What exactly is Argentine Tango?

For many beginners, the first question that arises is what Tango Argentino actually means. What distinguishes it from standard tango, European, international or ballroom tango?

Interesting facts about Argentine dance, its music and poetry

The Tango Argentino is a free and very individual improvisation dance. In contrast, the standard tango is danced according to fixed steps. It is based on the rules of the European or international tournament dance program.

The Argentine tango, on the other hand, is a dance of the people. Competitions like in the standard dances are not important. They remain rather an exception, as they do not really correspond to the individual essence of Tango Argentino.

But the Tango Argentino is much more than just a dance. It is also a distinct genre of music for which Argentina is known around the world. Tango also has a special poetry that is often demanding and linguistically interesting. Many lyrics are written in "Lunfardo", the dialect from the former crooks of Buenos Aires. This slang, which is still in use, has taken many words from the Italian language.

On the origin of the Tango Argentino

Anyone who wants to learn and dance Tango Argentino will soon be interested in the history of this fascinating dance. It was created around 1900 in the huge estuary of the Río de la Plata. The Argentine cities of Buenos Aires and Rosario as well as Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, are located here. The correct name would actually be “Tango ríoplatense”, i.e. Tango from the Río de la Plata.

Melting pot on the river

Millions of immigrants from all over the world, especially from Europe, ended up in the three major port cities. Most of them were Italians and Spaniards, and there were also many French, English, Germans, Russians and Poles.

Everyone brought the music of their home countries with them and merged it into a new genre, the tango from the Río de la Plata. This also received strong influences from the African population, who had lived there since the times of slavery. Styles like Candombe, Canyengue and Milongaemerged. They are considered to be the forerunners or early archetypes of tango.

Where does the word tango come from?

The word "tango" probably comes from an African language and means "drum". However, there are various theories about this. If you hear tango music today, you can still feel the homesickness, melancholy and longing of the immigrants that resound from the melodies and lyrics.

Italian influence

The group of Italian immigrants in particular contributed a lot to the development of Tango Argentino. Most tango musicians, composers and poets still have Italian surnames today. The Italians incorporated melodies from Neapolitan songs, then influences from Viennese waltz, polka, foxtrot, habanera and other styles were added.

The sound of the bandoneon

Finally the very own, typical sound was formed. This is also characterized by the bandoneón, a harmonica instrument of German origin. It resembles an accordion, but has no buttons, but buttons on both sides. The bandoneón is considered difficult to learn and has become a symbol of tango. It gives the music its particularly melancholy expression. Over time, the most danced and played music and dance styles developed: the tango itself, the vals (tango in waltz beat) and the milonga, a fast, rhythmic variant.

The golden age - the Época de Oro

Tango was already popular in the 1910s and 20s. But the period from the mid-30s to the end of the 40s of the last century is considered the golden age of tango (Época de Oro). A great variety of orchestras emerged, thousands of compositions and texts were written. The orchestras recorded countless records. The Tango Argentino was played live everywhere and was famous all over the world as a ballroom dance. It became the fashion dance of the hour in Buenos Aires as in Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo or Helsinki. At times the tango dance was banned by the Pope because it was viewed as too erotic. However, that did little to harm his popularity! 

The big four of Tango Argentino

The central figures of Tango are Juan d'Arienzo, Carlos di Sarli, Osvaldo Pugliese and Aníbal Troilo. They were the big four orchestra leaders of the time. They composed many successful tangos and gave their orchestras (Orquesta típica) an unmistakable sound.

Further names of the most famous musicians and orchestras can be found in our Tango Lexicon. First and foremost is the Argentine singer and national hero Carlos Gardelwho was the first to popularize a sung tango around the world. Later he also excelled as an actor in several tango films. 

Time of change and Tango Nuevo

After the Época de Oro, other creative decades followed. Towards the end of the 50s, however, tango slowly lost its popularity, rock'n roll and pop music emerged and supplanted it. The young people preferred to dance to the new rhythms. The composer and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla gave the Tango Argentino again new impulses and made it concertante. Many jazz fans were enthusiastic about his "Tango Nuevo". The Argentine people were divided, however, as his compositions were not considered danceable. Today, his achievements are also highly valued in his own country.

Time for a siesta and a new beginning

During the gloomy days of the Argentine military dictatorship from 1976-83, tango culture almost came to a standstill. Public gatherings were forbidden and dancing was a part of it. Even so, there was a core of dancers and musicians who kept tango alive.

Time of renewal

From the mid-80s onwards, tango experienced a renaissance. The Argentinian show productions “Tango Argentino” and “Tango Pasión”. Tango icon Alejandra Mantiñan toured all over the world and found enthusiastic followers. Suddenly there were many people tangoing again learn to dance tango and to take lessons again. Dance schools for Tango Argentino were founded, there were workshops and courses. Young Argentinian musicians learned to play the music of their grandfathers. Soon there were public milongas (Tango dance festivals) again. The new wave of tango spread all over the world, similar to what it had done decades before.

In the early 2000s, a new style of music became popular: the Argentines in exile living in Paris Gotan Project invented the “Electrotango” and released the CD “La Revancha del Tango”. This became a global success and soon secured a permanent place in all club charts. This increased worldwide interest in Tango Argentino.

Electric and Neotango

Other bands like Otros Aires or Bajofondo followed the new style. The dance has also been further developed to match the modern sound. People danced “Neotango” or "Tango Nuevo", which is characterized by sweeping, soft movements and often giving up on one's own body axis.

This created a completely new expression of dance. The Argentine dancer Chicho Frumboli developed many figures of the Neotango and has been an icon of this style ever since.

The Tango Argentino today

Nowadays, the neotango and electrotango are no longer represented quite as often at milongas, especially in Argentina. In the tango scene there, they are returning to the roots, i.e. to traditional tango. There is also more emphasis on the traditionally handed down “Codes of the Milonga”, the rules of the game for a harmonious coexistence of the couples on the dance floor. The expansive movements of the Neotango had turned out to be a bit disturbing on a crowded dance floor. Nevertheless, many elements of Neotango have flowed into the dance. Today they are just performed a little more subtle and sophisticated.

Argentine Tango styles

Other Tango Argentino styles that are danced and mixed with each other today are: Tango de Salon, Tango Milonguero or Canyengue - more information in our Tango Lexicon.

Young tango orchestras and musicians have won many fans in recent years with new interpretations of traditional tangos and their own compositions. On their travels around the world, they have a loyal and ever-growing audience. To be mentioned here are e.g. Sexteto Milonguero, Orquesta Misteriosa Buenos Aires, Orquesta Romántica Milonguera, La Juan D'Arienzo, Carlos Quilici or Cuarteto Mulenga. Also European ensembles like Bandonegro with their fresh versions of the classics have a growing fan base.

Worldwide distribution

Today you can dance tango in almost all major cities in the world outside of Argentina. Thanks to the media coverage of Tango videos you can also find a milonga in remote places or attend a course. You also meet up festivals and marathons to live out the common passion for dance. There are also so-called encuentros, where tango dancers meet at a high level.

Readings and films about Tango Argentino

Tango equipment

As a tango dancer, in addition to suitable clothing, you also need suitable shoes. There are more and more providers of Tango shoesspecially developed for dancing. Likewise, one can find many manufacturers of suitable and elegant Dance fashion.

***

Cover photo: Pixabay, other photos: Thomas Lackner, Mikael Holber (Tangodanza)

***