Time to Tango!
Questions This Article Answers
Where was tango born?
What are the influences of tango?
What are the typical instruments used in tango?
What is tango queer?
What does pareja mean?
What does lunfardo mean?
Tango
Tango is a musical genre and dance that originated in the Río de la Plata(River Plate) area at the end of the 19th century and spread from Argentina(Argentina) and Uruguay(Uruguay) to the world.
Located on both sides of the River Plate, Buenos Aires(Buenos Aires) and Montevideo(Montevideo) and other cities along the River Plate basin received millions of inmigrantes(immigrants) and became a melting pot out of which tango was born. Tango was influenced by the local milonga(milonga), the afrorrioplatense(Afro-River Plate) candombe(candombe), the Cuban habanera(habanera), and the European vals(waltz) and mazurca(mazurka), among others. The lyrics use lunfardo(River Plate slang) extensively and are frequently about love, nostalgia, and melancholy.
Initially, tango was played in bars near ports where sailors would spend their money, but it quickly gained widespread popularity in the River Plate area and later in Europa(Europe) and Estados Unidos(United States).
Although tango is not as popular as it used to be in the 20th century, it is still played and danced at milongas(tango clubs), stages, dance tournaments, and even in movies.
River Plate Slang
Click here to learn more about lunfardo.
Tango Music
Tango can be songs or instrumental music. While tango is generally associated with the bandoneón(bandoneon), early tango music was played with guitarras(guitars). The guitar was replaced out of need for louder instruments. A typical orquesta de tango(tango orchestra) includes two bandoneones, two violines(violins), a piano(piano), and a contrabajo(double bass).
Two Tangos
Although they share the same name, the tango rioplatense(from the River Plate region) has no connection with the flamenco (flamenco) style called tango.
Click here to learn more about flamenco.
Tango Dance
Tango was originally danced only by men who wanted to show off their fast footwork. Shortly after, women began to dance tango, and it became the couples' dance we know today.
Tango is an elegant, sensual, and passionate dance. The pareja(couple) are locked in an embrace, which creates an intimate connection. Through physical signals, the leader guides the follower on the dancefloor.
The venue and the event where tango is danced is called a milonga(tango club). In milongas, all couples dance together on the dance floor, usually improvising their movements. In contrast, tango danced on stages and competitions is choreographed and requires great skill.
Vocabulary Related to Tango
Here is a word list related to tango.
