Argentine Tango is an exciting Latin dance that originated in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. No dance connects two people more closely than the Argentine Tango yet its exact origins, both the dance and word itself, are not clear. However most would agree it goes back well over 100 years. Beginning just before the 20th Century Argentina was undergoing a massive immigration where African, Spanish, Italian, British, Polish and Russian poor and working class moved to reside. Resulting in a melting pot of cultures, native-born Argintines now borrowed dance and music from one another. Only originally danced in the bars and brothels of Buenos Aires, it was first a reflection of the immigrants loss and longing for the people and places they left behind. Worldwide spread of the tango came later when son's of wealthy european immigrants learned the dance as they passed through, brought it to Paris, Rome, London and New York to only then return the dance back to its origins with outstanding popularity and public acceptance. By 1913, the tango had become an international phenomena. There were tango teas, tango train excursions and even tango colors- most notably orange. The Argentine elite who had once shunned the tango were now accepting it with national pride. Though tied to economic conditions the dance and its music temporarily went underground, but was kept alive in the hearts and generations that owned it worldwide until the mid 1980's, where it made its revival.
The Argentine Tango is the most seductive couple dance to this day. Its passionate, melancholic and joyful roots is identifiably Argentinean and still ignites the tango excitement. New steps have been invented since the underground days making this Latin dance even more exciting and sensual. Tango once again is living, it is complex like its origins yet simple like an intuition. Something that yearns to be experienced... not taught.
