or more years old. ~ Starting out as a low life dance from the wrong side of the tracks and built on sex, it become a dance of the `rich and famous` in Europe, and then on to cover the globe. ~ Truly a World Class dance. ~ To many it ranks with an ability to play a musical instrument or to speak another language... ~ It is a `resume item` in their list of social graces.
No one is quite sure when the combinations of various other dances actually became *Tango*. ~ But very early on, as the area in and around Buenos Aires Argentina was being settled and built, it was there.
As more and more workers were brought in to do the building, it is said there were 10 men for every women. ~ These men were hard working, itinerant, and lonely..., many leaving their loved ones elsewhere as they built a new life in Bs. As. ~ They formed men`s clubs to pass their spare time. ~ There was a club in every neighborhood and eventually they became competitive with each other in many ways. ~ In addition to the clubs, as the men earned their money, and as needs go, they visited bordellos from time to time. ~ Bordellos offered most of the available women.
To go there was an event. ~ Making as much of the time as they could, the men sat around and talked with the women, had a few drinks, listened to the music, and danced. ~ These dances were, no doubt, simple body contact 2 steps early on. ~ But.., as they were dancing, and being familiar with the ladies, leg action soon developed. ~ Sensual leg wraps and such.
Later at the clubs, these moves were recalled, shown and practiced by the men..., on each other. ~ Dancing together, they worked out all kinds of intricate leg moves. ~ The various men's clubs then became protective of *their* moves, actually fighting each other over 'ownership'. ~ Venting life's frustrations, most certainly.
Tango, by it's nature, is a melancholy dance. ~ There is total concentration given to the dance. ~ The couple do not talk. ~ Each thinking their own thoughts. ~ Their faces often become deadpan as they dance... ~ All feeling coming from the music and their partner, and then being directed to their feet. ~ It is the essence of Tango. ~ A man and a woman as one! ~ For the length of the dance they become 'lovers'. ~ It is beyond further description.
The bordello women, with 10 new, and often complicated, moves coming at them each night, had a major part in Tango`s development. ~ They needed dance signals that were clear and easy for them to understand.., not being a part of the practice sessions themselves... So they taught the men how to lead them. ~ In other words, the men had to learn how to indicate each step they wanted made, just before it needed to be done, so the woman knew how to follow.
Therein lies the secret of Tango. ~ How it became the dance done around the globe. ~ `Social Tango`. ~ How all people are easily able to dance a totally improvised dance, with `strangers` as partners, from the start.
Other versions of Tango developed either at the same time or over the years. ~ A faster party version called `Milonga` appeared as neighborhoods grew. ~ This name also given to the social gatherings at which people came together for the purpose of dancing. ~ Then ‘Milonguero’ became the name for a Milonga dancer. ~ A waltz version, `Vals`, was developed when Tango went to Europe. ~ All in all, Tango, Milonga and Vals, along with the many variations of each, and all using the same method of leading improvised moves, came to be as various conditions, mores, fashions, etc., called for them.
Tango can be danced almost too fast to see, or down to the slowest of slow.., including a total stop, at times. ~ It is fervently danced by youngest to the oldest. ~ It can be danced anywhere and on any surface. ~ It can be danced to basically any music. ~ It is truly universal.
Argentine Tango is very special. ~ Please absolutely *never*, *ever*, think we are talking about American Ballroom Tango with its fans and head snaps... ~ Or International, or any other `competitive`and/or `memorized` versions. ~ Those types are entirely the same as all other dances... ~ When you learn *this* Tango, you are set apart...
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