Ballroom Tango origins come from the slums of Buenos Aires in the late 19th century. In the infamous Barrio de las Ranas, Argentine gauchos and migrating blacks traded cultural rhythms and dance steps in brothels. While Tango was performed very different in each dance partnership, the dance was eventually standardized. The music is in 2/4 or 4/4 time. It is traditionally played on a solo guitar, guitar duo, or an ensemble, known as the orquestra tipica, which includes at least 2 violins, flute, piano, double bass, and at least two bandoneons. The dance is characterized by a dramatic staccato feel, stealthy almost cat-like movement, and a close hold that is more compact than the other smooth ballroom dances.
Ballroom Tango origins come from the slums of Buenos Aires in the late 19th century. In the infamous Barrio de las Ranas, Argentine gauchos and migrating blacks traded cultural rhythms and dance steps in brothels.
The music is in 2/4 or 4/4 time. It is traditionally played on a solo guitar, guitar duo, or an ensemble, known as the orquestra tipica, which includes at least 2 violins, flute, piano, double bass, and at least two bandoneons. The dance is characterized by a dramatic staccato feel, stealthy almost cat-like movement, and a close hold that is more compact than the other smooth ballroom dances. Tango also has a low center of gravity and an emphasis on Contra Body Movement. Ballroom Tango borrowed music and styling from the River Plata region in Uruguay and Argentina. The characteristic head-snap in Tango came from similar leg and foot action in the Tango from the River Plata region and the influence of Paso Doble’s theatrical movement. This became a popular style in Germany and was soon introduced to England.
Tango was seen as extremely sexual in nature and brought influence from Africa and Europe to the United States. Respectable classes shunned the dance, but controversy was a recipe to sustain the dance. Many Tango dance halls opened up and the dance was popular in big hotels and fine restaurants. Vernon and Irene Castle became America’s sweetheart dance couple and the Tango began to become an unjudged social dance, the rage before the First World War.
While Tango was performed very different in each dance partnership, the dance was eventually standardized and is today danced in International Style and American Style. International Style has smaller close frame dance figures than American Style and tends to cater to phrases of 2 or 4 while American Style tends to have dance figures that open from closed hold and phrase well with 8 beats of music.
Today Ballroom Tango is danced at social parties and competitively.
